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  #1   ^
Old Thu, Aug-17-17, 14:41
penelope85 penelope85 is offline
Registered Member
Posts: 37
 
Plan: Atkins
Stats: 286.8/257.7/190 Female 70 inches  (5'10")
BF:
Progress: 30%
Default Leg Cramps

I'm on extended induction (Atkins 72) and while I have more energy than ever before and am losing weight, the leg cramps I'm getting are severe. They occur most often when I'm trying to sleep and keep/wake me up nearly every night. I drink zero cal/carb propel, have chicken broth every day, add as much salt as is palatble to my food, and have begun taking daily vitamins which include magnesium and potassium. The most prevalent vegetable in my diet is spinach, which I understand also has a significant amount of potassium. I drink plenty of water, approx. 100+ oz a day. Alas, the cramps are a near daily occurrence and really have me feeling discouraged. My legs are sore all the time. It also makes it difficult to exercise. Any suggestions??

Last edited by penelope85 : Thu, Aug-17-17 at 14:46.
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  #2   ^
Old Thu, Aug-17-17, 15:20
deirdra's Avatar
deirdra deirdra is offline
Senior Member
Posts: 4,324
 
Plan: vLC/GF,CF,SF
Stats: 197/136/150 Female 66 inches
BF:
Progress: 130%
Location: Alberta
Default

Welcome to the board, Penelope! This is a common occurrence. In addition to Potassium, you need more Sodium & Magnesium. Check out this thread:
http://forum.lowcarber.org/showthread.php?t=445775
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  #3   ^
Old Thu, Aug-17-17, 15:48
penelope85 penelope85 is offline
Registered Member
Posts: 37
 
Plan: Atkins
Stats: 286.8/257.7/190 Female 70 inches  (5'10")
BF:
Progress: 30%
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by deirdra
Welcome to the board, Penelope! This is a common occurrence. In addition to Potassium, you need more Sodium & Magnesium. Check out this thread:
http://forum.lowcarber.org/showthread.php?t=445775


Thanks for responding. I've read that previously, as well as countless other thread and article on this subject. I have taken all the suggested steps (listed in my post) to alleviate the cramps and nothing has worked. Suppose maybe I should see a doctor. Ugh.
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  #4   ^
Old Thu, Aug-17-17, 15:53
thud123's Avatar
thud123 thud123 is offline
Senior Member
Posts: 7,422
 
Plan: P:E=>1 (Q3-22)
Stats: 168/100/82 Male 182cm
BF:
Progress: 79%
Default

do you drink coffee?
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  #5   ^
Old Thu, Aug-17-17, 16:15
penelope85 penelope85 is offline
Registered Member
Posts: 37
 
Plan: Atkins
Stats: 286.8/257.7/190 Female 70 inches  (5'10")
BF:
Progress: 30%
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by thud123
do you drink coffee?


I do drink coffee, usually 2 cups a day, rarely more than that.
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  #6   ^
Old Thu, Aug-17-17, 17:16
thud123's Avatar
thud123 thud123 is offline
Senior Member
Posts: 7,422
 
Plan: P:E=>1 (Q3-22)
Stats: 168/100/82 Male 182cm
BF:
Progress: 79%
Default

Try stopping for a week
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  #7   ^
Old Thu, Aug-17-17, 17:58
penelope85 penelope85 is offline
Registered Member
Posts: 37
 
Plan: Atkins
Stats: 286.8/257.7/190 Female 70 inches  (5'10")
BF:
Progress: 30%
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by thud123
Try stopping for a week

Just curious, is there some science behind your suggestion? Or anecdotal evidences? I only ask because I've never seen it mentioned and I am loathe to give up my coffee if it is for naught!!
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  #8   ^
Old Thu, Aug-17-17, 18:28
cotonpal's Avatar
cotonpal cotonpal is online now
Senior Member
Posts: 5,283
 
Plan: very low carb real food
Stats: 245/125/135 Female 62
BF:
Progress: 109%
Location: Vermont
Default

How much magnesium do you take?

Jean
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  #9   ^
Old Thu, Aug-17-17, 19:20
Kristine's Avatar
Kristine Kristine is offline
Forum Moderator
Posts: 25,581
 
Plan: Primal/P:E
Stats: 171/146/150 Female 5'7"
BF:
Progress: 119%
Location: Southern Ontario, Canada
Default

Hi and welcome. I've struggled with this too, for a long time, mainly because I really don't like salty food.

I've had it bad for the last 5-6 weeks now that our non-AC house is hot and I'm sweating a lot; and what really seems to have helped for the last few weeks is a calcium/magnesium supplement that I actually bought by accident. Calcium is an electrolyte, too. Ever since I switched to the cal/mag, I've only had a few mild twitches, no full-on hit-the-ceiling cramps.

