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How much creatine should a woman over 40 take?

Answered by Nikkiey Stott and her guests · Updated

The short answer

Nikkiey recommends 3 to 5 grams of creatine monohydrate a day, roughly half a teaspoon, taken every day rather than only on training days. No loading phase and no cycling. She takes 5 grams each morning stirred into her coffee, and says it mixes easily into water or a smoothie.

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  1. Nikkiey on the 3 to 5 gram daily dose and how she takes hers in coffee

    Plays from 16:37 · Ep. 408: Should Women Over 40 Take Creatine?

  2. Nikkiey on half a teaspoon a day, mixed into any drink, every single day

    Plays from 13:31 · Video: Training Rules Built for Men That Women Over 40 Should Drop

  3. Why Nikkiey says to skip the creatine loading phase

    Plays from 16:09 · Ep. 408: Should Women Over 40 Take Creatine?

  4. Nikkiey's bottom line: daily monohydrate, no cycling, paired with lifting and protein

    Plays from 17:45 · Ep. 408: Should Women Over 40 Take Creatine?

The full answer

On Ep. 408, Nikkiey explains why the dose is the same seven days a week: 3 to 5 grams is the maintenance dose that keeps your muscles saturated and topped up. Skip a few days because you didn't train and you're working against that. In her video on training rules built for men, she puts it simply: your body needs a consistent supply to keep the stores topped off.

She's also clear about what you don't need to do:

  • No loading phase. The old protocol of around 20 grams a day for a week may get you there faster, she says, but it also causes GI discomfort.
  • No cycling on and off. Just consistency.
  • No special timing. Stir it into any liquid; she says it's tasteless and dissolves easily.

Patience matters. Nikkiey says not to expect to notice anything in the first week. Take it consistently for 14 to 21 days and you should see some improvement. What she says you'll notice is feeling stronger in the gym, recovering faster between sessions and, over time, sharper thinking. She also says you won't bulk up, and you won't get puffy or bloated if you use the right form, which is creatine monohydrate.

Creatine isn't a shortcut on its own. Nikkiey calls it arguably the single most important supplement for women over 40 who strength train, and she says it delivers the biggest return when paired with progressive strength training and enough protein. If you have a medical condition or take medications, it's worth checking with your doctor before adding any supplement.

From Nikkiey Stott and WarriorBabe's coaching. For education, not medical advice: talk to your doctor about your own health.

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    Can creatine help with brain fog in perimenopause?

    Nikkiey says it can. Your brain uses creatine for energy the same way your muscles do, and she points to studies showing better memory, processing speed and executive function. She noticed more clarity and energy herself during a stretch of brain fog and fatigue, and calls it directly relevant to perimenopause brain fog.

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    Will creatine make women look bulky?

    No. Nikkiey explains that creatine doesn't add bulk or fat. It pulls water into your muscle cells, which can raise the scale 2 to 4 pounds in the first week or two and make muscles look slightly fuller. That's hydration of muscle tissue, and fuller muscles look more defined, not bigger.

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    Do I need to cycle off creatine?

    No. On Ep. 408 of The WarriorBabe Show, Nikkiey explains that no research supports cycling creatine, and your body's own creatine production doesn't shut down in a way that requires breaks. She points to studies running out to five years showing no adverse effects in healthy people, so you can take it continuously.

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