We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.

This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.

📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

Muscle Cramps after exercise

Advice please.....

I am EXTREMELY overweight and have recently decided to do something about it.

I do an aquatone class once a week and have taken up walking. I have also committed myself to doing a 5km Race for Life in July (walking rather that running).

I have always suffered from leg cramps and now that I've started exercising they're getting worse.

What can I do to stop them occurring?
Fat and proud lol

Comments

  • Toothsmith
    Toothsmith Posts: 10,111 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    There are several possible causes.

    Some serious, some not.

    Did you see a doctor before starting the exercises? Might be worth a check up.

    I would guess that it would improve as your fitness improves, and your muscles get used to the increased activity levels.

    Get yourself checked though.
    How to find a dentist.
    1. Get recommendations from friends/family/neighbours/etc.
    2. Once you have a short-list, VISIT the practices - dont just phone. Go on the pretext of getting a Practice Leaflet.
    3. Assess the helpfulness of the staff and the level of the facilities.
    4. Only book initial appointment when you find a place you are happy with.
  • angel
    angel Posts: 2,017 Forumite
    I sometimes get muscle cramps at night so I take 4 Mag Phos every day, I guess that it's magnesium phosphate, from Holland and Barrett. I know that it helps as when I stop the cramps tend to return.

    Also, if you're drinking more water than usual the salts in your body get flushed out and that can cause cramp too.
    :smileyhea "here, hare, here" :smileyhea
  • Dukie_Boy
    Dukie_Boy Posts: 145 Forumite
    Hi Djtonyb
    I Get Muscle Cramp In My Legs From Time To Time
    I'm Under My Doctor For My Medication Which Is
    Quinine Sulphate Tablets 300mg At Night With Water
    I Do Believe Tonic Water Also Helps
    I Would Visit Your Doctor For A Proper Diagnosis
    Good Luck
    Dukie Boy
  • Penny_Watcher
    Penny_Watcher Posts: 3,518 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker Photogenic
    OH is a serious cyclist (lycra shorts, expensive bike, shaved legs - the whole 9 yards:o ).

    Every now and again he gets bad cramp after a really hard ride, usually after a period of rest. He tries to keep himself properly hydrated, sometimes using those sports drinks that rebalance your body salts/sugars.

    And good for you for committing to get fit. :T

    You cannot live as I have lived an not end up like me.

    Oi you lot - please :heart:GIVE BLOOD :heart: - you never know when you and yours might need it back! 67 pints so far.
  • Toothsmith
    Toothsmith Posts: 10,111 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    OH is a serious cyclist (lycra shorts, expensive bike, shaved legs - the whole 9 yards:o ).

    Completely O/T, but is he doing the British Cyclosportive in London on July 1st?
    How to find a dentist.
    1. Get recommendations from friends/family/neighbours/etc.
    2. Once you have a short-list, VISIT the practices - dont just phone. Go on the pretext of getting a Practice Leaflet.
    3. Assess the helpfulness of the staff and the level of the facilities.
    4. Only book initial appointment when you find a place you are happy with.
  • Penny_Watcher
    Penny_Watcher Posts: 3,518 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker Photogenic
    Toothsmith wrote: »
    Completely O/T, but is he doing the British Cyclosportive in London on July 1st?

    Hmmmm...... not if I've anything to do with it he's not! :p Actually I don't think he applied for a place. We live in darkest Yorkshire and it's a long way back for work on Monday (asuming it's a one day 'race' :confused:). Most of the reason I need to consult MSE is that we have a bike room full of enough bikes and equipment for a Tour pro. He needs to spend every waking hour at work to fund this habit. :rolleyes: :D

    All being well we should be down the following week for the prologue and start of the T de F proper. Daughter and Son Out Law live right at the bottom of the Isle of Dogs so we can pop through the foot tunnel to watch the peleton go through Greenwich.

    Ooo I didn't ask - are you doing the Cyclosportive?

    You cannot live as I have lived an not end up like me.

    Oi you lot - please :heart:GIVE BLOOD :heart: - you never know when you and yours might need it back! 67 pints so far.
  • Toothsmith
    Toothsmith Posts: 10,111 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Yes - Me and my titanium Colnago will be there.

    It's the week after an event in France called the Ardechoise, which I've done for the past couple of years, and have entered again this year!

    So it'll be 130ml on Sat 23rd followed by the 120ml Cyclosportive on 1st July!

    I'll be either very fit or dead come 2nd July!

    To bring this back to your thread djtonyb, 12 yrs ago I weighed 109kg and when I got a bike as a Xmas present, it took me 2 months before I could even get out of my town, as it seemed to be uphill to everywhere (I'm in Yorkshire too!!)

    I'm now 92kg (89 when summer really takes off and I cycle more). That's still about 14.5 stone and about 1 stone heavier than I'd really like to be - but hey, a guy's got to eat!!

    I get cramp now and again, but generally like Pennywatcher said, when I don't get my hydration right, and salt balance goes to pot.

    Getting fit is a long road - there are no quick fixes. Take it one step at a time, listen to your body, be careful, and enjoy it.
    How to find a dentist.
    1. Get recommendations from friends/family/neighbours/etc.
    2. Once you have a short-list, VISIT the practices - dont just phone. Go on the pretext of getting a Practice Leaflet.
    3. Assess the helpfulness of the staff and the level of the facilities.
    4. Only book initial appointment when you find a place you are happy with.
  • Justie
    Justie Posts: 1,768 Forumite
    djtonyb wrote: »
    Advice please.....

    I am EXTREMELY overweight and have recently decided to do something about it.

    I do an aquatone class once a week and have taken up walking. I have also committed myself to doing a 5km Race for Life in July (walking rather that running).

    I have always suffered from leg cramps and now that I've started exercising they're getting worse.

    What can I do to stop them occurring?
    as has been said check your overall health with your GP, make sure you balance your salts but also make sure you stretch properly, it can be easy to miss this when doing aqua exercises and you may need to add in daily stretches as well as what you do in your class. Speak to the the teacher at the aquatone class and see what they suggest.

    Weight loss is 80% or more about what you do in the kitchen not what you do in the gym so whilst getting fit will help your health it's your diet that will do the most in losing the weight.
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 352K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253.5K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 454.2K Spending & Discounts
  • 245K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 600.6K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 177.4K Life & Family
  • 258.8K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.2K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.6K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.