Unexpected Positive Effects Of New gluten-free Eating Habits?

[I'dratherbecycling]

Thanks to all who have added to this - I needed to hear some positive things, especially today. After 2 1/2 months of being gluten free and seeming to have stalled out in my progress, I've been completely overwhelmed by trying to figure out if I have to give up other foods in addition to gluten. It does give me reason to hope it's going to continue to improve. Another reminder to be more patient didn't hurt, either!

[oceangirl]

Thanks to all who have added to this - I needed to hear some positive things, especially today. After 2 1/2 months of being gluten free and seeming to have stalled out in my progress, I've been completely overwhelmed by trying to figure out if I have to give up other foods in addition to gluten. It does give me reason to hope it's going to continue to improve. Another reminder to be more patient didn't hurt, either!

The "giving up of more foods" really hits home. I am currently gluten, corn, soy and dairy free- almost NO processed ANYTHING (except Erewhon Rice Krispies), and STILL I'm not symptom-free! But I truly am MUCH better. I make everything I eat from scratch and trust NO ONe- not even my MOM! I make my own rice milk, vanilla, grind my own salt, grow my own herbs and make my own candied ginger! I'm paranoid because too many times I've had unexplained "glutenings". Those symptoms are markedly different from the IBS which I've been diagnosed with since I was 13. I hate to do this math, but, that's 35 years of getting it wrong! Yes, I think it does take time and patience. Very good luck to all and better health to all!

lisa

[jesscarmel]

when does all these positive changes happen?? I've been gluten free for five months (ttg back to normal). i havent really noticed any changes..... i keep waiting and hoping. i dont feel bad or anything but nothing fabulous has come out of going gluten free. ill keep waiting and crossing my fingers.....sorry if this sounds negative

[Corkdarrr]

I'm in a way better mood overall AND my drinking hangovers aren't nearly as bad as they used to be!

[Felidae]

when does all these positive changes happen?? I've been gluten free for five months (ttg back to normal). i havent really noticed any changes..... i keep waiting and hoping. i dont feel bad or anything but nothing fabulous has come out of going gluten free. ill keep waiting and crossing my fingers.....sorry if this sounds negative

Some people have no noticeable changes. For me, many changes were immediate (within a few months) and some changes took up to one year.

[hineini]

This is so encouraging! Thanks, everyone!

I have only been COMPLETELY gluten free for less than 2 months, minus 2 days where I tried unsuccessfully to do a gluten challenge. (Preivous to this I had simply reduced my gluten intake greatly, but never fully eliminated it)

I am already finding the following:

-SO much less gas (thank the Lord!) - Including less of the super painful stabby gas pains that radiate up into my ribs

-I've lost 10 lbs in 2 months! Before this, it was a miracle for me to lose 2 lbs in a month (and even that would take hard, hard work and calorie counting)

-Less constipation

-No more chronic explosive diarrhea! Well, almost no more... I still have it on occasion, still trying to figure out what the other culprits are besides gluten.

-Less GERD

-No more nasty sour taste in my mouth after meals

-No more bloated feeling after meals

-So much more conscious about what I put in my body, way less likely to eat things with preservatives or other questionable ingredients - I've become a careful shopper and careful eater.

-Saved SO much $$$ by not eating out!

-A great increase in culinary creativity, and more motivation to learn how to cook and bake new foods

-Far fewer sinus headaches, less postnasal drip

-When I get sick from food it's easier to figure out what it was because I know it's not the gluten since I don't eat gluten! This is helping me figure out the nature of my other food allergies more easily.

[Kyalesyin]

The biggest change I've noticed in my partner is a sudden ability to cope a lot better. Little issues are no longer seeming like the end of the world, and her mood swings have calmed down a lot.

We still have bad days where the world really really will end if a deadline isn't met or a lot hairbrush isn't found, but overall moods and such have been a lot more stable.

[jesscarmel]

hineni I love your picture- did you get it from a website. it reminds me of my ketubah i just ordered! i love the colors!

Jess

[hineini]

hineni I love your picture- did you get it from a website. it reminds me of my ketubah i just ordered! i love the colors!

Jess

yes! i got it from a website that i fully intend to order some artwork from when I have the $$

Open Original Shared Link

Are you about to get married? Mazel tov!

[jesscarmel]

yes! i got it from a website that i fully intend to order some artwork from when I have the $$

Open Original Shared Link

Are you about to get married? Mazel tov!

I looked at the website- gourgeous stuff. yes i got engaged in january then got really sick with pancreatitis due to undiagnosed celiac- been a crazy year. we are getting married in december!

[Papa-Hen]

Still chronic fatigue/depression (please tell me it will go away), but...

