Muscle Cramps :(

[LauraC821]

I have been getting the worst muscle cramps recently... i get them in my arms everytime i reach for something or just lock out my arms. its been going on for several weeks now and im not sure of the cause... i'm wondering if someone could recommend a product that might help aliviate the cramping because i dont really know what to do. thanks so much

[Obnoxious123]

do you weight lift? just start? happened to me when i first started, up your protein intake.

[LauraC821]

Originally Posted by Obnoxious123

do you weight lift? just start? happens when you first start, take in some more protein

yea i lift 7 days a week... i started in june but the cramping started more recently.

[Obnoxious123]

Originally Posted by LauraC821

yea i lift 7 days a week... i started in june but the cramping started more recently.

hmm well then that shouldn't be a problem. it has to do with ur recovery. make sure your eating enough and have a good amount of protein intake.

[LauraC821]

Originally Posted by Obnoxious123

hmm well then that shouldn't be a problem. it has to do with ur recovery. make sure your eating enough and have a good amount of protein intake.

thanks for the input ill try to up the protein

[lalakers87]

you shouldnt be lifting 7 days a week... take a day or two off.

[OKPump]

try upping your potassium intake some.

[gta95]

7 days a week? You're giving your body no time to recover. Most guys I know lift at the most 4 times a week. The more time your body has to recover, the harder it can work on those 4/3 days.

[moose45]

Are you takin creatine?
I heard that it caused cramps in some people.

[trygve]

I've had lots of problems with muscle cramps and what's helped me the most is to use "No Salt" (Potassium Chloride; sold next to the regular salt in the grocery) on my food and in cooking. I'll also keep potassium tablets on hand and take those when I do have a cramp.

The other thing is to contract the opposing muscle(s) and/or stretch the cramping one when you do start cramping. That generally gets the cramp to let go.

[quank]

Originally Posted by LauraC821

yea i lift 7 days a week... i started in june but the cramping started more recently.

why are you working out 7 days a week? are your nerves bad?

[headinahole]

You lift 7 days a week? What is your program? What's your protein intake? How much water are you drinking?

[quank]

Originally Posted by headinahole

You lift 7 days a week? What is your program? What's your protein intake? How much water are you drinking?

WTF is she using for recovery is what i want to know.

[Neopragmatist]

Maybe you should stop doing handstands on a balance beam.

[headinahole]

Originally Posted by quank

WTF is he/she using for recovery is what i want to know.

This as well, I don't like asking questions that I won't like the answer to though .

[tsaiwins]

drink lots of water.

[waorks05]

I have found that upping your water intake and also taking 3-5 grams of taurine before a workout will help a great deal with cramping issues. Also op are you stretching/warming up before each workout?

[LauraC821]

i didnt think it was bad to lift 7 days a week i guess from everyones reaction thats not the smartest idea lol... anyway i do drink lots of water throughout the entire day... i take vitamins and drink a protein shake after i workout but thats it for supplements... i do eat a high protein diet... and was the handstand comment serious lol? im not gunna stop doing handstands haha... but thanks for all the input im new to all of this so i appreciate any advice and what not

[headinahole]

Originally Posted by LauraC821

i didnt think it was bad to lift 7 days a week i guess from everyones reaction thats not the smartest idea lol... anyway i do drink lots of water throughout the entire day... i take vitamins and drink a protein shake after i workout but thats it for supplements... i do eat a high protein diet... and was the handstand comment serious lol? im not gunna stop doing handstands haha... but thanks for all the input im new to all of this so i appreciate any advice and what not

Once again, what does your routine look like? Most the solid routines require at least 1 day down time, personally without even looking at your routine. I would say that it's not enough volume if you can go 7 days a week all the time. Unless you were juicin the juce... and you're obviously not. But like stated above, if you have a solid routine and you can carry 7 days a week, I want a case of whatever you're using for recovery.

