Hi. I'm new to the forum and have been reading many postings about folks suffering with diarrhea and having difficulty gaining weight. My case is actually the opposite. I have spent many years trying to maintain my weight. I have had terrible constipation that I've been hospitalized for, this was usually followed by weeks of diarrhea. I have recently been diagnosed with Celiacs and am slowly trying to learn about the disease and eat gluten free. Are there any of you out there who are overweight and constipated instead of underweight w/diarrhea?

I am very concerned about how to change my lifestyle to fit in gluten-free eating. It seems like a full time job. I live in a rural area, commute 1 hour each way to work at a fast paced law firm, eat lunch on the run, go to graduate school at night, am a newlywed of 6 months and am 3 months pregnant. How do you all find the time to shop for these special foods online or at health food stores, make bread from scratch, eat gluten-free lunches, dinners, etc.??? Obviously I want to be completely gluten-free as soon as possibly to help grown a healthy, happy baby in my belly. Help....

Jules

Hi Jules,

There are probably about the same number of people who are overweight Celiacs as there are underweight Celiacs!

I am one of them. I have has weight problems up and down all my life until I had kids and them it was just up. I am now about 60lbs overweight and a newly diagnosed Celiac. I have spent the last two years educating myself on celiac disease and the gluten free lifestlye. And I can tell you this, it is not easy, but it is worth it. First off, your symptoms are not uncommon. I also have constipation and diarrhea, some only have one or the other. It will be better for you to start the diet, but you need to educate yourself at the same time. I feel for you with your busy schedule, but you will need to find the time to get gluten-free foods and prepare them, since chances are that if you eat out you will not get enough choices to eat, and most likely they will be contaminated with gluten. There are lots of food lists available, and the most important thing is to print out as many lists as you can and take them with you. You do not need a health food store, but it would open up many food choices to you, or you could shop online, which might open up more choices to you given your busy schedule and the internet being 24 hours a day!

It is also important that you do this for your baby. If you are not getting enough food, then you baby won't either. It can be extremely overwhelming in the beginning and you have quite a bit going on right now. Have you considered cutting back your schedule? I know it would be a sacrifice, but your health (and your baby's) should come first. It is hard enough being a newlywed, and pregnant, but a full time job and graduate school is a lot to ask of your body right now. Will you be taking some time off when you have the baby?

You don't have to bake your own bread, and the best gluten-free meals are very simple, especially in the beginning. Check out the posts on lunch food ideas and maybe go back to the old board and print out some of the recipes there for meal ideas. We are starting to get a few more recipes here, but it will take a while to get enough for you. There are a lot of good gluten-free cookbooks available, and there are a few bad ones. Basically you should just try to modify the diet you normally eat, cutting all gluten containing foods and adding a few more non-gluten foods to fill in the calories. You don't want to short yourself right now.

Welcome to the site.

God bless,
Mariann

Jules,

Don't worry eating gluten free is not as hard as you might think. Yes I know it seems that way but it will get easier. I am slightly overweight and go through terrible constipation so don't worry your not alone. As for fitting gluten free eating into your already busy lifestyle, it's easier to just stick with items that are naturally found in nature. Fruits, veggies, meat, nuts. Watch out for dairy as some celiacs are sensitive to it at first. These are the easiest and safest way to avoid gluten and that is very important for the growth of the little one in your belly!!

Good luck!

Yes, it can be overwhelming at first to learn how to ship and prepare gluten-free meals. A couple of things that make it easier:

find a nutritionist who knows about Celiac Disease. This will be the best money you have ever spent (and maybe it's free, if covered by your health insurance). He/she can help you plan out meal ideas, appropriate foods, etc. I am not sure where you live, but I can recommend someone in NY City if you are close to here.

find a support group in your area. there are many such groups across the country. Meeting with other celiac disease patients can be very helpful.

I, too, have been slightly overweight for most of my adult life (10-20 pounds). After going on the gluten-free diet, i dropped about 16 pounds. I have gained back 4 of those now, but am hoping to lose another 10-15 pounds total. I am part of an EMAIL weight-loss group for celiacs. If you want more info, let me know.

