Team Beachbody ¡preestreno!Español Guest

Before I started Beachbody, I was 37, 161 lbs, a total cholesterol of 319, and a normal blood pressure.

I have a partial-complex seizure disorder, and take anti-seizure medication daily.

Over the years, I've just let myself go. Gaining 15pounds the freshman year of college, and not exercising through college. After graduation, I was 150 pounds. I've tried martial arts, working out in a gym, running, Tae Bo, Nordic Track, Nordic Flex Gold... but they all started out great, but I just couldn't continue as I was losing my motivation.

I was diagnosed with high cholesterol in 1990, and have been on cholesterol medication since. My cholesterol has been up and down over the years. At age 36, November 2006, my total cholesterol was 319, and I needed to do something about it. In addition, I have scoliosis of my back and the back curves in the upper part of my back (between my wings) and the lower portion of my back as well. Regardless of that, I never let either my epilepsy, my scoliosis, or high cholesterol prevent me from living my life.

March 2007, someone whom I just started dating, showed me her collection of Beachbody videos. Hip Hop Abs, Slim In 6, Turbo Jam, Yoga Booty Ballet, Power 90, Power Half Hour... In July 2007, I borrowed Hip Hop Abs, and began my Beachbody journey. After completing Hip Hop Abs, I began (and eventually completed):
Hip Hop Abs Ultimate Results
Power 90
Slim In 6
Power Half Hour.
Most of which I borrowed from my now girlfriend, and one I purchased from Beachbody. Throughout all of the workouts, I customized the workouts in such a way that I was able to do the workout, and then take my anti-seizure medication. This way, I was able to workout, take my meds, and live a “normal” life.

In November 2007, I began the Power 90 Master Series.

When I went to the doctor in December 2007, my total cholesterol was 185 thanks to working out to various Beachbody videos, eating right, my cholesterol medication, and just taking a better care of myself. When my doctor told me my results, he said, “You’re doing great, just keep doing what you’re doing!” At this point, I chose to do whatever was necessary to reach my fitness goal. I also started saying to myself, “I’ll reach and surpass my goal, come hell or high water”, meaning that I refuse to quit.

January 2008, I joined a challenge on one of the message boards entitled “We Will Soar”, which is a 150 day challenge. I took my measurements, a new set of photos, and worked out daily to P90MS. From January 1 thru today, my weight went from 167 to 153, I lost a total of 4.5”, and my refusal to quit or give up has turned into a personal motivation and drive which I never expected. But I like it!!!


Wednesday night last week, my workout was P90MS: Pylo Legs, which I completed without a hitch.

Thursday night, I get home after a long day at work and I'm sitting in the chair at my desk for a few minutes, and my left arm started twitching. I knew that the twitching in my arm was not a seizure because my seizures are a form of absenteeism. I never know what occurs during a seizure.
Anyway.
As my left arm twitched, I looked at it, and the twitching it stopped. A few seconds later, the twitching starts again, but this time I put my right hand on my left arm to find out where it was. At first, nothing happened. A few seconds later, the twitching started again. The twitching was in my left tricep. I didn't workout on Thursday because of the twitching and gave my body a rest.

Friday morning, I didn't have any discomfort/pain/twitching in my arm. That night, I worked out normally.

I didn’t do anything different in the Pylo Legs workout the other night, as I’ve been doing the P90MS Standard Program for quite sometime. Today, February 11, I complete the Standard program. Tomorrow, I begin the Lean program of P90MS.

Since working out because working out has helped me out tremendously, not just through my measurements and statistics, but also because my health has improved as well.

My question is simple – why was my arm twitching?

Sorry for the long history and explanation, but I thought providing a little history about myself would have helped before asking the question.

Thanks,
James

Wow, great story. You should send it in.

Twitching like this is normal and signals, generally, a mineral imbalance that is usually electrolytes. At high levels of intense training it's nearly impossible to always get your nutrition perfect. If you diet is in line it should go away pretty quickly. If you twitch continuous over time, even if it's on and off but regularly, you'll want to investigate further and perhaps see a doctor (for sure if you can't get it to stop). But an occasional muscular twitch is to be expected.

