Calf Cramps and Magnesium deficiency?

[Jennygumdrop]

Hi - I"m Jen from Perth Australia. I"m on W4... I used to run 10 years ago but it all stopped when I gained 2 kids and 30 kgs... I've still got the kids but I've lost 22 kg and I feel fit enough to run again. I'd forgotten how great it makes you feel! I'm hoping the running will help me lose another10 kg. I look forward to every run and all going well except that I sometimes get sudden, intense calf cramps from time to time and I have to stop. I've gone to the physio and there are massive knots in there. But two days later - the knots are gone and I"m fine, until the next time. I'm also getting sharp abdominal cramps in pilates class when I do crunches. Someone suggested that it might be magnesium deficiency. I do lots of stretches and I'm really flexible so I don't think that is the problem. I'm going to try magnesium supplements to see if it helps, but just wondered if anyone has had any successs with this?

[benjohn]

I've not had anything like that. It'll be great if a simple supplement can help you out! If you can report back with your progress, I'd love to hear how it goes, and I expect others would be very interested too.

If you do get a cramp, you might find that as well as good stretches after the run, giving your leg a massage will help (you can get gadgets that will help you with this – they're a kind of roller that you run the calf muscle over).

Really hope the magnesium helps!

Best regards,
Benjohn