Quick Creatine Question

[Mattias]

My first post, so hey there to everyone!

I'm finishing up my first week on Creatine, so far I like what I've seen/felt. The first 5 days I loaded (15g total per day, in 3 doses of 5g each throughout the day) I'm going to start the "maintenance" part, which will only be 5g per day for the next 4 weeks, then off completely for 2 weeks, then start the cycle over again.

The question is (sorry I said this was going to be quick didn't I) when would be the best time to take the 5g, before or after my work out, I've heard people suggest both.

[Jean-Paul]

Hey Mattias... Welcome to the forum!

About the creatine, I would do both. One dose within an hour of your workout, and then a dose about an hour afterwards. If fact, you could sip on a really diluted solution during your workout as well, but I wouldn't really count that as a dose (maybe a couple of grams). Then I would also do one other dose at some other time in the day several hours seperated from the workout, making a total of three seperate doses (15g daily).

In the loading phase (which is not necessary in my opinion... just gets you to take a bunch more so you run out of it faster), it is recommended to do 4-5 doses per day. So what you are considering a loading dose is actually what I would consider a maintenence dose. I haven't done any creatine in years, but I got a lot out of it when I did. How are you taking it? Pure creatine monohydrate powder mixed with grape juice is the best way to deliver it to the system.

Welcome again! Glad to have you with us. There is a ton of helpful info in here, as you will discover.
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[pooky1976]

My former Strength coach told us to take creatine with grape juice which did not contain citric acid. Does anyone know if this matters or not?

[Mattias]

Thanks for the welcome JP!

I was actually thinking about taking some before and after, never quite understood the one dose after your workout, didn't think I'd get much out of that. I've been taking it with some orange juice, and I have pure creating monohydrate. I did alot of research about this before I started and I found that if it says "Creapure" on it, this is the best and most pure, which is what I was looking for.

Thanks again for your feedback. I've been looking around the forum and there is indeed a ton of great info! I'll try and become a frequent visitor!

[dinabol]

for my opinion what it's worth, you should take two scoops of creatine twenty minutes prior to intense weight training. Don't take it post workout. I would use high quality protein with a simple sugar to boost insulin and allow the faciliatation of amino acids into the cells. if you ingest both creatine and protein post workout they will compete against each other during digestion. Just from experience.

[massive member]

why not take it pwo?