Creatine
 

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?

Waaaait......

is "no creatine" not an option here?

Good old plain creatine monohydrate powder. Micronized mixes better.

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

Waking up an old Creatine thread
 

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.

MedlinePlus - Creatine.

UMM.edu - Creatine.

UMM.edu - Possible Interactions with: Creatine.

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

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?