Rest Day 6/21:

What do you do to avoid cramps?

Check out this post on Muscle Cramps and Hydration from Alex Black, Renegade Dietitian and creator of Wicked Good Nutrition.  Also look for a great recipe for spicy grilled sweet potatoes!

Since most of the United States will be experiencing a heat wave over the next few days (and here in Boston the mercury will be up around 97 degrees) I think it’s a good time to talk about hydration and muscle cramping. Muscle Cramping is a result of a muscle that contracts involuntarily and then stays that way. This is primarily caused by altered neuromuscular function – during exercise muscles in use can be abnormally stimulated, especially when they are already in the shortened position or are fatigued. Among most athletes, the quadriceps, hamstrings, and calves are the most frequently affected muscles. Generally, loss of sodium, dehydration, and imbalances of certain electrolytes have taken the blame for muscle cramping, but some research has shown this may not be the case. In this post I’ll go over some things you can do to help avoid muscle cramps.  …Read More…