The water retention "side effect" of creatine is good for guys looking to add bulk, they call it an unwanted side effect but only in athletes who want to keep muscle mass to a minimum and concentrate on stamina. The water retention you get is not the same as what the ladies suffer from once a month, creatine forces water molecules into the muscle fibre which is one of the main reasons to make sure you drinks lots of water, this results in an increase in lean muscle mass, the muscle is stronger and feels harder. Make sure you take a break for a couple of weeks after your 4-6 week maintenance period as the body responds much better after a break from it.