How Long Does It Take For Creatine To Work?

Many bodybuilders and weightlifters take creatine as a supplement to their workouts and dietary regiment.  Most accomplished bodybuilders would agree that supplementation is a necessary part of the sport if you want to achieve success.  It is natural to ask how long does it take creatine to work as you want to see results.  Keep in mind that creatine, although good, is not in and of itself a sure fire way to achieve the growth that you want.

Creatine monohydrate (CM) can aid in protein synthesis.  Many people in the sport may neglect the amount of protein they are consuming in their diet because they believe that CM will offer them enough protein.  This is not true.  You should be consuming 1gm of protein per pound of bodyweight in addition to taking CM.  Remember, creatine is not a miracle worker.  It works best in conjunction with a proper diet.

It is also important to drink plenty of water while you are on a CM cycling phase.  Normally if you are weight training with a cardio program you should be taking in about 1 ounce of water per pound of body weight.  This will assure that you are staying hydrated and that your cells can function properly.  CM works best when the body is functioning normally and normal function relies on water.

Creatine in and of itself cannot make you huge or ripped.  Again, it works best with proper diet which, as mentioned above should include plenty of protein consumption.  If you aren't able to consume enough protein during your day then try using protein shakes.  You can do this quickly by mixing protein powder out of the jar in water or milk.  If you don't like the taste right out of the jar then try this easy protein shake recipe:

In a blender mix about 1/2 to 1 cup skim milk, with your protein powder, then add a small handful of frozen, un-sweetened berries (any type - fresh berries are great too of course, but i like frozen because it makes it taste like more of an ice cream drink - if that makes sense), and add a banana if you want.  Mix it all together and it tastes great. Adds a few calories I know, but it is worth it if you have a hard time downing the basic mix. You can mix a pitcher of these ahead of time and take a thermos with you to work so you can have a shake as one of your in between meal snacks.

Now - in regards to your question of how long does it take creatine to work?  Once you start taking CM supplement it will start working right away; however, you will not see physical results for probably 2 to 3 weeks, maybe longer.  Everyone is different.  Bodybuilding is a process that will take time.