After lifting for several months (3 full body workouts per week, mostly compound lifts) and eating clean with plently of protein, I was only seeing minimal gains in size and strength, so I decided to try Creatine Monohydrate. I bought the Body Fortress brand powder and was taking one heaping teaspoon in water post workout. I immediately started having stomach cramps and unbearable gas. I continued taking the Creatine every day thinking that my body just needed to get used to it. It never did. The stomach problems continued for several hours every time I took it, so I stopped using it.

Recently on this site and elsewhere I have read about "Kre-Alkalyn" which I understand is a buffered Creatine Monohydrate that is easier on the stomach. Can anyone with experience using this product tell me if this is the solution to the problem I have explained? I don't mind paying the higher price for it if it provides the same benefits of other Creatine Monohydrate products without the stomach problems.

Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

I haven't tried it, but here is a review:

Kre Alkalyn Creatine Review - SciFit Kre Alkalyn 1500 Creatine Review Information

From the 2nd to last paragraph:

"As well, Kre Alkalyn creatine's benefits such as no bloating and no upset stomachs is a major plus for individuals who tend to get bloated and/or get upset stomachs with regular creatine."

I suppose it might be worth a shot.

I had the same problems with creatine monohydrate.....the problem is monohydrates don't absord into your system without carbohydrates, at least 50 grams of them.You can keep taking the Body Fortress but just make sure you stir in some carb powder as well

try this creatine. BSN Cellmass Creatine - Supplements101.com

its no monohydrate so you won't have any problems. Plus youll retain less water.

Yeah, if you are getting bloated on monohydrate, switch over to something like Tomohawk suggested.

I would buy PURE creatine ethyl ester...rather than BSN crap.

no science supports Kre-alkalyn, so for the price, a pure CEE is a better choice than a so-called 'buffered' creatine.

Also, why aren't you taking creatine post workout in a protein shake? And how's pre-workout nutrition? It almost sounds like your stomach is just too friggin empty and that's why you get the gut aches...though it is also possible you're one of the unlucky people that gets the side effects of creatine monohydrate.

I've heard of GI problems with mono, cee, and krealk.. So don't assum that cee or anything else would for sure be better.

Thanks for the replies and suggestions. I do have a few questions if you don't mind.

1. What is the specific difference between creatine ethyl ester and monohydrate? and what is BSN?

2. What is recommended for pre-workout nutrition? I usually drink a lot of water and sometimes a coffee pre-workout. I am eating 5-6 meals a day, so I am usually within a couple hours of eating before and after a workout.
My current post workout nutrition is a protein shake in skim milk and either a piece of fruit or a meal.

3. Is it ok to mix the creatine in with my protein - skim milk shake?

4. 50 grams of carbs with my creatine in order for it to absorb/work? Is this true? I'm still trying to shed a few pounds of fat. I would hate to increase my carb intake another 50 grams per day if this isn't necessary. At that point it may defeat my purpose of using creatine. I plan to be on a calorie defecit and reduced carb diet for a few more months. My BF% is currently at 23% and I'm trying to get to 15% before summer.

5. Are any of these options proven to be "easy on the stomach" (monohydrate with food/carbs, ethyl ester, Kre-Alkalyn, Cellmass...)? I would really like to know what the best choice is for the stomach issues before spending more money to avoid the trial and error / process of elimination.

Thanks again for your help.

5.