I know what it's like to be overwhelmed by all the things in your life. Just remember to make and take the time for yourself first - especially while you are pregnant. This is very important! Even if it means ordering groceries online and having them delivered or hiring someone to do your housecelaning, DO IT ! (Our local super store delivers for a $6.00 charge. It's a pretty good deal, considering the amount of time I would normally spend in the store. I haven't used their service yet, but am hitting that point now. I did hire housekeepers, however, and that has been the SMARTEST thing I have ever done!)

all the best,

Kathleen

Kathleen,

Could you please give me the email weight loss info? I would like to get back to my pre-diagnosis weight.

Thanks oodles.

Sharon

Jules.. no you are not alone.. I lost weight before I was finally diagnosed which was back in 1996 but had no trouble putting it back on.. My doctor thought I was a cancer patient for awhile because I became so weak & hardly walk.. then I was finally diagnosed and starting eating the correct foods and fight the weight battle every day.. So I guess you can go from one extreme to another from what I have learned in life.. I am on WW plan right now and seems to be helping be the best .. As far as shopping for good healthy food for the gluten free diet, the Gluten Free Mall has been a god send for me... I have a bread maker so I can order the mixes that I want from them and then just pop it into the bread machine and it is ready in no time... I tried working with all of the various flours etc at first, but cooking primarly for myself just doesn't fit into purchasing all of the products necessary.. In time you will find products and there are getting more and more every day that we can eat in the super markets.. just have to read the labels carefully.. I used to read for fat and calorie counts.. now I just check for ingredients.. It is slow at first but get's easier in time.. Good luck with your busy schedule.. Just be patient with yourself and you will feel so much better... Maybe we can help each other lose some of the pounds also...Hugs to you...

Jules, I fit the description you mentioned. I struggled with weight most of my life, even after going gluten, milk, dairy, egg white and yeast free. 8 years ago I discovered The Carbohydrate Addict's Diet, by Drs. Richard and Rachel Heller. I am so blessed. I now stay at 107 and am almost five feet tall. I am 59 years old and can really identify with your busy schedule. Their diet is protein and low carb vegetables any time, with one hour each day eating anything you can tolerate eating or drinking. I like sweet desserts, so I get to have them each and every day.

Here is the good part--when you get all the gluten and other offending foods out of your diet, you will begin to notice a newfound sense of well-being, along with increased energy and stamina. Depression and foggy thinking lift, and your body will begin to be able to tell you when you accidentally ingest forbidden foods. An elimination diet is good for learning what bothers you. You go to a simple meat and vegetable diet, then add one food back at a time and see what reaction you have.

What I am concerned about is your new baby. My infant grandson slept 11 hours the night after being born, but as soon as he started formula he began showing allergic symptoms (diarrhea, stomach cramping, extreme diaper rash, spitting up his formula, irritability, etc.). It was dreadful. We changed him to soy, then I ordered Enterolab testing, and learned that he is gluten sensitive and allergic to milk and dairy. He is on the same diet we are!

I hope and pray that you will soon be feeling so much better. God bless! Welda

Hi Jules,
I have had constipation problems all my life and struggled with being overweight in my adult life. I am about 100 lbs overweight right now and just recently started getting the diarrhea. Apparently I've had this all my life, but had to turn 35 for them to figure it out. Actually, my nutritionist figured it out first and pointed me in the right direction to the dr. I had my 1st colonoscopy at age 12 because they just couldn't figure out why I was so constipated all the time. My thyroid doesn't work right because of the years of abuse of eating the gluten. I'm hoping once I regulate the diet and all my other bodily functions are operating properly that I"ll lose the weight and finally feel healthy for the 1st time in my life. My nutritionist says I should be noticing a markable improvement in 3-6 months, but that it can take up to 3 years to feel normal.
This forum is great isn't it? I felt really abnormal being overweight, it was also a factor that the doctor didn't want to admit I'm a Celiac.

Blessings!
Lily

gee its good to hear I'm not the ONLY overweight celiac! I was diagnosed about 4 years ago with DH. It took awhile to find some of the trickier sources of gluten. I think my weight is mostly due to my personal support of the Ben & Jerry Corp. (I'm not lactose intolerant....yet)

Just very recently I have been battling constipation. That has NEVER been a problem before. I had some dental work done and was given some Vicodin for pain. I only took two doses, but BOY did that bind things up. And I have been having problems since. I thought it was just another insult from my aging body (53) Who knows?

