Not Gaining Weight

[gabrielle]

Is that odd? I have been gluten-free since January (well I had a few ingestions of gluten because the dumb doctor told me I wasn't celiac disease after he had told me I was celiac disease- so I ate so gluten and got sick- go figure)... Anyways- I have been very good since that time- but I don't seem to be putting on weight. My weight did maintain since January-- and I am only 5'2" and approx. 103 pounds- so I am generally in the normal range for weight- but I worry. I know for sure that i do not get enough calories in a day- i find it hard to snack and i get frustrated with the diet and I'll eat something stupid like a snickers bar.

Does this happen to you? I get so angry that all I eat is candy... I know how bad that is.

Sometimes I get this really weird feeling in my stomach after I eat (like a boulder dropped into the pit of my stomach- and I noticed I've had a lot of acid reflux lately-is that associate with celiac?)

I get so worried sometimes I guess I just need some reassurance :-(

[mightymorg]

I'm trying to stabilize my weight also...I lost 8 pounds over a month. My best friend has become peanut butter! Not too bad for you, addictive, and definetly helps up the caloric intake.

I noticed you said you have bad acid reflux...I sympathize. Ever since all this, I've been having a huge problem with it too!

[mart]

I'm still waiting for my gluten free celiac disease son to gain weight too. Something I think may help you is that BOOST Energy Drink (it's like Ensure, only it has more fat and calories). My son doesn't like it but he drinks it. It's full of vitamins and minerals and it's very convenient to take along with you. Also, it will give you great energy.

So don't give up. By the way, have you been asymptomatic since going gluten-free?

[gabrielle]

Thanks for the replies.

Mart- when i was diagnosed with celiac disease (well I should say when the doctors suspected I had celiac disease)- I really don't think I had too many symptoms. I lost weight, I was fatigued (but I also found out in the same time that i had hypothyroidism-which can cause fatigue), I did have loose stools and abdominal pain/bloating. I still have abdominal pain after I eat, sometimes I have loose stools (but I am sure everyone does once in awhile)- but mostly now I feel constipated. My stools are harder- which my doctor said could cause the abdominal pain. (duh )... I do feel more peppy and more energized. I guess I am just concerned because I feel I should have gained some weight. I might try the Ensure... it just might help!

[debmidge]

Hubby has celiac and only put back 5 lbs on in the two years he went gluten-free. One of the board's posters advises drinking coconut milk as it's high in calories; but hubby says he wants to gain the weight from real food. It's a real problem to keep the weight on for him too as he has a fast metabolism to begin with.

I know that eating starches with fats can increase weight, like potato chips and such. Another starch and fat combo: Ensure (starch=sugar, and product does contain fat). So you're on the right track at least with the Ensure. Now I can envision the Ensure with a scoop of gluten-free ice cream in it and put it in the blender.

[ms-sillyak-screwed]

debmidge -- thank you for the great idea.

I can't eat COCONUT. It's my all time favorite. I can't eat dairy so I would get the Coconut Italian Ice I loved it. And Coconut thai food yummy. Well, my test came back [i'm allergic]. As a matter of fact I'm calling around today for a dentist that is celiac friendly that doesn't have coconut flavoring in their cleaning material.

And ENSURE is a big huge NO No. At least for me. I read the label once and it had all sorts of things that would induce a seizure for me. I'm one of those hypersensitive types.

mightymorg -- peanut butter? Did they report it on the national news about the kids last weekend on the west coast of Florida... she was allergic to peanut butter. The boyfriend had eaten a big fat peanut butter sandwich and his long slow loving kiss, KILLED HER. When I read the article I was not only shocked I feel so bad that people just don't get it. It (peanut butter) really is very bad for everyone. Little kids get ear infections and they say it causes many problems later in life. Hence here I am.

I know that between the hurricanes S-T-R-E-S-S last year I lived on peanut butter and rice cake, tuna and soy milk with my rice cereal. Well, now I know I'm highly allergic to them, all but tuna.

mightymorg have you had a test to checked to see if you can eat peanut butter.

[mightymorg]

No, I haven't. I seem to have better BMs though, when I eat it...or any fat for that matter. I find it as a good source of protein and fat.

[debmidge]

Don't forget peanut butter is protein/fat with Starch. Check out the Carbs on the label.

