HELP! question about foot cramps
 

Recently, mostly while swimming but sometimes while at work, I have started
to get the WORST foot cramps. I had been mowing before I went swimming for
about 3 hours, and i had plenty of water while doing this (not sure if its
related but it seems to be since I do not seem to get them as often if I
dont walk or mow first). They are sort of like a charley horse because the
more I try to stretch out my arch the worse they get and then my calf will
start up as well. I had to get out of the pool the other night after only
22 of my 35 laps completed because I was pretty much incapacitated by it.
My friends magic answer was "Eat a banana or drink some gatorade before you
swim you probably need potassium" but neither is low carb and I already
take a vitamin and extra calcuim daily. What might be another solution
that IS lower carb?

--
Low Carb since 11/12/03
235ish/175/135
Goal for June: 165 for a loss of 10 lbs.

HELP! question about foot cramps
 

"Lily" wrote in message
. 167...
Recently, mostly while swimming but sometimes while at work, I have
started
to get the WORST foot cramps. I had been mowing before I went swimming
for
about 3 hours, and i had plenty of water while doing this (not sure if its
related but it seems to be since I do not seem to get them as often if I
dont walk or mow first). They are sort of like a charley horse because the
more I try to stretch out my arch the worse they get and then my calf will
start up as well. I had to get out of the pool the other night after only
22 of my 35 laps completed because I was pretty much incapacitated by it.
My friends magic answer was "Eat a banana or drink some gatorade before
you
swim you probably need potassium" but neither is low carb and I already
take a vitamin and extra calcuim daily. What might be another solution
that IS lower carb?

Oh! I feel for you. My first month low-carb I had some SEVERE muscle
cramps in my legs and feet. Worse than ever before. Somebody told me to
try taking a Magnesium supplement.
I looked at my multivitamin bottle and it only had like 15% of the daily
value Magnesium.
Anyhow, I added a magnesium supplement to my daily pills and after a week of
it kicking in, I have not had a single cramp since. Good to know, because
even before low-carb, I used to get an occassional calf cramp, and couldn't
go more than 2 weeks without a toe cramping. On low carb, the cramps became
worse, and that charley-horse type cramp you describe woke me up from
sleeping. So that is my suggestion.


--
Spring
LC since 1/1/04
260/215/170

HELP! question about foot cramps
 

You can buy potassium supplements or try a little lite salt.
--
Nancy S+13
Atkins Off and On Since 1999
Back on the Wagon Since May 30, 2004
Gotta Remember This Is a WOL, Not a Diet!
180.5/177.5/125

"Lily" wrote in message
. 167...
Recently, mostly while swimming but sometimes while at work, I have
started
to get the WORST foot cramps. I had been mowing before I went swimming
for
about 3 hours, and i had plenty of water while doing this (not sure if its
related but it seems to be since I do not seem to get them as often if I
dont walk or mow first). They are sort of like a charley horse because the
more I try to stretch out my arch the worse they get and then my calf will
start up as well. I had to get out of the pool the other night after only
22 of my 35 laps completed because I was pretty much incapacitated by it.
My friends magic answer was "Eat a banana or drink some gatorade before
you
swim you probably need potassium" but neither is low carb and I already
take a vitamin and extra calcuim daily. What might be another solution
that IS lower carb?

--
Low Carb since 11/12/03
235ish/175/135
Goal for June: 165 for a loss of 10 lbs.

HELP! question about foot cramps
 

"Pat" wrote in :

I too am a swimmer and occasionally get foot cramps. Mine are usually
caused by uneven push offs from the end of the lane while turning.

I unfortunately am not a good enough swimmer to "turn" so to speak lol.
Perhaps one of the swim team girls can help me with learning this though I
will ask them on Monday.

--
Low Carb since 11/12/03
235ish/175/135
Goal for June: 165 for a loss of 10 lbs.

HELP! question about foot cramps
 

"Sprgtime" wrote in news:w46dnQnU9Mo0U17dRVn-
:

I looked at my multivitamin bottle and it only had like 15% of the daily
value Magnesium.

I take a cal/mag/zinc three times a day on top of my multi but maybe it is
still weak because the mag/zinc parts seem low now that you mentioned it.
I will look into maybe a higher ratio of those when I need to restock in a
week or so.

--
Low Carb since 11/12/03
235ish/175/135
Goal for June: 165 for a loss of 10 lbs.

