skipped a few days of creatine, now what?

[Matlm]

Hi

I've been taking creatine for about a month and I skipped three days. Do I have to reload or just go back to one heaping teaspoon a day?

 

[Byronic Hero]

I don't think you need to reload. I went on a trip a few months ago for 3 days and didn't bring creatine. I came back and went on my usual amount. A little loss in weight because of the lack of creatine but I got back to normal pretty quick.

 

[Templeton]

I would reload briefly as your creatine stores will have started to dip. Reload at a slightly lower level than you initially did. E.g. if you loaded at 20-25g then go for 15g for a day or two. Just enough to get them back to the same level.

 

[Reto]

Is loading really necessary? I always thought it was a ploy that the Co's made up so you use up the product quicker...

 

[victor von doom]

Originally posted by Templeton
I would reload briefly as your creatine stores will have started to dip. Reload at a slightly lower level than you initially did. E.g. if you loaded at 20-25g then go for 15g for a day or two. Just enough to get them back to the same level.

not even. you can go for up to a month without creatine and not have to reload.

 

[Templeton]

Well it would depend also on how long one has been taking it. True that you don't have to load at all if you don't want to but if had loaded already, then I would reload in a manner similar to or as I described to cover my bases. Not as though creatine is expensive. I have experimented on myself over the years and I have noticed I get a renewed kick when I up the dose for a few days, cycling creatine within a longer cycle if you will.