Well, I have written about my problems with this in the past and since I am training for a long swim and suffer from both foot and leg/thigh cramping, I have been experimenting with vitamins. I did the Gatorade (too much sugar), I did the private product things, and I stumbled across many websites that mentioned taking Calcium with Magnesium may be of benefit.
I started taking a Calcium pill and a Magnesium pill along with a separate vitamin that promotes good blood health (the B's), and all foot/leg cramping has completely stopped. Finally. It was preventing my being able to get past the 6 or 7 mile mark regularly. I started taking these supplements about 4 weeks ago. Since I returned to Roatan, I have not swam for 12 days due to ocean storms. Today was my first day back. I did a 6 miler and had no cramping at the 3 mile mark like I usually do.
So, it may be worth a try for people suffering greatly from this debilitating problem. I'm taking 384 mg of Magnesium, and the Calcium tablets have other ingredients, but the calcium is and of itself 334 mg. And of course I do know that we are all different and it may not work, but this, so far, has worked for me. I was about ready to do this: :whiteflag:
Donna
Parents
Former Member
I've been swimming for just over a month, 4/5 days a week, and the only cramping/muscle strain I have had thus far is on my inner thigh/groin area (think because I was kicking out wrong breaststroking). Taking this GNC multivitamin sports blend and drinking plenty of water/gatorade seems to have helped significantly but I'm just doing bout 2500 yards/day, can't even imagine a 6 mile swim :eek: Great advice in here, bookmark worthy.
I've been swimming for just over a month, 4/5 days a week, and the only cramping/muscle strain I have had thus far is on my inner thigh/groin area (think because I was kicking out wrong breaststroking). Taking this GNC multivitamin sports blend and drinking plenty of water/gatorade seems to have helped significantly but I'm just doing bout 2500 yards/day, can't even imagine a 6 mile swim :eek: Great advice in here, bookmark worthy.