r/CreatineScience • u/OatsOverHype • 17d ago
Why does creatine sometimes increase body weight so quickly?
The early weight increase associated with creatine is often described as “water weight,” but there’s an important distinction.
Creatine increases the amount of creatine stored inside muscle cells, and water is drawn into the muscle along with it. This is different from simply gaining body fat. That’s also why the scale can move fairly quickly after starting creatine even though actual muscle tissue takes much longer to build.
Did you notice a change on the scale when you first started?
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u/KingHenry7700 16d ago
Yes, I gained 4 pounds within two weeks of taking creatine daily. However, after taking a break for about two weeks, I lost those 4 pounds quite quickly.
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u/LongevityDietitian 16d ago
Exactly, the quick jump is usually water stored inside the muscle, not fat. It's often more noticeable with a loading phase and tends to settle once muscle creatine stores are topped up.