Creatine

[john smith]

For those doing a combination of strength and metcons (i.e. CFF), what kind of creatine do you take? Just pure creatine or a Pre WO supp that includes creatine and other things? Also, which brands of pure creatine do you recommend?

[Brandon Oto]

Waaaait......

is "no creatine" not an option here?

[Garrett Smith]

Good old plain creatine monohydrate powder. Micronized mixes better.

I don't do "metcons". I do strength training.

[daniel doiron]

I dropped by a store to pick up monohydrate creatine and noticed on the back it stated to not take with caffeinated products.

My question is why?

Also wondering about timing. If I am say, having a coffee from 8:30am to 9:30am, then having breakfast at 10-10:30am and working out at 12:00noon, when should I be taking my creatine? Should it even be after the workout with my lunch at 1:15pm?

[Darryl Shaw]

I dropped by a store to pick up monohydrate creatine and noticed on the back it stated to not take with caffeinated products.

My question is why?

Also wondering about timing. If I am say, having a coffee from 8:30am to 9:30am, then having breakfast at 10-10:30am and working out at 12:00noon, when should I be taking my creatine? Should it even be after the workout with my lunch at 1:15pm?

Creatine + caffeine can increase the risk of dehydration and may increase the risk of stroke.

International Society of Sports Nutrition position stand: creatine supplementation and exercise. (http://www.jissn.com/content/4/1/6)

MedlinePlus - Creatine. (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/873.html)

UMM.edu - Creatine. (http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/creatine-000297.htm)

UMM.edu - Possible Interactions with: Creatine. (http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/creatine-000952.htm)

[Steven Low]

Basically, don't take any substances that may dehydrate you with diuretics...

[daniel doiron]

So caffeine won't inhibite creatine nor it's effects.
Basically, caffeine is a diaretic and creatine will be competing to get that water from you.

What if I only take a few, say up to 2 gr per day? This should not have much water retention, but some effect on performance, right? Is 2 gr even worth it?

Should creatine be take prior or after a workout...or does it matter? How long before or after training?