How Much Water Retention Does Creatine Cause?

Water weight
Your muscles will hold onto this water, resulting in bloating or puffiness around your arms, legs, or stomach. Your muscles may even appear bigger, even if you've just begun your training. In the first week of taking oral creatine, some people gain about 2 to 4.5 pounds , mainly due to water retention.

How long does water retention last after creatine?

Still, increases in total body water due to supplementing with creatine is short term and typically resolves a few weeks after the loading phase ( 11 ).

How much water do you retain with creatine?

The study found that participants taking creatine had gained just below 0.9 liters of total body water after 28 days of supplementation, significantly more water than the non-creatine placebo group gained.

Elena Rostova

Elena Rostova

Lead Health, Wellness & Medical Journalist

Elena Rostova holds a Master's degree in Public Health Journalism. She covers groundbreaking medical research, holistic wellness trends, mental health awareness, and nutritional science.