When to Take Creatine

Creatine is the most popular weightlifting supplement available on the market today. When to take creatine is really a matter of preference. Some like to take before a workout, others like to take after a workout. If you’re on creatine cc cycles, then creatine dosages taken four times a day is carefully monitored.

Why is creatine so popular? Because it works and it’s natural. Creatine is a combination of three amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins. Raising creatine levels in the muscles allows for greater water retention, leading to greater ion levels in cells, leading to faster more efficient protein synthesis.

When to Take Creatine Supplements

I personally believe that creatine is most effective when taken after a workout. If you’re a smart lifter, you will have a post-workout meal or replacement meal rich in simple carbs which are meant to assist the creatine into the muscle stores for synthesis more quickly. After a workout session, the body absorbs nutrients more easily, plus creatine helps to refuel your body’s natural creatine levels after lifting.

When To Take Creatine: Before or After a Workout

Taking Creatine before a workout will do nothing for your energy levels as many believe. The energy you will get from creatine will come from creatine stores already established within your muscles, not the creatine you just consumed. The creatine you just consumed will take at least a week after you’ve begun taking creatine. This way your muscle’s storage cells will be properly saturated.

More generally speaking, you should take creatine if you need a mass boost. The water retention supplied by creatine will give you that much needed volumized look, and fast if you do it right. However, if you’re more patient and have time to gain size, you can also cycle yourself over 28 days, instead of the usual loading phase for 5 days, maintenance for 2 weeks, and so on.

If you are under 18 or have kidney problems, you should not use creatine. If you’re healthy and over 18, be wise when using a creatine supplement. It can bring you great rewards, but if used improperly, it has the potential to harm your kidneys or liver. If you don’t do your homework, then you shouldn’t be using supplements period. Creatine is useful for the amateur bodybuilder and sports athlete and most effective if you know when to take creatine.