I get charley horses in my calves that wake me up. Are they triggered by my daily running?
Q: I get charley horses in my calves that wake me up. Are they triggered
by my daily running?
A: Probably not. "Charley horses are leg cramps caused by involuntary muscle contractions," says Jason Karp, a personal trainer in Albuquerque, New Mexico. "If you're getting them when you're resting, chances are they're triggered by dehydration or a mineral deficiency [often sodium, potassium, or magnesium]." Some medications, including diuretics and cimetidine (a heartburn reliever), may also be the culprit.
"To prevent them, drink plenty of fluids throughout the day, eat high-potassium foods such as bananas and oranges, and stretch your calves (see photo, above) before you go to bed," Karp says. If you wake up with a cramp, walk around for a few minutes, massage the area, and then stretch. If that doesn't relieve your pain, or the cramp recurs daily for a week, see a doctor.
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READER COMMENTS
Even if your calves do get big, it's probably the way your muscles were set in your genes rather than your workout. I have a workout buddy and she hates doing squats but her calves are much larger than mine with less effort.
He probably has an idea of the 'ideal' female body and wants you to achieve that. Get someone who can appreciate all kinds of shapes for fit and even slightly muscley women. And like the last comment said, there is a limit to how much a muscle body can add without some added assistance.
— Mariam
Sounds like you are going to the wrong gym!
— Lindsay
man your trainer definitly sounds like a dumbass, your right he's wrong end of story
— Lua
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