Abs Cramping

Bigger Stronger Leaner Competitive Bodybuilding
1

I have this not very pleasant problem with my abs. Whenever I do crunches of any kind I have horrible cramps right after the first set. It knocks me off for a good 15 - 20 minutes. Now my abs are visible all year long and my waist is pretty small. So I do not work my abs that often (mostly leg raises). However, I am trying to prepair for a show and obviously my workouts get realy brutal. I try to hit all muscle groups including abs.

Does anyone have an idea why this happenning? I do not think it depends on a change of diet because it happens every time. My diet always includes large amounts of Sodium. I am just used to it and it never causes any water retention or other problems like High Blood Pressure and such.

2

[quote]nreviya wrote:
I have this not very pleasant problem with my abs. Whenever I do crunches of any kind I have horrible cramps right after the first set. It knocks me off for a good 15 - 20 minutes. Now my abs are visible all year long and my waist is pretty small. So I do not work my abs that often (mostly leg raises). However, I am trying to prepair for a show and obviously my workouts get realy brutal. I try to hit all muscle groups including abs.

Does anyone have an idea why this happenning? I do not think it depends on a change of diet because it happens every time. My diet always includes large amounts of Sodium. I am just used to it and it never causes any water retention or other problems like High Blood Pressure and such.[/quote]

wow i have the same exact problem, its like you read my mind. curious to hear responses.

3

It’s happened to me twice, I never want to experience it again, no idea how to fix it though. Good luck

4

Had my left oblique cramp on me, felt like a bear trap clamped down on my mid-section. I literally collapsed and assumed the fetal. Then my right lat went and I simply laid there hoping some self-respecting redneck would take me out of my misery. Gotta love clen.

5

eat a bannana like an hour b4 u go workout?

6

Well the two first guys, besides waylander’s avi seem to be near contest shape. It’s more likely to happen on those conditions.

7

[quote]HolyMacaroni wrote:
eat a bannana like an hour b4 u go workout?[/quote]

Well I don’t think that’d be the best idea for most folks prepping.

8

sorry about that. it’s 3:50, i’m almost out of ideas.

you could like, take protien powder and mix it with some kind of water resistant substance (mayonaise?) and then smear it over your stomach area.

the mayo can act as a matix for the protien so slowly be absorbed through the dermal layer of the skin.

that might work.

shit guys, both the OP and jimmy look fantastic. awesome job

9

[quote]HolyMacaroni wrote:
sorry about that. it’s 3:50, i’m almost out of ideas.

you could like, take protien powder and mix it with some kind of water resistant substance (mayonaise?) and then smear it over your stomach area.

the mayo can act as a matix for the protien so slowly be absorbed through the dermal layer of the skin.

that might work.

shit guys, both the OP and jimmy look fantastic. awesome job[/quote]

LOL bro, and yeah, I’ll be paying attention to their contest prep.

10

Maybe add some magnesium?

I used to get killer cramps in hamstrings at night that would wake me from sleep. Also if doing abs I would get mild cramping, not like you’re talking about but the hammy cramps were enough to make me whimper.

I added a magnesium tablet during the day (I think about 200-400mg of Mg Chelate) and within a week it was all gone.

When I get lazy and stop taking Mg within two weeks I start getting the cramps back if I am working hard!

Hopefully that will help.

11

I’ll try magnesium after competition. But I have to point out that this happens to me all year long. I like the magnesium idea though. Thanks

12

Do you stretch? I haven’t experienced this with abs, but I used to get calf cramps all the time when I was training BJJ.

Regular stretching seemed to sort it out.

For abs, I stretch by lying on the floor, face up, putting my palms behind my head and bucking my whole body up.

Like a wrestler’s neck bridge, but instead of using your neck to support yourself, you’re using your hands.

Magnesium/potassium has never worked for me.

Just my $0.02, YMMV.

13

I tend to have it happen when I’m sitting after a set. I’ll get up off the floor, sit on a bench or something, and it hits fairly quickly. I find that simply standing afterward helps.

14

post-contest why dont you try drinking some pickle juice it works miracles. my coach used to give it to us and it was frawesome

15

[quote]tommytoughnuts wrote:
post-contest why dont you try drinking some pickle juice it works miracles. my coach used to give it to us and it was frawesome[/quote]

I never restrict my sodium, and I love salt in my food. I will try that juice, but I think it will be useless concidering total sodium intake during the day:)

It is pretty painfull too. I walk or stand like a pinguin trying to stretch my abs fighting with huge ‘electrical’ force that is trying to break me in half. Abs are sticking out so much it is scary. They are hard as steel. I imagine it is very funny to look at from distance:)