Hey guys. Well I've been struggling with this decision for a WHILE now, wether or not i should start taking creatine or not. Right now im only 16 (ill be 17 in 6 months). Right now im trying to get ALL my gains up by next year for my senoir year of football. So i have around 7+ months. I am currently cutting, and i don't want to loose any muscle or strength, so i was thinking that if i took creatine, it would help lessen the chances of me loosing any muscle/strength, and maybe even gain some. The only thing im worried about creatine is, that i heard if you're not atleast 18, and take it, it could mess with your growth spurt, or like it could stop you're body from growing fully as in height and stuff. I've done Hours of research, but havn't found anything like that yet, its just something i was told from a guy at my gym. Any suggestions?

take the creatine

[QUOTE]Infact its so harmless you dont even need to cycle it. Tests showed within days of stopping creatine use, the body recovered its naturally ability to produce it 100% again.

DittO

It's safe to use at 17 years of age.

Studies have shown that when using creatine as a supplement and cycling off of it, creatine levels remain elevated for about 4 weeks after discontinued use, and then return back to normal levels.

creatine is 100% natural and you get it from most of the foods you eat... taking supplemental creatine just boosts those levels and provides better muscular endurance... i took creatine at 17 and im still normal... most of the time

There are no negatives with creatine. You could take it at 12 years old if you cycled it right. People these days treat creatine like its a test booster, although you get creatine from red meats and its completely safe to use.

Also, your body naturally produces creatine.

I would recomend cycling creatine. Its not that its going to kill you if you dont, but as receptors get downgraded the benifits you get from supplementing with creatine will diminish. DR X has got a good thread on this. It makes sense though. THink about when you first start using creatine, its great and you make good gains, but it fades away. Taking a short time off occasionally can help keep you getting the best gains possible out of it. I know some of you guys are thinking to yourself that this is stupid, but try taking some time off and go back on and youll see what im talking about.

And JOhn B- how come youre cutting? Senior year football I would want to be as large as possible. What position do you play? How tall/heavy are you?

http://forums.bulknutrition.com/?showtopic=27690

Thats the thread I mentioned, its pinned at the top of this section.

Thanx ALOT guys, for all your advice and help, i have decided to start my first creatine cycle Around January, i just orderd some Green Magnitude.

Matt- The reason i want to cut is, yes i want to be as big as i possibly can be, but being 250pounds and around 22% bodyfat, maybeless, Everyone is telling me just to add muscle, not to cut, but they havn't been a "big kid" their whole life you know. I've been big ever since i was like in the 6th grade, and my senior year, i want a different look you know, not for the people, but for me. Don't get me wrong, i still get the girls n shit, and i dont get made fun of etc etc, but its for me.. People tell me i look fine where im at, and i used to try and belive them, but i can't cause its the way i feel and stuff, you know?