Question about cramping...

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Permalink Reply by Jari Love on March 8, 2010 at 1:40pm

Hi Chelsi,

There are a few different things that could be causing this. The most common cause is something we've all heard before and that's the dreaded side stitch! It comes down to breathing - the oh-so-annoying side stitch is caused when you take too many shallow breaths, preventing the diaphragm from coming completely down and not allowing the ligaments to relax. Try concentrating on taking deep, controlled breaths as well as massaging the side stitch area.

Cramping can also be cause by dehydration. Getting the proper hydration includes considering the amount of liquid consumed, temperature of the liquid, timing of the liquid being consumed, amount of sweat being produced, amount of food in the stomach, as well as many other factors. Basically, if you are really dehydrated, you are more likely to experience cramping. You need to make sure you are getting enough water before, during and after your workouts - even if you don't feel thirsty!

Hope this helps! Keep up the great work,

Jari

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Permalink Reply by chelsi smith on March 8, 2010 at 2:02pm

I definitely don't drink enough when working out...so I guess I'll have to start working on that! Thank you so much for you're help :)

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Permalink Reply by Sierra Schwartz on March 8, 2010 at 6:44pm

I've noticed I get cramps when I have done cardio too soon after eating.
You might want to leave an hour and a half for a snack or two to three hours after a meal before working out.
When our bodies are digesting food we divert blood flow to aid in digestion. So if we attempt to do cardio while our bodies are still digesting food, we can get cramping and discomfort.
Also, foods that are high in fat take longer to digest, so you might want to take that into consideration. Everyones body is different though. I usually eat a peanut butter sandwhich a couple hours before I work out. Though when my husband tried that he got sick to his stomach.

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Permalink Reply by Megan Alderton on March 9, 2010 at 5:09pm

Good point Sierra. I realized I was eating/drinking juices too soon before my workouts and it was giving me indigestion when I did any kind of knee raise or abdominal work. I believe the rule of thumb is AT LEAST 1 hour prior, but for some of us, I'm sure it should be longer. I don't like to workout too long after eating or my energy flags. It's hard to find the exact right amount of time, but once you find your time frame by trial and error, it helps.

Also, Chelsi, I keep a big glass of water by the TV when I do the Ripped DVDs. I could not make it through without water breaks. Take quick sips, even if you have to pause it for a few seconds, it's worth it. Good luck!!!!!!!!!!

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