Creatine Cycling vs Creatine Loading

Introduction Creatine Cycling vs Creatine Loading

With the growing popularity of creatine as a supplement to strength building exercise, people are wondering how to properly use a substance which has somewhat anarchistic guidelines in its use.  Here are some key points about the two processes:

Creatine Loading

• Involves a large intake of creatine each day during set intervals, rather than a smaller dose intermittently.
• May have improved effects on muscle tissue, but long term use of this method has been hypothesized to impact the kidneys or liver.
• Is a part of the creatine cycling method discussed below, but is used constantly rather than occasionally.

Creatine Cycling

• Begins with a loading period of two to four weeks, depending on the strength of the creatine and the user’s body type.
• Switches to a little or no use of creatine period for a few weeks, while the user continues to do all of their normal exercises as usual, continuing to use some of the latent creatine content in their body.
• Goes back to the loading period, and repeats the above process.

Health Aspects of Creatine Cycling vs Creatine Loading

So now that you know the difference between the two creatine use methods, which one is better for your health?  Each has its own benefits, which are:

• Creatine loading may encourage greater strength and endurance initially, enabling the user to give a more thorough workout on their heart and lungs than they could without their improved muscle mass.
• Creatine cycling may prevent health problems which can potentially come with the long term use of the loading technique.  An on-off routine is less likely to involve the overconsumption of creatine by the body.
• Creatine cycling prevents the body from adapting to creatine and reaching a plateau where any further use of the creatine provides no extra assistance to building muscle.  Without using this method, creatine may lose all of its possible benefits to a person and cause them to become less fit.

Other Factors to Consider

• There are also some other factors to consider in the debate over whether to do creatine loading or creatine cycling, which favor cycling as the clear winner of the debate:
• Price.  The “off” period involved in creatine cycling involves less use of creatine, which can add up to significant savings over time.
• Time saved.  Creatine loading can involve having to consume creatine five times per day, so the fact that cycling only involves occasional loading periods rather than constant ones can remove a lot of the hassle that comes with remembering to take one’s supplements.