Gaining Weight and working out

[pbzgf]

Hello everyone,

I have been Celiac since 2010 ( I was born 2005-so I'm 17 now). 

Current weight: 60kg (132 lbs) current height:177cm (5 foot 10 inches)

I never really thought of celiac disease so influencing of the life I live. Until recently I just thought of it as a simple allergy to food that requires me to be on a specific diet. However, recently I discovered this page and have become more aware of all the affects it can have on my life. Making me realise that many of its affects have been influencing my life without me even realising.

I have recently chosen to start going to the gym, like most teens its to build more muscle as I have always felt somewhat weaker to my classmates and be skinnier then average. However, I know that diet is important and after some research I concluded that a daily intake of 3100 calories and 96 grams of protein are required to build muscle and increase weight when working out 3-4 times a week so I bought some whey protein supplement to facilitate reaching that amount of protein. I have always felt that I eat more than regular people including my family, for example I will always be the one to ask for seconds and eat other snacks more regularly throughout the day.

However, I still feel like I struggle to put on weight and that the progress will be slower due to being Celiac. So below are my questions:

Can anyone with similar experience share advice? How does Celiac disease affect muscle growth and gaining weight? Is it a case of maybe waiting to grow a bit more as I am still quite young? Does Celiac Disease make you more susceptible to injury?

 

 

[Wheatwacked]

At last you're here now. Get lots of vitamin D. The plasma level of healthy lifeguards is around 70 ng/ml at the end of summer. Get it tested if you can. Eat foods with potassium. In the US the recommend daily amount is 4700 grams per day or more. If you eat 5 grams of potassium (not supplements) a day it is easy to keep track and you'll be eating foods that also have most of the other vitamins and minerals.

Seventeen year olds grow up fine even without gluten don't let anyone tell you different.

[trents]

Welcome to the forum, pbzgf!

Are you making a conscientious effort to eat gluten-free? You don't really say that in your first post but you did say, "I never really thought of celiac disease so influencing of the life I live." So, it made me wonder whether or not you were taking the gluten-free lifestyle seriously. Also, you state you just thought of it as "a simple food allergy . . . " Do you realize the celiac disease is not a food allergy but is an autoimmune disorder that actually damages your body if gluten is not consistently and totally avoided? Do you allow yourself to cheat on the gluten-free diet sometimes? I hope I don't sound critical and judgmental because I don't mean to.

[pbzgf]

30 minutes ago, trents said:

Welcome to the forum, pbzgf!

Are you making a conscientious effort to eat gluten-free? You don't really say that in your first post but you did say, "I never really thought of celiac disease so influencing of the life I live." So, it made me wonder whether or not you were taking the gluten-free lifestyle seriously. Also, you state you just thought of it as "a simple food allergy . . . " Do you realize the celiac disease is not a food allergy but is an autoimmune disorder that actually damages your body if gluten is not consistently and totally avoided? Do you allow yourself to cheat on the gluten-free diet sometimes? I hope I don't sound critical and judgmental because I don't mean to.

Hi Trents, 

Sorry for not being clearer earlier. What I meant was that since i was diagnosed all I did was stay strictly gluten-free without cheating it and I knew that it caused things such as weight loss and other physical changes to the body. However, until i researched more and started reading these forums I realised that it affects much more than just your digestive system (such as its affects on the nervous system).
I have always stuck to the diet and since I was diagnosed I have only had one or two celiac attacks (both were mistakes made by restaurants which led to cross contaminations).

Thanks

 

[trents]

Thank you for the clarification. 

A couple of other questions.

1. Have you been retested since your diagnosis 10 years ago? This would give an indication of whether or not there has been healing of the villi that line the small bowel and if gluten is somehow getting into your diet despite you efforts to eat gluten free. Studies show that most people who believe they are eating gluten-free are actually eating lower gluten because they are unaware of CC (Cross Contamination) issues. Whether or not you have a full blown "celiac attack" is probably not a good indicator of whether or not you are avoiding CC. There may be a threshold amount of gluten CC that needs to be crossed to create an attack. Do you live in a household where other members are not eating gluten-free? If you have not recently been retested, I would encourage you to get that done.

