‘I Rolled My Eyes at Creatine—Then My Scale Showed +7 Pounds of Muscle’

As a health editor for the past 30 years, I’ve seen trends come and go. I’ve reported on (and tried!) plenty of them, from Atkins and keto to fasting, Peloton and more. So when I saw influencers raving about creatine, claiming the supplement (a compound the body uses to fuel muscles) would help me build muscle and improve my focus and energy, I was skeptical—then curious. When the buzz didn’t fade and doctors and dietitians were weighing in with mostly positive reviews, I dug into the research.

Testing it out

I learned that unlike many TikTok trends, creatine is the real deal: Those muscle-building, brain-boosting benefits have been documented in multiple studies. And it’s not just for bodybuilders—it has real benefits for women who want to feel healthy and strong as we age.

Curious, I decided to give it a shot. I picked up Nutricost Creatine Monohydrate, a no-frills brand recommended by a fitness pro I follow on Instagram. It was cheap (about $20 for 100 servings), available on Amazon and it had great reviews. I knew that, as with exercise, consistency is key. So every morning I added one scoop (5 grams) of creatine to a glass of water and drank it as I worked out. (I figured if it tasted awful, I’d be less picky mid-workout when I’m genuinely thirsty.) 

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I’ve been lifting weights several times a week for years. And in 2020, when COVID hit and my gym shut down, I subscribed to the fitness streaming service BODi (formerly Beachbody) and started working out in my basement. I track my progress—how heavy I lift, what feels easier and when I’m finally ready to bump up to heavier weights.

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Waiting for results

At first, nothing happened. The scale crept up a bit, but I expected that: Creatine increases water retention in cells, leading to temporary weight gain. Plus, my weight always fluctuates, as it does for many women in perimenopause.

Mostly, I tried not to think about it and stuck with my routine of working out, taking walks and eating healthy-ish. I tried a few other brands of creatine, finding others I liked as well, including LTH Power Creatine Monohydrate (a supplement created by the people behind Life Time fitness centers), and BodyTech Creatine Monohydrate from the Vitamin Shoppe.

Then it happened

Six months later, I did a deep dive on the app for my smart scale, which tracks everything from body fat percentage to muscle mass. That’s when I saw that I had gained 3 pounds of muscle.

Thrilled, but aware that these scales aren’t fully accurate, I wondered if the creatine had actually worked. With nothing to lose, I kept going. Then, in February, a year after I started, the scale showed my muscle mass was up 7 pounds—and the only change I made was my morning scoop of creatine.

I also noticed that, while I didn’t have the arms of Linda Hamilton in her Terminator era (yet!), my arms, shoulders and legs felt firmer and I was lifting heavier weights.

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Do I have a huge brain boost to report? No, but I’ve never experienced the brain fog that plagues many women my age. I do feel strong and healthy, so I’m sticking with my scoop, working out and getting ready to break out the tank tops this summer!

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This article originally appeared in the 5/4/26 print issue of Woman’s World.