Steve

Hey guys you are not alone...why down here in Atlanta there is me and I am 150 lbs over weight. I am also diabetic and have been trying to lose weight on weight watchers for 2 yrs now. I lose 25 then start to gain. It is awful. I just found out I was a celiac 2 months ago so I had to add that to my plate. I am so confused on what to do and how to do it. My entire family it celiac also. 3 kids( 18,19 & 21yrs)
and my husband. They were dx 2- 3 yrs ago. This really sucks. I guess I am feeling sorry for myself. Karen

HI everyone,
Just a quick note to tell you I have dropped 7 pounds in the past 15 days. I gave up gluten-free processed foods (bread, grains, beans) and have been eating a PALEO (caveman) diet. I feel so much better and I quit reacting to whatever was in the processed foods. I am not itching anymore and my stomach has calmed down.

I also bought a diet and exercise tracking program for my PALM, which is absolutely fabulous ! I use it to write down all foods and drinks every day. It keeps track of calories, carbs, protein, fat, saturated fat, and fiber. I also enter exercise and activities to track calories burned.

all the best - have a good week everyone -

kathleen

CONGRADUALTIONS!!! That is awesome! Keep up the good work!

Per my nutritionists advice, I am only eating what I can cook.........no processed stuff and I'm starting to lose weight also. I'm not better yet, but working on it.

Good luck all!

Lily

Hi all!! Glad to hear that some of you are having success at losing some of the pounds. I, on the other hand am not. I feel like I could eat everything including the furniture. Even though I feel good and am exercising almost every day, cannot seem to control my appetite. I have been trying to stop taking anti depressants, because I think that is compounding the problem. The weight gain alone is so depressing I could scream.

Not to drag the rest of you down, I know how great it feels to lose weight and congrats to you all.

Thanks for listening.

Sharon

I, too, am delighted to read that I am also not alone in this Celiac/obesity condition. I am in that 100lb over category. I was diagnosed with celiac disease Oct. of 2002. My rhuematologist keeps telling me to wait. That it takes about 2-3 years for the body to heal enough to begin ridding itself of the fat. I sure hope she is right. She also advocates fewer simple carbs with more complex carbs and protein. I just want at least to get down enough so I can fit into a regular sized wheelchair when the time comes.

Bigapplekathleen,

Did you post the "e-mail weight loss group" site somewhere? I've looked through several sites but have not been able to find it. If so, would you mind posting it again. Thanks so much..................Judy

Another 100 pounder here! lol. I developed celiac disease when I was pregnant with my son 12 years ago. Gained 90 pounds in the last 90 days...whew. And that was with hardly eating anything!

I never suffered from constipation...it was only ever diarrhea. From what I gather, I was severly malnourished at the time of my diagnosis and my body reacted by shutting metabolism completely down. It's very surreal when you're so overweight to hear that you're suffering from malnutrition.

I've been gluten-free for 13 months now and have only lost 10 pounds, but that's 10 pounds I was unable to lose before. I'm hopeful after reading the post by the gal who said she was told it would take 2-3 years. Whee! :-)

We are all in a very strange predicament... I was dxed with celiac disease in March of 2003 and was a normal weight (145 lb, 5'7") and eating anything I wanted, but in the year that I've been gluten-free, I have gained almost 50 lbs! I started the Suzanne Somers diet (really simple... just cut out all sugar and simple carbs--easy for people who are already used to going without bread and cake!) and have lost 7 pounds in less than 2 weeks! I am so excited to be moving in the right direction again! We go from basically a starvation state to all of a sudden being able to absorb everything we put into our bodies. Of COURSE our metabolisms are slow!

