Hi,

I've been on induction now for 7 days. I have been getting bad cramps mostly in my ribs or back. I can't sleep more than 6 hours because when i shift or roll over I cramp up. When I wake up in the morning I'm super thirsty, but I drink around 2 gallons of water a day.

When I get up and drink 2 glasses of water the cramps start going away so I think its just I'm getting dehydrated at night.

Has anyone else had this problem? Should I be eating more salt? I take vitamins every day but maybe I'm not taking enough of something? I could get up in the middle of the night and drink some water but I usually dont wake up until its too late.

Thanks for reading this. Any comments or advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

I had some cramping problems in the first couple of weeks due to the diuretic properties of the diet. Losing so much fluid also flushes electrolytes out of your system.

The major electrolytes are sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, magnesium, bicarbonate, phosphate, and sulfate.

You'll get many of those in your multi-vitamin. I've found that a lack of potassium gives me cramps. I've got a potassium supplement, but I'd rather get the nutrients from food. Spinach is supposed to be very dense in potassium.

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As Sandlapper said potassium, or lack of it, is often the culprit in cramping. It's more obvious at the beginning of this woe. Take a supplement with meals and see if that alleviates these symptoms. I knwo how annoying they are.

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Point,

I've heard a number of people complain of leg cramps (heck, I've had them myself from time to time) but you're the first I've heard having rib and/or back cramps. I'm not sure they are related to your induction.

Also, your water intake seems sort of excessive. At two gallons per day, I wouldn't be surprized that you're washing out a lot of electrolytes. Generally, we all aim at half our body weight number in ounces. In other words if you weigh 200 lbs, you aim for 100 oz of water each day, spread out over time, not all at once.

You might wish to consult a doctor about the back and rib cramping.

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I'm also wondering how your, um, elimination process is going. Are you constipated? If you are not eating enough fiber, this WOL can be constipating at first. Generally you should be drinking half your weight in ounces of water as was said before. Are you eating any of the LC bars???? They can make you VERY gassy!!!!

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I've been on a low carb diet for two years and had cramps in my ribs, legs, feet, back and nearly every other muscle in my body. I recently had blood test and my potassium is high and my sodium and chloride are low. I'm open for suggestions.

I may be wrong but adding more salt to your foods may help!

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First Mini Goal..

Vitamins Vitamins are so essential for this WOE. Without them I seem to be listless and I don't function the way that I do with them. The cramping for me in the past has been that all needed (lack of) potasium, when I pop one of them with my regular dosage of vits, the cramps disapated and I felt better.

(Hi Barb!!)
Best of Luck

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