- Inflammation blood work #'s are way down;

- I lost at least 50 lb;

- Allergies almost non-existent (no Claritin for 2 months or better);

(A little dh came back since, however. Perhaps the Claritin kept it at bay.)

Best regards,

- Henry

[LoriCF]

My son has more energy, eats less, and behaves better.

[little flower]

Hello everybody,

The best thing for me, that I appreciate every day, is going to the toilet in the morning! It's bliss having a digestive system that works. I'm also much happier and more positive, full of energy etc and willing to tackle lots of new things. Life is great. Gluten and milk free for a year and a half now.

[Nancym]

My benefit is that I don't clog up the toilet whenever I go #2. I was about ready to replace all my toilets because I had to unplug them constantly.

[ArtGirl]

It's been several months since this thread was current, so I thought I'd bump it up for those of you who are new to the forum since last September.

Earlier in this thread I said I was waiting for the good results. I can now report several positive things that have happened now that I'm closing in on being gluten-free for one year.

I no longer have any heartburn or gastritis issues.

Diarrhea is mostly a thing of the past and I can confidently leave the house.

Fibromyalgia is gone.

My dry eyes have moistened up.

I find myself happy once again.

I'm more mellow.

I like people again.

I sleep much better (still have wakeful nights now and then, but this is much less of a problem)

As someone mentinoed in a previous post, I no longer have a runny nose after eating a meal.

Going casein free has cleared up my itchy skin.

Going corn-free has helped, also, with the GI issues.

I am waiting for those dark circles under my eyes to go away, although I've been told they are not so dark now (seem the same to me!)

I am happy to be able to add to the list now.

[chatycady]

I've been gluten free for about 2.5 months. Here is what has changed for me

1.) I remember peoples names.

2.) I am no longer anti social

3.) I have my self confidence back!!!!!

4.) I am riding my horses again, I was so fearful when eating gluten. I worried of falling off, getting hurt, etc. etc. etc.

5.) I have energy!

6.) Sleep like a baby

7.) No more back, stomach pains

8.) My muscles are toned and getting stronger

9.) My skin is pink and smooth, no longer pale and dry.

10.) I have LIPS! Before they where pale and just faded into the rest of my face. (Wierd, I know!)

11.) Libido is back!

[PeggyV]

I find I am drinking less wine. I don't feel I have to have a glass after a stressfull day at work. Dont get me wrong, I was never an alcholic, but I would have a couple of glasses everyday after work.

I also eat more fruits and vegtables and I have a lot of new hair growth.

[mftnchn]

Thanks for the encouragement! I am looking forward to adding to this list in the future!

gluten-free 11 days....

[andreagrant]

Cured my asthma! I've had it since I was 12 (1984) and its been getting steadily worse--I had to go on steroids about 10 years ago which I hated. Every few years I would stop taking them to see if I really needed them and I would have wheezing within 48 hours. I've been gluten free for 10 weeks and about 3 weeks into it I stopped my steroids and .... no asthma!!! I got glutened (and heinously ill from it) last week and sure enough I had a bit of the old tightness in the chest.

My faux-pregnancy stomach is also gone

I have more energy

My mood is more stable

I can't wait to see what else goes away!!

[hathor]

I'm glad this was bumped up. I only came into the gluten free world this year, so I hadn't read the original posts until now.

My changes (so far):

Better quality & frequency of poo (yes, let's get the important thing out there first )

Dramatic drop off of headaches (had them all the time before)

No inexplicable sneezing fits/ major runny nose & eyes (turns out it was gluten or wheat)

No sudden bloating where my pants don't fit & I look pregnant

Nails are stronger & better looking

Dark undereye circles lightening up

Improved skin (but this might be from eliminating soy -- that's when I saw some improvement)

Better mood (except when I think about some foods I miss )

I don't know if this is the result of better absorption or a stronger exercise program -- or both -- but I have actually been able to put on some muscle & fairly quickly. I know it is muscle because my measurements are the same (except for biceps) and the calipers are pinching less fat, but the scales say I weigh more. I feel like I'm in the best shape of my life.

Things aren't perfect by any means but I feel they are getting better every day, except when I've accidentally glutened or soyed myself.

I have been hoping my night sweats will go away, but this may be just hormonal (or something else I need to stop eating, although I'm not sure about what ). I have them, they go away, they come back, they go away, they come back. Menopause is so much fun. I suppose they would be even worse, though, if I were still eating the stuff my body can't tolerate.

Edit: oops, now that I've posted, I see again that this is supposed to be unexpected effects of going gluten free. I suppose the poo thing was expected, in a way. Although after a lifetime of nothing working I hadn't really expected gluten free to work, I guess