Weight Gain As A Symptom -before Starting Gf Diet

[aberglund]

It seems lots of you have gained weight AFTER switching over to a gluten-free diet. I'm wondering how many of you have gained weight as a symptom of having celiac - prior to beginning a gluten-free

diet. My 5 year old daughter has gained 10 pounds in 6 months and has many other sympotoms of celiac. She just started a gluten-free diet 3 days ago.

[Guest gfinnebraska]

Yes, there are a lot of us out there. For me, gaining weight is one of my major symptoms. I can put on 10 lbs. overnight when I have a tiny bit of gluten. The only way I have found to lose the weight is by going on a strick gluten-free diet plus the SCD (<- you can find info by doing a search). By keeping her off of gluten and not allowing her to be "accidentally" glutened, she should start losing the weight.

Of course, my son gained 20 lbs. his kindergarten year, and he doesn't have celiac disease!!

She could just be going through a major growth spurt. Time will tell. But, yes, it is definitely a symptom.

[jerseyangel]

Immediately after going gluten-free, I gained 10 lbs. I've always been 10-20 lbs. overwt. and the year and a half or so before I was diagnosed I was slowly losing wt. The total I lost was about 15lbs. so I figure my body is trying to get back to what had been "normal" for me. It's funny, tho, because when I was at my sickest, I looked the best in my clothes!! Of course, I never went anywhere as I felt too lousy, but such is life!

[ianm]

Weight gain was one of my celiac symptoms to the point of being obese. Once I went gluten-free the weight came off pretty easy. I still have to watch what I eat and exercise a lot to maintain a healthy weight.

[janemc]

Weight gain was one of my celiac symptoms to the point of being obese. Once I went gluten-free the weight came off pretty easy. I still have to watch what I eat and exercise a lot to maintain a healthy weight.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I had no idea that there were people like me that were obese because of celiac. I find that if I eat low carb diet I can really loose, but if I try a diet on the peramid I don't loose at all. I guess that is probably because I am getting some gluten possibly. who knows. jane

[ianm]

Janemc,

The Atkins diet is what led to the discovery of celiac for me. I can't eat a lot of sugar or starchy carbs even if they are gluten-free. I gain weight real fast if I do. There a lot more of us weight gaining celiacs than you might think.

[CMCM]

Janemc,

The Atkins diet is what led to the discovery of celiac for me. I can't eat a lot of sugar or starchy carbs even if they are gluten-free. I gain weight real fast if I do. There a lot more of us weight gaining celiacs than you might think.

I went on the Atkins diet several years ago but didn't put two and two together until now. First of all, for about the last 8 years I've been maybe 15 to20 lbs, too heavy, despite eating fairly modestly. Nothing I did made me lose any weight until I did Atkins for 6 weeks....and the weight just dropped off and I really felt great....it was just a boring diet, that's all, and after 6 weeks I stopped. I always thought it was because I had virtually no carbs (just salad) on Atkins, but I'm thinking now it was of course the lack of sugar, but more importantly, probably the zero gluten I got during that period.

The South Beach Diet is similar to Atkins but allows more variety...and especially more veggies...and then later on certain fruits. I'm going to test that one out a bit and see how it goes.

[traveljunkie]

I always had that stubborn 10 to 15 lbs that would not come off prior to going gluten-free but now I have lost the weight and weigh what I did in high school!! I think that people who gain the weight after going gluten-free are over eating the "snacks" that are gluten free. Ever read the ingredients? Sugar,sugar, sugar! I have a 9 year that I bake gluten-free cookies and banana bread for and its loaded with sugar! I don't bake all the time but the boy is 9 I'll let him have some sweets!lol

[VegasCeliacBuckeye]

I am the opposite....

I lost about 20 pounds after being gluten free for 3 months...However, over time (and due to slowing metabolism), I am back at my original weight -- 229 lbs....

