Abs seizing up..any ideas?

[drmchsr]

Hey all!

This is my first post. Been reading for a while.....

So when I cycle I always seem to experience some pretty severe ab cramping. Cramping is not really the right word...its more of a charley horse in my abs. Whenever I try to train them, 20 crunches in they seize up and I basically have to just lay there, stretched out, and breath, focusing on relaxing until they release.

This never happens when I am not on cycle. Yet pretty much every time I have cycled, no matter what supplements, this seems to happen.

I have tried extra potassium, both from foods and supps. I take regular vitamins as well.

Anyone experience this? Any ideas what its from? Any ideas what I can do?

Thanks in advance!

 

[sonicwaste]

Yeah that happens to me too. I don't know what causes it... But stretching prior to working abs has made it near nonexistant. When I stretch before hand, my abs typically only cramp on the first set, and I am fine after that.

 

[iron asylum]

Same here...I start doing crunches and I seize up and have to roll over on my stomach and stretch it out....I feel like a crab when i'm scootchin around till they go away.

 

[SwampDonkey]

May be an electrolyte problem. Some people are more sensitive to cramping than others and among people some muscle groups are more prone to this. For me its traps, always cramping up.
This works for me: 3mg potassium citrate in the morning after a good meal. Then gatorade and creatine a little before and during workouts.
Hope that helps!

 

[sonicwaste]

Could be electrolytes. I've recently started drinking smart water in the gym, which has electrolytes and have been cramping abs much less... But also have been stretching them more, so I can't say conclusively.

Off topic and not to hijack the thread... but.. Since I started my current cycle, I have been bruising like I have never bruised before... Very random and weird. It's got to be some kind of vitamin deficiency, anyone have this problem?

 

[drmchsr]

thanks! I will try the stretching approach! thanks to everyone else as well!

also, I usually stay away from anything with refined sugars...even gatorade...is there a low sugar or sugar free alternative for this?

 

[sonicwaste]

smart water has electrolytes. I get it from costco, i think it's about $1 per bottle with a coupon.

 

[coreyv93]

if it aint your electolytes, andf your well hydrated, try taking Taurine. 2-5grams/day, its pretty cheap stuff.