[BethanyGraves]

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!

[KristyUK]

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!

[BethanyGraves]

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!

KristyUK, on Oct 8 2009, 04:45 AM, said:

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!

[ang1e0251]

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.

[tmbarke]

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

[Byron of Ashwood]

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.

[OptimisticMom42]

tmbarke, on Oct 22 2009, 02:45 AM, said:

The withdrawls are nasty for me.......Like I could stop at a stop sign and wait for the light to change!
Tena

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

[tmbarke]

OptimisticMom42, on Oct 22 2009, 07:55 AM, said:

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

[ItsaDollThang]

This is my first month going gluten free and appetite and weight-wise I have to admit it's been a wild ride.

I've only slipped up twice. So far so good otherwise. First few weeks I was just STARVING though. That's actually odd because although I do have some excess poundage I don't have much of an appetite normally. It's always amazed me that I did gain weight considering how little I actually eat, but the doctor did tests and said it was a hormonal thing and we've been treating that. Still, months later, no weight loss though I did stop gaining.

I do this diet, and I get on the scale finally at the end of the month and my jaw just drops.

12 LBS GONE?

Just like that?

Despite the fact that my appetite is all over the place lately, that I haven't given up anything except regular breads, pasta etc? I have had a lot of rice, and some rice pastas instead, gluten free bread and pizza crust once or twice, and quite a bit in the way of corn chips. But that's it. I haven't really changed my diet at all otherwise, except for severely limiting my soy intake because I have had reactions to that as well.

Honestly I don't much like this diet. I'm a sandwich and soup person in terms of lunch and while I have no problem with making my own soups so far I just haven't managed to find a decent no-gluten bread I'm happy with, which has meant a lot of my favorite sandwiches have become meat on a plate with fruit and veggies. Not necessarily a bad thing, but they don't fill me up as much as a regular sandwich with bread usually does and I'm eating more meat and more at dinner than I usually do because of it.

I'm positive I'm eating the same calories BUT now I am losing weight that I could never lose before and that despite the hormonal thing?

I figure there must be something to this. 3/4 of my stomach distress went this month. Not all of it, but enough that I can live with it a lot easier and I'm finally dropping the excess weight besides.

For the record I am eating plenty of complex carbs. Brown rice, corn meal items, beans and so forth. I haven't been starving myself at all in fact all month I've had a hard time not eating more chocolate than is my norm. For some reason the lack of gluten has really set off some big sugar cravings.

This diet is a real pain to shop for and live on, my budget is pretty small for gluten free items, like bread mixes, snacks and so forth, but if it means I am likely to drop more LBS I think maybe I can stick with it. Clearly it's doing my body some good! Watching that number on the scale unexpectedly drop like that was positively inspiring!

[ADKgurl21]

ItsaDollThang, on 05 February 2010 - 07:10 PM, said:

This is my first month going gluten free and appetite and weight-wise I have to admit it's been a wild ride.

I've only slipped up twice. So far so good otherwise. First few weeks I was just STARVING though. That's actually odd because although I do have some excess poundage I don't have much of an appetite normally. It's always amazed me that I did gain weight considering how little I actually eat, but the doctor did tests and said it was a hormonal thing and we've been treating that. Still, months later, no weight loss though I did stop gaining.

I do this diet, and I get on the scale finally at the end of the month and my jaw just drops.

12 LBS GONE?

Just like that?

Despite the fact that my appetite is all over the place lately, that I haven't given up anything except regular breads, pasta etc? I have had a lot of rice, and some rice pastas instead, gluten free bread and pizza crust once or twice, and quite a bit in the way of corn chips. But that's it. I haven't really changed my diet at all otherwise, except for severely limiting my soy intake because I have had reactions to that as well.

Honestly I don't much like this diet. I'm a sandwich and soup person in terms of lunch and while I have no problem with making my own soups so far I just haven't managed to find a decent no-gluten bread I'm happy with, which has meant a lot of my favorite sandwiches have become meat on a plate with fruit and veggies. Not necessarily a bad thing, but they don't fill me up as much as a regular sandwich with bread usually does and I'm eating more meat and more at dinner than I usually do because of it.

I'm positive I'm eating the same calories BUT now I am losing weight that I could never lose before and that despite the hormonal thing?

I figure there must be something to this. 3/4 of my stomach distress went this month. Not all of it, but enough that I can live with it a lot easier and I'm finally dropping the excess weight besides.

For the record I am eating plenty of complex carbs. Brown rice, corn meal items, beans and so forth. I haven't been starving myself at all in fact all month I've had a hard time not eating more chocolate than is my norm. For some reason the lack of gluten has really set off some big sugar cravings.

This diet is a real pain to shop for and live on, my budget is pretty small for gluten free items, like bread mixes, snacks and so forth, but if it means I am likely to drop more LBS I think maybe I can stick with it. Clearly it's doing my body some good! Watching that number on the scale unexpectedly drop like that was positively inspiring!

