Er, situps/crunches are good too - that and hot tea are about all that i find to help. But the best cure is prevention. I was told once upon a time that caffeine, alcohol and sugar exascerbate cramps. So even though it seems like a good idea, eating chocolate at that time is not necessarily a good idea. Nor is drinking away your pain! So, maybe your cramps got better because you started taking better care of yourself. I don't have scientific backup for that, but lived experience seems to support it. Also, stay hydrated. But that's good at any time.