I've Lost Over 25 Pounds!

[Nantzie]

Okay, normally I wouldn't talk about this because weight is such a touchy issue for just about everyone, whether you're underweight or overweight. But my weight has been such a huge problem for me pre-gluten-free that I'm so excited about this that I had to share. I knew you guys would understand.

When I first found out about celiac I weighed 186. When I got on the scale today I was 159!!! And that was JUST from going gluten-free. The weight has just been slowly going down.

Tonight, my husband grabbed a (gluten-free) beer out of the fridge and pretended he was opening it up on the side of my hip bone. I was like, psshh yea right, and then I felt my the side of my hip, and the fat is just gone. I was shocked!! I was like, Oh My God! I'm almost skinny! He was like, I know!!

I know I'm saying LIKE a lot, but it's, like, SO COOL!!!

Here's the Cliff's Notes of my weight saga: Three weeks before we got married I came down with a whole-body case of hives (my face and everything...) and was put on prednisone. I was 147 then. The predinisone curse didn't waste any time packing weight on me. By the time we got married I was 155. By the time we got back from our honeymoon less than a week later I was 162. Four months later I was 175 (and on TV for a blink and a half because I worked crew on a movie set for a month). Got pregnant a few months later and since then haven't been below 180 except for a few yo-yo diet times I was down to 165 or so. My non-pregnant high was 196. For a while there after I had my daughter (before my pain symptoms started, but when my GI symptoms were horrible) I was walking 5-6 miles a day 3-4 times a week for about six months, and was actually GAINING weight. Not long after that my pain symptoms started up full force and I couldn't do any exercising at all.

Losing this weight is just one more reason I'm so grateful that I found out about celiac. It seems so odd to say this because I tried SO hard to lose it, but as much as it was important to me to lose the weight, I don't think weight loss even makes the top ten in things I'm grateful for over pain and gi symptoms and exhaustion and everything else I was dealing with. If I was feeling as healthy and energetic as I am now and ended up gaining 50 pounds in the process, I'd still be overjoyed. But I'm so happy that this has been a side effect of my healing process.

Thanks for letting me share.

Nancy

[gfp]

Nantzie:

That's very cool and also I think its good to post it because it shows it can be done.

What you have to consider is unless you increase your energy intake you will keep loosing weight .....

.. and herein lies the kicker....

Now you need to find the right balance and its an endless task. I find it really hard to keep a weight, Im either gaining or loosing and most changes take weeks to swing around the body from one to the other... its a bit like steering a long barge... you tend to over correct then over correct the over correction.

Sorry.. this sounds negative.... its not mean to be but Im rushed right now...

Its great you have done this and an inspiration for others too and im just adding a note of caution don't let it spoil your well deserved feel-good factor over this.

[queenofhearts]

Congratulations, Nantzie! It's amazing what can happen once we stop poisoning ourselves!

Leah

[Guest nini]

that's so great Nantzie! I know the feeling! When I was first dx'ed I weighed at least 260 (three and 1/2 years ago) without even trying, I am now 150!!!!!!! I LOVE IT!!!!!

[Nantzie]

Thanks everybody!!!

And gfp, I know EXACTLY what you're saying. I had thought that if I don't start stabilizing if I get down to around 135 or 140, I'll have to think about ways to stop losing weight. It's kind of odd to have lost this much weight without giving it a second thought. Hopefully my body is just starting to get back down to a healthy weight.

Nancy

[jerseyangel]

Nantzie,

That is so great! Congratulations

[schuyler]

Congrats Nancy!!!

[tarnalberry]

Congrats!

[Guest nini]

Nantzie, for a while I panicked that I was losing weight too quickly and that it wouldn't stop... after I lost 60 pounds rather quickly, I plateaued for a while and then started losing again. This time more steady and slow. I've been at the same weight now for a few weeks, after being at the previous weight for a month or more (losing about 5 pounds a month now)... I've still got about 30 pounds to go before I feel like I'll be at the right weight for me, but I'm not stressing about it now.