"You can think of your metabolism as a bonfire and the food you eat as logs you put on the fire. If the bonfire is burning big and hot, it has no trouble consuming the additional wood that you put on it. You put a giant log on it and it burns it in minutes. Conversely, if the bonfire begins to die out and burn more slowly, it doesn't burn the new wood you put on it so quickly. If you put a big log on the smoldering embers of a fire, the log is liable to just sit there. It may take all night for it to slowly burn away. Again, your metabolism works the same way. If your metabolism is very slow it can't burn all the calories you feed it. The food you eat just sits there and eventually gets stored as fat." -Michael Thurmond

Thank God for being poor! My family was poor when I was a child, so we ate what grew in the vegetable garden, and whatever Grandpa slaughtered, with very little money for bread, pasta, and the like. That is probably why I did not have any celiac disease symptoms until I was an adult, married to a man that loves his bread and pasta! I very quickly gained 100 pounds, and was always constipated. Since I started gluten-free on Valentine's Day, I have lost at least 1 pound a week. I am currently using WW for accountability, but seriously considering not renewing in June. There is very little tolerance for Celiacs and diabetics on the boards there. I desperately need to be told that what I am going through is normal, and I am not alone!

Dessa, You are NOT alone! We are all in the same boat. We may not all have the exact same symptoms or reactions, but with the common ground of gluten intolerance you will never feel alone on this message board!

Michael, I think I should look into this low sugar diet. I lost 5 lbs the first week gluten-free, but after that nothing is coming off. Of course I am still eating gluten-free breads and cakes, so maybe that is my problem. I just worry that it will be the same as the other low carb diets I've tried. I lose the weight quickly when I cut carbs, but gain it right back again if I eat even a few carbs over the limit. Very frustrating. I need to lose about 50 lbs. and I would like to get it off soon. I think I will have more energy if I do. I'm only 5'2" and I just feel so heavy and tired all the time.

God bless,
Mariann

OK, UPS brought my gluten-free pasta today. It was so good, I ate two big servings! How do I keep from overeating on the foods that I love, and now can eat? I just do not seem to have enough self-control! I am glad to have found these foods, though! How do you measure, and keep track of the calories?

Dessa,

I think it is common to go a little overboard when we first get our new gluten-free foods that we have been missing so much. I know I did, but now after 2 months I have relaxed a little bit and gotten used to eating gluten-free. I have to pace myself and have printed up little meal lists, so I can try to not over eat. If I stick to the serving amounts and limit my special treats to a couple of times a week (instead of a couple a day! ) then I should be okay. I am trying to lose weight not gain more! So now I am also trying very hard to stick to the Eat Right 4 Your Type blood type diet. I feel much better when I don't eat the foods that are on my "avoid" list. And limit the high calorie carbohydrate grains. I just hope the weight comes off, since it is not so much of a calorie counting diet, but a healthy eating lifestyle. Fits well into the gluten-free lifestyle, too.

God bless,
Mariann

I have never heard of the Eat Right For YOur Blood Type Diet. Where can I learn more about this? I am game for anything that will make me feel better, especially if all I have to do is change my eating!

Has anyone found the "E-MAIL Weight Loss Grooup" information? I click on each day hoping someone will put it on this site but I've still not found it. Any help would be appreciated.........

Thanks................Judy

Dessa,

Dr. Peter J. D'Adamo is the author of the books "Eat Right 4 Your Type", "Live Right 4 Your Type", "Cook Right 4 Your Type" and Eat Right 4 Your Type: Complete Blood Type Encyclopedia Reference book". I would start with the first book. Most public libraries have them (or can request them for you from other branches) and you don't really need to buy the cookbook or the encyclopedia. The Eat Right 4 Your Type book goes over eat blood type and gives food lists based on blood type. The Live Right 4 Your Type book gets more into detail and talks about the complete blood type lifestyle. It gets more defined in how you eat and exercises for each blood type and diseases common to each blood type and how to decrease your risk factors, etc. Both are excellent and I really do find that most of the foods on my avoid lists are the ones that bother me the most. You can also find out information online at the 4 Your Type website . They also sell a bunch of products specifically for your blood type, but I find they are overpriced and not really needed.

God bless,
Mariann

Hi Everyone,
Just wanted to let you know there is hope. I have lost 25 pounds since the first of February. I went on a total allergen elimination diet and am beginning to feel better. I too am trying to follow the Eat Right 4 your Blood Type per my nutritionists instructions. I recently had to travel for work and took some processed gluten free foods with me. Processed foods just don't work that well for me and I'm not feeling so great this week. I find when I prepare all my food from scratch is when I feel at my optimum levels.