My weight fluctuates as my diet and exercise fluctuates...I suppose that is true for most people

[Heather22]

It is very common for Celiacs to gain weight after going gluten free. For some, it may be too many treats, but I would argue that for the majority, it is a metabolic problem. I found a really great article explaining this, which I will try to find....but the gist of it was that when your intestines are not absorbing, your body utilizes more muscle tissue, which results in a decreased metabolism and an increased tendency to store fat. There is also the issue of water retention. I am also one of those who gain 7-8 lbs overnight when I eat something bad. Even if it is not gluten related, if I eat something that my body doesn't like (almonds, sugar, corn, etc.), I gain like crazy.

I would also recommend looking into the Specific Carbohydrate Diet. It has helped me with the bloating and pain. However, it is difficult for me because I can't eat almonds and I limit my fruit due to the sugar. It's worth a try though!

[Guest nini]

weight gain was one of my biggest symptoms prior to my dx. Since going gluten free 2 1/2 years ago, I have lost 90 pounds and am healthier than I have ever been in my life. In fact I think the next article I write for Life Grocery's newsletter will be about weight loss...

[achiera]

great post, i also have the same issue. before i was diagnosed, i didnt really lose any weight or gain, but when i went gluten free i lost 20lbs without even trying, and my diet was the best it has ever been. which left me at a healthy weight, that stabilized for about a year while i was living abroad, then i came back to the usa,where theres a ton of gluten free goodies, and i went nuts! but i didnt see much change in my weight. but 8 months ago i decided to do a gluten challenge and in 8 months i have put on 30lbs!!!!!! its insane! i suppose its because my gluten free diet is super clean, no processed foods, just whole foods. and now that im eating gluten, its like im addicted to everything processed!! i go tommorrow to take the blood test, but this is something i will never do again, im starting 2006 gluten free all the way, and im expecting the weight to start coming off as soon as i do. also i have been exercising and calorie counting consistenly for the past 3 weeks using body for life and am slowly losing weight, 3lbs to be exact, but when gluten-free it comes off a lot quicker!

alexis

[carriecraig]

Before I was dx'd, my weight was pretty much the same as it had been for years (+/- 5 lbs). After going gluten-free, I lost 10 lbs almost immediately, and am the lightest I've been since college.

[Judyin Philly]

the next article I write for Life Grocery's newsletter will be about weight loss...

[tiffjake]

weight gain was one of my biggest symptoms prior to my dx. Since going gluten free 2 1/2 years ago, I have lost 90 pounds and am healthier than I have ever been in my life. In fact I think the next article I write for Life Grocery's newsletter will be about weight loss...

You lost 90 lbs??? WOW, can you tell me how? I am another person who gains weight when I have gluten. I lost 10 pounds the first week of gluten free. But it has stopped! I need to lose a lot more (I am currently 270) and I need to know where to go from here. I know that I will be working out more now because I feel much better, but I am just wondering if there is a "diet" that you followed, or just eating gluten-free and working out. I am ready to lose this weight now that I know what has been going on with me! I would really appreciate any pointers! Thanks, Tiffany

[Rusla]

I have so far lost 20 lbs with being gluten-free in the last three weeks and this was with eating chocolate over xmas. I only gained before I was gluten-free.

[Heather22]

Hi Tiffany,

Yes, it is about exercise, but I think our Celiac bodies are also sensitive to other foods. For example, many Celiacs are carb and sugar sensitive. I would not recommend the Atkins diet, but eating a diet that is lower in both of these might help. I would start by choosing one carb, such as brown rice, and going from there.

It also might be worth while to try an elimination diet. That way, you can really pinpoint what foods make you feel good/yucky. There's a lot to figure out, but just listen to your body.

Good luck!

[Nancym]

I've been dieting for 3 years, most of it low carb but a lot of gluten in my diet because gluten is actually high protein, low carb and rather low in calories. It has been a huge struggle to lose weight. I'm hoping now that the gluten (and now dairy) are gone it'll be easier. But I've noticed my appetite is bigger!

At least my belly isn't bloated all the time!

[CMCM]

Weight has been a huge issue for me. My whole life, despite ongoing digestive upsets, I neither lost nor gained weight, I was really a perfect weight even though I was quite a sugar junkie. But I never age huge amounts of food. I gained 60 lbs. with my daughter when I was 20 but lost it quickly. I stayed at about 130 lbs. (I'm 5'8") for the next 16 years until I had my son. After that, things seemed different, and I lost weight but was always about 10 to 15 lbs more than I wanted to be. By age 49 I was at 173, which for me was about 35 to 40 lbs. too heavy. I started exercising and eating carefully and did the Body for Life program and got down to about 150 to 155, but it has been a struggle to stay there ever since my bleeding/anemic/D&C surgery episode at age 49. I've gone up and done between 148 and 160, and can seemingly put on 5 lbs. of bloat overnight. No matter how carefully I ate, how little I ate, and how much I exercised (I was often doing 6 days a week exercise, with lots of cardio and weight lifting), yet my weight and bloat didn't budge for the last 6 years (I'm now 56).

The ONLY time I effortlessly lost weight was a 6 week period where I did Atkins, and that always puzzled me. I thought it was purely the lack of carbs in my diet (only one salad a day), but now I think it was the total lack of grains and gluten, and possibly the lack of dairy as well (except for a small bit of cheese). In 6 weeks on Atkins I went effortlessly down to about 140, and I was doing zero exercise because prior to starting Atkins I had sprained my shoulder and broken a rib in a ski fall, so I achieved this weight loss entirely thru the Atkins diet. When I stopped the diet and reintroduced the grains/dairy/other carbs, the weight came back, and the whole inability to lose a single ounce of weight no matter what I do has been continually frustrating.

I went gluten free on Nov. 25 and immediately noticed my pants etc. getting looser, so I know I'm losing weight. I've stayed off the scales for the time being because that always discouraged me (the no change part of it!). But my dietary changes (no grain, hardly any dairy) seem to make a huge difference. Time will tell, though!

[jerseyangel]

You and I seem to have a lot of the same issues. I have that 20 or so extra pounds also. A friend and I did the Atkins diet a few years ago and I lost 25 lbs. in about 6 months. No real exercise, either. I also felt well while on that diet, but didn't know of the gluten connection then. The only time I lost wt. due to the Celiac was right before I was DX. In a short time, I lost 15 lbs. when I was the sickest. The wt. loss worried me because I have never lost weight in my life unless I was rigorously dieting. Quite the opposite, I could gain weight easily if I wasn't careful. Even after I started the gluten-free diet, I put those 15 back on. In 2 months! Now, I've cut way back on the grains and have lost about 8 lbs. The pants are fitting better now! If I may ask--did you also have an Endometrial Eblation with your D&C? I had the same heavy bleeding problem and had them both with a histroscopy. Although it helped a lot w/the bleeding, the anemia didn't fully resolve until I went gluten-free.

[CMCM]

You and I seem to have a lot of the same issues. I have that 20 or so extra pounds also. A friend and I did the Atkins diet a few years ago and I lost 25 lbs. in about 6 months. No real exercise, either. I also felt well while on that diet, but didn't know of the gluten connection then. The only time I lost wt. due to the Celiac was right before I was DX. In a short time, I lost 15 lbs. when I was the sickest. The wt. loss worried me because I have never lost weight in my life unless I was rigorously dieting. Quite the opposite, I could gain weight easily if I wasn't careful. Even after I started the gluten-free diet, I put those 15 back on. In 2 months! Now, I've cut way back on the grains and have lost about 8 lbs. The pants are fitting better now! If I may ask--did you also have an Endometrial Eblation with your D&C? I had the same heavy bleeding problem and had them both with a histroscopy. Although it helped a lot w/the bleeding, the anemia didn't fully resolve until I went gluten-free.

Yes...I did have the endometrial eblation. The whole thing was frightening....I just started a period and the bleeding was unbelievably heavy (it got to the point of several heavy pads an hour) and just didn't stop, and I didn't realize about the anemia caused by that for awhile. After a couple of weeks of that, I had gotten terribly weak and was white as a ghost and could hardly walk anywhere without passing out. The doctor threatened me with a hysterectomy if the D&C/Eblation or whatever it all was didn't work, but it did, thank goodness. However, I was so anemic they almost gave me a transfusion, and I remember I took heavy duty iron pills for several weeks at least, after which time I must have been tested and was OK, because at that point I went off the iron pills. But that was 7 years ago, and I haven't been tested since. Probably should have been, though. I could be a bit anemic now and not know it.

You said you went gluten free but then put back weight from grains...do you mean from rice/corn, stuff like that? As for me, I still feel I'm somewhat (or perhaps very!) carb sensitive. I simply cannot eat potatoes (which I love), or corn, and I don't even eat much rice. I'm not going to get much into the gluten free breads/cookies/cakes etc. because I KNOW they will contain sugar, which I also don't do well with, and I'm such a sugar junkie I do better if I just stay away from sugar entirely! But overall, I think I have to stay free of gluten for a certain period of time and then re-visit some of the foods that "seem" to give me trouble these last few years....such as dairy. In fact, for the last 25 years I've figured that I was lactose intolerant and never even considered celiac disease at all because I didn't seem to have the same symptoms as my mom.

My mother has told me that the first few months of my life were hard for me....almost continual colic and she initially tried to breast feed me (she was eating gluten at that point in time!) but I couldn't keep the milk down (from the gluten she had eaten???), then the doctors had her try regular formula, that didn't work, and I finally ended up drinking goat's milk. By a year I seemed to be doing OK, but thru my whole childhood I didn't like milk or ice cream very much, and naturally avoided it. And she told me when I was 6 I oddly got very sick and had this horrible strong burping going on I couldn't control, although that finally went away. For most of my childhood and teens I don't really remember having big digestive issues, though. I really started noticing stuff in my 30's....migraines, very sensitive digestion that I definitely could link to dairy consumption, and many times getting sick but not knowing what I ate that did it....there wasn't any strong pattern, although I was always looking for the most recent meal as the culprit, rather than a day or two before. And I developed what were very asthma-like symptoms and an incessant cough that no doctor was able to diagnose....everyone said it wasn't asthma, but it sure behaved like asthma, and for the last few years I've had inhalers handy. My GP prescribed Advair and I've been using that. But guess what....when I stopped gluten on Nov. 25 the asthma and cough just went POOF and disappeared suddenly. Verrrrry interesting.

I'm jumping around here....but another interesting thing about the Atkins diet....I wasn't sure I could do it because I've never been a big meat eater....I'd eat chicken, sometimes fish, sometimes steak, but usually just something like once a week, rarely more than that. And I didn't eat much cheese either. Yet on Atkins, eating all that meat and just minimal veggies initially, and some cheddar cheese, and tons of eggs....I felt just fabulous, and I was really surprised at that. So I was getting no dairy beyond about 2 oz of cheese a day, zero dairy, zero fruit, and basically just meat/eggs/lettuce/limited other veggies. And the weight just dropped off at a very good clip. Only thing I remember negative was constipation.

[STACEY0826]