I recall when I was on Atkins that peanut butter was a no no - too high in carbs which is a starch (in some peanut butters there's either sugar or corn syrup).

Years ago, when I did Atkins for first time I was reading book by James Herriot (a UK veteraniarn) and he came across a dairy cow that was sickly and was getting thin and farmer was afraid that cow would die. Dr. Herriot didn't have antibiotics back then, and in an act of desperation injected the cow with Glucose (sugar) in the hopes that the blood sugar levels would get high (like when you eat carbs/starches/sugars) and the cow would gain weight. Well the cow gained weight and thrived. Meanwhile, during this time, I am also reading Atkins book and paralleling with this Atkins said (condensed version) that "in the absence of carbs/starches/sugars, fats do not increase the person's weight" (that's why you can eat protein and fat on his diet and if you do not eat carbs still lose weight).

[CeliaCruz]

i get frustrated with the diet and I'll eat something stupid like a snickers bar.

Does this happen to you? I get so angry that all I eat is candy... I know how bad that is.

Sometimes I get this really weird feeling in my stomach after I eat (like a boulder dropped into the pit of my stomach- and I noticed I've had a lot of acid reflux lately-is that associate with celiac?)

Wait, what's wrong with Snickers Bars? I mean, besides the whole "candy on an empty stomach" thing. Are we talking gluten here or just semi-crappy nutrition?

And are you "angry" or simply hungry? I do think it's notable that you mention Snickers. Not to sound like the ad, but they are "packed with peanuts" and maybe you are reaching for them because you know on some level that you need the protein. In a perfect world, we'd all plan ahead and wouldn't have to go to the vending machine for nourishment...but maybe you should give yourself a break. It took a lot of time for me to adjust to the diet -- especially since most of the usual convenient foods that are usually around (pizza, donuts, sandwiches, crackers) were off limits to me all of a sudden. Sure, candy on an empty stomach isn't ideal, but it might be the best alternative to, say, passing out at work or beating up your co-workers.

[gabrielle]

Celia: Before going on this diet I was a health nut so to speak. It is hard now when I am craving something very healthy -like wheat crackers or oatmeal- the only thing I can pick up is candy to satisfy me. I hate that. I hate that I can't go into a conveince store and get pretzels- and I have to leave with chips or yes, a Snickers Bar. I'm not knocking people that eat Snickers and saying that there is something wrong with eating candy- but for me I would much rather get my nourishment from something that is healthier. I don't feel completely healthy going gluten-free, because I get into the rut of eating the same things over and over again. Some of the gluten-free foods taste like sawdust and I can not make myself choke it down.

This is very off topic but I feel like i need to scream.

I am beyond frustrated- and let me vent for a second. I work in retail, the store I work in is very small and very close knit. We have a lot of parties and food get togethers... I am so sick of hearing, "Can you eat this?" or "Are you sure you can eat what you have on your plate?" IF I COULDN'T EAT IT, WOULD I BE PUTTING IT ON MY PLATE?!? I'm sorry, but this diet is hard enough I don't need people scrutinizing me and saying, "Gabby you need to put some weight on" or "Poor Gabby she can't eat any of this." UGH Mind your business people or I may just hit you .

I apologize for the ranting, but their are somethings you just can not talk to anyone about unless they've been in your position.

[ms-sillyak-screwed]

gabrielle -- Your right about your work-friends. I know how you feel.

I think it was Kaiti that got the point across to her friends. Get her to tell you the story. I hope I get this right. I remember a little where they ordered pizza, (they knew she couldn't eat it) so when it came and everyone dug-in she sprinkled [Comet or DrainO] on hers and offer her friends to sample what her pizza experience would be like...

I tell people when they say, "Your gorgeous! How do you stay so thin? I hate you!" I tell them, "I'm dying and being poisoned, food is killing me, we can trade places." You see WE don't walk around with a neon sign on our foreheads that flash so people will "get it!" I like the web site - Open Original Shared Link

I'm still on my quest to gain a few pounds, some how...

[CeliaCruz]

Celia: Before going on this diet I was a health nut so to speak. It is hard now when I am craving something very healthy -like wheat crackers or oatmeal- the only thing I can pick up is candy to satisfy me. I hate that. I hate that I can't go into a conveince store and get pretzels- and I have to leave with chips or yes, a Snickers Bar. I'm not knocking people that eat Snickers and saying that there is something wrong with eating candy- but for me I would much rather get my nourishment from something that is healthier. I don't feel completely healthy going gluten-free, because I get into the rut of eating the same things over and over again. Some of the gluten-free foods taste like sawdust and I can not make myself choke it down.