[floridanative]

Nantzie - congratulations to you! I'm going to tell my Celiac mother about you. She is overweight (so everyone told her no way she had Celiac). I'd like to encourage her that eventually she will get back to a healthy weight if she sticks to the diet. I think anyone can benefit from the gluten free diet, gluten intolerant or not. It's a big fad in parts of CA now to on the gluten free diet to lose weight.

[Mayflowers]

You mean there's hope for me??!! I weigh 180. I was just diagnosed this month.

[Nantzie]

Yea, I never thought that I'd lose this kind of weight. I was thinking I'd lose maybe 10 pounds, since I noticed that the bloating went away after just a day or two of gluten-free. But I thought I'd plateau pretty quickly.

The first month or so I lost 10 pounds. By the time my husband and I went to one of his business conferences in April, I was still feeling pretty pudgy. The weight loss has been slow, but that's been fine with me in retrospect, because it was effortless. No struggling. No obession with the scale. Just staying gluten-free and then noticing clothes getting looser.

I went to Target with my SIL today and she saw all the junk food I eat that's gluten-free. I don't eat tons of junk, but when you're trying to lose weight, that's the first thing that you cut out, no matter what diet you're doing. My husband calls it the soda, chocolate and Cool Ranch Doritos diet.

A couple of months after I went gluten-free, I tried to start a weight loss diet, and made it exactly half a day. I was just getting the whole gluten-free thing under control and was just not in the mood.

I'm starting to get down to floating around the 30 pound loss mark.

I do worry a little (little ) bit about getting too thin, because that's not healthy either. I'm pretty sure I'm going to plateau around 140 or 150. Which is fine with me.

But with my recent semi-success in making gluten-free biscuits and gravy, along with my rule that if I'm going to eat gluten-free, I'm not scimping on other ingredients (cream, not milk; butter not margarine), I'm guessing that I can figure out some ways to pack on the pounds if I need to.

It's really cool that the gluten-free diet has gained mainstream popularity. I'll bet that some people will find out that they have celiac just from giving it a shot. I know my husband, my best friend AND my SIL are all interested in it just from a weight loss point of view.

Nancy

[Rachel--24]

Wow Nancy!! Thats so GREAT!

I'm really happy for you. Your post will bring hope to alot of people in similar situations. Its nice that you've shared your excitement here.

I'm feeling the same way even though I'm on the opposite end. I got way too skinny but now finally in the past 5 months I've gained almost all my weight back.

It is something to get excited and giddy about.

Congratualtions!

[Deb O (UK)]

Yea, I never thought that I'd lose this kind of weight. I was thinking I'd lose maybe 10 pounds, since I noticed that the bloating went away after just a day or two of gluten-free. But I thought I'd plateau pretty quickly.

The first month or so I lost 10 pounds. By the time my husband and I went to one of his business conferences in April, I was still feeling pretty pudgy. The weight loss has been slow, but that's been fine with me in retrospect, because it was effortless. No struggling. No obession with the scale. Just staying gluten-free and then noticing clothes getting looser.

I went to Target with my SIL today and she saw all the junk food I eat that's gluten-free. I don't eat tons of junk, but when you're trying to lose weight, that's the first thing that you cut out, no matter what diet you're doing. My husband calls it the soda, chocolate and Cool Ranch Doritos diet.

A couple of months after I went gluten-free, I tried to start a weight loss diet, and made it exactly half a day. I was just getting the whole gluten-free thing under control and was just not in the mood.

I'm starting to get down to floating around the 30 pound loss mark.

I do worry a little (little ) bit about getting too thin, because that's not healthy either. I'm pretty sure I'm going to plateau around 140 or 150. Which is fine with me.

But with my recent semi-success in making gluten-free biscuits and gravy, along with my rule that if I'm going to eat gluten-free, I'm not scimping on other ingredients (cream, not milk; butter not margarine), I'm guessing that I can figure out some ways to pack on the pounds if I need to.

It's really cool that the gluten-free diet has gained mainstream popularity. I'll bet that some people will find out that they have celiac just from giving it a shot. I know my husband, my best friend AND my SIL are all interested in it just from a weight loss point of view.

Nancy

Thanks for posting Nancy, you're an inspiration!

