Will the distended abdomen ever go away?

[BarryC]

Hello again group. I haven't posted for some time. I am one of those gluten sensitive(not celiac) peeps that after being gluten free for several weeks, decides they are not gluten sensitive after all!  Then, weeks later, all the symptoms show up again! I am on a gluten free FB group and its not uncommon. My doctor, my family, and a few of my friends dismiss 'this gluten thing'.  Also, I am on the road a lot and where I travel, gluten-free options are few and far between. Thank God for Subway! After another recent episode of 'glutening' on the road, where I got the most bloated, nauseous,sore and tired, and brain fogged out that I ever was,  I decided no more messing around. Its my body God dam it!   Its been three weeks, and I am feeling pretty good. Just like I knew I would (DUH). My concern is that my big bloated belly (I am a guy by the way) just does not want to shrink to a more 'normal' size. I do lose weight when I am gluten-free, but everwhere else except my midsection. I even took the drastic step, for me, of reducing my beer consumption, and switching to a gluten free brand that is finally available where I live.  I am hoping that will help. Other than that, it feels much better. I wish I could exercise, but with two arthritic knees, thats pretty tough. Anyway, thanks for all your comments, hope everyone had a nice summer, and God Bless!

[Ennis-TX]

This has varying circumstances and approaches. Is the bloat under your abdominal muscles as in your intestines/stomach are distended. Or is it above IE water or fat retention?

Addressing the intestinal bloating it could be various circumstances, I for one used to have the distention issues years ago I took various approaches to toning it back up after it went away.
Anyway first you need to find the trigger and cause, it might not just be gluten, you could have other issues causing inflammation or other trigger foods. It could also be a SIBO or Candida that can cause bloating and distention with gas. If it is strictly inflammatory a Paleo AIP diet could help if it is another issue taking a step further with keto macros can help regulate it. The latter can even help if you have fat or water retention.
A food diary will go a long way to finding issues, I might suggest taking healthy low carb snacks that are safe for you on the road, IE dried veggie chips, dried meats (meat strips/jerky, not those abomination meat sticks). I often find I can get hardboiled eggs, kale chips, wonderful pistachios, canned tuna, and sunflower seeds that are safe at gas stations sometimes even get lucky and find the good brands of pork rinds like Epic and 4505 at gas stations. Keeping a canister of a paleo and keto protein shake mix to mix up in a mixer bottle is also a great option or keeping meal bars on you.

[Keight]

My gut went 'normal', i.e. not distended, after I ditched all grains. Within three days, I had a flat midsection. Dairy, and obviously gluten, makes my gut flare up within an hour. 

Mind you, I do not carry much body fat, so results are pretty clear and makes it easier for me to see what works and what doesn't.

Being low carb has given me the blessing of no joint pain. My left knee and both big toes are arthritic. I can exercise with great mobility on low carb. Totally liberating!

[Felix Nuts Tomcat]

Some people naturally carry fat in the midsection - especially men.  So if you are still thick in the middle in the absence of stomach issues that may be your build.  Hopefully not.

Food ingredients that get the blame for this are simple carbs - especially high fructose corn syrup.  You you'll want to eliminate that from your diet and see what happens.

Grains and dairy also get the blame for causing weight gain the mid section.

But if it is due the celiac disease, it will take about a year for that belly to go away on its own.  I am woman.  I was thin with a big pregnant looking pot belly before going gluten free.  I was full of gas all the time.  Now I weigh considerably more after being gluten free for 11 years, but my belly is flat.