leg cramps!

I recently revamped my approach to atkins and took out almost all srtificial sweetners ( I am a sweet eater junkie) I upped my water intake and I have lost 3 pounds this week but I feel weak all over and waking up with major leg cramps! I clean houses for a living and I have found some days I just do not have the energy to put one foot in front of the other. I am not currently taking any vitamins, not sure what I should be taking. Before I wasn't losing much and I was way over my limit on 3 servings of srt. sweetner a day, so now I only use 1 packet with my morning coffee and an occasional serving of sf jello. Has any one any suggestions to get past this weak feeling and cramps?

Google "Atkins Flu"--that might explain some of it? Also, some think that leg cramps are caused by a lack of potassium--broccoli, cabbage and the like are good sources. Are you keeping up on the proper amount of protein/fats/veggies to ensure you're getting enough fuel?

Lo-Salt is a good source of Potassium. I hope this helps

I have had horrible leg cramps (also my hands and diaphram) that woke me up from a dead sleep. I've been taking potasium suppliment and the cramps have disappeared.

smart move! A lot of studies show for wrestlers and football players or those looking to GAIN weight by increasing their appetite they are suggesting artificial sweeteners. I find this so interesting.

YeAh, I get sever leg cramps and it's been getting worse the more I work out, ive discovered these things called "Zipfizz" that has a lot of potassium plus b12, and I drink a lot of coconut water in addition to my vitamin, it's helping a lot.

My suggestion for a natural and healthy way is Coconut Water. It really helps with cramping - give it a try. Just make sure you're getting the nature pure water and not the milk nor a brand with extra sugar or other additives.

Thanks everyone for all your advice. I have never heard of coconut water, I will check it out. I am drinking plenty of water and I usually have broccolli everyday. Hopefully this will pass.

Atkins advises (along with other low carbers) to be sure to get at least 1/2 tsp salt a day by adding to water twice a day or drinking two cups of broth a day if lower than 50 carbs a day. This helps for energy, cramps, headache and general feeling good. The diuretics effect of LC depletes salt. I also have done a lot of research and found I need a LOT of magnesium, we all do, so I take 3 SLOWMAG and 1/2 to 3/4 tsp of Natural Calm at bedtime. If I skip one or both, I get horrible leg cramps.

My experience is similar to everyone else, the cramps are, in my experience, some combination of potassium, magnesium and not enough salt. When dieting eating whole foods and not eating any prepared meals or eating out, I don't seem to get enough salt. Simply adding potassium and magnesium sups didn't work for me until I added two cups of broth to get the salt RDA. Then the cramps went away.

Yea lowering your artificial sugar intake is a very good idea.

I non-technical terms- The body tastes the sweets and is expecting the blood sugar spike, and it never comes. They have definately been shown to decrease blood sugar, thus increasing hunger, I suspect by causing the body to release insulin.

And yea, salt and a good multi-vit for the cramps.

It is defiantley a lack of potassium. There is a "no carb" potassium suppliment available at the pharmacy (i dont recall the name). It's an effervesent tablet that disolves in water. You should take it daily and you'll see immediate results.

You are in need of potassium I would guess.... Plus you may want to take a multi and some calcium magnesium...I would take 2 potassium a day for a week until the cramps go away and then go to one a day...artificial sweetener should not affect this... What else are you eating....

You can also add some sea salt , the ones that is pink is the best as it has minerals in it.... Tis should help ou...

If you're a real sugar junkie, you may be "de-toxing" from the sugar. There is nothing to do but be tough and let that one run it's course though. For me it took a couple of weeks to fully de-tox. I had ZERO energy. I was literally falling asleep at my desk around noon every day and as soon as I got home in the evening, right after dinner I'd fall asleep on the couch around 7:00 without even realizing it. Then not to mention the headaches, as well as the extreme extreme moodiness.

Look up Juice plus.... it is an awesome supplement. 17 fruits and vegetables a day. It is all natural, kosher, and has 22 studies showing its health benefits. It is the best, in my opinion, diatary disease preventative short of real fruits and vegetables....

I am also a sugar junkie and on Atkins. I think you are doing the best thing, giving up added artificial sugars. They just make me want more, and I don't need that. I don't think your leg cramps are related to this, and all of the above suggestions sound good. (Except Tmegan's, which is probably a good suggestion if you weren't on Atkins, and we know on Atkins we can't have any fruit juice.)

Have you been checked for diabetes? That's one of the warning signs. I don't know enough about Atkins to say 2 bits about it but if your getting cramps and drinking water I would go in and get checked. I use to drink gallons of water and get cramps so bad in my legs and feet. They have went away since I started Metformin.

Maybe you're drinking too much water? How much are you sucking down each day? If you drink too much water you start diluting the electrolytes in your body.

Potassium is probably what you need, as others have pointed out. If you're drinking tons of water, though, try cutting back to something more reasonable and see if that helps.

A few of these responses sound realistic. When I started Atkins I experiences the "flu". Headaches, dizzy, nauseous, no energy, couldn't work or get out of bed. I had to make sure I was getting enough calories and adding more salt to my diet. We're told salt is bad, but there is natural salt (electrolytes) in our bodies that we need to survive. As soon as I started this I started feeling much better.

I don't know, I use 2 splenda/day in my coffee and I've never had any problem, but we're all different and our bodies react differently to different stimuli, or lack thereof. Definitely start taking a multi-vitamin (without iron, as Atkins recommends) and for the cramps, a good backup is, as others have said, potassium. I know I'm not getting nearly enough vitamins/nutrients now that I'm not eating the veggies I used to, so I back my body up with a couple of pills in the morning.

Good luck, and feel better!