Jump to content

  • 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

Overweight And Celiacs

krackers

By krackers
in Related Issues & Disorders

Recommended Posts

Rusla Enthusiast
Rusla
Posted

Ursula... your husband is a donut head. He is like the doctors, he just doesn't get it. I want to smack people over the head when they are so dense and stupid. The reason I don't,is because I know with their hollow heads that would probably cave their heads in. I know you wish he would have to live through what you are living through. There are so many who need to live through things, that way it makes them more tolerant.

At one point in my life I almost ended up in a wheelchair. Out of pure stubborness I was not going to let that happen. I live with 24 hour a day pain, there are some things I can't do anymore but I don't let it stand in the way of anything else and sitting cross-legged is not that important to me. The whole thing is it showed me a world I did not know and I became very vocal about things that were not handicapped accessible. I know at any moment that things you are used to doing can be snatched away from you.

Unfortunately some people need to be more tolerant of many things. The last safe prejudice in the world, is to have one against someone of size. Therefore, those who think we are faking this or poo pooing it need to have a taste of it, some people go through life far too easy. Then there are others who get more than their share of things they should not have. I think

sometimes it is given to those people because, the universe knows they are more compassionate and can adjust and handle these things.

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Ursa Major Collaborator
Ursa Major
Posted

I hear you when it comes to wheelchairs. I broke my right ankle almost four years ago (Apr. 11th, 2002), and it took a very long time to heal. It is still not fine, and never will be. The combination of that ankle and the fibromyalgia was so bad, that I didn't go to a mall until just recently, because I simply couldn't walk far enough. I have a handicapped parking permit that is good to July 2007.

But since I am gluten-free, and especially with finding out my other intolerances, things are looking up. I WALKED downtown (a 20 minute walk) twice in a week! I haven't been able to do that in years. Maybe I can take my youngest to the zoo this summer! The last time I was there must be over ten years ago, because I simply didn't have the energy. And I used to go every year, because I love the zoo.

Guest nini
Guest nini
Posted

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v121/may...ni/im000668.webp

Just had to come in and brag and jump for joy and go OMG!!!!!!

A friend of mine took me shopping today because she said I didn't realize just how much weight I had lost and that I needed to buy SMALLER clothes.

Here's me in an outfit that when it was hanging on the rack I said "THERE IS NO WAY THAT WILL FIT, IT'S TOO SMALL!!!!"

and yes you can see my bra through the sweater (It's designed like that!)

jerseyangel Proficient
jerseyangel
Posted

Nini--Girl, you look great! You have good reason to jump for joy--I know you were a bit concerned about the weight loss, but after looking at your face in the picture, I think you look healthy--your face does not have that "sunken" look at all that can come from losing too much too fast in an unhealthy way. I say it's all doing what it's supposed to be doing and you should just enjoy it :D . PS--I'm going to have another look at the post you made earlier about what you eat in a typical day, and see if I can get some of this weight of mine to fall off!

Guest nini
Guest nini
Posted
Nini--Girl, you look great! You have good reason to jump for joy--I know you were a bit concerned about the weight loss, but after looking at your face in the picture, I think you look healthy--your face does not have that "sunken" look at all that can come from losing too much too fast in an unhealthy way. I say it's all doing what it's supposed to be doing and you should just enjoy it :D . PS--I'm going to have another look at the post you made earlier about what you eat in a typical day, and see if I can get some of this weight of mine to fall off!

thank you so much for the feedback! I just e-mailed my dad that picture and he called me immediately to say "who is that skinny woman you e-mailed me the picture of?" When I last saw him in Florida last April, I was in a size 18... this is me in a size 10 now!!!!!

I'm not as worried today as I was last night, I think I was just having a moment of anxiety, like thinking "this is too good to be true, there must be a downside to this weightloss!"

jerseyangel Proficient
jerseyangel
Posted
:) That's cool about your Dad!
Guest nini
Guest nini
Posted

my dad is also trying to see if going gluten free will help him with his health issues. He's been trying for a while to convert to a gluten-free diet, but since he doesn't really believe he has Celiac or gluten intolerance, and won't go get tested for it, He's not that committed to the diet yet. BUT, during our talk tonight he said that after seeing the difference it has made in me, he is going to give it 100% and see if it will help. He said nothing else has helped him lose weight. He's very active but is definitely overweight. I know he'd feel so much better if he could lose the weight.

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


jerseyangel Proficient
jerseyangel
Posted

That's great! I wish him much luck with the diet and hope it helps him with his weight and his overall health. Keep us posted on how he does--and he has a very experienced coach!

ianm Apprentice
ianm
Posted

Looking good Nini.

Guest nini
Guest nini
Posted
Looking good Nini.

Thank you All!!! I feel so "fashion" as my daughter puts it...

Nancym Enthusiast
Nancym
Posted
my dad is also trying to see if going gluten free will help him with his health issues. He's been trying for a while to convert to a gluten-free diet, but since he doesn't really believe he has Celiac or gluten intolerance, and won't go get tested for it, He's not that committed to the diet yet. BUT, during our talk tonight he said that after seeing the difference it has made in me, he is going to give it 100% and see if it will help. He said nothing else has helped him lose weight. He's very active but is definitely overweight. I know he'd feel so much better if he could lose the weight.

That's wonderful! You know, sometimes I think people just have no idea what they would eat without gluten. I have thought perhaps supplying someone like that with a weeks worth of possible menus might be valuable.

Usually when you find a food intolerance the first thing you think is "But what can I eat"? With the general panic that sets in right afterwards. I know when I was looking at the SCD diet that was going through my head, fortunately the book had a lot of menu plans and recipes.

Guest nini
Guest nini
Posted
That's wonderful! You know, sometimes I think people just have no idea what they would eat without gluten. I have thought perhaps supplying someone like that with a weeks worth of possible menus might be valuable.

Usually when you find a food intolerance the first thing you think is "But what can I eat"? With the general panic that sets in right afterwards. I know when I was looking at the SCD diet that was going through my head, fortunately the book had a lot of menu plans and recipes.

yeah, I know my dad is so set in his ways that he's really unsure of how to eat gluten free, but he's trying, and my stepmom is an excellent cook AND very concious about trying to keep everything gluten free. My dad's symptoms have ranged from being overweight, to epilepsy, severe hypertension, unexplained rashes, IBS, and GERD... I am convinced that BOTH of my parents have issues with gluten, I wish my mom would try the diet as well. My sister too...

Miki Newbie
Miki
Posted
Has anyone out there in celiac land had the experience of being overweight as one of their symptoms? and how long did it take to get down to a normal weight?

I have found that before I found out that I had Celiac, that it was very easy for my body to gain weight. I also believe that it's the body's way of trying to find a comfortable weight in able to have a totally different diet. It took me months to get off all the weight that I had gained.

yeah, I know my dad is so set in his ways that he's really unsure of how to eat gluten free, but he's trying, and my stepmom is an excellent cook AND very concious about trying to keep everything gluten free. My dad's symptoms have ranged from being overweight, to epilepsy, severe hypertension, unexplained rashes, IBS, and GERD... I am convinced that BOTH of my parents have issues with gluten, I wish my mom would try the diet as well. My sister too...

My mom's side of the family all died of stomach cancer. Which was most likely Celiac Disease. My Grandma won't get off of bread if her life depended on it. But I think if the person who has celiac and goes forth with it, then other's can follow.

Ursa Major Collaborator
Ursa Major
Posted

Wow, Nini, thanks for the picture! Right now I'm a size 20 (down from 22 three months ago), but had several setbacks that stopped the weightloss. Now that I figured out the other intolerances, I am losing weight again.

I hope to show a picture of me being skinny in a year (or at least a size 14).

Guest nini
Guest nini
Posted
Wow, Nini, thanks for the picture! Right now I'm a size 20 (down from 22 three months ago), but had several setbacks that stopped the weightloss. Now that I figured out the other intolerances, I am losing weight again.

I hope to show a picture of me being skinny in a year (or at least a size 14).

you'll get there! I'm still in shock actually!

Rusla Enthusiast
Rusla
Posted

Nini...Good for you, you look good. If I was that size again I could wear almost everything in the closet. I accidently got glutened this weekend and ended up bloating up to 5 lbs. I still don't know what did it.

krackers Newbie
krackers
Posted
  • Author

:lol::lol::lol:

Hey everybody

thanks for the responses. it means so much to hear other people's stories. being overweight and lethargic and down right unhappy is awful. especially when you think of the years lost to being a celiac. i am still coming to terms with the illness, but the benefits are so awsome. looking and feeling better and slowly but surely losing weight. there really is nothing worse that a big fat bloated belly - and yes everyone around you wondering how you got so fat. actually i think to most of my friends and family it was obvious - i would eat and eat and eat.. i was so hungry. and at the same time if and when i did start working out and eating really healthy nothing changed. now i eat gluten-free and whatever i want and i am losing pretty consistently. the next step is getting into a exercise routine now that i actually have enough energy to go around the block.

oh ya i had a baby three months ago and was diagnosed while i was pregnant.

phew....

  • 3 weeks later...
skurtz Explorer
skurtz
Posted

up until I was 32 after 2 kids I was terribley underweight at 108 the only time I could gain weight was when I was pregnant, then I would go right back to 108. At 33 had hysterectomy Im now 40 & im At the other end & i cant lose any weight. (im about 40-45lbs overweight) hopefully when I start back on gluten free diet Ill be able to lose.

