Constant Need to Stretch

#1

Since I began keto, I’ve noticed the sensation of constantly wanting to stretch my arms and legs. This only happens at night before bed and isn’t painful, but is very annoying. Could this be a deficiency of electrolytes or something else entirely? Am I alone in this?

(Pete A) #2

I have this too so nice to meet you. It encouraged me to begin stretching exercises, which 6 months and 70 pounds ago was no small initiative.

It felt like my body was waking up and wanting to go, and heal. Meanwhile it could be a deficiency or something else… but I saw it (and still see it) as an excuse to add the physical component to my Keto.

(Jay Patten) #3

Yes, I get this at night too!!

#4

No so much the need to stretch but the need to move. I was pretty much a couch potato before and had no issues sitting around. Now I have a standing desk at work and I am constantly pulling it up and pushing it down, walking around the office, getting coffee from a kitchen that’s further away just so I can walk.

(Samantha ) #5

Maybe try yoga classes a few times a week? There are a lot of apps you can take classes from now and that might help. I am a yogi and know that it has helped my body with the Keto transition.You could do a slow flow class at night, which should help you get rid of that constant need to stretch.

(Jan) #6

Restless leg syndrome? I couldn’t sit still especially in the evening. Upping sodium, taking calcium and of course magnesium, maybe potassium too. It all went away for me, with even more energy and strength when I choose to move.

(Banting & Yudkin & Atkins & Eadeses & Cordain & Taubes & Volek & Naiman & Bikman ) #7

When I get fat burning, I get an itch to move more. Have to shake out hands sometimes.

(Candy Lind) #8

You’ve gotten several great responses. I’ll add, I think you should see this as a sign that your body is healing! We don’t think about the fact that we USED to stretch all the time - especially upon waking - and it’s a good thing. It wakes up your muscles and increases circulation and in general is an important element of healthy body function. If your body wants to stretch, EMBRACE IT. If you don’t want it to happen at night when you’re trying to wind down, then work it in to your morning routine, or even in to your work day - it’s always helpful to get up and stretch when you’ve been sitting for too long.

I was REALLY sick before I started keto (still not great and working on it), and was counting calories and doing water classes at the Y. One of them was water yoga. After about 3 weeks, I noticed that I was naturally stretching when I woke up (you know, like dogs and cats do automatically when they rise from rest?)! That’s when I knew it was really doing me some good to do what I was doing.

KCKO!

(Lee) #9

If it feels like you “need” to stretch, then the most likely solution, in order of probability would be:
Magnesium
Potassium
Vitamin B (I would take B100 for 3 months and then switch to B50)

It happened to me when I first started and it tends to occur again if I slack off on my electrolytes. I also sometimes feel like my legs are made of lead when I walk upstairs, which gets better when I increase my salt intake.

(Bunny) #10

Stretchy leg cramps?

Low-carb side effects & how to cure them

Leg cramps

Leg cramps on a low-carb dietLeg cramps are not uncommon when starting a strict low-carb diet. It’s usually a minor issue if it occurs, but it can sometimes be painful. It’s a side effect of the loss of minerals, specifically magnesium, due to increased urination.

Here’s how to avoid it:

1. Drink plenty of fluid and get enough salt. This may reduce loss of magnesium and help prevent leg cramps.

2. If needed, supplement with magnesium. Here’s a suggested dosage from the book The Art and Science of Low Carbohydrate Living by Drs. Jeff Volek and Stephen Phinney: Take 3 slow-release magnesium tablets like Slow-Mag or Mag 64 a day for 20 days, then continue taking 1 tablet a day afterwards.

3. If the steps above are not enough and the problem is bothersome, consider increasing your carb intake somewhat. This should eliminate the problem. The more carbs you eat though, the weaker the impact of the low-carb diet. …More

#11

Thanks everyone. I will try upping my salt and will consider a supplement. I will also add in stretching in the morning to see if that helps.

#12

How long have you been keto? Possibly your muscles getting a little weird running with their glycogen tanks near empty all the time?

#13

Since 12/26…So about 10 weeks or so.

(Joey) #14

Refreshing an older thread…

One can turn an annoying “urge to stretch” into a wonderfully satisfying and restorative activity. In short, stretching - when done prudently on a regular basis - is a superbly healthy activity.

I recommend checking out “Stretching Anatomy” by Nelson & Kokkonen. Just a quick look at the preview available on Amazon and posted reviews will give you a sense for the quality of this resource.

Disclosure: I’ve got no relationship with the authors nor any interest in how many books Amazon sells :wink: