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#1
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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. |
#2
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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 |
#3
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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. |
#4
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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. |
#5
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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. |
#6
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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. |
#7
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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 |
#8
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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. |
#9
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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 |
#10
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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!!!! |
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