  • 2 weeks later...
Guest Robbin
Guest Robbin
Posted

Nisla, Do you eat potatoes and rice? I am overweight (5'5" 220lbs) and need to figure this out. I was thin as a child, overweight in jr. high, thin in high school and gained a ton when pregnant and just kept on getter sicker and fatter since. I've been eating potatoes alot and rice but am wondering if maybe I shouldn't? I have lost ten pounds since starting gluten-free though. So, I guess I was wondering what a typical day's meals are like for you, and do you have hypoglycemia problems? Thanks!

Guest stef 4 dogs
Guest stef 4 dogs
Posted
thank you so much for the feedback! I just e-mailed my dad that picture and he called me immediately to say "who is that skinny woman you e-mailed me the picture of?" When I last saw him in Florida last April, I was in a size 18... this is me in a size 10 now!!!!!

I'm not as worried today as I was last night, I think I was just having a moment of anxiety, like thinking "this is too good to be true, there must be a downside to this weightloss!"

I'm so glad I'm not the only one gaining weight being gluten free! Maybe I'm not as gluten free as I thought after hearing some of these stories! Sure would ease my mind theres a reason my nick name is "pudge". Like I have said before....I should loose weight just from my thighs burning up from rubbing together! I seem to have a stamina problem. I think I'm gonna start to exerecise and I just can't keep up the energy to keep going. So okay I keep saying one day of a work out should help right? HAHA

Stef 4 Dogs B)

Heather22 Rookie
Heather22
Posted

I just thought that I should post own experience with gluten free weight gain to offer some hope for all of you gluten gainers.

When I was diagnosed, I was 125 lbs and a few months later I was up to 160. My eating habits did not change much (portion-wise), but I still gained a ton of weight. I am also very much into weight lifting and running. I should mention that I am on the extreme end of the spectrum - - I am insanely sensitive and I am convinced that I have the worst digestive system in the world.

So, I decided to be as strict as possible, only eating chicken, egg whites, brown rice, vegetables and some homemade yogurt - - no exceptions. I also increased my cardio. Surely enough weight started coming off and I got back to my "normal" weight. My point being, that it is not impossible to get back into it. The biggest part is getting into a routine and sticking with it! No food tastes as good as looking (and feeling good) feels. I still have my good and bad days, but overall, I feel so much better.

The hardest part of making this change is the determination. Celiacs likely will have a more difficult time with this than a normal person, but it is do-able, so don't give up.

nettiebeads Apprentice
nettiebeads
Posted

I didn't lose at first, and didn't really gain until I went through a nasty divorce. Then the pounds piled on and stayed. It's been 5 years, but I finally got the last of the gluten out of my system and my energy has finally gotten back to a more normal range. It's been slow progress, but since I'm feeling better and doing more things, and finally able to workout on a more normal schedule, my body is toning up. Not much weight loss to write home about, but my clothes are looser. I'm not nearly as ravenously hungry as I was when I was ingesting gluten from my cold cereal every morning (darn malt) and my body is feeling satiated finally after a normal sized meal. I think it was a combination of my body craving nutrients and then overeating to satisfy the cravings, then my stomach getting used to the extra food. 49.5 lbs more to go.

Guest Robbin
Guest Robbin
Posted

Nisla, Oops, saw your post on another thread and will email you--This weight thing is just like that cereal commercial with the woman walking around with the scales chained to her leg. Willy Nelson singing "You Were Always on My Mind"! Perfect description. Someone with a weight problem created that commercial, I am sure! I am hoping to get a "silver lining"(weight loss) from all the gray clouds in this illness!!

Archived

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

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,549
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Blough
    Newest Member
    Blough
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Scott Adams
      Taken Seriously

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Your post demonstrates the profound frustration and isolation that so many in the Celiac community feel, and I want to thank you for channeling that experience into advocacy. The medical gaslighting you endured for decades is an unacceptable and, sadly, a common story, and the fact that you now have to "school" your own GI specialist speaks volumes about the critical lack of consistent and updated education. Your idea to make Celiac Disease a reportable condition to public health authorities is a compelling and strategic one. This single action would force the system to formally acknowledge the prevalence and seriousness of the disease, creating a concrete dataset that could drive better research funding, shape medical school curricula, and validate the patient experience in a way that individual stories alone often cannot. It is an uphill battle, but contacting representatives, as you have done with Adam Gray, is exactly how change begins. By framing it as a public health necessity—a matter of patient safety and protection from misdiagnosis and neglect—you are building a powerful case. Your voice and your perseverance, forged through thirty years of struggle, are exactly what this community needs to ensure that no one else has to fight so hard just to be believed and properly cared for.
    • Scott Adams
      Looking for a gluten-free roomie in Denver CO

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      I had no idea there is a "Louisville" in Colorado!😉 I thought it was a typo because I always think of the Kentucky city--but good luck!
    • Scott Adams
      Allergy medication: cetirizine by the HealthA2Z is it gluten free?

