Is creatine supplement necessary?

[YourFutureEx]

I don't want to become a bodybuilder, just general fitness. Would it boost the performance? Or just size or lean mass? Are the results temporary (as long as I'm regularly taking it)? Or should I just avoid it?

[ATPPC]

If you are doing short bursts of high intensity workouts, then sure. It not then no. Creatine is not a jack-of-all-trades performance booster. Companies want you to think that cuz they want $$$.

Basically muscles burn creatine for high-intensity exercises <15 seconds (they can only hold so much), then it gets depleted. So your muscles bring up more creatine from storage. Eventually most of the stored creatine get used up to and you can't generate as much energy. With creatine supplements your tank gets topped up more, so instead of having enough creatine to burn for 3 sets, you now have enough for four. Since you did more sets, you have pushed harder and thus you get faster gains.

***Note you can only store so much creatine so don't think you can last forever overdosing on it. Too much of it is bad for your liver and kidneys. Just like too much vitamins can kill you.

A second energy system that does not use creatine but creates lactic acid kicks in after creatine depletes. Too much lactic acid buildup and your muscles stop producing energy, forcing you to stop. With creatine depletion you just can't lift that weight anymore. With lactic acid buildup you can feel a burn becoming stronger.

A very gray area is something like pushups. It is sort of high-intensity short burst but also kind of endurance. So your muscles deplete creatine first but they can still go on, just not as hard, while producing lactic acid. So ultimately the thing that stops you is lactic acid buildup not creatine depletion. Will creatine supplement help that much in this case? eh probably not that much.

Creatine will make your muscles take on more water so they look fuller and bigger. This effect is temporary although some guys take it for the looks just like girls use makeup.

If you are doing endurance cardio creatine doesn't do jack shit. For endurance your body uses oxidative glycolysis to generate energy. Completely different energy system that does not use creatine at all. Creatine is only for short bursts, so maybe an all-out sprint but lol who does that other than sprinters.

Your body naturally makes creatine + you get it through foods. Creatine is NOT HEALTHY for you. It just doesn't kill you either. It's a supplement, take it with moderation.

[YourFutureEx]

Thank you so much :)
I don't do short burst high intensity training. Just cardio in the morning and lifting in the evening.

[sarthak809]

It's not necessary, you can take it if you wish to. You didn't write what you mean by general fitness, which exercises you do, weight lifting or cardiovascular or both?

If you are solely into cardio workout, what good will creatine do? You will have to just increase your output while having the same results.
People take creatine mainly for muscle building exercises. While doing so, we lose energy (ATP) much earlier than the actual muscle failure (which is the sole trigger for muscle gain). By taking creatine, nitric oxide etc, we don't lose energy and keep pushing until the actual muscle failure. It is specially helpful in the last 2-3 sets. Without such supplements, those few sets feel like a chore, pain in the ass.

IF you are doing cardio only, with creatine, you will have more energy to burn off, that's all. Kinda like putting more gasoline in your car's tank. Whereas for muscle building, it acts like nitrous oxide boost!

[YourFutureEx]

Thanks a lot. I do both.

[Kiwedin]

No, the body synthesizes all the creatine it needs and does not require it from dietary sources or through supplementation. As long as you're getting your essentially amino acids, specifically glycine and arginine (which is inevitable as long you're consuming a calorically sufficient diet), your body will produce all the creatine it needs.
Taking creatine would be like you taking vitamin D supplements while sunbathing every day. It's pointless. I mean, there's no danger in doing so, but completely unnecessary.

[YourFutureEx]

Thanks :)

[BelleGirl21]

Not at all. I lift a lot and I don't really care for supplements like that.

[Triestohelppeople]

It helps in weight training by increasing the amount of water and protein that can be stored in your muscles during and after workout. This means you need to drink more water to avoid dehydration.
The downside is your body naturally makes 2-3g of creatine per day, and taking creatine too long without cycling can mean your body stops producing it's own creatine. Then when you stop taking creatine for any reason after that, you are lethargic and sleep a lot.
I've taken it twice. It increases my strength by 20-30% from not using creatine, but the nausea I get from it got worse every time I took it, even after taking a break from it, so I had to stop.

[YourFutureEx]

Thanks a lot :)

[Josht11]

Honestly I would not bother if your already using protein shakes etc, it does help to give you more energy in your muscles but you have to drink lots of water and if you don't work hard and use that extra energy it's just water mass being retained if you just want general fitness and not going for maximizing muscle then you don't need it and it's probably a waste of money.

[YourFutureEx]

I use whey, but not creatine. I think I'm doing fine without it?

[front2back]

It honestly helps a lot. JUST MAKE SURE YOU STAY HYDRATED.
Also, take pH balanced creatine and not the mono stuff you have to cycle. I used something called krealkalyne or something like that.
C4 is great too

[YourFutureEx]

Should I take it even if my goal is general fitness?

[front2back]

Yes. All creatine is is phosphates. I could do into specifics but your body makes energy using ATP, but it must convert from ADP first to make it. It usually does this by breathing and using oxygen, but creatine helps speed up ATP creating significantly but providing a bunch of unused phosphates. So for all fitness it helps

[YourFutureEx]

Thanks a lot :)

[OrdinaryGentleman]

Nooo... not at all. Proper nutrition, eating a lot throughout the day and just working out with cardio will get you to where you want to be

[YourFutureEx]

Thanks fella :)

[BeerFarts]

I used to take creatine when I first started working out but I don't anymore. You'll see results as long as you're using it but I don't that it's needed.

[ConsultantIsBack]

Is it necessary? absolutely not
Does it boost performance? Yes, it converts ADP back to ATP very, very quickly.

[Bandit74]

Not sure, but I have heard people recommend it. I haven't really looked into much to see how safe it is tho 😕

[Decentguy]

for how long you've been taking creatine? and did it made a good effect on your body? i never used creatine thats why im asking.

[YourFutureEx]

I use whey, but not creatine.

[rgb008]

No it's not necessary.

[Anonymous]

No, it's not.

[ShayanMortazavi1]

I guess so