06-17-2006, 12:25 AM
Tgo Wrote:just to clarify after stopping creatine the water retained in your body that makes your muscles look bigger dissepears after stoping it but the strenght is still there so the size is smaller and the effect of working out is reduced
When you take creatine it causes your muscles to swell with water. When you workout your muscles preoduce a side product latic acid which normally breaks down muscle. Your body 'retaliates' by building your muscles bigger, (hence the need to eat the protein). The water retained from using creatine dilutes the latic acid so you can get a better workout before exhaustion. Yes when you stop taking creatine you will lose the wait you gained in the first 2 weeks, ~typically 5lbs, but you will have gained not only strength but additional muscle. Last cycle I did was a little while ago, I gained 6lbs in the first 2.5 weeks, and an additional 3lbs over the next 3.5-4 weeks. 3 days after stopping I was down 5.5 lbs, but I keep 3.5lbs. Over the next 2 months in my off cycle I gained 1.5 more lbs. (the 6 weeks prior to the cycle I gained 1lb. the previous cycle was about 3 months prior)