When I started using creatine I used the reccommended loading routine.

5grams 3 times daily for 1 week... then just 5 grams a day for the next 7 weeks then 4 weeks off.... Then back to reloading phase.

Im now comming to the point that they recommend taking a break for a month is this nessiasary? Ive heard that not taking a break can cause your body to stop producing the natural amounts of creatine.... i m asking as i am finding mixed info on cycling.....

Let me know what you guys think.!!!

Mike.

Mike,

It is understandable that you are confused. First off, your body always will have the ability to make creatine on its own and extract it from the foods we eat. As for supplement recommendations, most of the time their dosages are more than what's needed. These companies are for-profit so the faster you use it the more you will buy :-) Pre-loading, in my opinion, is unnecessary. When I used creatine, I took 5 grams a day and that's it - no pre-load, no multiple times a day. Excess creatine and its metabolites just go down the toilet so more is not better. They are probably recommending a month off because you are dumping way too much into your system to begin with.

I do believe in cycling creatine. Use it for 3 months then take a couple off. My opinion on this is the body is very efficient and always looking to conserve energy. If you constantly provide it something it can make on its own, it will slow down or even shut down its own internal processes thus making you more dependent on the external source. This is why you should cycle steroids. Your body stops producing its own testosterone when you take it externally. If you don't slowly wean off and then take some time off completely from them, your body will be in a weakened state to produce its own testosterone again. I am not implying creatine is like steroids and I am not endorsing steroids. I am merely stating that supplying your body with external sources of things it already can make on its own should be cycled so as to keep the natural processes functioning efficiently :-)

John

Great response @jmboiardi. Its true that lots of companies go overboard on what they recommend for creatine.

I like your advice on why you shoul cycle creatine. but I personally don't think it's 100% necessary. But then again, I am not eating a lot of red meat so maybe taking a supplement is making up for that. Only 5 - 10 grams a day is all you need :)