Blessings,

Lily

Hi Judy and all -

Sorry - I haven't checked the message boards in a long time! I have dropped 26 pounds, though. Can you believe that? I have lost 14 pounds since the 3rd week of January. Here's how i did it - i quit eating all processed foods for a while (since I was getting gluten reactions from something that i couldn't figure out...) and only ate PALEO FOOD. I also bought DIET AND EXERCISE ASSISTANT, a software program for my PALM. I use it to track everything I eat and drinnk every day. I also use it to enter my activity level and all exercise. I can easily keep track of how much fat, saturated fat, fiber, calories, carbs, etc, that i am getting every day. I also have felt a lot better. I have dropped from a size 14 down to a size 10 (which are big now). To top it off, I have a scale at home which measures wieght AND body fat, so i am watching my body fat percentage dropping steadily along with the weight, which is a very good thing. i don't want to lose muscle. I exercise 3-5 times a week, usually on my Gazelle freestyle (which we have had for several years).

My husband also uses the same software program on his PALM. he is very athletic, but has been pumping iron and doing cardio to try to increase his muscle mass. He has gained 12 pounds of muscle. It's amazing. Of course, he has to eat 3500 calories a day just to maintain his weight, since he's very active, which is very different than my 1900-2100 calories per day to lose weight.

Judy, if you want to get involved with the weight loss email group, send me an email and I will include your email in our list when we send out messages. Ok?

Kathleen

Kathleen,

I've tried twice to send you my e-mail address by clicking on the e-mail site on the bottom of your reply but it has come back to me both times as "mail delivery failure". I really don't know what I'm doing wrong. Can you suggest any other way that you can get my address?

Congratulations on your weight loss. Gee, that's great!! I really need to loose about ten pounds, that I've put on since going gluten free, before I'm married this summer. And I know how important exercise is in the whole process. Since spring is coming and I'm a walker, hoepfully that will help.

Thanks for your reply................Judy

Hello, I was diagnosed about 6 months ago. I have struggled with constipation and weight (20 to 30 lbs) most of my life. Three years ago I started loosing weight. I lost a total of 30 lbs, I looked great but felt awful.
I have gained about 15lbs in the past 6 months but I do feel better. I feel my energy and strenght returning. My memory has improved and the fog has lifted. I am exercising 3-5 times a week. I would like to drop the weight but I always feel hungry.

wow - i am so glad to have found this thread on the forum - after reading about so many people who are under weight due to celiac disease i was starting to think i had been mis-diagnosed. i am a bit (well, maybe a bit more than a bit if i am truthful!) overweight and have always had weight/diet/digestive problems.

i was dx celiac disease only 3 days ago by blood test and i am waitring for my biopsy. this thread has brought me hope that once i sort out my health probs i might be able to sort out my weight problems! one thing at a time i guess!

good luck to everyone out there trying and thanks

I'm so happy to find this thread .... I was diagnosed with celiac disease in Sept. 2003. I've always struggled with weight but since starting gluten-free my weight has gone up considerably. I was diagnosed after a severe reaction (paralyzed stomach, daily vomiting, diarrhea, etc). I attributed my initial weight gain to just being able to keep food in me after two months of not being able to. But, the weight gain hasn't stopped. I'm looking for a good solution.

When I spoke to my GI in February about my concern about my weight, she told me it's hard enough keeping gluten-free and I shouldn't worry about trying to diet on top of it - just to eat gluten-free grains in moderation. I tried and my weight still shot up.

I tried Atkin's, figuring it was a good gluten-free solution. Initially I lost weight, but before the first two-weeks I hit a plateau. Worse than that, my boughts of diarrhea came back. I was pretty careful about avoiding gluten, so I was confident that gluten wasn't the culprit. I searched my Atkin's books and the Atkin's website and couldn't find references to Atkin's induced diarrhea. I finally gave up on Atkin's and gained back the weight I lost plus some.

