I've been having awful leg cramps since I've began LC dieting, anyone else? Is this common? I know there's something within the Atkins book that states that this may occur, but it really scared me!

try not to let yourself get to freaked out by the leg cramps hon....

Atkins has a strong diuretic effect during the first week of Induction. When you lose a large amount of water as you do at the start of any weight-loss program, you also lose electrolytes, which contain the minerals potassium, magnesium and calcium, resulting in leg cramps. To replace these vitanutrients, salt your food to taste and take a mineral supplement that includes calcium, magnesium and potassium.





good luck on your quest and feel free to visit my journal anytime!!!

Make sure your taking vitamins to keep that from happening.

Until then, just stretch your leg and tip your toes towards you when this happens, it makes it go away.

Lily

Thanks guys!!!

Hi there;

I had awful leg cramps too - when I checked my multivitamin it had calcium and magnesium but no potassium so I started those as an seperate supplement. It helped alot! Still get them a little bit, but not as bad as before!

I use Mortons lite salt. It has 340 mg potassium per 1/4 t.
When I had cramps bad I mixed it in a glasss of water and drank it. Not tasty but effective!

When I had the leg cramps I ate a can of tuna a day, mixed with mayo and cream cheese. The tuna has a good amount of potassium. Also avocados are great for potassium. There is a list somewhere on here about foods high in potassium...can't find the link but i did find the list posted in the forums somewhere by Karen, so here it is as she listed it in her post:

Potassium-Rich Foods:

Raw Kale, 1 cup chopped
Calcium 90.450 mg
Magnesium 22.780 mg
Potassium 299.490 mg

Raw broccoli, 1 cup chopped
Calcium 42.240 mg
Magnesium 22.000 mg
Potassium 286.000 mg

1 cup cooked Chinese Broccoli
Calcium 88.000 mg
Magnesium 15.840 mg
Potassium 229.680 mg

1/2 cup regular tofu
Calcium 434.000 mg
Magnesium 37.200 mg
Potassium 150.040 mg

1 cup plain, whole milk yogurt
Calcium 295.715 mg
Magnesium 28.371 mg
Potassium 378.770 mg

1 can sockeye salmon
Calcium 881.910 mg
Magnesium 107.010 mg
Potassium 1391.130 mg

1 can waterpacked white tuna
Calcium 24.080 mg
Magnesium 56.760 mg
Potassium 407.640 mg

1 cup raw spinach
Calcium 29.700 mg
Magnesium 23.700 mg
Potassium 167.400 mg

1 Californian avocado
Calcium 19.030 mg
Magnesium 70.930 mg
Potassium 1096.820 mg

1 oz whole roasted pumpkin seeds
Calcium 12.191 mg
Magnesium 151.389 mg
Potassium 228.501 mg

1 oz. whole roasted sunflower seeds
Calcium 19.845 mg
Magnesium 36.572 mg
Potassium 240.975 mg

1 raw, Eastern oyster
Calcium 4.000 mg
Magnesium 11.000 mg
Potassium 84.000 mg

1 oz Brazil nuts
Calcium 49.896 mg
Magnesium 63.788 mg
Potassium 170.100 mg

1 oz almonds
Calcium 82.499 mg
Magnesium 77.679 mg
Potassium 198.167 mg

Flax seeds, 1 Tbsp.
Calcium 23.880 mg
Magnesium 43.440 mg
Potassium 81.720 mg