I Tried Creatine for a Year—My Results Shocked Me - AOL.com

Skeptical at first, I tried the trendy supplement—then gained 7 pounds of muscle in a year Comments TOP STORIES Getty Tap Here To Add Woman's World As A Trusted Source Add as a preferred source on Google function onGenuinSdkLoad_content() { console.log(' Content player initialized'); } function onGenuinSdkError_content() { console.error(' Failed to load SDK script for content player'); } function toggleBlocksGS() { const banner = document.querySelector('.add-to-google-banner__wrapper___1PWZa'); const widget = document.querySelector('.begenuin-inline-widget-static'); if (!banner || !widget) { return; } if (Math.random() < 0.5) { banner.style.display = 'block'; widget.style.display = 'none'; } else { banner.style.display = 'none'; widget.style.display = 'block'; } } toggleBlocksGS(); Key Takeaways After a year of consistent use, I gained 7 pounds of muscle—no major routine changes required. Creatine can help women over 50 build strength, support energy and stay strong as they age. Consistency matters most—daily use led to steady strength and muscle gains As a health editor for the past 30 years, I’ve seen trends come and go. I’ve reported on (and tried!) plenty of them, from Atkins and keto to fasting, Peloton and more. So when I saw influencers raving about creatine, claiming the supplement (a compound the body uses to fuel muscles) would help me build muscle and improve my focus and energy, I was skeptical—then curious. When the buzz didn’t fade and doctors and dietitians were weighing in with mostly positive reviews, I dug into the research. I learned that unlike many TikTok trends, creatine is the real deal: Those muscle-building, brain-boosting benefits have been documented in multiple studies. And it’s not just for bodybuilders—it has real benefits for women who want to feel healthy and strong as we age. Curious, I decided to give it a shot. I picked up Nutricost Creatine Monohydrate, a no-frills brand recommended by a fitness pro I follow on Instagram. It was cheap (about $20 for 100 servings), available on Amazon and it had great reviews. I knew that, as with exercise, consistency is key. So every morning I added one scoop (5 grams) of creatine to a glass of water and drank it as I worked out. (I figured if it tasted awful, I’d be less picky mid-workout when I’m genuinely thirsty.)  Woman's World Answers What supplements can lower my blood pressure? How does type 1.5 diabetes differ from type 2? How can I get my doctor to listen to me? How can I ease joint pain and arthritis? Is melatonin safe? What supplements can lower my blood pressure? How does type 1.5 diabetes differ from type 2? How can I get my doctor to listen to me? How can I ease joint pain and arthritis? Is melatonin safe? What’s the best time to take my multivitamin? Do statins cause weight gain? Why does my vagina itch? What’s going on with Dolly Parton’s health? Can protein ramen really boost weight loss? What’s the best time to take my multivitamin? Do statins cause weight gain? Why does my vagina itch? What’s going on with Dolly Parton’s health? Can protein ramen really boost weight loss? Powered by document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', () => { document.body.classList.add('has-gist-answers-widget'); }); I’ve been lifting weights several times a week for years. And in 2020, when COVID hit and my gym shut down, I subscribed to the fitness streaming service BODi (formerly Beachbody) and started working out in my basement. I track my progress—how heavy I lift, what feels easier and when I’m finally ready to bump up to heavier weights. At first, nothing happened. The scale crept up a bit, but I expected that: Creatine increases water retention in cells, leading to temporary weight gain. Plus, my weight always fluctuates, as it does for many women in perimenopause. Mostly, I tried not to think about it and stuck with my routine of working out, taking walks and eating healthy-ish. I tried a few other brands of creatine, finding others I liked as well, including LTH Power Creating Monohydrate (a supplement created by the people behind Life Time fitness centers), and BodyTech Creatine Monohydrate. Six months later, I did a deep dive on the app for my smart scale, which tracks everything from body fat percentage to muscle mass. That’s when I saw that I had gained 3 pounds of muscle. Thrilled, but aware that these scales aren’t fully accurate, I wondered if the creatine had actually worked. With nothing to lose, I kept going. Then, in February, a year after I started, the scale showed my muscle mass was up 7 pounds—and the only change I made was my morning scoop of creatine. I also noticed that, while I didn’t have the arms of Linda Hamilton in her Terminator era (yet!), my arms, shoulders and legs felt firmer and I was lifting heavier weights. Do I have a huge brain boost to report? No, but I’ve never experienced the brain fog that plagues many women my age. I do feel strong and healthy, so I’m sticking with my scoop, working out and getting ready to break out the tank tops this summer! Ready for more?