For the weight lifting crowd

[jaded]

I just started lifting weights about 3 months ago. It's going really well, and I can feel myself getting much stronger. I also see the physical results, I'm leaning out, and getting a more muscular build.

On Tuesday we did biceps and back, and we went really hard as usual. The guy I work out with is a pro MMA fighter, built very well and stronger than me when it comes to lifting.

When we finished, I told him that we should run. So we took a few laps around the gym and about 1/2 mile in, my calves just severely cramped up. It was bad, I could barely walk let alone run. I have very big calves from boxing all my life, mostly because of the jump rope so I have never experienced this before.

When we got back in the gym, he said the same thing happened to him! hahaha

He told me it's because all of our blood is in our arms, is this true or possible? I don't know much about lifting weights, so I'm not so sure. Well it's Thursday now and my calves are shot still. I think I pulled the muscle pretty bad and it hurts just to walk around.

Has anyone ever experienced anything like this, just a question.

It could be so many things. It sounds like this was a one time thing so that makes it really hard to say. It could be that you drained electrolytes out of your body...that would cause cramping for sure. If you drink a lot of water and sweat and piss that would flush them and maybe you need to to be upping you electrolytes during you workout. But like I said...if it's an ongoing problem then that's one thing but if it just happened that one time then not.

[Rip Chudd]

This was a very informative thread. I've never had that happen but i'll know what to do should that occur.

[jas]

Yea eat those salt sachets you find at McDonald's during your workout

Jaded made a good point

[Soju]

Recently did the same thing, have done a few times. Get a massage to aid in the recovery process right away. Recommend a legit Thai therapist they'll know what to do. You will likely be walking normally again the next day


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[HtotheZ]

Did you do any leg work that week? Because I've had this happen to me before when I went for a run either the same day as my leg day or the day after. my legs would be sore as hell and I would still go for a run anyways and I found them cramping up like crazy.

I've actually never heard of the blood thing though

[jas]

i forgot the Important word: Stretching

[Cuauht�moc1520]

I stretch, hydrate, consume protein after my workout. I just think it was a one time thing. Just weird and wondered if it happened to anyone else. I will take the advice though, and thanks everyone for it.

[Banderivets]

Happens to me once in a while because I do not stretch after, but after a work out, it actually happens in the morning or in the middle of a night after a heavy day lifting. Its usually a stretching issue because I will walk with a knot the size of an egg in my calf for two days.

Id wake up with intense pain in my calves as if they were in a vice grip like the guy's head in GoodFellas.

I lift fairly heavy now, mostly bench as I have a bad back so I do not go too heavy on squats, but dead lifts are a life saver for my lower back. If I do not do dead lifts for a week I get nagging lower back pain, but one bad rep with squatting and my back goes to **** with anything over 275 on my back.

My advice, try to keep up with the cardio. I fell into the lifting trap and any time I hit the ball court I'm dying after one game of 3 on 3 up to 7pt.

Crucial that you keep your lungs working, once you get into the heavy lifts you go through oxygen like crazy.

Also, you wont necessarily gain a lot of weight with lifting if you just stick to your regular diet.

I've weighed 215 lb at 6'1" for the last 4 years, but my strength increased dramatically. Your body composition will change, but you wont necessarily actually get heavier.

[Cuauht�moc1520]

Happens to me once in a while because I do not stretch after, but after a work out, it actually happens in the morning or in the middle of a night after a heavy day lifting. Its usually a stretching issue because I will walk with a knot the size of an egg in my calf for two days.

Id wake up with intense pain in my calves as if they were in a vice grip like the guy's head in GoodFellas.

I lift fairly heavy now, mostly bench as I have a bad back so I do not go too heavy on squats, but dead lifts are a life saver for my lower back. If I do not do dead lifts for a week I get nagging lower back pain, but one bad rep with squatting and my back goes to **** with anything over 275 on my back.

My advice, try to keep up with the cardio. I fell into the lifting trap and any time I hit the ball court I'm dying after one game of 3 on 3 up to 7pt.

Crucial that you keep your lungs working, once you get into the heavy lifts you go through oxygen like crazy.

Also, you wont necessarily gain a lot of weight with lifting if you just stick to your regular diet.

I've weighed 215 lb at 6'1" for the last 4 years, but my strength increased dramatically. Your body composition will change, but you wont necessarily actually get heavier.

That's exactly how my calves felt, like there was a knot in them. I do a lot of cardio, so that's not an issue for me. I just started lifting for the reasons I gave and I have increased in my strength a lot in the first 2 months.

I am going to level off though, as I don't want to bulk up.

[Ray Corso]

If weights are in use the running would be before the weights. Depending on your stress factor starving your leg muscle of oxygen then running on top of them is not a good move as you've found out. You need to let the "pump" subside and give the legs a chance to recoup. Oxygen Oxygen then more!!

When I trained to get into top condition my weight program was separate from boxing. They don't mesh very well once your in shape for most bodies! Depending on shapes and size will make a difference but if you need strength then train for strength then go into boxing training once you've gained.

Heavy weight/short reps works against boxing form to me. I prefer lighter weights/high reps then utilize the heavy bag! I want boxing training to gain strength with weights and that's using the heavy bag appropriately. Glove size can be helpful too when utilizing the bag. Going from bag gloves to 20s then 16's to 10s then back to bag gloves!!! Your shoulders should get stronger in a week. Don't work your shoulders with weights that week, isolate your back and work that. Don't double and triple up on body parts, that's not good for boxing! ..and so on. a little light incline could be mixed in nicely!
I used weights a lot when I was in training and I used it during my time as a trainer but very carefully. Be careful not to compromise your boxing training.
Ray