muscle cramping (charlie horse)

[creekart]

Does anyone have this problem of muscle cramps all over the body with the HCG diet? I am staying hydrated, taking potassium/calcium supplements and still have cramping. I am in Day 3 of P2. Would appreciate any advice.

[RedsSkinnyJeans]

Wish I could help - but you covered it. Water and potassium

[dawnyama]

I had a terrible time too. How much potassium are you taking? I ended up taking 8 pills a day (4 with my lunch, 4 with my dinner) when I found out that the prescription strength potassium is = to 8 pills. THEN I end up taking 2 TBL of apple cider vinegar at night for the cramps at night for the potassium as well. Taking this much potassium I have not had a cramp again!!

[creekart]

Thanks for the reply, I'm currently taking 99mg at lunch and another 99mg (1) tablet at dinner also. Postassium can be tricky and I was taking only what was prescribed by the pharmacy. I will up it and see what happens, Thanks.

[privatediva]

Add some magnesium (a little at a time since it can cause diarrhea).

Also, diet tonic water may help...quinine has been used for leg cramps for many years.

[cheri]

When we had the chatroom we had a lot of people come in asking about cramping.. I always suggest taking 1/4 teaspoon of lite salt stirred into a glass of water and then downing it. For some reason this helps so much!! Lite Salt is loaded with potassium and when taken this way it may be it is absorbed a lot quicker.. maybe that is why people have said after doing this it helped nearly right away.

Give it a try!!

cheri

[RedsSkinnyJeans]

that's a great tip!

[belfrybat]

When on P2, I lose a lot of fluids, so always supplement a full tsp of no-salt (2500 mg. potassium), 400 mg. of magnesium, and check to make sure sodium stays above 2000 mg. each day in addition to my usual calcium (1200 mg, I think). I had no cramps at all this last round and more important, no heart racing episodes.
I use a powdered magnesium call CALM every evening as it helps me sleep and keep my bowels moving.

[creekart]

Thank you so very much for the good advice. I will make adjustments immediately.

[creekart]

Good idea! thanks.

[creekart]

Awsome, thank you so very much.

[debkeversole]

minimum 3 99mg potassium a day on P2 as has been stated some take much more 4 -99mg has about as much potassium as a banana

seriously when you have cramping a tsp of ACV either straight or in water will stop cramping in 3 minutes if it does not then take a second dose

[Kiley2801]

Natural Calm! This stuff is amazing!

[Joy2UnMe]

Yes, Agree, NATURAL CALM magnesium supplement will make that disappear, but take it daily. You will notice within 1-5 days.

[MaggieC]

awesome tips, thanks guys!

[shirleychef]

Originally Posted by belfrybat

When on P2, I lose a lot of fluids, so always supplement a full tsp of no-salt (2500 mg. potassium), 400 mg. of magnesium, and check to make sure sodium stays above 2000 mg. each day in addition to my usual calcium (1200 mg, I think). I had no cramps at all this last round and more important, no heart racing episodes.
I use a powdered magnesium call CALM every evening as it helps me sleep and keep my bowels moving.

A banana has 400 mg of potassium so you need to take at least that much each day during the VLCD. The water we are drinking pushes out he potassium as well as other minerals. If you have a high quality sea salt like Redmond REAL or a good pink/purple/brown hymalian salt.. put about 1/4 - 1/2 tsp in a quart jar and sip on it, it will replenish some minerals and balance your body out.

It is also important to take magnesium & calcium. Double the calcium to magnesium is the optimum ratio.

I am on VLCD and am exercising 6 out of 7 days a week... so some days I take 800 mg of potassium. My doctor told me that prescribed doses are much higher so the amounts I'm taking to compensate for the water output is totally fine.