ARGH! Cramps!!!

[Subtle_badger]

I told Soniaweightloss that I had a solution to cramps, but was woken again this morning by cramps. Sorry I lied 😔

I have always been blessed and cursed with strong calves (and big calves, bigger than some peoples thighs as I can't get skinny jeans in "my size" to my knees) and my right calf has decided decided to ahem flex its muscle and cramp up. Always at 3am, and always causing me intense pain.

I am drinking lots of fluid, though most of it is coffee. I will add some water, but I don't think I am dehydrated. I am taking a multivitamin and a magnesium and calcium supplement. I'm currently out of bone broth, but I am liberally salting my food. I have much cream of tartar, but I am not really using it at the moment because it ruined the taste of the bone broth. I exercise for at least an hour a day, walking or cycling. I am not doing any weight work or stretching routines. My carb is probably between 20-40% most days, and I am eating a variety of veggies. I am fasting around 16 hours per day, so the cramp are coming around 8 hours into my fast or 4 hours into my sleep.

The cramp thing isn't totally new, I have had it occasionally before, but it's particularly bad at the moment.

Any suggestions?

NB: I am not going to buy anything that comes from a Pakistan salt mine.

[AnnieW55]

Try putting a small piece of soap (hotel sized ones are good) at the bottom of your bed. I’ve not personally tried it as I don’t have this problem but know of several people who swear it works. Nothing to lose, well apart from cramp hopefully 😀

[Subtle_badger in reply to AnnieW55]

That is insane. It makes no sense! (google google) Goddammit, it's a thing. Now I have to try it.

This is all your fault!

😁

[AnnieW55 in reply to Subtle_badger]

I’ve got broad shoulders........unfortunately 😂

[Subtle_badger in reply to AnnieW55]

😂

To be fair, I think cramps could be quite susceptible to the placebo effect,as I am able to control it pretty quickly once I'm awake. Soap is a cheap way to engage it.

I don't get them every night, but so I will never know if it works.

Thanks

[karools16 in reply to AnnieW55]

The soap works for me for restless legs. No cramp either. No, I didn't believe it either, until I tried it.

[ChubbieChops]

I've had a few leg cramps since starting this diet - nothing like you have had though. I was extolling the virtue of having half a stock cube (with added salt as I had previously bought the low salt variety), as an aid to keto flu. However, I was very annoyed to find that they have a mixture of maltodextrin (maize starch) or rice flour, some have caramelised sugar and either palm oil or sunflower oil. Consequently, they have a little bit of carb - unnecessary in my view. As you know, I can't throw food out - hmmm - maybe this doesn't class as food. Anyway, so today I just had some salt - sea salt all the way from Cornwall - in hot water. I didn't have a full teaspoon, reckoned I could have more later if needed, and it was surprisingly tasty.

N.B. No Pakistan salt mines were harmed in the making of this saline drink

[Subtle_badger in reply to ChubbieChops]

I drank a stock cube in your honour. The nutritional labels on those things are insane! It gives the value of 100ml if you make it up to 450ml. So it's literally 2/9 of a cube.

I threw caution to the wind. Carbs be damned.

[ChubbieChops in reply to Subtle_badger]

haha, now try a glass of salty water! Hope it helps though

[Leeleepuss]

That sounds horrible. I don't have any pearls of wisdom I'm afraid, only that I read somewhere that cramp is due to a salt definciency? Really hope you get it sorted.

[Hidden]

I struggled with cramps on occasions on this diet too...

Mine have subsided and have not happened for quite some time..I’m not sure what stopped them or started them ..they are awful, so I’m pleased they’ve stopped..wonder myself what it is that kicks them off..

Hope they go soon ..

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Although I must say mine appeared when I strayed slightly from the LCHF...that’s the only thing I did notice ..

[Subtle_badger in reply to Hidden]

No, I was way in the zone yesterday. Possibly lowest carbs ever.

Maybe that's the cause. They have appeared again during today. 😡

[Hidden in reply to Subtle_badger]

I think it could be the change in amounts ...well it’s the only thing I could pinpoint ...but they are absolutely cramps like never before ...I’m relieved I’ve not had them for some time...so maybe it’s an up or down variation that causes them ...don’t know but it’s the only ting I can think of was a connection

Hope they go

[Subtle_badger in reply to Hidden]

I have had them before, same or worse. But this feels like a cluster...they come not single spies, but in battalions!

I'll let you know in the morning if soap works!

[Hidden in reply to Subtle_badger]

Yes do...because I totally know how bad they are...bloody awful..!

The soap thing is most interesting...I’m very intrigued around that 😁

Best wishes

[sunny369]

I don't have the answer to avoiding them but when they I get cramp I swear by massaging it with magnesium oil.

I might try the bar of soap in the bed - why not? lol

[Aussie64]

If the soap fails try a tequila shot... Lick/sip/suck, there's your sodium top up, if that doesn't help you'll sleep through the cramps anyway 😉

[EyeandDry]

Although there doesn’t appear to be much evidence to support it, I swear my leg cramps are 100% improved during the summer months with sun exposure and when I take vitamin D3 during the winter months. No harm in trying it, it works for me!

[Subtle_badger in reply to EyeandDry]

Thanks. Not for me. I definitely get cramps in summer.

[EyeandDry in reply to Subtle_badger]

Do you get adequate sun exposure?

[Subtle_badger in reply to EyeandDry]

Yeah.

My two most memorable experiences of cramp - because waking up in the middle of the night, walking it off and going back to sleep doesn't give you much context - were

1) At the end of an outing in a rowing 8, where my leg seized up so badly I wondered how I was going to get out of the boat. Luckily one of my crew was a masseuse (amongst other skills) and fixed it in moments. Rowing training gives plenty of sunshine.

2) I had a long planned solo London to Paris ride, starting from my house at midnight. The day before I had a planned ride with a friend, and then I got a call from another friend from overseas who was unexpectedly in town to tend to her dying aunt, so of course I worked around her needs to spend a few hours with my friend. That meant I rode 70km (in June) that day. My intention was to get a few hours sleep between 7pm and midnight, and then start my journey to Paris, but every time I started to drift off, both my legs would cramp up. I ended up in a hot bath in a darkened room, listening to podcasts. Didn't sleep, but at least got some rest. Strava was tracking me for more than 10 hours that day.

TL;DR: I can get bad cramps after a day in the sun, at times when I am training outdoors a lot.

[EyeandDry in reply to Subtle_badger]

Ok then, how about electrolyte balance? I take a daily electrolyte drink as I have Sjogrens and am consistently dehydrated. The following article is also a good read -

journals.lww.com/acsm-csmr/...

[Subtle_badger]

Well, obviously the soap works! Slept like a baby

[Subtle_badger]

I continue to suffer no cramps, even though I can't find the soap.

It's insane, but it seems to work.

[Subtle_badger]

Cramp is back, but different. This times both legs, and the cramp is in the shins as well as the calves.

Climbing 600 steps a day may be a factor 🤪

[Cosmo501 in reply to Subtle_badger]

I’d be Really interested to hear anymore about the soap idea!… in hindsight, do you think it was helpful?.. wondering whether to go scrounging around in the cupboards for a spare bar of soap!

[Subtle_badger in reply to Cosmo501]

Honestly, I think it was. You can find "explanations" of why it works, but I am sure it is just placebo.

Worth a try.