Severe Abdominal cramping after doing an Ab workout. Is something wrong?

Question

I must have incredibly weak abs, but considering I'm not obese and I've got fairly strong upper body from weight lifting, I'm concerned that there is something more serious going on. I usually have very bad cramping for the first 2 weeks that I'm working on abs and then after that It just gets a little bit better, but it is still fairly uncomfortable.
Is there something (food) that causes a degredation in abdominal muscle tissue? Conversely are there any food that help strengthen abdominal tissue?
Or do I just need to suck it up and deal with the cramping?

Ab workout consists of two sets of 15 doing just normal crunches, coming about halfway up.
Then two sets of 15 side crunches. (I almost never get cramping from the side crunches, only the normal ones)

Answer 1

My first question would be what are you doing with your abs? You'd be surprised at what some people do! The second question I'd want to know, is how many? Maybe you're over doing it?
Remember the abs are muscles just like your biceps and all the other ones, they need a day inbetween to recover. If you work your abs today, then tomorrow let them rest, you'd be surprised at how much better they'll feel. The same with your other muscle groups, don't work them every day, give them a recovery time inbetween of a whole day, this is when they recover and get stronger because of it.
Foods aren't what is doing this, try giving them recovery time and see what happens.

Answer 2

right now you are crunching with your arms instead of your abs. Your arms and neck should be relaxed while your abs do the work. Try doing them slowly while you get the feel if it. If it still doesn't work, try pilates and exercise ball workouts for your abs.

Answer 3

I have had that same symptom after ab workouts.
You probably need to EASE up the ab workout and work up to the full workout very gently.
Good Luck

Answer 4

you probably pulled some muscles in your stomach,you are doing too many exercises in one day start off slow and increase them gradually over days so you wont get pain and crampong later on