I'm relatively new to the gluten-free lifestyle (since May '09) and it seems I now have a very reasonable appetite whereas before going gluten-free, I was hungry ALL THE TIME. I suppose this is logical since my innards were so damaged I wasn't absorbing nutrients and my body was craving them constantly, but why do such a high percentage of celiacs have the opposite symptoms? I had weight gain for YEARS, then after going gluten-free, I'm consistently losing weight. Has anyone else experienced this flip-flop of symtpoms? What can I expect to see over the next 6 months (bringing me to my gluten-free anniversary)?

Thanks!

Hi there

I'm newer to this than you are BUT I totally identify with your symptoms of gaining weight on gluten (and for me that was despite 'healthy' eating and a rigorous exercise plan) and now losing without (I'm also now dairy free). Being in close contact with someone who understands nutrition from a professional standpoint, I would suspect that your body will continue to lose until it reaches its equilibrium 'natural' weight. As long as you are eating sufficiently to keep your body healthy, you should be fine. However, if you feel unwell, that's a sign to see your doctor/nutritionist in case there is another issue underlying this.

One thing to be careful with is filling your gluten 'hole' with the gluten-free replacement snacks. From my reserach, they tend to be minimally nutritious compared to fruit, vegetables, meat, water, herbal teas and so on.

Good luck and be well!

Thank you! I am doing well on the gluten free diet and have done very little replacement therapy with snacks and such. In most cases, bread is replaced with lettuce for sandwiches and such, so it's definitely been a healthy transition.

I'm sorry to hear you can't have dairy... I hope you're supplementing with vitamins!

I agree that I lost weight until I started baking! The grains seem to put weight on me fast. Right now I'm pretty much off them again. The basic diet you described feels the best to me and the weight comes off slowly by itself.

I went from a size 12 to a size 18 in one year. I was just unstoppable and my eating was unstoppable too.
I was just put on the gluten free diet and I'll have to say - WOW!
I had hunger for about 2-3 days at first, but now I'm not even hungry - like I'm not interested! I haven't felt like that since I was a size 3/5.
I hate the pregnant belly - and the fact that my gained form makes me look like a zuccini from one angle and an pear cut in half from another!
I also notice that the bloat is rather quickly diminishing as I can bend over and put my shoes on without losing my breath.
Although I know I'm on the way to recovery and losing weight (1/2 pound in 3 days) I'm eating healthy, I'm getting my nutrients, and I'm feeling great about it.
The withdrawls are nasty for me.......Like I could stop at a stop sign and wait for the light to change!
I'm like that since Tuesday. Hopefully I can get over that a bit today.
I've always ate healthy but it never made a difference either. Like a fat healthy person.....riiiiight!
Now I feel like I'M in control and it's an empowering feeling!
Starting the ab roller and stepper machine this weekend (had to wait for joint pain to diminish)
We should check back in to check our status of weight loss.
I'm glad I found this forum - I get so much hope! (and faith that I can get back into a size 14 soon)
Hugs!
Tena

It certainly seems to go with the territory from both angles. I was very slim at 12 stone when I was diagnosed a few years ago and then ballooned alarmingly to 18 stone - thats around 238 Lbs for 5'7", once I got over the starvation factor, due to my impossible work hours, poor selection of food combinations and skipping meals.

Being glutened happens all too often and with that comes the bloat and discomfort depending on the severity. (You'll find that the longer you are gluten-free, reactions can become unexpectedly devastating so keep a couple of larger sized jeans or such around in the closet.) I have found over the last two years that my weight yo-yoed, getting into a simple, regular eating schedule has shed close to two stone of weight in five months just by substituting stuff like fruits and cutting back on the amount of bread consumed versus when in the day I'd eat them seems to have contributed to this. I've also found that eating this way has reduced my insane addiction to sugar, chocolate and candies. And I'm still shedding but more slowly and feeling great!

It's a joy not wheezing to tie my shoe laces anymore! There is an amazing ab work-out video that is a killer to help with the belly issue, do a Google search for Pete "Rock" Reynolds Abs Express vid.

Good luck and enjoy the return to health.

I'm really enjoying the way you descibe things! Have you thought of writing a novel? I would love to read it if you do.

On point though, over the last ten years my weight has been all over the place. 140lbs, under 100lbs, 165lbs, 150lbs. Size 8, 0, 14, 10. I would love to get back to a size 8 but my level of sensitivity is getting in the way. I don't see how I can diet while sick or how I will stop being sick if I don't stick to a very strict diet of safe foods. Would love to get to the point where stopping to eat is just a distraction from my busy happy life but so far I'm spending a lot of days on the couch with this computer because I don't want to deal with chores and everything feels like a chore.

Found this yesterday..

The B vitamins are necessary in order to:

Support and increase the rate of metabolism
Maintain healthy skin and muscle tone
Enhance immune and nervous system function
Promote cell growth and division—including that of the red blood cells that help prevent anemia.
Reduce the risk of pancreatic cancer, one of the most lethal forms of cancer, when consumed in food, but not when ingested in vitamin tablet form.
All B vitamins are water soluble, and are dispersed throughout the body. Most of the B vitamins must be replenished regularly, since any excess is excreted in the urine.

so I'm off to buy a B complex today. Maybe it will help stir me up.

Take care,
RA

RA - that was me!
I had no interest whatsoever to do housework and my brother is the only one that lives with me.
I watch him do the necessary stuff and I half heartedly do the laundry or clean the sink.....but that's cuz I'm in that room at the time I notice it.
Otherwise - intentions were to clean, but motivation did not follow.
When I started this diet of gluten-free, my sister worried about me and my withdrawl struggles so she had me come to her house and decorate pumpkins with flowers and bows so I could talk if I needed to.
I did......and I went crazy on decorating the pumpkin! It was extraordinary! It was therapy.
A way to take my mind off of how bad I felt (the stop sign mode!)
I was the same if not worse the next day and messed up at work.......so my boss and his wife brought me to church with him and again!!!!! therapy!
Tonite I'm going to get some transplanting done....in the rain....and clean things up here a bit.....more therapy.......I call it therapy because I'm able to accomplish things a bit clearer once I start into it.
Thank you so much for the information about B complex! I didn't question the doc - just trusted him to take care of me.......now I'm psyched cuz I'm on the road to a recovery that's been a long time coming.
Now.....if I can just keep my coworkers out of my healthy food! Like it's a community service or sumthin! tsa!
Never ever give up on you! I'm routin' fer ya!
You are the only one that will faithfully for life take care of YOU..........knowledge is power!
Big Hugs!!!!!
Tena