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Navigating medication safety with Celiac disease can be incredibly stressful, especially when dealing with asthma and severe allergies on top of it. While I don't have personal experience with the HealthA2Z brand of cetirizine, your caution is absolutely warranted. The inactive ingredients in pills, known as excipients, are often where gluten can be hidden, and since the FDA does not require gluten-free labeling for prescription or over-the-counter drugs, the manufacturer's word is essential. The fact that you cannot get a clear answer from Allegiant Health is a significant red flag; a company that is confident its product is gluten-free will typically have a customer service protocol to answer that exact question. In situations like this, the safest course of action is to consider this product "guilty until proven innocent" and avoid it. A better alternative would be to ask your pharmacist or doctor to help you identify a major national brand of cetirizine (like Zyrtec) whose manufacturer has a verified, publicly stated gluten-free policy for that specific medication. It's not worth the risk to your health when reliable, verifiable options are almost certainly available to you. You can search this site for USA prescriptions medications, but will need to know the manufacturer/maker if there is more than one, especially if you use a generic version of the medication: To see the ingredients you will need to click on the correct version of the medication and maker in the results, then scroll down to "Ingredients and Appearance" and click it, and then look at "Inactive Ingredients," as any gluten ingredients would likely appear there, rather than in the Active Ingredients area. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/   
    • Scott Adams
      Protein or fat?

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      What you're describing is indeed familiar to many in the Celiac community, especially in the early stages of healing. When the intestinal villi are damaged from Celiac disease, they struggle to properly digest and absorb fats, a condition known as bile acid malabsorption. This can cause exactly the kind of cramping and spasms you're seeing, as undigested fats can irritate the sensitive gut lining. It is highly plausible that her reactions to dairy and eggs are linked to their higher fat content rather than the proteins, especially since she tolerates lean chicken breast. The great news is that for many, this does improve with time. As her gut continues to heal on a strict gluten-free diet, her ability to produce the necessary enzymes and bile to break down fats should gradually return, allowing her to slowly tolerate a wider variety of foods. It's a slow process of healing, but your careful approach of focusing on low-fat, nutrient-dense foods like seeds and avocado is providing her system the best possible environment to recover. Many people with celiac disease, especially those who are in the 0-2 year range of their recovery, have additional food intolerance issues which could be temporary. To figure this out you may need to keep a food diary and do an elimination diet over a few months. Some common food intolerance issues are dairy/casein, eggs, corn, oats, and soy. The good news is that after your gut heals (for most people who are 100% gluten-free this will take several months to two years) you may be able to slowly add some these items back into your diet after the damaged villi heal. This article may be helpful: Thank you for sharing your story—it's a valuable insight for other parents navigating similar challenges.
    • Beverage
      Diagnosed celiac for 1-2 months ago and everything makes me bloated.

      By Beverage · Posted

      I had a very rough month after diagnosis. No exaggeration, lost so much inflammatory weight, I looked like a bag of bones, underneath i had been literally starving to death. I did start feeling noticeably better after a month of very strict control of my kitchen and home. What are you eating for breakfast and lunch? I ignored my doc and ate oats, yes they were gluten free, but some brands are at the higher end of gluten free. Lots of celics can eat Bob's Red Mill gluten-free oats, but not me. I can now eat them, but they have to be grown and processed according to the "purity protocol" methods. I mail order them, Montana Gluten-Free brand. A food and symptoms and activities log can be helpful in tracking down issues. You might be totally aware, but I have to mention about the risk of airborne gluten. As the doc that diagnosed me warned . . Remember eyes, ears, nose, and mouth all lead to your stomach and intestines.  Are you getting any cross contamination? Airborne gluten? Any pets eating gluten (they eat it, lick themselves, you pet them...)? Any house remodeling? We live in an older home, always fixing something. I've gotten glutened from the dust from cutting into plaster walls, possibly also plywood (glues). The suggestions by many here on vitamin supplements also really helped me. I had some lingering allergies and asthma, which are now 99% gone. I was taking Albuterol inhaler every hour just to breathe, but thiamine in form of benfotiamine kicked that down to 1-2 times a day within a few days of starting it. Also, since cutting out inflammatory seed oils (canola, sunflower, grapeseed, etc) and cooking with real olive oil, avocado oil, ghee, and coconut oil, I have noticed even greater improvement overall and haven't used the inhaler in months! It takes time to weed out everything in your life that contains gluten, and it takes awhile to heal and rebuild your health. At first it's mentally exhausting, overwhelming, even obsessive, but it gets better and second nature.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.