I got leg cramps for the first time last night. i had already walked about a mile and a half and i was starting to jog, and i got cramps in both legs at the same time. Very painfull
I don't think well i know i didn't drink enough water yesterday


225/200/150

Water intake DEFINITELY effects leg cramps. I learned this first hand. I cycle a lot in the summers for a charity event. The first season I did ride, I decided to do a training ride in Little Compton, RI (just about my favorite place to bike in the summers - the smell of honeysuckle is divine). Anyhow, I was about 20 miles in to a 40 mile ride - whammo - leg cramp so bad I couldn't sit on my bike, much less pedal. Ended up having to hitch a ride back to my car. Looking back, I realized it really hadn't come on whammo - I had been feeling a little tight but ignored it. Point is, I had had almost no water at that point in my ride, and I was definitely dehydrated.

So, boost your water intake, especially if you plan on jogging - I have an enormous bottle of water before I go running and then another as soon as I get back. If you can take some with you that's even better (I can't - too clumsy).

Good luck with the running - I was never much of a walker/runner until this year and I have found I really like it.

Jen
175/130/120

Also be sure you take a calcium/potassium supplement. When you drink a lot...ergo pee a lot... you flush a lot of potassium out of your system and lack of that contributes greatly to leg cramps. A banana a day keeps the leg cramps away BUT since banana's are a high carb food we must use a supplement instead.
Both legs at the same time? OUCH!!!

Michelle -- 208/196/140
Started Atkins 9/03
On my way to finding the new me.... WATCH OUT WORLD!!

Michelle's right. You can use some of those sport drinks (caution: check the carbs, they can be lethal) to help with the potassium. personally loathe them, so I cut mine with water (half and half) when cycling and bring one bottle full and another bottle for plain water.

Jen
175/130/120

i knew it had something to do with not drinking that much water yesterday. And yes in both legs and the same time. Ouch

225/200/150

I have had lots of problems with charley horses at night, but then I see a weight drop the next day. I use morton's low sodium salt, it contains a lot of potassium.

As for leg crammping during exercise, it's because you are not warming up first. Do a good 10-15 mins of stretching before walking, running or cycling. This makes all the difference in the world. I sit on the floor and keep my legs straight and then bend at the waist and touch my toes. I also take a chair and put one foot on it and lean into my knee. Alternate legs. Do toe touches while standing too. Also, sit on the floor with one foot postioned in the crotch and the other leg extended and lean forward into the extended leg. Alternate legs. Do this for 10-15 mins and your legs will complain a lot less.



Barb
Atkins-3/14/03
174/147.4/135
"A little knowledge is a dangerous thing."