Hello,

When reading your blog I couldn't help but to really understand where your coming from! You and I seem to be alot alike, and this comforting to me! I am the only person in my family as far back as history goes to have Celiac, and as well none of my friend's have it! I have been a sprue for almost 5 year's, and it's horrible! I was diagnosed when I was 19! But previously I for approximately 5 years I struggled with serious gastro issues! Which led several doctors to perfrom many tests and exams on me! I was a test subject through and through! I had every single blood test, urine test, and GI make up there is at there! But yet they couldn't figure out what was wrong with me! They even went as far as saying I have behavioral issues and that my stomach problems were physcological....lol! However at the same time that couldn't seem to figure out why my ceddriate(which body inflammation levels) were so abnormally high! Well a short time later after serious flu symptoms on a daily basis and countless other issues from bloating to throwing up after eating they figured out my problem! The final did a 24 hour exam with a camera I swallowed and saw that I had food that was approximately 2 years old that hadn't digested in my intestines and was trapped! And weeks later I threw up a parasite equalling 3 1/2 inches that was throwing a party on the left overs in my intestines....yuck right?!?! So after a series of medications to treat that I was feeling better, until months later when it started all over again! I then decided to go to my PCP, and this time it was severe flu symptoms with fever and all! He ran a series of blood tests and found I tested positive for Celiac! Then the real fun began as you know with all the endoscopys and colon oscopys! So since then I was very unfaithful to a gluten-free diet, until about 2 years ago! I scarely put on 50 plus lbs. in that time! I was from a size 4 to a size 14! And it was without control as you know how hard the sugar cravings are as if the regular cravings aren't bad enough because your body is starving for nurtients! After suffering with bleeding, bloat, head aches, depression, and count less other issues I decided it was time to reform! So gluten=free I became! Since then I have been very good as if my fiance woh is constantly watching out for me and ordering me food off the interet to keep eating exciting! Since my reform I have lost weight and gained weight! I have managed to loose around 40 lbs. I had great luck last winter and the weight just started mysteriously melting away, and I still to this day have no idea what I did or if anything to make it happen! However since then starting around mid August I began to slowing gain a few lbs here and there and now more recently I have been putting weight back on a little quicker! And I have been faithfully gluten-free! I DONT"T GET IT...AHHH! I have went back to being bloated, bleeding, depressed, head aches almost daily, and stressed about the unwanted weight! So I have been drinking lots of coffee to spark my colon, drinking lots of tea and water as normal, and taking in much more veggies and fruits than I already was! I see that you are new to the celiac world, so I was wondering if there may be anything new out there to help with the weight gain struggle? I wish that I was on the weight loss end of celiac! And as if the fluctuation in weight isn't weird enough it seems to fluctuate every sixs months or so! Mean while I am a very active skier, and I am training figure skater and I train 4 times a week! So the weight gain isn't due to lack of exercise nor what I am eating! Do you have any advice? Or does anyone else? I am so happy to be apart of this site, and hope we can all gelp eachother!

[ItsaDollThang]

Well, at this point even my doctor has a good case of the gasps that's all I can say. For several years now I've been telling her I had hormonal issues, something that is very typical with all the women in my family. We all blimp out past age 40 for that reason. The thyroid and/or adrenals seemingly go nuts as we age, and it's been that way for every woman in my family so far as I know, on both sides.

I knew I didn't likely have much of a chance of avoiding that and I told them, several times but only recently have the blood tests agreed with that assessment. Finally, about 5 years and way too many pounds later too late, they put me on the correct hormones.

I lost all of 7 lbs in the first year, then promptly gained it back. Nothing after that though I ate my standard 1400-1600 cals a day most of the time.

(I'm a short, small person. That is the suggested cals for someone of my size and bone structure. I'm definitely overweight for my height but I'm still bird boned.)

A year later I quit qluten and WHAM! 12 LBS gone the first month, 3 more since. 15 LBS total in six weeks and I do appear to still be dropping, and that despite the fact that I totally pigged out on the Chebe bread this week when trying out the bread sticks, making cornish pasties, and pizza.

My doctor was in absolute shock when she read the new weight on my chart the other day. She can't quite believe that just dropping gluten has had this much of an effect on my waistline in a period of not even quite two months.

Me, I am very much looking forward to seeing if this lasts. 3/4 of my bad stomach stuff, over. I'm dropping 2-3 LBS a week with no effort apparently, and while I do still have a bad case of the gluten hungries that is stabilizing for the most part.

If I keep up at this rate by the end of the year I just might be fitting into those skinny jeans in the drawer that I haven't worn in a decade and a half.

You couldn't drag me off this diet at this point. I don't particularly like it sometimes, but I'll keep at it if this is the result!

I haven't really liked much of the no-gluten food stuff except for the Betty Crocker and the Chebe mixes so I don't think I am about to go over board that way, but those two things, they'll cover most anything I might be craving once in a while in terms of cake, pastry, cookies, or pizza so I guess I can manage that way. I don't want to get too much into that stuff anyhow. Might put the weight back on if I get to eating bread, crackers, cake and stuff all the time so I intend to limit my consumption of such items.

So far so good though...

I'm definitely turning out to be a Chebe cheerleader. Don't think I could make it sans the tapioca bread thing. I did check to see if I could buy tapioca flour locally but the best I can manage is a tiny bag at the 2 local Latin markets. I figure I might as well stick with the Chebe mix for all the good that will do me as it's already got the other stuff mixed in.

I'm thinking about buying a larger bag of that online maybe since it looks to be my main source for making dough for bread, pasta, and so forth. But I do want to try to make some other stuff down the line with the tapioca flour. I don't like the rice flour based stuff very much.

You know it's funny I really like straight rice, but rice crackers, pasta, rice based bread et all, it just tastes so thin in terms of flavor to me compared to similar wheat items and no amount of sauce seems to change that. I much prefer the tapioca flour based items so far.

I'm going to have to watch it with the Chebe though. It would be far too easy to get addicted to those bread mixes and to eat far too much of them if I am not careful. One thing this diet has taught me is that I am a total carbs addict when it comes to bread and pasta. I never did eat huge amounts, strict calorie count and all, but they were staples before I quit gluten. Taking them mostly out of the diet has done something for my metabolism, clearly. I don't want to mess that up with too much tapioca bread!