Should I Use Creatine When Cutting?

Using Creatine When Cutting 

Creatine can be one of the most beneficial supplements during a cutting phase of dieting. During the cutting season, every aspect must be taken very seriously. Cardio, training, and diet must all work together in order to cut the fat necessary to present the desired appearance, but also preserve the muscle that took months to build prior to cutting the surrounding fat.

Should I use creatine while cutting?

The main reason cutting can be detrimental to a muscular build is due to the low-calorie intake and in most cases the added calorie deficit with additional cardio. The low-calorie diet required in order to cut fat can directly cause muscle loss. In order to prevent muscle loss, calorie deficit must be taken very seriously. The diet, cardio, training, and supplement requirements must maintain a sole focus on preserving the muscle built during bulking. Higher calorie intake to prevent muscle loss is always an immediate resolution, but can also prevent fat loss. This is where Creatine becomes an extremely beneficial supplement to increase calorie intake for any athlete trying to cut fat.

Is creatine for bulking or cutting?

Creatine can be effective for both bulking and cutting, depending on how you use it and what your goals are.

Creatine creates a water retention surrounding the muscle that not only preserves the muscle during a cutting phase but also provides immediate muscle recovery in order to continue intense workouts. High-calorie burn during training and cardio sessions will be necessary to cut the fat, and the additional water retention caused by the creatine intake will allow for faster recovery and prevent muscle deterioration.

When muscles are dehydrated, it is usually due to not drinking enough water, or not consuming enough sodium. Creatine will aid in muscle hydration by pulling water into the muscles to be used for muscle hydration. Thus, creatine is a great choice of supplement when cutting.

Will I look more cut off creatine?

No, going off of creatine will not make you look more cut. Creatine increases muscle mass but does not increase body fat. The weight gained from taking creatine is from water retention in the muscle cells. But this only causes the muscles to potentially look bigger and does not appear as added weight to the body.