Man shares before and after of taking creatine for one month to show off impact
A fitness fanatic showed what he looked like before and after adding creatine to his diet for a month.
Plenty of people who want to put on a bit of muscle will take creatine supplements, and it's not like steroids where you can take them and expect to just get big muscles, you still have to put the work in.
Your body already produces creatine but if you take some more then it can help with your attempts to get a bit more muscular, though some folks have been risking a lot by trying to take 'super doses' of the stuff.
Someone who wanted to show off what creatine had done for him was social media personality Cillian Domican, who compared himself before and after a month of including creatine in his diet.
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Sharing the results online, the bald bodybuilder compared his barechested images of the past and present.
To tell you the truth, dear reader, your humble writer can't see all that much of a difference between the two.
He's already pretty damn shredded before he started taking creatine and became a little more so a month after he started taking it, perhaps his body is a little closer to that 'V' shape seen as the ideal but the guy was in great shape to begin with.
Domican does look in a bit better shape in the 'after' picture, but perhaps for more dramatic visual results you'd want to be trying it over a longer stretch of time or with someone who doesn't already look like he could bench press a car.
Some of the social media personality's other content around creatine might illuminate the differences a bit more, as Cillian better showed the before and after effects of stopping creatine for three months with the tightness of his shirt.
He's showed what being off the stuff has done to his body and while he's still in good shape regardless many of his viewers think he looks more muscular when he's taking it.
What does creatine do to the body?
It's a natural compound stored in the muscles which helps cells produce energy, especially during the first few seconds of exercise where there's often a quick burst of energy.
The rest that isn't used on your muscles can help your brain and it appears as though there are some cognitive benefits to the supplement as well.
Creatine also helps the muscles soak up excess water so they look more buff by comparison, within four to six weeks of stopping this effect will wear off and it can lead to a drop in strength.
Taking creatine won't magically grow you more muscles and stopping it won't cause you to lose any, that's all down to the work you put in during gym time, but it will give you extra energy to get and maintain those gains.
What are the risks of taking creatine?
While creatine is considered safe when taken at recommended doses, some users may experience side effects. These can include water retention, muscle cramps, diarrhoea, and nausea.
As per the BBC, the supplement isn't suitable for individuals with kidney or liver problems or who are on certain medications.
Since there's a recommended dose, it's also recommended that you don't exceed the dosage guidance otherwise you might cause yourself more problems.
As long as you don't have the aforementioned problems with your liver or kidneys, or are taking certain medications then a bit of creatine could help you put on more muscle.
Topics: Health, Social Media
Joe Harker