JJ Virgin explains how creatine actually works: it powers your muscles and brain through the creatine-phosphate system, not by bloating you with water. Ninety-five percent sits in muscle, 5 percent in your brain, where it helps with energy, sleep deprivation, and mood. The weight gain myth comes from intracellular fluid, which you can minimize with the right form.
Let's clear up some confusion. Number 1, creatine does not work because it draws water into your body. Creatine works because it's part of the creatine phosphate system that helps you with energy production. And 95% of your creatine is in your muscles, 5% is in your brain. And that 5% that, that's in your brain, if you have enough creatine on board, is energizing. So it can help with sleep deprivation, jet lag, and a better mood. You don't have to gain weight. By taking creatine. If you're taking the right type of creatine, quite often you won't see any weight gain whatsoever. And if you do, it's a little bit of intracellular fluid in the muscles, which is a good thing.