2. Are you still consuming oats and dairy and soy? These can cause reactions similar to gluten for many celiacs. Perhaps you have other food sensitivities not gluten related. This is very common among celiacs. 

[pbzgf]

29 minutes ago, trents said:

Thank you for the clarification. 

A couple of other questions.

1. Have you been retested since your diagnosis 10 years ago? This would give an indication of whether or not there has been healing of the villi that line the small bowel and if gluten is somehow getting into your diet despite you efforts to eat gluten free. Studies show that most people who believe they are eating gluten-free are actually eating lower gluten because they are unaware of CC (Cross Contamination) issues. Whether or not you have a full blown "celiac attack" is probably not a good indicator of whether or not you are avoiding CC. There may be a threshold amount of gluten CC that needs to be crossed to create an attack. Do you live in a household where other members are not eating gluten-free? If you have not recently been retested, I would encourage you to get that done.

2. Are you still consuming oats and dairy and soy? These can cause reactions similar to gluten for many celiacs. Perhaps you have other food sensitivities not gluten related. This is very common among celiacs. 

Thanks for your reply Trents,

I haven't actually had a retest since the diagnosis. That seems like a good idea and will bring it up to my dietician when I visit her in September. Also I live with my parents and siblings non of which are Celiac. However they are all aware of my requirements and understand the severity of CC. 

[trents]

At 5'10" and 137 lbs that can't be too far off of your ideal weight I would think. What do you want to weigh? It can be a challenge for someone your age to gain weight if genetically they are prone to be thin. When I was your age (I am a male) I was 5'8" and 145 lbs, lifted weights, ate a lot but could not gain weight. I may have had celiac disease back then as well but not sure. I am 71 now and have the opposite problem with weight. Time usually takes care of that. If you are otherwise healthy I wouldn't fret too much over not being able to gain weight yet.

[Debbiere]

On 8/29/2022 at 9:55 PM, pbzgf said:

Hello everyone,

I have been Celiac since 2010 ( I was born 2005-so I'm 17 now). 

Current weight: 60kg (132 lbs) current height:177cm (5 foot 10 inches)

I never really thought of celiac disease so influencing of the life I live. Until recently I just thought of it as a simple allergy to food that requires me to be on a specific diet. However, recently I discovered this page and have become more aware of all the affects it can have on my life. Making me realise that many of its affects have been influencing my life without me even realising.

I have recently chosen to start going to the gym, like most teens its to build more muscle as I have always felt somewhat weaker to my classmates and be skinnier then average. However, I know that diet is important and after some research I concluded that a daily intake of 3100 calories and 96 grams of protein are required to build muscle and increase weight when working out 3-4 times a week so I bought some whey protein supplement to facilitate reaching that amount of protein. I have always felt that I eat more than regular people including my family, for example I will always be the one to ask for seconds and eat other snacks more regularly throughout the day.

However, I still feel like I struggle to put on weight and that the progress will be slower due to being Celiac. So below are my questions:

Can anyone with similar experience share advice? How does Celiac disease affect muscle growth and gaining weight? Is it a case of maybe waiting to grow a bit more as I am still quite young? Does Celiac Disease make you more susceptible to injury using it?

 

 

Hi. It seems to me that your age has its influence. If so, then do not stop exercising in the gym - in any case, this will give its results, and you will improve your physical condition and learn how to perform the exercises correctly. And of course, enjoy your exercisies. Good luck!

[CatherineWang]

If you have celiac disease and are experiencing challenges with muscle growth, weight gain, or susceptibility to injury, it's essential to work closely with a healthcare provider and a registered dietitian who specializes in celiac disease and sports nutrition. They can help you develop a personalized nutrition plan to address nutrient deficiencies, optimize caloric intake, and support muscle growth and overall physical health. Additionally, managing celiac disease through a strict gluten-free diet is crucial for reducing inflammation, improving nutrient absorption, and promoting overall well-being.