Does Creatine Help You Lose Weight?

Creatine monohydrate is a widely researched and recommended sports nutrition supplement. An integral part of bulking and cutting regimens, this magical bodybuilding ingredient steers a multi-billion dollar industry.

It’s only second to protein powders, according to different surveys on using performance-enhancing substances in the US. So, does creatine help you lose weight? Let’s find out.

Can Creatine Help You Lose Weight?

First of all, let’s balance the mystified equation of weight loss. It’s an inevitable consequence of the energy deficit. Meanwhile, you have to burn more calories than you consume.

It’s been classically established that one pound body weight is equivalent to 3500 calories, more or less. Regardless of the macronutrient content in your diet, cutting back on calories ultimately leads to weight loss.

Therefore, your journey to a trimmed waist and toned body depends on your training and dining conduct. Where does creatine fit in all this? 

Several studies applying direct interventions of creatine for weight loss have found insignificant results.

Not to say there are no benefits of creatine for weight loss at all. The International Society of Sports Nutrition recounts many physical and mental benefits of taking creatine-based supplements, including improved exercise performance, muscular adaptations, post-workout recovery, and injury prevention.

So, it might push for a calorie deficit. However, it’s going to be a short-term pain, long-term gain case. 

1. Short Term: Water Retention and Weight Gain

The biggest side-effect of ingesting creatine to lose weight is that it might seem to work the opposite. Being an osmotic agent, it causes water retention and weight gain temporarily.

Pulling excessive fluid into muscles is one way creatine stimulates the growth process. If you are using the loading phase (about 20g of creatine per day for about a week), you may expect a maximum increase of 2 liters in total body water and 3 lb in total body mass within that time span.

It is worth understanding that such a significant weight gain can be expected by athletes with very high muscle mass. The average water retention is about 0.5-1 liters.

Although it’s a phantom build-up, seeing the needle of a bathroom scale heading contrary to your expectations can be demoralizing. Stay mindful of this change. And remember, you’re not putting on fat mass.

2. Long Term: Losing Weight but Not Muscles

Sticking with creatine supplementation is sure to pump you up for workout sessions. And it’s not only limited to resistance training. It also improves aerobic capacity by optimizing VO2 max and other cardiovascular functions.

You’ll be able to lift heavier, sprint longer, or excel at any calorie-crushing modality of your choice. A 4-week program ended with a 17% improvement in cycling and an 18 lb increase in 1RM bench press. Thus, you can quickly widen the deficit and shed those extra pounds.

Another indirect upside of creatine is its help with muscle recovery, damage, and soreness after exhaustive exercises. Does creatine burn fat? Once muscles are secured, your body is directed to melt fat in the case of a deficit. Athletes frequently rely on creatine to reduce fat percentage without affecting muscular strength and power.

Why Is It Important to Distinguish Between Total Body Mass and Fat?

As much as we like to see those numbers climbing down on the scale, not every pound is created equal. You might see an athlete with a higher weight but a leaner and slimmer profile. The difference lies in the body composition, dissecting overall mass in the muscle-to-fat ratio. Let’s look at two helpful markers.

Having 20 pounds more fat may give you a fluffier appearance (and it’s not cute.) The functions are also distinct. Fats are insulators, whereas muscles boost your basal metabolic rate thus burn more calories. Although the role of muscle mass in overall caloric consumption is greater than fats, it’s still insignificant.

1. Body Mass Index (BMI)

BMI doesn’t factor in the fat and muscle distribution. The weight and height of an individual determine the index value. Still, BMI is as accurate for predicting metabolic and disease outcomes as more complex measures of body fatness.

Description	BMI Range
Underweight	<18.5
Normal	18.6-24.9
Overweight	25.0-29.9
Obesity	>30.0

2. Body Fat Percentage

There is a thing called normal weight obesity. Research indicates that a higher fat percentage exposes you to obesity-related diseases and death rate, regardless of what BMI shows. Following are the norms for different categories.

Description	BMI Range	Women
Essential Fat	2-5%	10-13%
Athletes	6-13%	14-20%
Fit People	14-17%	21-24%
Acceptable	18-24%	25-31%
Obese	>25%	>32%

Skin fold measurement and bioelectrical impedance analysis are readily available methods for body fat percentage in fitness and healthcare centers. These tools provide a rough estimate. More precise calculations with X-ray and water displacement are complicated and costly.

Why Is Creatine More Likely to Improve Body Composition in the Long Term?

By now, you have an idea that our goal is to get rid of stubborn fat. Does creatine help with fat loss? It surely can! Given enough time and necessary lifestyle changes, you’ll notice positive effects on your body weight and shape! There are three reasons to believe that. We’ll go over them one by one.

1. Influencing Fat Cells

Fat cells (adipocytes) are small pockets of energy. The elevation in body weight multiplies their size and quantity. Research tells us that the lack of creatine levels in these cells triggers obesity. Hence, enhancing creatine uptake to adipose tissues is an opportunity to lose weight over time. Although it may not translate into bodywide changes per se, the combination of creatine and exercise burns more fat than exercise alone.

2. Building Lean Muscles

Gaining lean muscles is a top priority. They are free of excessive fat and connective tissues. Does creatine make you lean? One study on sedentary females indicated a 60% difference in lean muscle gains between creatine-plus-exercise subjects and those who were only strength trained. Similarly, a meta-analysis of over 100 studies concerning the effects of creatine on body composition calculated an average 2.2% increase in lean mass and a 3.2% respective decrease in body fat.

