Leg cramps?

123juliaj123

Is it usual to get a lot of leg cramps when you are losing and have lost weight?

I have lost 50lbs so far and every morning when I wake I get cramp in my legs as I begin to move on waking.
Tonight I went swimming and the leg cramps just kept coming so much that I thought I would have to just give up and go home. The water wasnt cold and I felt well enough otherwise apart from being tired after working all day.

The cramps seem to be getting more frequent and worse and have been going on for about 6 months or so
Is this cramp normal for other people losing weight please?

IILikeToMoveItMoveIt

I get cramps and or soreness if I'm in need of potassium or magnesium or if I work an area too hard. Easily fixed with nutrition and or rest.

superhockeymom

I get bad leg cramps when I go low carb potassium seems to work

DeguelloTex

Sounds more like low potassium and/or dehydration than weight loss.

Liftng4Lis

DeguelloTex wrote: »

Sounds more like low potassium and/or dehydration than weight loss.

Yep

Cherimoose

Which muscles in your legs? Calves? Back of the thighs? Front?
Try stretching them a few times a day. Also increase your veggie intake.

Unknown

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123juliaj123

I am on low carbs and the cramps are mostly in my calves and sometimes in my feet as well.

I take lots of veg already.
Just went to the late night supermarket and got magnesium and multi vitamin with iron and will take those as prescribed.
thanks for the advice everyone, I will also increase my water intake just in case it is something to do with that.

Trying pretty much everything as its horrible

123juliaj123

btw I looked for potassium they didnt have it..will look somewhere else for that tommmorow

MoiAussi93

123juliaj123 wrote: »

btw I looked for potassium they didnt have it..will look somewhere else for that tommmorow

I just use a salt substitute for potassium. That's what most of them are made of. Either salt your food with it, or put about 1/4 of a teaspoon in a glass of water. That will take care of it.

Sunny_Bunny_

If you are low carb, then it is loss of electrolytes.
I mentioned to you in another thread that getting enough salt is very important when eating low carb. If you get enough salt it will help with potassium loss but it can also be easily supplemented with NuSalt or LoSalt. They are potassium chloride salt substitutes you find with table salt at the store. Just sprinkle it on food with some regular salt too.
Also, keep in mind that the more water you drink the more salt you will need.
In that thread 4 days ago, you mentioned you were going to cut back on salt because of advise you got from several people. Now you have cramping from loss of electrolytes. You need quite a bit of salt when you eat low carb because you lose more water. You will lose most of the salt you consume. I aim for a minimum of 3000mg a day and I supplement magnesium and potassium. But I'm 5 months in and don't lose as much water as when I was adapting. If you're newer to eating this way, you will likely need more.

RoxieDawn

keep your water and sodium in balance. Yes taking supplements like mag and potassium will help. You can also try a sport drink like Gatorade in stead of water before during and after your workout or through out the day when needed.

Stretching is a help but dehydration or imbalance of sodium, potas and mag is usually 95% of why this happens unless you have other medical conditions.

Marcus_2015

Coconut water gives a lot more potassium than supplements... Give it a shot!

R

123juliaj123

Sunny_Bunny_ wrote: »

If you are low carb, then it is loss of electrolytes.
I mentioned to you in another thread that getting enough salt is very important when eating low carb. If you get enough salt it will help with potassium loss but it can also be easily supplemented with NuSalt or LoSalt. They are potassium chloride salt substitutes you find with table salt at the store. Just sprinkle it on food with some regular salt too.
Also, keep in mind that the more water you drink the more salt you will need.
In that thread 4 days ago, you mentioned you were going to cut back on salt because of advise you got from several people. Now you have cramping from loss of electrolytes. You need quite a bit of salt when you eat low carb because you lose more water. You will lose most of the salt you consume. I aim for a minimum of 3000mg a day and I supplement magnesium and potassium. But I'm 5 months in and don't lose as much water as when I was adapting. If you're newer to eating this way, you will likely need more.

This sounds like sound advice thankyou.

Beleive me I do take a lot of salt

I was brought up to add plenty of salt to all my food and I think its fair to say that its highly unlikely that Im taking too little, however I do think you are on to something as in- my body has been used to high levels of salt and I have switched to a diet that is removing it from my body more effectively and I am taking less in deliberately too.

I went and bought a tub of loSalt today and have begun using that as you suggested to give me potassium.

gaelicstorm26

I find that bananas are really helpful for leg cramps.

snowflake954

I swim, which is dehydrating, and use potassium and stretching--no more cramps for years now.

mbaker566

gaelicstorm26 wrote: »

I find that bananas are really helpful for leg cramps.

they are a great source of potassium