Leg Cramps

[easttexasdaisy]

Okay, I've been doing Atkins since August and never had a problem. I do take a men's vitamin that doesn't contain iron. Anyway, I have been waitressing for the past 3 weeks and running my legs off. The cramps are excruciating! My thighs and calves both cramp up at night. I did start taking this week a calcium, magnesium and zinc supplement as well as another potasium supplement. Still knock you down leg cramps...... What can I do? Drinking tons of water (only thing I drink other than a couple cups of coffee with splenda). Really I probably am drinking 12-15 glasses of water a day. Just don't have time to count.
My basic menu;
Breakfast: eggs with bacon or just bacon
Lunch; a salad with lettuce and tomatoe cheese and taco meat (at the restaurant and there is no sugar in the meat, I checked) or a chicken enchalida with tortilla (for extra energy if it has been really busy)
Supper: a salad with lettuce and cheese and taco meat
Snack either an apple or some nuts, occasionally a low carb cookie.
I am on Owl but don't eat to many carbs on any given day, kinda modified. Usually tomatoes with lunch and none with supper, etc. Keeping my night time carbs to a minumim, with most of my carbs faling during the middle of the day. Burning them off through all the walking.
Any ideas?

[lostandfound]

Well, I was going to say you need potassium and magnesium. But your taking them already. I still have them from time to time, but I just up my water and they seem to go away. Also, exercise helps tremendously. But then again, waitressing is tremendous exercise!!
Have you seen your Dr? I suggest making an appointment.
Believe it or not, I took aleve and it stopped them in their tracks. But I know that's not a long term solution. It could also be a circulation problem.
Hope things get better for you.

Hugs,Tammy

[bizzlekitty]

I've been getting them too, and also take supplements.

I just attribute them to the weight loss. I used to get them alot as a teenager when I was still growing.

Very annoying, especially the ones in the middle of the night. I had two last night at the gym when I was trying to exercise.

[Becky Sue]

I am wondering if it is more because of you excessive amount of time you are on your feet working and on hard(possible cement floors).

Since you are taking the right suppliments.

Quinine is what my friend takes for leg cramps. I think you can buy this in over the counter meds. Ask your Pharmacist.

Just a thought.
Becky Sue

[2big4mysize]

plug your foods and your supplements into fitday and see if you are getting enough potassium OTC supplements only have 3% of the daily alotment so it takes more then one usually. you could also be hypothyroid as night leg cramps are a symptom of that

have you had a blood test recently to check your levels like a Chem8?

[Marian]

How is your iodine-intake? I read somewhere that your body needs enough iodine to be able to absorp potassium (is that correct English?)
And on the Dutch forum we often hear that it helps to use some more salt.
It can also make a difference what kind of magnesium you take. If it is magnesiumoxide it may be less effective than e.g. magnesiumcitrate.

[mrslee44]

Becky Sue said it. Quinine water. I have heard drink a 8 oz glass before bedtime and it will alleviate legs cramps.

You can get quinine water at any grocery next to the club soda.


robin

[TyCowboy]

Re: Leg Cramps

For what it's worth (in response to Marian's post) my understanding of the role of Potassium in sodium regulation is that there is a mechanism for regulating what is referred to as the "sodium-potassium pump." Sodium requires a method of active transport to either enter or leave the cell. The amount of sodium in the cell helps to regulate turgor pressure in the cell.

Also, I believe that Magnesium is also necessary for the proper operation of the Na-K Pump.

I know it didn't help the original poster, but that's my understanding.

Ty

[ladyhairg]

Re: Leg Cramps

I also work on my feet, and I was having terrible leg cramps in my inner thighs during the night. Since I'm always quick to assume the worst, I figured I had blood clots that were gonna kill me . . .

My doctor told me to keep a journal of what shoes I wore on the days before the bad leg cramps, and it turned out that it was always after I wore the same pair of little black boots to work. Gave away the boots and haven't had a leg cramp since.

Maybe you just got a new pair of work shoes, or your old ones have worn out a bit? Not everything has a medical basis -- sometimes, it's just the shoes!

[Jerzaka]

Re: Leg Cramps

I've heard that potassium is absorbed and used up very quickly. I too suffered from leg cramps and upped my potassium supplement to three a day. One in the morning, one at dinner and then one before bed.

While, I don't recommend you doing this - you could have your doctor run some simple blood work to check your levels. It's worth checking into.

And, I agree, cement floors are the worst! I hate to say it, but wear pantyhose!