Also notable - I don't drink coffee once the house gets hot (so no cream, either) and I gave up cheese because my pants were getting too tight. I'm also not a big fan of the "veggie" sources of calcium. Hmmm.

On the subject of coffee, Thud might have been concerned about the diuretic effect of caffeine. IMO, though, 2 cups a day is something your body adapts to and it's not like you're massively dehydrating yourself. If you're concerned, you could always switch to decaf. Besides, coffee is actually a pretty decent source of potassium - over 300 mg in 20 fl oz.
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  #10   ^
Old Thu, Aug-17-17, 19:36
AeKeenLass AeKeenLass is offline
Senior Member
Posts: 165
 
Plan: Not sure yet
Stats: 160/152/140 Female 5'9"
BF:
Progress: 40%
Location: Northern California
Default

I'm in the same boat as Penelope. My leg cramps aren't quite as severe yet but it's going to be hard for me to quit coffee right now, on top of changing my eating. I don't think it's a crutch I can let go of quite yet. The multivitamin I take doesn't have much magnesium, so I guess I might look into getting a supplement. Do people eating LC tend to need to supplement with magnesium forever, or just during the transition to LC?
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  #11   ^
Old Thu, Aug-17-17, 20:10
robynsnest's Avatar
robynsnest robynsnest is offline
Senior Member
Posts: 2,146
 
Plan: Atkins
Stats: 336/286/199 Female 5'11"
BF:Losing it....
Progress: 36%
Location: Canada ay?
Default

My right leg is fused, i Have no knee...
I have suffered terribly with cramps in my calf, cannot bend my leg to help relieve the cramps, often I have to run a hot hot bath, as hot as I ban stand. It's bad when I'm tired and when it's high humidity.... 500mg twice a day of magnesium seems to do the trick for me...
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  #12   ^
Old Thu, Aug-17-17, 20:24
barb712's Avatar
barb712 barb712 is offline
Senior Member
Posts: 1,435
 
Plan: Atkins
Stats: 240/188/185 Female 5'11"
BF:
Progress: 95%
Default

If my feet and ankles get cold, especially when I'm sleeping, they cramp up. I usually sleep in several layers of socks for that reason, but I find taking a magnesium pill before bed helps a lot. I take the recommended dose of 135 mg of mag citrate three times a day: when I wake up, in the late afternoon, and before bed. I find that spreading it out through the day works best for me.

P.S. Avocados are a great source of potassium and magnesium, so if you like them it's good to make them a regular part of your diet.

Hope you're feeling better soon!
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  #13   ^
Old Thu, Aug-17-17, 20:53
Liz53's Avatar
Liz53 Liz53 is offline
Senior Member
Posts: 6,140
 
Plan: Mostly Fung/IDM
Stats: 165/138.4/135 Female 63
BF:???/better/???
Progress: 89%
Location: Washington state
Default

Salt, salt, salt.

Quote:
I drink zero cal/carb propel, have chicken broth every day, add as much salt as is palatble to my food


If you are not taking in enough salt to balance the water you are drinking, the other electrolytes (potassium, calcium, magnesium, chloride) are going down the toilet. Literally.

Can you quantify (as in teaspoons) how much salt you are drinking each day? How many cups of chicken broth? Also, 100 oz of water per day may be excessive. Are you drinking to meet thirst or drinking more because you think it is good for you?
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  #14   ^
Old Thu, Aug-17-17, 22:46
Mama Sebo's Avatar
Mama Sebo Mama Sebo is offline
Senior Member
Posts: 5,202
 
Plan: Keto, IF
Stats: 224/136/124 Female 64 inches
BF:44%/23%/20%
Progress: 88%
Location: Kenya-teleworking Austria
Default

Anecdotal n=1 (me) -- I must drink enough WATER daily or I get horribly debilitating cramps in my calves. I have to balance getting up once or twice in the night to pee, or being up for hours stomping around trying to get the calves to untie. three litres per day or else. And not all in the morning, some in the later afternoon (hence the getting up to pee). I do all the potassium, magnesium, etc, but without the straight water .....ooooeeee!
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  #15   ^
Old Thu, Aug-17-17, 23:23
mike_d's Avatar
mike_d mike_d is offline
Grease is the word!
Posts: 8,475
 
Plan: PSMF/IF
Stats: 236/181/180 Male 72 inches
BF:disappearing!
Progress: 98%
Location: Alamo city, Texas
Default

I drink mineral water in the Summer. I found athletic support knee socks help to prevent cramps, increasing circulation in the legs and reducing fatigue. I wear those during the day. When I used to get a painful cramp a large vibrator applied relaxed it. Walking on it can pull the muscle and cause soreness.
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