I am considerably overweight and I need to lose a few st; I will be starting gluten-free diet this week and am so hoping that this weight loss happens for me too!

Wow Nancy!! Thats so GREAT!

I'm really happy for you. Your post will bring hope to alot of people in similar situations. Its nice that you've shared your excitement here.

I'm feeling the same way even though I'm on the opposite end. I got way too skinny but now finally in the past 5 months I've gained almost all my weight back.

It is something to get excited and giddy about.

Congratualtions!

Hi Rachel, what a lovely photo

[Mayflowers]

Thanks Nancy. As you can see from my score below.... I am milk intolerant. No butter or cream for me.... I should lose weight pretty fast. I see it coming off in 6 months...(I hope).

[Judyin Philly]

Congrats Nancy..isn't is amazing after fighting to loose weight all these years and going gluten free was the answer all along..no one ever thought of celiac b/c i was obese..so glad the news is getting out and drs. are helping us find the answers..or is should say ..the celiac community is helping all of us get info..

Deb O i'm sure if you give it 100% and watch the gluten-free 'goodies' and find some exercise you like to do..for me is has been swimming for 15 years ....BUT W/O RESULTS...so i'm sure it will work.

I've lost 50#'s in a year and it wasn't hard at all. really...eating healthy and feeling better and NO 'D' is a wonderful pay off.

good luck

Nancy..did i see you over in the new forum can't remember the name of it?

Judy in philly

[azmom3]

WOW! That's exciting! Way to go, Nancy!

I know firsthand that when you're overweight and lose it, what a difference it can make in your confidence level as well as your overall feeling of health. Unfortunately, I have always gained it back. I have yet to go gluten-free as I was waiting to get my blood test results back. My weight has always been an issue though as has the weight of my 3 sisters, our mom, and all 4 of her sisters. The men in our family are all very thin, but every one of us females has always struggled.

I actually posted a thread not too long ago to find out if anyone knows how a person can be overweight and have celiac, but I didn't get a very big response. I know it's possible, but just trying to find something that's a little more concrete so the rest of my family can ask their doc's for the test without worrying about him/her saying they can't have it due to their weight. Anybody reading this know?

Congrats again, Nancy, and thanks for the motivation!

[Jodele]

I have been gluten free for 2 weeks and I have lost 5lbs. I can not believe it! I have been trying to lose the weight for 3 yrs. and had not lost one pound. When I was younger I could not gain weight and now after having 3 kids I could not get rid of the extra pounds. I am 5' 1" and was 140 lbs. now I am 135 cant believe it. bad thing is that I will have to go get new clothes. and I spend all our momey on food right now (3 girls eat a lot. ) But it ok maybe I will be able to get in to those smaller clothes that I packed away. When I graduated high school I weighed 85 lbs and I do not want to get that small again I would love to get to 120. I only got to go 15 lbs. to go now.

Jodele

[Davyn]

I've only been Gluten Free for about a week, and I already feel like I'm losing weight. Now, if I could actually get up the energy to start exercising, I'd probably do even better. I don't know how much I have lost, but my pants fit better. I'm in college, so I don't have a scale hanging around Haha! Ninja!

Anyways, major congrats! That's really awesome! I hope everything works out great for you!

[Canadian Karen]

Well, I guess it's becoming more well known that you can lose weight on a gluten free diet.

Below is an excerpt from the September 18, 2006 issue of "People" magazine.

Gwyneth Paltrow

Now the mother of two, Paltrow is "physically more beautiful than before," says her friend, the designer Valentino. And she's working hard at staying that way. Since the April birth of son Moses, the actress has hit Pilates classes. But to lose the final 20 lbs. from the 30 she gained, Paltrow, 33, has embarked on a six-week detox program with alternative medicine guru Nish Joshi in London, which entails colonics, acupunture and a strict gluten-free diet.

[Deb O (UK)]

I'm into my fourth week of gluten-free (so far so good) and I've lost 6lbs in 3 weeks without trying (eating what I want).

W'hay!!

[Mayflowers]

I lost weight at first too, but I have so many intolerances that I'm finding out, my weight went back up!