My next plan of attack is to find a nutritionist . . . but I'm not sure how to go about finding one that is knowledgeable about celiac disease. I'm finding that I tend to educate my doctor's about celiac disease more than they're educating me. Any suggestions on finding a celiac disease-knowledgeable nutritionist? Or, any other suggestions?

Melissa

Melissa,
A nutritionist is a GREAT iDEA. I go to one regularly. It has helped a lot. At first, she recommended lots of gluten-free grains. I gained 10 pounds in one month! Then I started eating the PALEO diet (caveman/paleolitchic diet) and dropped all that weight, plus much more. I am now down 30 pounds total from last August.

I have found that i don't feel well when I eat any grains. I can eat just a little bit each day (a small serving of lentil pasta or small serving of brown/wild rice) and eat the rest of my foods from fruits, veggies and meats. It has made a huge difference in my quality of life.

Have you tried eliminating all grains for a while? My nutritionist told me she wants me to eat 40-50% of my calories from protein until my gut is totally healed. I find this number to be impossibly high, but frequently hit 35-40% protein.

When I went PALEO in January, I took out all processed foods, dairy, legumes and grains for FIVE WEEKS. It was wonderful.

Kathleen

I basically just went on a diet. I had my metabolism measured at the gym (Bally Fitness) and they told me my basal metabolic rate after measuring it with this device that you breathe into for 10 minutes. They then recommened how many calories I could eat a day based on my metabolism.

I also got a heart rate monitor that measures how many calories I burn when I exercise. I keep track of what I eat and how much I burn in exercise in a software program called FitDay. If you burn 500 more calories per day than you take in, you will lose a pound a week.

It's a pain to keep track of your eating if you're not used to it, but it's such a part of my day now that I like to do it. I use the FitDay software to also keep track of what percentage is protein, carbs, and fat and I do best on a balanced diet, like maybe 40-50 percent carbs, 30 percent fat, 30 percent protein. I'm not so hungry when I eat that way. The software is fun too because you can print out all these cool graphs and stuff. The heart rate monitor I got comes with software too so you can download your workout and see a graph of your heart rate during your workout and how many calories you burned.

Some people also have success with Weight Watchers. I've done it. It's a great program and you can totally adapt it to gluten-free eating. I think, in general, gluten-free products are higher in carbs and calories than their glutened counterparts so you may need to start keeping track of your intake.

You can email me at wwebby@yahoo.com if you want to talk more.

Good luck,

Laura in CT

Im overwheight and have IBS.Being on the gluten-free diet has ment two things.Live saving and weight loss.The weight loss is mostly the loss of bloat witch came from eating wheat for 29 years.The diet is stell new to me though and going to all these web sites has given me alot of hope.Theres one I like to go to the most and that is www.coeliac.co.uk.When you first get to the web site they play a tune.good luck with your diet.

Hi, I am just new to this forum. I have been going on a roller coaster ride since I was diagnosised a couple of yrs ago. First it was getting the diagnosis. Inially I was 5'2 and close to 180 lbs this was a short time after I had my 3rd child. Than I got very sick and had lots of diarrea and went down to 110 lbs before they finally figured what it was. I was in the hospital about a month off and on because I was so sick.

Than I seemed to get better and we moved to another state where there were no docters familiar with celiac. I was told that as long as I did not show classic smyptoms it would hurt if occational I had gluten. I have quit eating bread, pasta, gravies, modified food starch. But there is so many other hidden sources out there that it is hard to know until afterwards. Especially going out to eat. I now am up to 200 lbs and have much edema and have DH as well as hypo thyroid which I am currently not on medication since the docters go by the old lab references and not new ones.

I believe my husband also has celiac/ milk intolerance or both. We have 3 children 2 with autism, seizures, DDs and my third short stature/ very under weight, unusual skin pigmentation on his neck, DDs , Anxiety disorder, and connective tissue disorder. Diabetes, seizures, schzophrenia, ADHD, heart disease all run in our family as well as asthma and allergies.

My husband was diagnosised last yr with a type of lymphoma/luekemia and I am interested in the lymphoma connection.

I am currently trying to make our whole household gluten free/ casein free and just got some catologs from the gluten pantry. I will also look for recipies that don't need special ingrediants as well. Need help especially with hidden sources and exposure to substances with gluten since I break out if I touch it. Like the liquid on hams they package it with and turkeys, shampoos, glues, ect.

