Response to gluten free diet

[Dp0155]

Hi , just wondering how other athletes / fitness enthusiasts responded to the gluten-free diet post diagnosis. 
 

A little about myself ; I’ve always been a competitive sports person and also work a physical job (military). I was recently diagnosed a month ago and endured awful symptoms for about 2 months prior to diagnosis including fatigue, joint pain , nausea , diarrhoea. 
 

Throughout the whole time I was still exercising and training but just felt so worn out probably due to the malabsorption i was also diagnosed with. My response to the gluten-free diet has been amazing within the space of a month I’ve gone from 65kg to 73 kg and gained a large amount of muscle mass and strength back. The symptoms have all completely gone and I felt like a completely new person after only a few days gluten-free. Has anyone else had overwhelmingly positive reactions to a gluten-free diet and managed to put on any weight / muscle lost prior to diagnosis really quickly ? 

[cyclinglady]

Wow!  Glad you are healing fast!

I am pretty active for my age.  I run, cycle and swim.  I taught some fitness classes in my spare time for the past 30 years (gyms are now just opening up here in California).  Two months after my diagnosis, I fractured some vertebrae doing nothing (osteoporosis due to undiagnosed celiac disease).  I took a year off my bike.  Walked instead of ran.  Swam slowly.  Once healed, I went back to my regular activities.  I took time to build my bones (weight lifting too).  I am back to my regular workouts.  
 

My anemia resolved with a few months, so my doctors felt I was healing fast.  I knew the diet well because my hubby had been gluten-free 12 years prior to my diagnosis.  
 

Anyone from celiac disease can heal fast.  It all depends on adhering to the diet, managing co-illnesses, restorative sleep and exercise.  The diet can have a steep learning curve for many.  It is why most old timers here recommend starting with real food.   Less chance of making a mistake.  But it sure helps that there are labeled gluten-free foods compared to 20 years ago.  

[Dp0155]

1 hour ago, cyclinglady said:

Wow!  Glad you are healing fast!

I am pretty active for my age.  I run, cycle and swim.  I taught some fitness classes in my spare time for the past 30 years (gyms are now just opening up here in California).  Two months after my diagnosis, I fractured some vertebrae doing nothing (osteoporosis due to undiagnosed celiac disease).  I took a year off my bike.  Walked instead of ran.  Swam slowly.  Once healed, I went back to my regular activities.  I took time to build my bones (weight lifting too).  I am back to my regular workouts.  
 

My anemia resolved with a few months, so my doctors felt I was healing fast.  I knew the diet well because my hubby had been gluten-free 12 years prior to my diagnosis.  
 

Anyone from celiac disease can heal fast.  It all depends on adhering to the diet, managing co-illnesses, restorative sleep and exercise.  The diet can have a steep learning curve for many.  It is why most old timers here recommend starting with real food.   Less chance of making a mistake.  But it sure helps that there are labeled gluten-free foods compared to 20 years ago.  

Yeah great to hear that you are back up to fitness too ! But yeah I never really stopped training throughout the whole 2 months where I had quite severe symptoms and the difference now I’m on gluten-free Is amazing ! I’ve always been religiously active due to my job requirements and fitness being a hobby. I think I’ve got the diet down pretty good I mean it also helps that I’m a personal trainer and also qualified in nutrition but even I was shocked at just how many things gluten is in. Can be Very easy to expose yourself unintentionally to gluten at first.

im awaiting blood tests again soon just go check my vitamin and iron levels are back to normal which I’m pretty sure they are given the amount of weight gained and increase in energy. 
 

thank you for the response it’s always good to hear other people’s experiences especially those who are also active and workout regularly.