Jump to content
This site uses cookies. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. More Info... ×
  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.




  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):



    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):


  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

It Seems Impossible


JesikaBeth

Recommended Posts

JesikaBeth Contributor

I am a technically obese 34 y/o female who is also diabetic and on an insulin pump. I also have Hashimotos Thyroiditis. Needing to lose weight for my health. I was diagnosed gluten intolerent last week. It is very hard to lose weight, especially because I am on steroids for my chemotherapy treatment.  I just feel like it all seems impossible. I am very overwhelmed right now.


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



LauraTX Rising Star

Welcome, Jessica.  I understand the difficulty of trying to lose weight while on steroids.  At the moment I am on prednisone for my lupus, and no matter what I do, I cannot lose weight.  I am starting to wean off them but it will take a very long time.  There is a point where you just have to focus on survival and put your body insecurities to the side until they are more addressable, and that is what I am doing.  What I have focused on is not gaining more weight while on the steroids, eating things that are healthier, getting my veggies in, etc.   Just make it a goal to maintain and not gain, and focus on the weight loss after you heal up.

GF Lover Rising Star

I agree with Laura.  Eating healthy is key right now.  Your chemo and steroids are a must so stay off the scale until treatments are finished.  

 

Colleen

SoLacey Newbie

Hi Jessica, I'm sorry you are dealing with so much.  That is a lot all at once.  I found it impossible to lose weight for years.  All the baby weight I gained when I was pregnant would not come off, I couldn't get it off no matter what I tried.  I went to half a dozen Dr's and they all told me to forget it because I had "hypoglycemia".  I finally tried the Atkins diet...which would have been nearly gluten free by default.  I lost a lot of weight fast.  After being diagnosed with Celiac I wondered if that was why I couldn't lose weight.  It looks like the inability to lose weight is a pretty common complaint with this. 

 

Now that you know you have to be gluten free I would try being low carb on top of that.  It would help to regulate your blood sugar too.  I don't know how big a hurdle the steroids will be but hopefully you can find a way to get through it.  They say "fail fast and change" with diets.  That's the only way I ever figured this out.  I dieted and exercised for 6 months without ever losing a single pound.  I kept changing my diet and workout program every 2 - 3 weeks.  Finally tried Atkins and the pounds started melting off. 

 

Varying your calories will also help to keep you from hitting the dreaded plateaus.  If you eat 1200 calories a day, your body quickly adjusts to that and will stop losing.  Try 800 one day and 1400 the next (or whatever your numbers should be), just keep your totals under your weekly goal and you should lose and should avoid long stalls. 

GF Lover Rising Star

Jessica, please don't limit your calories too much.  You need your strength.  Just eat good whole foods.

 

Colleen

Georgia-guy Enthusiast

I agree with Colleen, don't limit your calories too much. Strength is extremely important when getting treated for cancer. If you want to try a calorie counting diet, get with your oncologist and medical team and discuss it so you don't go too low. Good luck and stay strong!

JesikaBeth Contributor

Thank you everybody for your replies.

 

SoLacey, I do watch my carbs for the diabetes.

 

I have recently begun going to the gym during the months I have a break from chemo and am feeling well. It helps me to feel more empowered, but also yes - I want to lose the weight.

 

It's hard because I have doctors pointing out that I've gained weight since the Cancer diagnosis, which is not good for the diabetes... I'm all like "well if ya'll didn't pump me full of steroids, I probably wouldn't be!"

 

Anyway, I appreciate the responses. Thank you all for your kindness :wub:


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      130,251
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    Janet Lima
    Newest Member
    Janet Lima
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.3k
    • Total Posts
      1m

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):





  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Wheatwacked
      Vitamin D deficiency can contribute to rib pain. Chest pain stemming from the ribs ccould be costochondritis, which involves inflammation of the cartilage connecting the ribs to the breastbone. This pain can range from mild to severe, potentially mimicking heart attack symptoms, and is often worsened by breathing or movement. Other potential causes include muscle strain, rib fractures, or even referred pain from other conditions.  It will also help to chose vegetables low in omega 6.
    • Scott Adams
      Great question! Even if some individuals with celiac disease don’t experience immediate villi damage from occasional cross-contamination, it’s still strongly recommended to maintain strict avoidance of gluten. The immune response triggered by gluten can vary between individuals, and even small amounts may cause systemic inflammation or other symptoms, even if intestinal damage isn’t immediately detectable. Additionally, repeated exposure—even at low levels—could lead to cumulative harm over time. Strict avoidance of cross-contamination remains the safest approach to prevent long-term complications and ensure overall health. Everyone’s sensitivity differs, so working with a healthcare provider to tailor precautions is ideal.
    • Zuma888
    • knitty kitty
      You have one gene for Celiac.  You have a second autoimmune disease, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, which is frequently found at a higher rate with Celiac.  HLA genes carry autoimmune disease genes like Celiac and Hashimoto's and diabetes and others.   You have Celiac symptoms of reacting after gluten.  You said "I am however still suffering from the effects of the gluten challenge (food sensitivities, slight brain fog, weird stool, fatigue, swollen thyroid, bodyaches)."  And your anti-thyroid antibodies increase after gluten exposure.  While tTg IgA does not directly attack the thyroid, gluten exposure does trigger the  immune system to produce antibodies against the thyroid in genetically predisposed individuals.  You did not eat sufficient gluten (10 grams of gluten per day for two weeks minimum) to raise the autoimmune antibodies to the point they can be measured in the blood, so your blood tests may well be inaccurate.  You could choose to continue the gluten challenge of 10 grams a day for at least two weeks and get retested.   At the very least, you know that gluten is harmful to your thyroid, and because you are genetically predisposed to Celiac disease, a strict gluten free diet would be beneficial for your overall health.  
    • Zuma888
      Thanks @Scott Adams! I guess my question now is: do the celiacs who can get away with regular contamination without villi damage as you mentioned have to be strict about cross-contamination ? 
×
×
  • Create New...