Constant Cramping!

Bigger Stronger Leaner Competitive Bodybuilding
1

So this has been happening for a while now and it’s really getting old. This happens for every muscle group but my legs, calves and shoulders. For instance if I work biceps that day, when I go home an hour later if I lift my arm above 90 degrees it goes into a massive cramp. Or if I work back and take a dump later that day and try to wipe my ass…cramp. If I do abs and bend over to pick something up…cramp.

Its getting ridiculous and hurts like a bitch. I know cramping is usually associated with lack of hydration, but I drink A gallon of water during my workout and 20 oz afterwards, so I’m not sure what else to do. Anyone got any ideas? Oh and I stretch too.

Btw current supplementation is: BCAA’s, fish oil, B vitamins, and recently creatine, but this was happening long before I added creatine.

Thanks for the help!

2

Lack of electrolytes and minerals is what is causing your cramping.

Potassium - eat a least one bananna a day. Or more if you already eat one.

Vitamins/minerals - get a product called ‘Ionic Fizz’ at a health food store. It has vitamins and minerals that work together. Tastes like a cross between a sweet tart and an alka seltzer. Drink during your workout and before bed. For an even quicker acting fizz, warm the water. It helps with immediate assimalation.

Magnesium - get a product called ‘Calm’, again from any health food store. Mix it in with the Ionic Fizz mentioned above at night before bed. Also helps you sleep i.e. better recovery.

This should help with any cramping problem. It did wonders for mine. Made them go ‘bye-bye’.

3

[quote]TRAJJ wrote:
Lack of electrolytes and minerals is what is causing your cramping.

Potassium - eat a least one bananna a day. Or more if you already eat one.

Vitamins/minerals - get a product called ‘Ionic Fizz’ at a health food store. It has vitamins and minerals that work together. Tastes like a cross between a sweet tart and an alka seltzer. Drink during your workout and before bed. For an even quicker acting fizz, warm the water. It helps with immediate assimalation.

Magnesium - get a product called ‘Calm’, again from any health food store. Mix it in with the Ionic Fizz mentioned above at night before bed. Also helps you sleep i.e. better recovery.

This should help with any cramping problem. It did wonders for mine. Made them go ‘bye-bye’.[/quote]

awesome post, thx.

4

drinking a gallon of water during your workout looks like the problem to me. how do you drink that much water in an hour while working out? don’t you throw up after squats?

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epic avatar

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[quote]LiveFromThe781 wrote:
epic avatar[/quote]

Thats what I was thinking!

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[quote]TRAJJ wrote:
Lack of electrolytes and minerals is what is causing your cramping.

Potassium - eat a least one bananna a day. Or more if you already eat one.

Vitamins/minerals - get a product called ‘Ionic Fizz’ at a health food store. It has vitamins and minerals that work together. Tastes like a cross between a sweet tart and an alka seltzer. Drink during your workout and before bed. For an even quicker acting fizz, warm the water. It helps with immediate assimalation.

Magnesium - get a product called ‘Calm’, again from any health food store. Mix it in with the Ionic Fizz mentioned above at night before bed. Also helps you sleep i.e. better recovery.

This should help with any cramping problem. It did wonders for mine. Made them go ‘bye-bye’.[/quote]

For magnesium, how about just taking ZMA? Do you think the quantity is enough in ZMA or do you still suggest getting something else? I get ab cramps like none other.

Oh and for potassium, here’s a nice site listing high potassium foods: http://www.vaughns-1-pagers.com/food/potassium-foods.htm

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[quote]IgneLudo wrote:
drinking a gallon of water during your workout looks like the problem to me. how do you drink that much water in an hour while working out? don’t you throw up after squats?[/quote]

Uh last time I checked water didn’t cause cramps? And no I don’t throw up after squats haha

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[quote]bulldogtor wrote:
TRAJJ wrote:
Lack of electrolytes and minerals is what is causing your cramping.

Potassium - eat a least one bananna a day. Or more if you already eat one.

Vitamins/minerals - get a product called ‘Ionic Fizz’ at a health food store. It has vitamins and minerals that work together. Tastes like a cross between a sweet tart and an alka seltzer. Drink during your workout and before bed. For an even quicker acting fizz, warm the water. It helps with immediate assimalation.

Magnesium - get a product called ‘Calm’, again from any health food store. Mix it in with the Ionic Fizz mentioned above at night before bed. Also helps you sleep i.e. better recovery.

This should help with any cramping problem. It did wonders for mine. Made them go ‘bye-bye’.

For magnesium, how about just taking ZMA? Do you think the quantity is enough in ZMA or do you still suggest getting something else? I get ab cramps like none other.

Oh and for potassium, here’s a nice site listing high potassium foods: http://www.vaughns-1-pagers.com/food/potassium-foods.htm[/quote]

I’ve only tried the Ionic Fizz and Calm products. ZMA could work just as well I would think. The Calm has 615 mg of Magnesium per 3 tsp serving. I don’t use that much, maybe around 1 tsp per serving give or take. The Ionic Fizz has 300 mg of Magnesium per serving which is a small .3 oz scoop which I do use. So I would estimate I’m getting around 500-600 mg. The Ionic fizz also has vitamins A, C, D3, B6, B12, folate, Calcium, Zinc, copper, manganese, potasium, Silica, Boron and other trace minerals.

I’d compare the ZMA label with the Ionic Fizz and Calm and see which looks better. I was getting extreme cramping in my calves, enough to wake me out of a dead sleep and send me shooting out of bed. After the cramping pain resided I still was extremely tender for days afterwards. The Fizz and Calm took the problem away within a day.

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what do you do to warm down after training?

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[quote]Cprimero wrote:
what do you do to warm down after training?[/quote]

do a few stretches and walk back to my dorm :slight_smile:

I usually stretch in b/w sets so I don’t do a whole lot after. If it legs I will massage the muscles for like a minute before I leave.

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Thanks trajj

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[quote]waylanderxx wrote:
Its getting ridiculous and hurts like a bitch. I know cramping is usually associated with lack of hydration, [/quote]

Lack of hydration my ass.

I used to train weekly for diving, and damn, I would almost always get a cramp in my calves because of all the swimming with flippers on.
During that time, I was drinking 3-4 liters ('bout a gallon) of water every day, just like I do nowadays. I don’t know how in the seven hells I should have gotten more water into my body during that time.

I’m pretty sure I had some good calves growth during that time though!

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[quote]JxG wrote:
waylanderxx wrote:
Its getting ridiculous and hurts like a bitch. I know cramping is usually associated with lack of hydration,

Lack of hydration my ass.

I used to train weekly for diving, and damn, I would almost always get a cramp in my calves because of all the swimming with flippers on.
During that time, I was drinking 3-4 liters ('bout a gallon) of water every day, just like I do nowadays. I don’t know how in the seven hells I should have gotten more water into my body during that time.

I’m pretty sure I had some good calves growth during that time though![/quote]

haha well I associate what I said with football. Back in high school if it was either really hot in practice or gameday and I was really thirsty, running around the field, etc. I would cramp.

15

I’d try adding 5-10mins on the cross trainer or rower, very gentle pace, as a warm down