Diana at wind_decor@yahoo.com

Hi Diana. Welcome to the group. I'm sure you will get some replies from the more knowlegable. Just wanted to say I'm glad you found this. Hugs, Carol B

I just started a gluten-free diet a few days ago and I was wondering if I should expect a drastic change in weight, either gain or lose. I read where the underweight people have typically gained weight, but I'm actually kind of chubby. If a gain is to be expected, what should I be doing to help prevent it? Thanks!

Hi, Diana, welcome to the board! I have read on another forum that chikpea flour (aka garbanzo bean flour) can be substituted for wheat flour in regular recipes. I tried it in pancakes, and it worked pretty good! Of course, it tasted a little bland, but when I changed the sugar to honey, it tasted good again! With the chickpea flour, xanthun gum and guar gum were not needed.

Hi, CynicalTomorrow, welcome to the board! I was quite chubby when I started the gluten-free diet, too. As long as I limit my intake of gluten-free breads and pastas to one serving per meal, I am able to lose weight. I have been losing slowly, as gluten-free flours have more calories than wheat flours. Since I am losing because of diet modifications, I am hoping that the weight will stay off permanently! My doctor did tell me that my reaction to gluten is probably why I gained so much weight to begin with, since I wasn't eating enough to have gained it otherwise. Those who were underweight and started gaining did so because their bodies were severely malnourished from all of the illness. When they quit eating gluten, their bodies began to heal and put muscle back where it was before they became sick.

Both of you please come back with any questions, and keep us posted on how you are doing!

Isn't it amazing, when you think of celiac disease you think of someone extremely underweight. I never fit the mold, my doctor is not happy aboutmy low carb diet, but it is the only thing that works for me. Weight Watchers was a joke, and counting calories never worked for me because I make a very bad hungry person. So for me I alternate between Atkins and Protein Power and it seems to work pretty good. Thinking of going over to Carbohydrate Addicts Diet when I get to maintenance as I'm missing my gluten-free GOOdies. I forgot to introduce myself. I go by cybergran10 because I'm addicted to the computer and have 10 grandchildren. The 2 babies also are celiac so that wasn't such a positive thing to inherit from grandma but what do you do. I'm glad I'm not the only celiac with a weight problem. If we don't have asupport group we should form one. ((BLESSINGS) Cybergran10

one note- I have a friend who has some major health issues (not celiacs) but when she had the flesh eating bacteria and lost her leg and part of her thigh, they told her to eat large quantities of protien while int eh ehaling process- she did so and has lost over a hundred pounds... she has a hundred or so to go still, but! and didn't remove other things, just made the proprotions different. she eats mostly protien and small servings of the other things on her plate. She was told this also greatly speeds up the healing process, which for someone with a degenerative bone and tissue disorder who has also gone through what she has is an important thing!

I have struggled with my weight my whole life and am gluten intolerant and lactose intolerant. I have so much diarrhea and am overweight. Before going gluten free I constantly had diarrhea after eating. You would think that i would be underweight. Wierd ah?

Anyways I have decided to follow my gluten free program strictly and do the weight watchers program at home since it fits in with gluten free foods and I ordered the slim and six videos and am starting Monday. I'll let you know how it goes. Goin to be tough. I just want to tone up and feel sexier.

Somethin about diarrhea just makes ya feel unsexy.

Tamara

HI everyone,
Just a quick update:
I have lost 35 pounds now since last August (over 20 pounds since the end of January!). I have finally made it to size 8/10. My husband is shocked. We have only been married for 2 and half years and he has only known me in my heavier self and my 'ill all the time' self. I haven't been this weight in about 15 years. What a great feeling...

