Tales of a Hernia... maybe/ and whats up with Creatin

Most guys seem to say wait until goal for the creatine.  I guess that reasoning is compelling if you find it compelling.  Which is to say, if it is going to bother/discourage you to have your weight be more erratic (in my experience, +/- 8 pounds  is about accurate), don't take it.  I personally take it right now and just do my best to take my daily/weekly weight numbers in context (that is, they are unpredictable, probably reflect a few pounds I could lose quickly by dropping the creatine, and I look at body fat percentage and my own records about how I'm eating/exercising as the steadier indicators of my progress).  The scientific (and anecdotal) consensus is that it works, but you have to be working out hard for the effects to materialize (no point in taking it if you won't be able to lift for a couple months, for example). As for cycling, I don't know.  Part of me thinks that it's just a holdover from the steroid mentality (which you have to cycle or face problems).  But I suppose it's possible your body could adapt to creatine, as it does to anything, so I myself cycle it even though I'm not sure it's necessary. When you do decide to try it, buy pure creatine, not the flavored drinks.  The latter have lots of sugar which you might not be able to handle, and you are paying a heafty price for that sugar and coolaid flavoring.  If you can take the carbs, you can always add them yourself.