Cramps, what is the cause?

Morning Guys

This week i started cramping up badly, calves, hammies, arms locking up went bent and so on. My diet is more or less the same and my supplements are too. Not on any gear.

Current diet consists of the following

chicken
beef
basmati rice
sweet potato
oats
peanuts
almonds
peanut butter
eggs
veggies (from greens to mixed)
soy milk
cottage cheese

Supplements

whey
multi vit
vit C
omegas
creatine mono
glutamine

Now the only that change from monday is I added the creatine and upped my vit c to 2000mg as i started getting a cold so trying to stop it in its tracks.

Water intake is roughly at 2l a day but over fluid intake is more to 5l a day.

So the only real changes is the creatine and upped vit c dose. So can one of these 2 be the culprit for the cramps?

I don't no if it's maybe the creatine Bro? I started creatine 2 weeks ago with Var and I don't no if it's the creatine but I haven't been able to deadlift the last 2 weeks.
It's not lower back pumps but cramps and if I deadlift or even sometimes getting out of my car it takes me ages to straighten out...

I'm going to leave it out for a week and see if that's the problem

Getting old Rhino :lol: Sometimes it is a simple thing like not enough salt/potasium in the diet u need a bit to absorb more water ....hope that helps

Thanks, I have about 5/6lt of ware a day and a load of salt so it may be the potassium... I'll give that a go

Well there are a few things common in the gym that the guys talk about:

Excessive heat will cause cramping - more hydration needed
Potassium is needed and again lots of water - clear urine is a good sign you are hydrated
Lack of stretching and warm up
Overexertion, rest 1min 30 sec between sets and when you lifting really heavy make it three minutes

Since you are using creatine you will need even more water

Drinking lots of coffee mate?

Rhino wrote: Thanks, I have about 5/6lt of ware a day and a load of salt so it may be the potassium... I'll give that a go

Actually refering to Fakey yours sounds more like u need to stretch ...stiffness ?

Thanx for the input so far.
Already upped water from last night, even drinking a glass during the night when I wake to go weewee.

As for potassium and sodium intake my current intake from the two are as follow from my food alone not counting supplements.

sodium: 465mg
Potassium: 2055mg

But I still add spices and salt to my food as well. So sodium most likely is double that (I think)
The recommended intake for the two is as follow

Sodium: 1500mg
Potassium: 4700mg

So with that it seems I'm lacking a bit especially the potassium. Will change to foods higher in potassium and see if it helps.

Thanks again for the input.

I was told buy my supplier to use sea salt if you need to add it to your diet . I bought the the 1 you grind.

I used to get cramps when I ran marathons. My doc suggested magnesium - Slow-mag. I tried it, maybe it helped a little. The cramps seemed linked to my fitness levels.
Many experts say you should not train when you have a virus

Fakey my friend....I'm afraid.....ur gonna die. BUT if you forward this message to 15 people immediately u will be saved and live a happy life. P.s. I also do lotto numbers.

Anyway.....lol just kidding

Maybe ur body is taking a little strain. Have u tried adding in some extra bcaa's to sip on?

Rhino wrote: I don't no if it's maybe the creatine Bro? I started creatine 2 weeks ago with Var and I don't no if it's the creatine but I haven't been able to deadlift the last 2 weeks.
It's not lower back pumps but cramps and if I deadlift or even sometimes getting out of my car it takes me ages to straighten out...

I'm going to leave it out for a week and see if that's the problem

Creatine does not lead to cramping, it's a myth, no clinical study could find a link.

That said, calcium intake is also important in avoiding cramps.

Bwahahaha MCJ you legend! 15 people...

Forgot to add in my list that I'm also taking Slow-mag, 2 tabs a day.

Will try up the BCAA's too... Anything, just typing on the keyboard is a mission. The muscle on the side of my hand cramps up pulling my pinkie funny, this is freakin frustrating.

Water alone is already at 3l and I have another 1.5l to go, excluding other fluid's.

Also added more salt to food today.

Fakey_AK wrote: Bwahahaha MCJ you legend! 15 people...

Forgot to add in my list that I'm also taking Slow-mag, 2 tabs a day.

Will try up the BCAA's too... Anything, just typing on the keyboard is a mission. The muscle on the side of my hand cramps up pulling my pinkie funny, this is freakin frustrating.

Water alone is already at 3l and I have another 1.5l to go, excluding other fluid's.

Also added more salt to food today.

Bud honestly wish I could help you but from the data you gave there isn´t much explaining why you are cramping. My guess is it´s from an electrolyte imbalance. At the next cramping session drink 2 bottles of your favourite flavor of Energade. If it goes away then you know..

You need to be drinking more clean water. Aim for 5L of pure water per day.

I can't tell you what's causing it but try adding some taurine. 1-3g/day

I usually start cramping a bit when I diet

:ohmy: 2 bottles of energade!! I will feel so guilty from all that sugar that I will spend the whole day on the treadmill.

But thanx for all the replies guys, will add some extra supps and up water as much as possible.

I do that to... It's called guilt walking :lol:

IMO basically if u dont have a balance of sodium/ potassium the water goes kind off right through instead of being sucked into the muscle ....happens to me when Iam in the surf sometimes ...sh*t place for it to happen... but some salt water sorts it out .....

Well from today I will be adding an extra 200g mushroom to my diet, which will up potassium with an extra 800mg at least and maybe I will add some spinach too.

Fakey_AK wrote: Well from today I will be adding an extra 200g mushroom to my diet, which will up potassium with an extra 800mg at least and maybe I will add some spinach too.

for quick relief just throw sodium / potasium into a glass of water should help within a day or two and then include like u say in the diet

Fakey_AK wrote: :ohmy: 2 bottles of energade!! I will feel so guilty from all that sugar that I will spend the whole day on the treadmill.

Not sure if serious? :dry: Is the big bad bodybuilder scared of some Energade?

Pyroclasm wrote:

Fakey_AK wrote: :ohmy: 2 bottles of energade!! I will feel so guilty from all that sugar that I will spend the whole day on the treadmill.

Not sure if serious? :dry: Is the big bad bodybuilder scared of some Energade?

Hahahah, Big? I wish! And yes, very scared of energade :lol:

But so far, no cramping today. Changes so far is upped sodium intake and water, already 1.5l water in and out :silly: