Tips For Weight Loss/management On gluten-free Diet?

[Waitingindreams]

I am one of the lucky people that GAINED weight when I first started having celiac symptoms. I wasn't diagnosed until three years after, so the damage had been done. Since going on the gluten-free diet (about three months in) I've dropped a pant size, but I haven't lost much weight since. All I drink is water, I don't drink soda, juice, milk, etc...(I'm lactose intolerant due to the celiac as well) and I do incorporate steamed vegetables and brown rice into my diet. Are there any other tips? I also try not to eat gluten-free desserts/pastries all that often...even the bread. I usually save that for restaurants instead of making it myself. I'm thinking that keeping a food diary would be smart, but any other guidance would be much appreciated.

 

(I know that getting in exercise would also be a help, I'm trying to work that in to my schedule. I am asking mostly about specific diet changes)

[surviormom]

I feel your pain.  I eat so little, it boggles my mind just how I do not lose weight, how can I possibly manage to maintain this weight?  But, I feel that one of these days my body will start to function better and the weight will come off.  Exercise may be a big component, I do not have a lot of time either.  I did manage to drop 10 in the spring, but you do not want to do that, very very sick.  I eat very healthy, I know I consume the proper amount of calories in a day to make my metabolism happy.  I drink 10-12 glasses of water a day, and drink green tea other than that.  I gave up coffee in the summer, coffee is now a cheat.  So, like you, I just do not know.  It may take us a couple of years to get our bodies straightened out.  I will be watching to see if anyone out there with more experience has more knowledge.  

 

I have managed to get most of my body under control in the past 15 months.  It has been a hard 15 months.   But I feel much better, would just like to lose about 30 pounds.  I do not know how old you are, but friends my age, say it helps to keep me young looking.  

[NoGlutenCooties]

It may be a bit-counterintuitive, but make sure you're eating enough - especially enough protein.  If you do not get enough protein (and other food) in your diet, your body basically goes into starvation mode and clings to every extra bit of fat it can (that's the un-scientific explanation).  Also, you mention exercise.  Often people assume that getting a ton of cardio exercise will help them lose weight.  However, weight-baring exercise is actually much more beneficial (from a weight management standpoint).  The lean muscle that you build actually burns more calories - even when you're sitting stil.  But again, to build muscle you have to have enough protein.

 

(Sidenote: I'm not saying cardio is not important - obviously it is very important for cardiovascular health - just not as important to weight as people might think.)

 

Keep in mind that muscle also weighs more than fat.  So if you build muscle, you will get leaner but you won't see as much of a difference on the scale (depending on your starting point).  Weight is not actually a good measure of overall health - your percentage body fat is a much better indicator.  So for example, I'm 5ft 6in tall.  About 15 years ago, before working out, I was a couch potatoe.  A very skinny couch potatoe at 120 pounds, but I was at 37% body fat - which is very high and unhealthy.  I have since been working out regularly, built some lean muscle, weigh more now even though I dropped a pant size, and my body fat is down to 23% - which for a female my age is right where I should be.

[surviormom]

Yeah, that is the big problem with time.  Building muscle takes time.  Being a mom also takes time.  I am mostly on the Paleo diet these days, mostly grain free.  I do try for a higher protein count.  Thank you for your suggestions.   Starvation Mode is why we are on the side that is overweight.  I understand it, perhaps waitingindreams understands it too with your explanation.  Our bodies have thought we were starving for years, undernourished and starving, and yet, we watched everything we ate and kept gaining weight.  I even ate more fiber because of problems I was having, up to double the daily amount a man needs.  OOPS.  Made it worse.  Doctor told me to eat yogurt and make sure I was consuming 1200 calories a day...WORSE.  Between the fiber and the lactose and I was killing myself.  

 

Everything is better now, except that stupid number on that stupid little square that you stand on.  Clothes even fit better, but that number!  ARGH!

 

1.find time to build muscle.  

 

Lets see what others out there have to offer.