SHOULD YOU USE CREATINE WHEN CUTTING?
I get asked this question a lot so here it is.. Anything that helps build muscle or strength will help maintain it during a cut. Creatine is a natural compound made in the body and is derived from the diet through meat products. In the body, creatine is changed into a molecule called phosphocreatine which serves as a storage reservoir for regenerating ATP. ATP is the chemical source of energy for muscle contraction and quick energy. Phosphocreatine is an important source of ATP energy in muscle tissue and there is many studies that can prove that creatine can increase the performance in athletes in activities that require quick bursts of energy. (sprinting and weight lifting). Creatine supplementation combined with lifting weights will result in improvements in muscle hypertrophy (increase in muscle size) and strength through cell volumization and increased protein synthesis.
WILL CREATINE HINDER FAT LOSS?
Creatine will NOT hinder fat loss in any way, creatine will also NOT cause water retention if you are on a maintenance dose. (3-5g per day) Creatine holds water intracellular, NOT extracellular, so if anything it should make you appear more ripped due to muscle fullness. However it may cause slight bloating in some people, (dose dependent) but it wont cause extracellular water retention. This is a common bodybuilding myth used by the « bro’s in the gym » as an excuse as to why they are still holding a bit of fat « its the water retention from creatine » literally 70% of my pictures when I’m at my leanest I was probably on creatine at the time, yet I was still dry as a bone and not holding any « excess water ». There is nothing at all wrong with using creatine when cutting or in pre-comp.
CONCLUSION:
Use creatine when cutting as it will not only make you maintain muscle while cutting and in a calorie deficit, it will also make you look better due to muscle fullness!
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