Suddenly Starving All The Time

[emcmaster]

I was one of those celiacs that gained a lot of weight prior to going gluten-free. Thankfully it all came off within a few months.

I know I don't eat as many calories as I should based on my activity level, but with having everything low-fat, it's hard to get enough calories in. It makes sense that I've severely slowed my metabolism down over 6 months of not eating enough.

Which brings me to my question: I'm suddenly (like in the past week) starving all the time. I'm limiting my calories to what I normally eat because I don't want to gain weight (in fact, I wouldn't mind losing 5# and being on the low range of what's normal), but this being starving doesn't make sense to me. If my metabolism has slowed down, which I feel every indicator of it doing so, why would I be hungry? Shouldn't it have gotten used to it by now?

Which brings me to my next question: am I not absorbing things right? I've not accidentally gotten glutened in over a month, which is the longest stretch I've gone thus far since being gluten-free for 6 months. Could I be feeling damage from all the accidental glutenings over the past 6 months?

Thanks!

[Michi8]

It's possible that you are not consuming enough fat for your body. The human body does need some calories from fat for proper brain and nerve function.

Michelle

[Budew]

Sometimes I eat tons and sometimes I have a hard time getting 300 calories. I was all wound up about it. Mentioned it to my husband and he replied, " Don't worry, you cycle evey month like this!" I think for me it is hormones.

So I eat when I want, fast when I want, but use the scale to guide my decisions. As long as I stay between a 15 lb. range I go with my desires. Above or below the range I make decisions based more on health than desire.

[almostnrn]

I have always felt that I get that way when things are healing, its almost like my body can suddenly use the food again and is going crazy for the nutrients. I've only ever noticed a famished all the time feeling about a week or two after a bad glutening. I know you may want to drop a few lbs. but I'm a firm believer that your body tells you what it needs and right now it needs calories!

[CarlaB]

I'd be sure you're getting healthy fats -- good quality olive oil, coconut oil, avocados, fresh meat, etc. Fat is not bad, and low-fat is bad as we need fats. People today are starving for good quality fats, but getting way too much bad fat. My guess is that you've been off an essential nutrient for long enough and are now craving food because your body is not getting what it needs.

Also, the healing does cycle, so you could just be at a part of the healing process where you need more. Are you taking good supplements?

[emcmaster]

I'm not eating low-fat as a dieting technique - it's because my body seems unable to handle much fat. I can safely incorporate fat into my diet as long as it is less than 25% of my calories, but I tend to think of fat-free foods as "safe" foods for my stomach. For some reason, foods with high fat contents like nuts, nut butters, and oils make my stomach cramp up for days. I can't figure it out unless it has to do with the fact that fats are notoriously hard to digest and my digestive system is so broken down right now.

I take Omega 3-6-9 supplement once a day with a fat-free meal and I take NOW 75+ vitamin & mineral supplement along with extra calcium and magnesium.

It's such a conundrum - do I eat the fat my body needs and deal with really bad stomach aches all the time or do I not eat the fat, not have stomach aches but possibly damage my body?

:sigh:

Thanks for all the thoughtful replies, everyone!

[CarlaB]

Have you tried coconut oil? It's different than most fats ... it has something to do with the length of the fatty acid, so I bet it would be better absorbed.

[Budew]

I want fats. But all the media says it is wrong.

My body does not seem to process them either. Aways a layer of fat in the toilet.

Critically low cholesterol andfat levels when tested. I'm vegetarian so I talkflaxseed oil. The coconut oil info is interesting.

I was on another thread discussing sweats, and a possible connection to bloodsugar spikes. Part of the answer to spikes in blood sugar is to be sure you have enough fat and protien with the carbs so your blood sugar rises steadily instead if spiking.

I'm getting a meter and doing some serious testing. I played with one this summer trying to help a friend and saw spikes then but never made the connection. I plan to take a serious look at the possible link.

The sweats have gotten worse since I'm gluten-free, my diet is almost fat free as well. My husband struggles to lose weight so over the years I have continually reduced fats. Now I think I need to add them.

Good luck

[bluejeangirl]

I'm not eating low-fat as a dieting technique - it's because my body seems unable to handle much fat. I can safely incorporate fat into my diet as long as it is less than 25% of my calories, but I tend to think of fat-free foods as "safe" foods for my stomach. For some reason, foods with high fat contents like nuts, nut butters, and oils make my stomach cramp up for days. I can't figure it out unless it has to do with the fact that fats are notoriously hard to digest and my digestive system is so broken down right now.

I take Omega 3-6-9 supplement once a day with a fat-free meal and I take NOW 75+ vitamin & mineral supplement along with extra calcium and magnesium.

It's such a conundrum - do I eat the fat my body needs and deal with really bad stomach aches all the time or do I not eat the fat, not have stomach aches but possibly damage my body?

:sigh:

Thanks for all the thoughtful replies, everyone!

I don't think your getting enough fat either. You don't get much with the supplements. You'll lose weight when you include fats like olive oil and eat walnuts for example. If you having a had time digesting them try taking a digestive enzyme which include lipase and that should allow you to digest and assimilate the fat.

You also won't get so hungry so fast.

gail