Many bodybuilders and powerlifters take creatine as a supplement to their workouts and dietary regiment. Most accomplished bodybuilders would agree that supplementation is a necessary part of the sport if you want to be successful. It’s natural to wonder how long does creatine take to work as you want to see results. Keep in mind that creatine, while good, is not in and of itself a surefire way to achieve the growth you want.

Creatine monohydrate (CM) can aid in protein synthesis. Many people in sports may neglect the amount of protein they consume in their diet because they believe that CM will offer them enough protein. This is not true. You should consume 1g of protein per pound of body weight in addition to taking CM. Remember, creatine does not work miracles. It works best in conjunction with a proper diet.

It is also important to drink plenty of water while in a CM cycle phase. Typically, if you are weight training with a cardiovascular program, you should be taking in about 1 ounce of water per pound of body weight. This will ensure that you stay hydrated and that your cells can function properly. CM works best when the body is functioning normally and normal function is dependent on water.

Creatine itself can’t make you huge or ripped. Again, it works best with a proper diet, which, as mentioned above, should include plenty of protein. If you can’t get enough protein throughout the day, try using protein shakes. You can do this quickly by mixing the protein powder from the jar with water or milk. If you don’t like the fresh-out-of-the-jar taste, try this easy protein shake recipe:

In a blender, mix about 1/2 to 1 cup of skim milk, with your protein powder, then add a small handful of frozen unsweetened berries (any kind; fresh berries are great too of course, but I like them frozen because they make it taste more like an ice cream drink, if that makes sense), and add a banana if you’d like. Mix it all together and it tastes great. It adds a few calories, I know, but it’s worth it if you have a hard time swallowing the basic mix. You can mix up a pitcher of these ahead of time and bring a thermos to work so you can have a smoothie as one of your between-meal snacks.

Now, regarding your question of how long does creatine take to kick in? Once you start taking the CM supplement, it will start working right away; however, you will not see physical results for probably 2-3 weeks, maybe longer. Everyone is different. Bodybuilding is a process that will take time.