I still have medical issues to deal with and dealing with celiac on a daily basis is not always easy (especially when traveling), but at least I feel stronger, lighter and happier.

best wishes,
kathleen

Congratulations Kathleen. Good for you, 35 pounds is no mean feat. I'm sorry you still have medical problems to deal with that makes your success harder to enjoy. Hubby will get used to the new you, sometimes partners get a little insecure when we change ourselves, but with a little time and patience we can show them that we still are basically the same, just a smaller version. If you are happier, then ultimately that will be better for your relationship with him. Just an insight that has taken me a 27 year relationship to figure out. ((BLESSINGS)) Cybergran10

For all the overwieght Celiacs like myself...thought I would share.
I pinned this in another forum menu as well. But you migh also consider that undiagnosed celiac disease can bring on hypo thyroid disease (slow metabolism) and many gluten-free meals are higher in fat as well! Even though I was gluten-free for a year, my symptoms persisted and i was sooooooo tired all the time.

I finally tried this:
http://www.breakingtheviciouscycle.info/

It is a specific carbohydrate diet that eliminates ALOT of carbs and gluten-free replacements from your already frustrating menus... but believe me I've never felt better, been symptom free, and A NORMAL WEIGHT . I lost 20 lbs in the first 3 weeks. It's difficult, very difficult. But there is JUST AS MUCH food to make and choose from as gluten free.

hope some of you try it and get back to me! [buy a yogurt maker!]

http://www.scdiet.org/

http://www.scdiet.org/2recipes/indexa.html

http://www.scdrecipe.com/recipes.html

Hi everyone,
I just wanted to touch-base and share my weight loss success. I have lost about 42 pounds now (since August 1 of last year). I am doing so well on this gluten-free diet. My other medical issues have disappeared (like my horrendous allergies). My breast lump biopsy was benign, too. whew. I have gone from a size 14 to an 8 in the year. I am thrilled.

Hope y'all are doing well.

kat

That is great news...I lost a WHOLE bunch of weight several years ago and then gave up all milk products and was able to put weight back on, however, I have gotten re-married and cooking and the ALL the weight went back on and am now 25 pounds overweight. Now that I am gluten-free, LF, PF, CF, and SF the weight is slowly dropping again.

-Kate

Wow - I cannot imagine what you eat on all those "free" diets!!!! Just kidding...you probably have the healthiest diet imaginable. My only problem with losing all this weight is that is costing me a fortune in clothing. I have spent over $5000 in the past year already. It's totally worth it, though!

kat

You people are SO onto something here. I have stuggled with weight all my life and although my doctor did a test, and it came back negative.....I have sent away for the enterolab complete test kit. I started on the gluten free diet a few weeks ago becasue my DIL suggested that with my history: migraines, despression pain/fibromyalgia plus tenderness in my belly/consgipation, I should consider that I might get tested as my granddaughter is a celiac patient. I had lost 60# a couple of years ago, but was putting some of it back on. Now I am losing it again since I have gone gluten-free. I also think it is highly possible that I am lactose intolerant/the test will tell me that too. My mother has had a lot of gastro problems and I really want to get a handle on this thing so that I can be eating properly and enjoy my elder years....she is 86 right now and I am 59. Actually I am in pretty good shape for my age/have to work hard. Started walking last week/just read an article about how bad it is for you to be fat/they laid it right on the line. I have read lots of articles before, but this one was in an arthritis magaine and it was REALLY scary. I am keeping it!!!!!!!!!! I have been cooking for my GD over the years so getting on the diet wasn't all that hard.....I don't mind it at all. I am feeling better. I appreciated the information in the messages of this thread saying how long the healing can take. Thanks. Barbara

I am another "fat" celiac disease! Sigh... I found out I was "wheat" sensitive 13 years ago and gave up wheat. I lost 45 lbs. in 2 months ~ AFTER two years of cleaning out. Then after a while I started gaining it all back again. After many years of frustration I discovered I was celiac disease. Now I am in the process of "cleaning out" again... Hopefully, after 2 more years, I will go down in weight again!! There is hope out there! Keep the faith... K

After being on a gluten-free diet for two years and only kind of feeling better (and hungry all the time no matter what I ate), I swtiched to a modified paleo diet and that has helped me SOOOOOOO much! I am finally maintaining my weight (dropped a couple pounds too), I'm no longer bloated and tired all the time, and my joints don't swell anymore. I don't know if it's just the processing or what, but every now and then I'll have a piece of gluten-free bread or cookies and react terribly to it. Any ideas?

Nadia