3. Burning More Calories

The number of calories torched boils down to the type, intensity, and duration of the activity. For example, a 185 lb person can burn 168 or 440 calories with a half-hour yoga or rowing session, respectively. We know creatine supplements shore up your strength and endurance. A typical serving adds a negligible amount of calories. Furthermore, creatine metabolism has a significant role in controlling energy expenditure and diet-induced obesity.

Fact Check: Is creatine good for weight loss? The results of creatine monohydrate for weight loss aren’t researched as fiercely as for muscle strength and growth. There is an underlying link with energy expenditure, metabolism, and cellular bioenergetics. However, more human-subject research is required to disclose and apply the relationship between creatine and weight loss in clinical programs.

How to Lose Weight Using Creatine?

If you opt for creatine to lose weight, the following steps and tips will come in handy. While preparing for contests, bodybuilders are kept at a 0.5-1% weekly weight loss to maximize muscle retention. You should be slow and steady.

1. Maintain an Optimal Dosage

Creatine takes time to assimilate. There are two ways to observe supplements. First, you can go for the much-touted loading phase, where you’ll consume about five servings (roughly 20g) daily. It’s designed to fully saturate the muscles. The second route is to maintain a low dose (3-5g). This protocol will put you on par with loading within a couple of weeks. Plus, it won’t upset your stomach.

2. Don’t Worry About Timing

People wonder when to take creatine. It instantly boots performance. But it also repairs muscles post-workout. Actually, we have three camps: before, after, or whenever! Fitness coaches agree that you’ll reap all the benefits of creatine for weight loss and muscle gain as long as you’re consistent with the supplement. The exact timing is of not much importance. 

3. Take Vitamin D in Conjunction

Do you know almost 50% of the worldwide population has Vitamin D deficiency? It’s an important micronutrient that only a few food items and sun exposure can bring you. Adipose tissues store it, reducing the bioavailability. Those who have a higher BMI and fat percentage report lower blood levels of Vitamin D. A 12-week study confirmed the decrease in body fat with D3 supplementation. 

4. Do Resistance Training

Those cardio sessions are surely irreplaceable. But try to incorporate strength training into your routine. For one, you’ll put on lean muscles, leading to higher energy expenditure. Secondly, it’ll let you squeeze the maximum work out of phosphocreatine stocks. The best resistance training program relies on compound movements, progressive overload, and optimal recovery.

5. Get Enough Sleep and Water

Elders were right! Drink plenty of water. Excessive water helps with weight loss by suppressing appetite. It increases energy expenditure. It might also metabolize stored fats and carbs. Then, hydration hypes your body to perform well in workouts and let go of retained water weight. Sleeping is vital for all bodily functions, which include achieving and sustaining a healthy weight. 

6. Rein In Your Taste Buds

Even an hour-long sprint doesn’t count if you grab a Big Mac and Coke on your way back. Try fiber-rich items. Increase protein intake from 0.8g to 1.2g per kilo body weight to retain muscles during weight loss. Ditch refined carbs and added sugar. Supplement brands quietly slip a lot of them to add flavor and get you to buy more. Consult a professional nutritionist for a concrete diet plan.

7. Our Recommended Creatine Supplement – Transparent Labs CREATINE HMB

Transparent Labs Creatine HMB is an effective Strength Series formula. As per its name, the Utah-based company goes the extra mile to ensure transparency and certification of its products. They never use suspicious proprietary blends, artificial sweeteners, preservatives, or colors.

The Creatine HMB is available in two sizes and ten different flavors. There is an unflavored variant, too. Each scoop picks up almost 10g of powder. Half of which is creatine monohydrate. The rest comprises HMB – another compound claimed to build lean body mass and decrease fat mass. Vitamin D, BioPerine, and natural flavors only add to the attraction.

FAQ

Can I Lose Weight on Creatine?

Weight loss is 100% possible on creatine. It skyrockets energy production and builds strong, lean muscles. With credible dietary and workout guidelines, you can gradually dispose of fat accumulation and adjust body weight.  

Should I Take Creatine While Trying to Lose Weight?

We have little evidence to suggest that creatine directly facilitates your weight loss goals. However, it can’t sabotage them. On the other hand, creatine supplementation is good for exercise performance, muscle retention, and power output. All these things can be helpful while pushing for a calorie deficit. 

Does Creatine Help Gain or Lose Weight?

You may see unalarming water weight initially. Creatine decreases fat mass at best or doesn’t bother it at worst. In any case, stocking your muscles with creatine assures you’ll perform better in the gym. Now, it’s up to you whether to bulk up or slim down.

Conclusion

After decades of research, nobody questions the effectiveness of creatine. It works for building muscles and strength! The question is, what else does it work for? Does creatine help you lose weight? 

With consistency, you’ll see improvement in your athletic performance, lean body mass, and calorie expenditure. Thus, knocking your body back into the normal BMI range is pretty much possible. Remember, your diet and activity eventually determine the calorie surplus/deficit at the end of the day. Also, supplements are not medicines, hence outside of FDA purview. Make sure you’re getting a reputable formula.

What do you think about using creatine for weight loss? We’ll wait for your opinion in the comment section.

Also read:

• Creatine Monohydrate vs Micronized
• Should Teens Take Creatine
• Can You Take Creatine With Pre Workout
• Creatine Hydrochloride vs Monohydrate
• Does Creatine Make You Gain Weight
• Best Time to Take Creatine
• When Does Creatine Start Working
• How Much Creatine Is Too Much
• Types of Creatine

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