Hi Joe

Carbohydrate supplements are usually used to carbo-load before an endurance event (eg a marathon). On a day to day basis, with normal training loads, you should be able to get sufficient carbohydrates from your diet. I suggest you write to Dietdoc, to ask her how you can increase your carbohydrate intake with food rather than wasting money on supplements.

There is data that suggests that creatine supplementation enhances physiological adaptations to resistance training, probably by being able to train more intensely. However, much of this research has been laboratory-based. Re side effects, anecdotally, creatine could cause gastrointestinal distress, nausea and cramping. Studies on long-term side effects have not been published. There is some concern about long-term effects on the kidneys.

If it were me, I would rather continue training optimally, eating optimally, letting my body develop naturally. I would rather spend the money seeing an expert who could optimsise my training programme, since this only has positive side effects. However, you are the one who has to weigh up the pros and cons. I suggest you do a search on this website for further views on creatine, since I'm sure they have several articles archived on this topic.

Good luck with your decision.