Okay the water retention thing is what scares me. I weigh myself daily (I know, I know) and seeing the scale go UP would honestly send me into a spiral. My brain knows it's water but my anxiety doesn't care.

Anyone have tips for mentally handling that initial scale bump? Or should I just not weigh myself for 2 weeks when I start?

Honestly? Don't weigh yourself for 3 weeks when you start creatine. Or switch to weekly weigh-ins using a rolling average. The day-to-day fluctuations on creatine + GLP-1 + normal water/food variation can be like 2-3kg in either direction on any given day. It'll drive you nuts.

Better metrics while on creatine: waist circumference, how clothes fit, progress photos, lifting numbers. The scale becomes a less useful tool (it was never a great one honestly).

I'll play devil's advocate slightly. While creatine is safe and well-studied, I think the GLP-1 community sometimes treats it as a magic bullet for muscle preservation. It helps, yes, but the effect size is modest. The hierarchy should be:

1. Adequate protein intake (1.2-1.6g/kg) — biggest impact
2. Consistent resistance training with progressive overload — second biggest
3. Adequate sleep (7-9 hrs) — often overlooked, hugely important
4. Creatine 5g/day — helpful but marginal compared to the above

Don't add creatine while eating 60g protein and doing no exercise. Fix the foundations first.

Totally fair hierarchy. Creatine is the cherry on top, not the cake itself. Thanks everyone for the thorough discussion — this is exactly the kind of evidence-based conversation I was hoping for. Starting 5g/day tomorrow, no loading phase, with breakfast. Will report back in a month. 💊🏋️