[nthei]

First, YOU ROCK! Congrats too! I'm not quit to Marathons yet, but working on it. I have been asking the same questions. For Carb loads: Someone posted that Gu is gluten-free, I can't remember the manufacture name. Since I'm not as advanced as you I found that the Envirokidz gluten-free Rice Bars are o.k. for me before and after my runs. I'm checking into G & C's Distance supplement powder to see if it is gluten free. Otherwise, I don't have much else. I know the pure honey straws are gluten-free, for another carb load suggestion. As for basic overrall athletic nutrition, I would like that info as well.

My I also ask how your energy is doing? Sounds like it's doing great since you can do a marathon. I'm struggling. Some days my energy sky rockets, others . . . . . terrible. I don't know if it's diet or just being celiac disease. I hear both. If you have any suggestions for me, I would love to have your input. I'm logging 18 to 20 miles a week, but just can't seem to break that. I would like to log at least 25. I added some hill running to try to build some endurance muscle, haven't noticed too much of a difference, except for the next day's run, then I'm back to where I was.

Have a great day!

Great health to you. Also check our Runner's World message boards, www.runnersworld.com.

Christina-ROCK 'N RUN!!

[flagbabyds]

Organic Food Bars are gluten-free and they say it on the package. They are300 calories and taste great.

[Racheleona]

Hi guys, I was wondering the same thing...(I'm not sure if I'm celiac, being that I haven't discussed my labs with my dr. yet, but he told me before the lab to do the gluten-free diet anyways) but, I am a ballet dancer, and am finding myself constantly hungry, snacking on veggies, fruits, and even just nuts.

[lisabarella]

Hey all,
I have called a couple companies regarding their products. Hammer Gel is gluten-free; Gu is gluten-free; Gu H20 sports drink it gluten-free; Ultima is gluten-free (electrolye replacement). During running I use GU and Ultima. On the bike, I eat rice bread with penut butter or soy butter (cut up and stuff in my bento box). I am also a big fan of tomato juice during long long long runs (3+ hours) - sounds nasty - but it works - good source of salt too. When you are checking products out, just make sure that the maltodextrin is dervied from either corn or rice. I also eat a ton of apple sauce - the kind that is organic without added sugar. Before racing, I eat gluten-free waffles from Trader Joes with penut butter or a P&J sandwich, a pear, and some gluten-free soymilk.

Papadini has a Hi-Protein Pure Lentil Bean Pasta which is gluten-free; 2 oz has 190 calories, 1.0 g of fat, 33 carbs with 5 g of fiber and 13g of protein. Ingredients are lential flour, salt and baking soda. Good recovery meal.

Lisa

[flagbabyds]

I play soccer and every 1/4 i eat part of an energy bar. By the end of the game I have eaten about 2 or so. I am also training this summer so I can make the school team in the Winter but I eat gluten-free toast and berries before I run and then when i get homeI usaually eat 2 energy bars and my regular meal. I know it sounds like a lot of food but I know if I don't train I won't make the team so I just eat constantly these days.

[lisabarella]

Amy,
My energy levels bounce all around, believe me. If you are on a gluten free diet, have normal iron levels, and are absorbing minerals and vitamins from your food, you should be OK. I find myself always hungry since when I eat my body (brain) just doesn't absorb all of the nutrients from the food. When I was anemic, I was sleeping and tired all of the time. Not being anemic has helped with my altering my fatigue, and by making me feel more alive and alert. So first, I would check you iron levels. If your hemoglobin is low, then your body doesn't have the proper levels to transfer O2 to your working muscles. So, you will fatigue quicker, even with just aerobic activity. When I go anemic, I can tell right away; my legs burn, my lungs burn, and I feel wipped out. Have you gotten another biopsy since your dignosis. If not, I would suggest it. They will be able to tell if the gluten free diet is working. Or you could do two tests (fecal fat and xylose). The first measures the amount of fat in your stools. Too much, means malabsoption. The later tests, measures simple carbohydrate absorption. This is key. If you drink 12 oz of a sports drink with 20 grams of carbs, but only 10 are being absorbed, then you could be in trouble! Are you tired during exercise? After? How long have you been working out? Do you have a good aerobic base built up? Remember that each sport (swim, bike, run) requires differnet muscle groups and capillaries. So as you train, more and more, you will build the up the capillaries surrounding the working muscles, which will also help improve 02 transportation. Ok? Keep the questions coming - I love this stuff! Also, Lava Gel is Gluten Free and Airborne is Gluten Free. There are also some coated bars on the market that are gluten free - Geni Soy has two bars - the choc penut butter and the yogurt penut butter. Mostly a bar with sugar and some protein. Better recovery bar then pre training bar. Think Thin has a bunch of bars with 20 g of carbs, 20 protein, and 7 g of fat, but the carbs are mostly from sugar alchols (so they don't effect your blood sugar). Plus, sugar alchols are not easily digested by most people, so if you eat too many, your stomach will hurt! Geni Soy also has soy chips with are gluten free. Their website has a lot of info on their gluten free products. I contacted Power Bar but have not heard back yet.

Lisa

[lisabarella]

Amy,
If you are really that tired after a 3 mile run, I would head to your Celiac doctor!!! I can't give advice on biking - I am slow, slow, slow. And, lastly, why the hel* are you moving to PA? JK. (I can check with my mom who lives in PA - I think there is a good celiac doc in center city Philly at Jefferson).

Oh yea, when your tired from your run, what kind of of tired is it? Local muscle fatigue (hams, quads)? Whole body fatigue? Neural fatigue? Do you feel like your lungs give out way before your legs, or the opposite? Where do you live?

Professional? Nope. I just like helping others, so they don’t have to go through the same shi* that I have over the past 12 months!

Cheers,
Lisa

[lisabarella]

Amy,
Awesome! That sounds fabulous:) What doctor are you going to see in Philadelphia? What triathalon group? I think there is also a good celiac support group there too! You should have a blast:)
LB