HELP! question about foot cramps
 

Please be careful with potassium!

A pharmacist and my doctor have told me that if you take in too much, it
may negatively affect your heart rhythm.

I asked about it at a local pharmacy, and the pharmacist was very
concerned that someone would consider it without a doctor's
recommendation. Our pharmacies will not stock it on the outer shelves -
you have to ask for it (like iron and 222s).

I asked my doctor about it, and she stated that nobody should take
potassium unless they have a deficiency, and the only way to confirm a
deficiency is to do a blood test.

It really scares me when I see people nonchalantly state that they take
potassium, in the same manner they would say they take a multivitamin.

Deb
230/208.5/135
June 2002 - 260; Dec 2002 - 210; March 2004 - 230
Goal for May 31 - 209, reached on May 30
Goal for June 30 - 199


nanekitoo wrote:
You can buy potassium supplements or try a little lite salt.

HELP! question about foot cramps
 

Ask your doctor for a blood test to see what you're deficient in before
adding more supplements.
I was taking 500mg calcium/day for the last 7 years. When I went LC, I
added 500mg magnesium and 100mg potassium because my plan recommended them.
But then I started having heart palpitations and my skin got dry and
leathery.
My blood test showed that I was slightly over the limit for potassium (the
heart palpitations) and a lot over for calcium (the dry leathery skin).
I've since stopped all supplements except for a daily multi and magnesium.
I'm getting everything I need from the food on my new eating plan so don't
need the supplements.
It's a lot safer to find out for sure what you need rather than trying to
self-diagnose and possibly run into more problems.

on Mon, 07 Jun 2004 02:52:33 GMT, Lily
wrote:

I take a cal/mag/zinc three times a day on top of my multi but maybe it is
still weak because the mag/zinc parts seem low now that you mentioned it.
I will look into maybe a higher ratio of those when I need to restock in a
week or so.

-----
Bev

HELP! question about foot cramps
 

Broccoli is working for me. I hate broccoli, but as long as I pretend that
I'm only eating it so I can have the Ranch dressing I'm dipping it in, I'm
fine. If I don't eat the damn broccoli, the leg and foot cramps start up,
and the restless legs are even worse at bedtime which only exacerbates the
cramping and charley horses. I tried a banana - but I hate them worse than
broccoli - and they're not low carb, as you mention. I think the broccoli
works better. Nice thing about broccoli is, it's hard to eat too much
potassium that way - your body will kind of self-regulate on how much
broccoli you can stand to eat. I buy two heads and it lasts me about two
weeks - I just eat it a couple of times a day, two or three florets at a
time, if I'm in the kitchen and remotely feel like grazing.

DebH
296/???/200
WOE since 10/01/2004


"Lily" wrote in message
. 167...
Recently, mostly while swimming but sometimes while at work, I have
started
to get the WORST foot cramps. I had been mowing before I went swimming
for
about 3 hours, and i had plenty of water while doing this (not sure if its
related but it seems to be since I do not seem to get them as often if I
dont walk or mow first). They are sort of like a charley horse because the
more I try to stretch out my arch the worse they get and then my calf will
start up as well. I had to get out of the pool the other night after only
22 of my 35 laps completed because I was pretty much incapacitated by it.
My friends magic answer was "Eat a banana or drink some gatorade before
you
swim you probably need potassium" but neither is low carb and I already
take a vitamin and extra calcuim daily. What might be another solution
that IS lower carb?

--
Low Carb since 11/12/03
235ish/175/135
Goal for June: 165 for a loss of 10 lbs.

HELP! question about foot cramps
 

Lack of magnesium and cramps seems to be a common theme - I saw an
article in the coeliac support group on the point.

One book I read on minerals and vitamins suggests a daily does of
between 500mg and 1000mg (Lieberman & Bruning's The Real Vitamin &
Mineral Book). Other authorities suggest in the range 250mg - 500mg.

David
--------------------
http://www.supavit.com

HELP! question about foot cramps
 

barrdbarrbarr wrote:

It really scares me when I see people nonchalantly state that they take
potassium, in the same manner they would say they take a multivitamin.

Yes I am thinking the same as well. When there are so many natural (and
cheaper) sources for potassium, I don't understand why people went straight for
the pharmacist whenever they're told they need some minerals / vitamins. One of
the major thing about low-carbing is to eat natural living food, you don't need
the pharmacist all the time!!!!