CT,
Do you think creatine needs to be cycled? If so how would you cycle creatine?
I know Im not CT, but in general, I would say no. I think there are situations where you might need to, but in general, no.
Jason
I think it also depends on what kind you use. For example, the creatine in ANACONDA might not have to be cycled like creatine monohydrate.
In general (like Jason said), I think the most important rule to follow with creatine is to make your use of it consistent, meaning don’t use 5g of it one day then 10g the next day then not use it at all the following day. Keep the dosing consistent for a ceratin period of time before you switch dosing levels. For the ANACONDA protocol, the three scoops already has your consistent dosing of creatine mixed in every training day.
Hope that helps!
would you like to explain the logic behind keeping the doses the same everyday?
[quote]zooropa1150 wrote:
would you like to explain the logic behind keeping the doses the same everyday? [/quote]
There is none 
[quote]therajraj wrote:
CT,
Do you think creatine needs to be cycled? If so how would you cycle creatine?[/quote]
You don’t “need” to. Creatine works by increasing intramuscular stores of creatine, which provides short-term energy for intense contractions. The body doesn’t “stop being able to store creatine”. Believing that would be like believing that the body can stop being able to store glycogen in muscles or fatty acids as body fat.
What happens is that people originally get a “kick” from creatine because their intramuscular stores go from probably 60-70% loaded to 90-95% loaded. That will lead to a marked improvement in your lifting capacity and recovery.
But your stores are limited. Basically they are limited by the size of your muscles (obviously the more muscle you have, the more creatine you store) so if you muscle mass stays stable on increase slightly you will not store more creatine. It’s like putting water in a bottle, eventually the bottle is full and any more cannot be stored.
That doesn’t mean that you need to cycle off creatine.
If you cycle off your intramuscular stores of creatine will decrease back down to their original level. So if you wait a while and cycle back on, YES you will get a kick once again. But that kick will only bring you back up to where you would have been had you not stopped.
[quote]zooropa1150 wrote:
would you like to explain the logic behind keeping the doses the same everyday? [/quote]
For powdered versions of creatine (like monohydrate), it is best to keep your doses consistent because your body can only hold so much creatine at one time. In other words, everyone is different in that their bodies have different creatine capacities. So you keep the same doses and timing as consistent as possible to absorb the creatine and use it to its fullest potential before switching to a different dose. Otherwise, you may experience liver or kidney problems from consuming so much creatine and water at once (in the case that you are on a loading phase taking 15g each day).
Now when looking at the ANACONDA label, you’ll see that there is 11g of Anaerobic Fuel which contains Biotest developed complex of creatine 2-oxopropanoate and beta-alanine. For those who are using the ANACONDA Protocol, they are consuming the same dose of creatine each day in their three scoops (unless they alter it someway). Biotest has most likely researched how much creatine is optimal which is why each scoop of ANACONDA contains the same amount of creatine that it does–your body can absorb it and use it to its fullest potential (no matter if you’re using ANACONDA for two weeks straight or three months straight). Here is an article on creatine as well, in case that explanation sucked. Strength Training, Bodybuilding & Online Supplement Store - T NATION
this is exactly what i am looking for guys thanks.
going to start creatine tomorrow, no loading, just 5g postworkout till it runs out
again much appreciated 4 posts
is creatine helpful fpr athletic purposes or just for aesthetic?
[quote]toto86 wrote:
is creatine helpful fpr athletic purposes or just for aesthetic?[/quote]
It is for athletic purposes…(explosive movements)
Any aesthetic gain is a result of the “athletic purposes”.
Ok, but how exactly does work? (dont need an scientific explaination)
[quote]toto86 wrote:
Ok, but how exactly does work? (dont need an scientific explaination)[/quote]
Better workout performance = better physique
Does anyone else grind there teeth really badly from taking creatine?
[quote]toto86 wrote:
Ok, but how exactly does work? (dont need an scientific explaination)[/quote]
You will be able to perform anaerobic work for maybe 10-20% longer. So with creatine, you might be able to lift your 10RM 11 times. It’s “an extra clip when you’re all out of bullets” (ATP).
Over a few years, lifting more will yield a greater training effect and lead to more muscle gain than you would have gotten without creatine
Of course, some appreciate that creatine pulls water into muscles and makes them appear bigger. I know that I look a little smaller if I forget to take creatine for a few days.
And there are a bunch of extra benefits without as heavy scientific support, such as the nootropic properties of creatine and its ability to decrease intramuscular concentrations of myostatin (a substance that inhibits muscle growth). But always take 5 grams a day and you’ll make a little more progress than you would have without it. (As ridiculously cheap as it is, it’s worth it).
[quote]Fletch1986 wrote:
Does anyone else grind there teeth really badly from taking creatine? [/quote]
WTF??
[quote]Christian Thibaudeau wrote:
[quote]therajraj wrote:
CT,
Do you think creatine needs to be cycled? If so how would you cycle creatine?[/quote]
You don’t “need” to. Creatine works by increasing intramuscular stores of creatine, which provides short-term energy for intense contractions. The body doesn’t “stop being able to store creatine”. Believing that would be like believing that the body can stop being able to store glycogen in muscles or fatty acids as body fat.
What happens is that people originally get a “kick” from creatine because their intramuscular stores go from probably 60-70% loaded to 90-95% loaded. That will lead to a marked improvement in your lifting capacity and recovery.
But your stores are limited. Basically they are limited by the size of your muscles (obviously the more muscle you have, the more creatine you store) so if you muscle mass stays stable on increase slightly you will not store more creatine. It’s like putting water in a bottle, eventually the bottle is full and any more cannot be stored.
That doesn’t mean that you need to cycle off creatine.
If you cycle off your intramuscular stores of creatine will decrease back down to their original level. So if you wait a while and cycle back on, YES you will get a kick once again. But that kick will only bring you back up to where you would have been had you not stopped.
[/quote]
great explanation
The best is to mix it in “hot” water + really mix it very well till you can’t see anymore on the bottom, otherwise you are wasting big part of your money
[quote]luvQvist wrote:
The best is to mix it in “hot” water + really mix it very well till you can’t see anymore on the bottom, otherwise you are wasting big part of your money :)[/quote]
You’re assuming that creatine needs to be dissolved in water to be effective. The only problem is that I’ve never seen anything credible to indicate this is true. If it were true, creatine in anything other than liquid would be ineffective, and I haven’t found this to be the case.
[quote]Fletch1986 wrote:
Does anyone else grind there teeth really badly from taking creatine? [/quote]
I have never, ever, heard of this as a side effect of Creatine supplementation. Usually teeth grinding (I’m assuming you’re talking about grinding your teeth in your sleep) is related to anxiety/nerves.
But Prof X would know for sure as he’s a dentist…
No… not in my sleep… I don’t use creatine anymore because of mostly the stomach upset and a little bit the tooth grinding and feeling my jaw get stiff. Maybe it was the brand, just some cheap stuff at Walmart. I’ll try again, but maybe try the Biotest brand.