I have a little mystery that I'm hoping to get some input on.

At around 2 am today I woke up with the worse leg spasm/cramp I have ever had - not only where they the worst they were different from the type I associate with LC or with cal/mag deficiency.

I'm taking the cal/mag (at least 1000mg cal / 350 mg mag a day) and I had it yesterday and the day before. I haven't worked my legs in a while and this only happened once before (recently - as in a week ago), but it was mild compared to this morning. I've had these cramps in the past (when I forgot my cal/mag and when I first started LC) but they didn't feel like this. I also use potassium salt liberally throughout the day and have been since Aug 01.

In the past the cramps have always in the calf, and always felt as though the muscle was tightening up like when you have a charlie horse. The muscle actually feels flexed and hard to the touch - it's also very localized. This was more like 'travelling' - up my inner thigh to my quad and back down to my hamstring. It felt more like pins and needles and if I tried to stretch or apply pressure by standing it hurt more. The muscles didn't feel 'tight' either when I massaged them. I popped another cal/mag and rode it out for about 10 minutes. But gawd it hurt - whining, whimpering and near tears.

Any ideas?

Nat

Hi Nat!
Sorry to hear about the cramp! Straight magnesium is a natural muscle relaxer. The added calcium is great but I think that is there to lighten the effects of the magnesium as it can "digest too quick!" - among other reasons. I am sure your diet is great - how is your intake of Dark leafy greens? You may need more potassium. - Which as you know is in the vegetables. I also like "E - Mergency" It is a powdered vitamin C supplement that is fizzy when you add it to water. I use it after my weight trainings and it replaces electrolytes etc... They do make a no sugar one. Hope this helps. IMHO you are probably burning sooo many calories that you are sweating out some of the nutrients you need. I also find that when I drink my water I get light headed because I flush out so much potassium. ? Again, hope this helps!

JK (is it "Jane" ? ) I was just thinking that it might be because I'm in the fat burning part of my cycle right now - and I woke up 2 lbs lighter this morning, again.

I am getting over 4500mg potassium a day from the salt and the foods (I've been living off of avocados and salsa lately) and I have eaten 2 heads of dark leafy lettuce since Sunday! The vit C I have been 'double' and 'triple' dosing along with glutamine to keep the immune system super charged - don't want to get sick for the trip next week. Also been sucking on zinc lozenges w/ Ester-C and echinacea.

Wonder if it's as simple as more magnesium?

N

It is Jane the K is for Kathleen my seven year old barrell of joy! I use magnesium when things are not running "smoothly!" Too much and you mind as well eat malitol!
Do you know anything about cream of tarter? Is it ok to add to egg whites to make meringues? Also - sorry for my ignorance - how do you know that you are in fat burning zone? I am having MAJOR water retention - eyes are even puffy! I am drinking plain water but I can't figure my body out for the life of me!
Any help would be sooo welcome!

I take my rising body temp every morning - it's been off the charts the past few days, always happens after ovulation

Sorry, not well versed in the tartar department - but I saw that you posted a thread - you should get some answers!

Drink up the water - it will help!
N

"Pins and needles" is a nerve sensation or can be a sign of circulation problems. Did the sensation travel from just above the inner knee/thigh across the quad then down the side of your leg? Fairly superficially as opposed to 'bone-deep'? You may have been experiencing a spasm where the sartorious and tensor fasciae latae come together at the front of the hip which can cause pressure on the nerves in that area. Do you get massage therapy? You may want to start getting some. It helps a LOT with spasm related problems. I have fibromyalgia and I've found since I started getting massage my 'charlie-horse' problem has gone away, as well as a lot of 'mysterious' other pains. In fact, my fibromyalgia has improved so much, I now hesitate to say I still have it--or that it has gone into 'remission'. (Not completely gone, but no longer a major factor in my life).