Creatine and weight loss

Sure. Just toss the scale for a couple weeks and expect to gain a few pounds in the beginning because it’ll cause your muscles to retain some fluid.

Started a weight loss plan in January when I was 215. Currently at 180. (6’1 fwiw). Got down to 185 by March without creatine. Yeah, the number on the scale was nice, but my physique wasn’t what I had been hoping for. Was certainly more lean than when I was at 215 with less mass, but being “skinny fat” honestly just as demoralizing as being heavier was. Got back on creatine after that point and am still able to maintain my weight loss while getting more lean and adding muscle/strength. Lifting is more enjoyable now vs when I was simply focusing on cutting weight, and I’d credit that to creatine. So, to make a long post short, don’t worry about the water weight that comes with creatine. Focus on what will bring better results in the weight room and in front of the mirror.

creatine puts water in your muscles, not under your skin or around your organs.
And it can actually aid in fat loss.

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5’11 210 and looking to get down to 180-185.

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I’m a similar build to you. I’m 5’11 196 trying to get down below 180. Taking creatine in a cut. I started at 201. I’ve been stuck between 195-198 for the past 2 weeks, but I obviously look better, so I’m not sweating it right now. If I don’t drop weight next week I’ll probably just reassess calories in and go from there. My body comp is changing, so I know I’m on the right track.

You take it regardless if you work out or not?

I'm asking if I should take it before and after working out. It seems like it would benefit doing both.

One scoop every night for me. I take it prior to my workout just because it is easier to remember that way. If I'm riding, I'm adding some electrolytes to my water bottles anyways, and I add a scoop of creatine to a little cup of water and down it. If I'm lifting, I add a scoop of that and a scoop of preworkout and down it. The only days I might forget to take it is if I'm not working out, which is rare. I try to do something every night, even if it is just a short easy something to get moving.

It doesn’t matter. It’s not something that has an immediate effect on you. It has to “saturate” your system over a period of time (20 days or so), which is why a lot of people ascribe to a “loading” phase in the beginning to make the saturation happen quicker.

If you’re concerned about potential contaminants from (possible) Chinese manufacturing, yes. It’s basically certified to be made in German labs. Others may be manufactured in China or elsewhere. No difference in efficacy most likely.