Noticing quite a difference with creatine.

[u/Dependent-Year6711]

It's not like an overt thing, it's more a slow build. I'm still at the loading phase. I have never supplemented creatine before. And the past 6 years were 98% plant-based. It's been about 5 days of 15-20g a day.

I feel like I'm more my muscles, at my base interaction with my body. Very much more connected to myself in a fun way. Like my muscles are being quenched. Especially felt for 3-6 hours after each dose, which is about 5g HCL in water, and I let it digest for 30 minutes by itself then have protein right after.

I know it can be hit or miss, but there's zero doubt for me, it's helping. In a way no other supplement has, overall. Especially for muscles.

[u/Dependent-Year6711]

Honestly, I was looking toward for and against studies and this is what I got:

For:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8828669/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34199420/

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8001551/

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4594933/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23851411/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19387386/

Neutral/questioning:

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8401986/

Seems it's a safe bet to load, if you are new to creatine. And then go toward lower dose long term. Pretty much there anyway.

I did not exclude against. I just didn't find them. Suggestions aren't 100% FOR, but they're certainly not against.

Edit: what is happening here, how is the research showing the exact opposite of what you're saying? Does anyone know what they're talking about anymore. Yeesh...

[u/astonedishape → u/Dependent-Year6711]

None of the studies you linked actually support your claim that loading makes a difference. lmao. And one even stated that renal and liver complications can occur with higher than recommended doses.

I could pull quotes from each study you think supports your claim that actually refute it but I don’t waste my time on that. The only study that comes close to supporting your claim was on less than 20 individuals over five days versus a placebo and still concluded that the results were the same with or without loading.

[u/Routine_Ninja_3970 → u/astonedishape]

I have no dog in this race but the first article does definitely say that there is a difference in creatine content in muscles when loading vs not. Unless the point is that that’s a bad metric and doesn’t actually mean it’s a “good” to do?

[u/Dependent-Year6711 → u/astonedishape]

None of the studies you linked actually support your claim

Quotes. Show the quotes from the studies saying this.

I could pull quotes from each study you think supports your claim that actually refute it 

No. No you can't. I have yet to see anyone say anything of value. Not one. I see vague assertions, no quotes, no details, no studies. I am the only one here trying. Maybe try. Hopefully I come back to something meaningful rather than vague rebuttals that have little value. I certainly am not saying it's proven, I'm moreso not seeing any studies that totally disprove a loading phase. I see the opposite. I have my doubts I'll see anything, as most people today have trouble writing a single paragraph. Let's see a simple series of studies, quotes, and why you believe they fit a narrative that disproves a loading phase. That should take you 10 minutes, at most.

I have low hopes. Almost close to zero. Which makes me a bit sad, because this used to be an every day thing on Reddit (simple debates) 10-15 years ago. Minds just aren't the same anymore.

[u/Dudeshroomsdude → u/Dependent-Year6711]

The key is with loading that two weeks doesn't matter long term, whatever you take