HI I WAS DIAGNOSED LESS THAN A YEAR AGO AND AM HAVING TROUBLE WITH WEIGHT. I WAS SICK FOR WHAT SEEMED LIKE A LONG TIME (IT WAS) AND KEPT SEEING DR AFTER DR. I HAD SYMPTOMS FOR YEARS AND DIDN'T REALIZE IT TILL I FINALLY VOICED MY TROUBLES TO MY GP. SHE STARTED THE BALL ROLLING FIRST. I WOULD EAT AND NOT 5 MINUTES OF BEING DONE I HAD TO GO POTTY RIGHT AWAY. THEN THE TESTING WAS GOING ON FOR ALL SORTS OF THINGS. I HAD JUST STARTED A NEW JOB AND WAS SO SICK FROM THE GET GO. I WOULD EAT AND PUKE TWO TO THREE TIMES A DAY. MY HUSBAND WAS WORRIED I WAS BECOMING BULIMIC. I LOST ABOUT 15-20 POUNDS THAT I COULD REALLY LOSE. (HAVE PLENTY MORE TO LOSE) FINALLY I GOT REFERRED TO A GASTROINTEROLOGIST. I WENT THRU THE PILLS THE BLOOD TESTS THE CHECKS THEN THE EGD, COLONOSCOPY, BARIUM ENEMA AND FINALLY DIAGNOSIS. SINCE I HAD GAINED ALL THE WEIGHT PRIOR TOO THEN LOST 15-20 THEN GAINED IT ALL BACK PLUS SOME AFTER GOING ON THE DIET NOW IT WON'T COME OFF. ANY SUGGESTIONS WOULD BE APPRECIATED. I MISS THE REGULAR FOODS BEING ABLE TO EAT OUT WITH THE FAMILY AND NOT HAVE TO HAVE THINGS SPECIALLY MADE OR BRING YOUR OWN. I AM SURE I AM STILL MAKING MISTAKES WITH MY DIET. PLEASE ANY HELP IS GREAT.

[jerseyangel]

What is helping me lose weight now, 7 months gluten-free, is eating mostly meats, chicken, veggies, fruit, natural peanut butter. Not a formal diet, but a lot like the Atkins maintainence plan. What I cut is basicaly the rice breads and baked goods. I don't limit portions and am not too obsessive about it. Just cutting down a bit. Unlike in the past, I'm more concerned about being gluten-free and healthy first, and fitting into my smaller size jeans second. A bonus to eating this way for me is that my skin is better, less itching and the eczema is greatly improved. As a treat, I eat Enjoy Life cookies--the Gingerbread Spice ones are really good and they are made with sorghum flour, not rice flour. I seem to be able to tolerate that better. I also do Pilates, which helps me firm up.

[MACE]

It seems lots of you have gained weight AFTER switching over to a gluten-free diet. I'm wondering how many of you have gained weight as a symptom of having celiac - prior to beginning a gluten-free

diet. My 5 year old daughter has gained 10 pounds in 6 months and has many other sympotoms of celiac. She just started a gluten-free diet 3 days ago.

I HAVE HAD A WEIGHT PROBLEM MOST OF MY LIFE. IT SEEMED THAT I COULD NOT DROP A POUND NOT MATTER WHAT I DID. SINCE GOING ON gluten-free IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS I HAVE LOST 25 POUNDS WITH OUT EVEN DOING ANYTHING ELSE TO LOSE IT. MY DOCTOR DID TELL ME THAT THE SYMPTOM FOR SOME IS WEIGHT GAIN. I STILL NEED TO LOSE MORE AND I AM SURE I WILL NOW. LIKE ONE OF THE OTHERS SAID IF I SHOULD BREAK DOWN AND EAT SOMETHING LIKE PASTA I CAN SEE WEIGHT GAIN OVER NIGHT. DOES MAKE ME WONDER WHY SOME LOSE AFTER GOING gluten-free AND OTHERS GAIN. GUESS FOR OTHERS THERE SYMPTONS WERE LOSING WEIGHT TO START WITH.

[Guest missyflanders]

How long were you gluten free before you started losing? I gained weight (about 25 pounds) as a result of ignoring my dx. I am now gluten-free and have been for about 2 weeks and have not lost a pound. Wondering if I am missing something with gluten in my diet now. I guess I will have to be more careful. I really hope to lose the extra weight to fit into a dress I already bought (and fit at the time) for a wedding I am in, on May 20. Is this possible? I know I need to be gluten-free? I don't eat gluten-free cookies. I only occassionally will eat gluten-free breads (chebe and manna from anna). I know I should probably cut down on gluten-free cereal, that is my snack of choice right now. Any other advice?

Missy