when is the best time to take creatine?

[hmoti69]

In the loading phase you need 20 grams i.e. 4 scoops.

Now should this be taken on an empty stomach or after meals? how should it be split during the day?

what i do now id take one after breakfast (not before)

1 after lunch

i before workout

1 scoop after workout with ma protein shake.

is this fine?

during maintenance i take 1 scoop before workout.

is this fine?

[7digits]

i would take the 1st serving 1h before breakfast and the 2nd serving right after my workout and mix it with about 10 ounces of water.

[hmoti69]

but thats 2 times. wht bout d oda 2

[narcsarge]

Originally Posted by hmoti69

but thats 2 times. wht bout d oda 2

Drop the whole idea of loading. It has not been proven that loading has any advantage over not loading. Just take the recommended dosage at the recommended times.

Please, use words, not hieroglyphics when posting. Some of old guys can read them but these newbies can't.

[Icanrace]

no need to load

no need to cycle

post workout is the best time to take it.

[lyricalnut02]

what is loading? has it got something to do with water retention. and is it true that their is no loading with creatine eythl ester.

[dannyboy9]

This article should help the thread starter.
(taken right from this site by the way)

http://www.bodybuildingforyou.com/cr...eatine-use.htm

Originally Posted by Icanrace

no need to load

no need to cycle

True...to an extent. Loading is another controversial topic. Some studies show that it is beneficial to load while others show no benefit. Some people also believe it to be a marketing technique to get the consumer to buy more creatine.

There's no solid proof that cycling is any better than using is constantly. There's still mixed conceptions about cycling though.

In the end, everyone has their opinion on it and it's up to the individual.
lyricalnut:

Loading is not necessary with CEE. Correct

To answer your question about loading:

Loading is simply when the user takes a high dose of creatine for the first few days and then lowers the dose (entering the maintenance period) for the remainder of the weeks left in the cycle.

[NiteHawk]

Read the sticky on creatine..

Facts On Creatine

But to answer your question, if you decide to load but like everyone already said, its not necessary.

I would recommend taking the dosages as follows..

1 serving at breakfast
1 serving before workout
1 serving post workout
1 serving with my last meal of the day

[CraigC]

If hes talking 20g's a day, 5 grams a serving I would assume he is talking monohydrate, not CEE. CEE usually has a lower dosage than mono.

As for loading, when I am taking monohydrate I do it. I notice it working a lot faster when I load and monohydrate is so damn cheap anyway it doesn't bother me. When your paying like $20 for 120 servings who cares.

When loading I take 5g's with breakfast, 2-3 hours later I take 5 g's like 30 mins pre-workout, then 5 g's 30 mins PWO and another 5 g's sometime later on in the day.

I usually load for 4 days, then go to 10g's a day. 5 pre and 5 PWO. Start out with 5g's a day though, taken PWO.

What kind of creatine are you taking?

[hmoti69]

im taking creatine monohydrate.

thanks a lot craig. your post was exactly what i was looking for