[LauraC821]

Originally Posted by headinahole

Once again, what does your routine look like? Most the solid routines require at least 1 day down time, personally without even looking at your routine. I would say that it's not enough volume if you can go 7 days a week all the time. Unless you were juicin the juce... and you're obviously not. But like stated above, if you have a solid routine and you can carry 7 days a week, I want a case of whatever you're using for recovery.

i do a different body part everyday and about 6-9 exercises for each bodypart (depending on which one it is)... 4 sets 15-12-10-? reps... thats basically it

[quank]

Originally Posted by quank

WTF is she using for recovery is what i want to know.

Originally Posted by headinahole

I want a case of whatever you're using for recovery.

bump question

[headinahole]

Throw in a day of rest, for hydration and cns recovery. If you're worried about keeping a 7 day schedule, just stack 2 of the body parts together like legs/shoulders. That's quite a popular/effective combo, one protein shake could be enough if you're diet is on key considering you're weight. You doing the 1scoop 8oz. or the 2scoop 16? Or making them yourself?

[LauraC821]

Originally Posted by quank

bump question

what?

[LauraC821]

Originally Posted by headinahole

Throw in a day of rest, for hydration and cns recovery. If you're worried about keeping a 7 day schedule, just stack 2 of the body parts together like legs/shoulders. That's quite a popular/effective combo, one protein shake could be enough if you're diet is on key considering you're weight. You doing the 1scoop 8oz. or the 2scoop 16? Or making them yourself?

thanks so much for the input ill try that out... what did "You doing the 1scoop 8oz. or the 2scoop 16? Or making them yourself?" mean though? i make protein shakes with 1 scoop of optimum nutrition whey if thats what you mean

[headinahole]

Originally Posted by LauraC821

what?

If you were training with heavy weights, which I'm assuming you're not as you can train 7 days a week without hitch. That would require some type of god-like recovery supplement on top of juicin the jooce. Most people on here run 6 days a week of weights at the most, with the 7th day being recovery/cardio or nothing.

Originally Posted by LauraC821

thanks so much for the input ill try that out... what did "You doing the 1scoop 8oz. or the 2scoop 16? Or making them yourself?" mean though? i make protein shakes with 1 scoop of optimum nutrition whey if thats what you mean

Yes I meant 1 scoop or 2 of whatever protein you are using. Optimum has 24 grams of protein per scoop, you're should be taking in 1gram per lb of body weight. So you do the numbers on your diet including the shake and see if you're getting close.

[LauraC821]

Originally Posted by headinahole

If you were training with heavy weights, which I'm assuming you're not as you can train 7 days a week without hitch. That would require some type of god-like recovery supplement on top of juicin the jooce. Most people on here run 6 days a week of weights at the most, with the 7th day being recovery/cardio or nothing.



Yes I meant 1 scoop or 2 of whatever protein you are using. Optimum has 24 grams of protein per scoop, you're should be taking in 1gram per lb of body weight. So you do the numbers on your diet including the shake and see if you're getting close.

gotcha... thanks so much for all of your help

[headinahole]

Originally Posted by LauraC821

gotcha... thanks so much for all of your help

Glad I could help.

[smallguyjoe]

I've had issues with cramps in the past, and I almost 100% sure that they had nothing to do with me needing to increase my protein intake.

Cramps come generally come on when dehydrated and/or lacking electrolytes.

Eating a high protein diet requires greater water intake, so perhaps you have not been drinking enough water.

What I did to solve my problem was drink water throughout my workouts - sips of water between almost every set. I also eat a banana pre workout everyday.

If you have been fine training 7 days a week then keep at it. There's nothing wrong with keepin a good thing goin. You have progressed well, so "if it aint broke - don't fix it". Everyone's different. My training buddy works out 6-7 days a week, and he is in the best shape of anyone that I've ever seen (no, he's not on hormones or steroids). I personally progress best on 5-6 days a week, and I do feel I need the one day of rest. If you don't then don't rest .

Oh, for electrolytes you could always sip on Gatorade during your workouts too. Just make sure you are drinkin enough water, and gettin in your sodium, potassium, and chloride. I think your muscle cramps will stop.

[Laduem88]

wouldn't taurine help? thats what people take to help cramps when on a ph/ds cycle...but most of all drink lots of water

[alexx33]

increase your water intake and try some potassium...


banana's help a lot...