Oh, I didn't think you were knocking anyone for anyone for eating Snickers. I was just worried for a moment there that Snickers contained gluten. I, too, have eaten a lot of Snickers Bars since going gluten-free and when I first read your post, I was like "uh oh!"

The thing you might want to keep in perspective is that a lot of people who are Celiac often feel crappy and become "health nuts" in order to correct what they erroneously feel is merely a case of improper nutrition. I did this myself. I remember going to health food restaurants, ordering the "stir fried seitan" (wheat gluten) and wondering why I was still suffering from all of these ailments despite the fact that I ate so "well". Now there's absolutely nothing wrong with being scrupulous about your diet and avoiding crappy foods, but back when you were eating gluten, any benefits you were receiving from your diet were totally negated by the aggravated Celiac. Now that you have realized what's truly wrong, you are most likely doing better than you ever were -- Snickers or no. (Hell, you could probably start smoking crack and you'd still be better off as long as you continue to avoid gluten! Um, unless you share your crack pipe with someone who just ate a donut and didn't brush his teeth.)

And yeah, Amen to the gluten-free foods tasting like sawdust. It takes a while for people to figure out which foods are "legal" and which ones actually taste good to them. Hang in there.

This is very off topic but I feel like i need to scream.

I am beyond frustrated- and let me vent for a second. I work in retail, the store I work in is very small and very close knit. We have a lot of parties and food get togethers... I am so sick of hearing, "Can you eat this?" or "Are you sure you can eat what you have on your plate?" IF I COULDN'T EAT IT, WOULD I BE PUTTING IT ON MY PLATE?!? I'm sorry, but this diet is hard enough I don't need people scrutinizing me and saying, "Gabby you need to put some weight on" or "Poor Gabby she can't eat any of this." UGH Mind your business people or I may just hit you .

I apologize for the ranting, but their are somethings you just can not talk to anyone about unless they've been in your position.

Preach it, sister. I was at a party this summer. My friends who hosted (who KNOW about my condition) were all, "have some baked ziti!" I was like, "no thank you." Again, they offered. Again I politely refused. Now I was raised to respect the fact that if someone says "no" to food, you leave them alone. They offered again and very politely I was like, "no thank you. Remember? I can't eat wheat?" They slapped their foreheads. "Oh! Sorry! We forgot!" Ten minutes later. "Baked Ziti? BAKED ZITI!?!?!" I thought I was going to kill someone.

I don't mind if people don't remember that I'm GI from time to time. What bugs me is the relentless pressure people put on you to eat something. Like you've mortally offended someone if you don't eat absolutely everything they've cooked that day. Our culture has this weird preoccupation with food and I feel that as a Celiac I am forced to deal everyday with the darker elements of this preoccupation.

[gabrielle]

I don't mind if people don't remember that I'm GI from time to time. What bugs me is the relentless pressure people put on you to eat something. Like you've mortally offended someone if you don't eat absolutely everything they've cooked that day. Our culture has this weird preoccupation with food and I feel that as a Celiac I am forced to deal everyday with the darker elements of this preoccupation.

Yeah, I definitely feel ya there. I appreciate you (ms sillyak screwed as well) listening to me rant. Food is such a focal point in American society. It is hard to do anything without incorporating food. People do not understand how difficult it can be for someone who can eat 1/4 of the items on a menu (and sometimes thats pushing it).

It would just be a big help if Celiac was more mainstream, and more companies/restaurants realized that more people are becoming gluten-free because of illnesses.

I tell people when they say, "Your gorgeous! How do you stay so thin? I hate you!" I tell them, "I'm dying and being poisoned, food is killing me, we can trade places." You see WE don't walk around with a neon sign on our foreheads that flash so people will "get it!" -

You are so right! I may be thin and pretty- but my hair is brittle and dry- my skin is flakey- my nails are shedding- oh yeah and my intestines are damaged... BUT hey I'm attractive. That mind set is what's wrong with people. I'd rather trade my beauty for my health.

Well you all have a great night, I'm bracing for the North eastern snowfall!!!