I'm not a nutrionist, so all the info I have on lactic acid build up is stuff the I have found on my own. Hopefully Steve can expand on this. Normally when you workout, your body converts glycogen to pyruvate, then pyruvate to carbon dioxide and water. That waste is then released through the body. However, when you do a really intense workout (like Plyo Legs) your body doesn't have enough time to convert pyruvate to CO2, so it converts it to lactic acid. So lactic acid is unavaoidable if you plan on doing a very intense workout (especially strength training). However, they say if you stay hydrated throughout the day, and replenish your glycogen stores after a tough workout (aka a recovery drink), this should help. Basically I just repeated what Steve said with a lot more words. Eat well, stay hydrated, have a recovery drink to replace glycogen and electrolytes, which should help prevent twitching.

Just in case there are any lurkers reading this thread, I don't want people to freak out about ALS just because they get tired after a workout and twitch a couple times the next day. If you workout really really hard, and the next day you're so sore and tired you can barely sit up, don't worry, you don't have Lou Gehrig's disease. Now if you go from being a very active person who exercises every day, and then over time you muscles become weaker and weaker to point where you can no longer walk up stairs, then that is a problem. So no worries everyone.

AlliWV
I had to sign in for an account-just to let you know how amazing this info is. 3 years ago, I, troubled by benign cramp (cause I get the joy of lots of leg cramping also) fasciculation syndrome and was seen by multiple specialists with no clear diagnosis but hints of concern for ALS. I am the mother of two children, and I cannot tell you how stressed I was. Concerned about my ability to care for my children, their future and also about potentially becoming a burden to my family. If only I had the benefit of reading your post then. Your examples of muscle fatigue would have served me so well. After about a year and a half of searching for answers, I was seen a neurologist who diagnosed me with benign cramp fasciculation syndrome. I am not longer worried with my twitching. I am now doing p90x (which helps with the cramping) and I have no worries. Anyway, thanks for your post. I wish my doctors had been so informative!

Hi, AlliWV and Steve, your answers are fabulously wonderful. I know many people will be searching for this thread, since muscle twitching and muscle fatigue and soreness are part of this process of gaining muscle and strength.

Well, the best sum up is how you put it in a nutshell: hydrate, replenish and sleep. I also add stretching and massage and prayer.

Since Shakeology came out there's many posts about the energy boost. This is true and personally it has lasted for me since day one, many months ago. I consider it the greatest "food find" of my life.

However, having an energy boost during waking hours is no substitute for sleep. Human bodies must have sleep. Lack of sleep causes weakness and trigers illness. Cheating sleep is cheating their potential.

Sleep itself will not cure muscle twitching or cramping, whereas full program of exercise (hydrate, replenish and sleep) and good nutrition and balanced emotions should correct most people's problem.

HOWEVER, for that rare person who grows weaker rather than stronger, who is replenishing but not feeling rejuvenated and is sleeping 8 hours a day and still not feeling rested, there may be a deeper cause. As difficult as it is, please keep a journal of what you eat, how you feel energy-wise, what is the temperature, whether you are inside or outside, the amount of sunshine you get, how you slept and how many hours, and what activities you did, and also your emotional record especially if you have highs and lows or get angry or sad. This will help when you talk to your Internist. You may need to talk to many doctors, not all doctors listen very well and the root cause of illness is tough to get at at times. ZMisdiagnosis is made with alarming frequency, so do not mildly accept the first diagnosis.....

One option that I hope is not the reason, but it happens to many people, is Hepatitis C. This is a difficult virus to get, as it is blood born, and even married couples usually do not spread it to each other unless they share needles. It is prevalent in the over 50 generation due to a variety of causes that have been changed today. And, it is a dormant virus that can come to life when given the opportunity.

Hepatitis C symptoms can be mild or severe at first. It is aggravated by alcohol, anger and lack of sleep. Doctors do not routinely test for it unless specifically requested to do so. If you have been diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, then consider this as a possibility and get tested. The treatment is almost as bad as the cure, but can be endured and the results are usually very favorable. Lifestyle changes include doing all the things we have recommended already, including exercise, nutrition and sleep.

Don't be alarmed with soreness that you recover from, pushing yourself into higher areas of fitness, though is difficult but so worth it. Do not be reckless, however, choose to listen to your body and be mindful with your body's workings and recoveries.

Carefully distinguish the activities that debilitate rather than enhance you, so you keep strong to do the fun things life has to offer! Good health brings good vitality. Vitality brings joy. You can have hope for the future by doing simple mindful activities every day.