Weight Gain

[Guest gfinnebraska]

Just a question... Are there very many of you out there that are like me in that you gain weight when eating gluten? I can instantly swell 10 lbs. over night after eating something with gluten. It is NOT a fun thing!! I read a lot of weight loss issues, but wonder how many are like me... weight gain issues! I only lose when I am totally gluten free ~ which takes a while. Just curious!! Thanks for the feedback.

[gf4life]

I do tend to gain about 5 lbs or so when I accidently get some gluten. But when I have an "accident", the least important thing on my mind is my weight! I suffer so darn bad from just the tiniest amount of gluten... Now when I am gluten free I lose weight. I've lost about 25 lbs since January! Which is a big accomplishment for me. I still have about 35 lbs. to go to my ideal weight, but it is slowly coming off! I do have to watch my sodium intake also, since too much will make me gain a few lbs (I assume its water weight!). Just try to be careful and not have too many gluten accidents. I cook almost all of my food and I try to never eat anything that I have not verified the gluten-free status of.

God bless,

Mariann

[Guest gfinnebraska]

It's nice to know someone out there is like me! Thanks Mariann... I am just discovering cross contamination issues and the discovery that I have been eating things that I thought were gluten-free but are not! Ugh!! Sooo, hopefully when I get "cleaned out" of gluten, I will start to lose as well. The itsy,bitsy,tiny bit of gluten effects me as well, so I will be watching VERY closely from now on.

[Rikki Tikki]

Does anyone have a problem gaining weight? Initally I lost about 25 pounds and seem unable to gain weight. I am 5'7" and only weight 115 pounds. I can't seem to put the weight on. I think it may be due in part to not really liking the food I can eat. I also feel that I don't have the energy to make the foods I can have. I really miss being able to just go out and eat something, like a big juicy hamburger. Any thoughts you may have would be appreciated.

[pixiegirl]

When I get glutened I don't think I actually gain weight but I look like I do, I get so bloated up I look like I'm pregnant, its awful.

As far as gaining weight because you don't like the food you can eat, you should try more gluten-free stuff at Whole Foods, Trader Joe's or off the internet. I've found replacements for almost everything I thought I couldn't have.

Trader Joe's sells something they call umm french bread muffins or something, they look like a thick english muffin. you can have a big thick hamburger on that. I actually stick one in my purse and then at my local hamburger haven I order the thick hamburger with no bun. When it comes I whip out my own bun and eat my burger that way.

I'm having problems with eating out too.... its hard without a doubt. And as I've said before I come from a family that puts food above a whole lot of things, every thing we do is food centered (and no one is overweight, fyi). I have 2 restaurant critics in the family! I use to eat out at least 4 times a week. Now since October when I found out I have to be gluten-free I've not gone out too often... I have a few places I can go. But that's what I miss by far the most about all this... my family and friends go out and I can't or don't. I want more places to eat out (Santa are you listening?)

Susan

[celiac3270]

Yeah...I have weight gain problems, but probably not for the reasons one might expect. I can and have gained weight on the gluten-free diet, but it's difficult for me to gain more in part because I get sick so often (resulting in a 2-5 pound drop) and also, my doctor is telling me to avoid fat! Lol...how do you gain weight without fat? I really crave all the fatty foods, too, but I have been slowly gaining and my primary concern is with my symptoms right now.

[Mballerina]

I also have the same issue with weight gain. I have always been very thin and then when i had my full blown celiac outbreak i gained 30 lbs in one month. Everytime i get near gluten i gain 10-15lbs in a week. Then when i am off of it i lose 10 lbs a week. There are so many issues and painful things that occur in the meantime that it is hard to get a handle on it all.

[artmeg55]

Does anyone have a problem gaining weight? Initally I lost about 25 pounds and seem unable to gain weight. I am 5'7" and only weight 115 pounds. I can't seem to put the weight on. I think it may be due in part to not really liking the food I can eat. I also feel that I don't have the energy to make the foods I can have. I really miss being able to just go out and eat something, like a big juicy hamburger. Any thoughts you may have would be appreciated.

Sally,

I am also 5'7" and have gained weight on and off to get to between 110 and 114. I did go to see a nutritionist and that helped alot. At this height/ weight relationship we are borderline malnourished. And she said that I could not really feel better until I could maintain a better weight. So I struggle to keep weight on. It's been a problem my whole life and I always blamed it on a fast metabolism. I don't even know if I have a fast metabolism; I was just diagnosed in 2003. The nutritionist encouraged me to eat frequently-6 times a day, 3 meals and 3 snacks. When I follow that I keep weight on better. But when I've had an attack and don't feel like eating, I'll lose several poundss in a couiple of days and then have to start back eating extra calories. Sometimes I'll drink Ensure. I also buy some products from an online store called MissRobens. Good products and prompt service. I eat a yogurt just about every day. Have not had trouble with Yoplait custard style.

[Rikki Tikki]

Thanks artmeg55 and all of you for all the support

[Peaches503]

I am a newly diagnosed celiac. I have so many questions and concerns, but I also have an issue to deal with. Since I have had this disease, I have lost about 6-7 pounds. I currently weigh 102 and am 5'4" and am very happy where I'm at. My doctor told me that I am healthy, however, I have an irrational fear of gaining weight. I don't know why this is, I do not have an eating disorder and never have, however, I know that it is inevitable that I will put some weight back on once my intestine heals. How can I cope with this weight gain or how can I manage my new gluten free diet so that I can maintain my weight within 2 or 3 pounds? I must also add that I DO NOT want to lose any more weight. How can I cope? Can anyone help?

[burdee]

Hi Peaches:

What has helped me maintain my weight, despite learning to avoid gluten about a year ago, then dairy and then soy, is eating for true physical hunger (not for emotional 'hungers' or to numb feelings) and stopping when I feel satisfied or full. That means beyond gluten/dairy/soy restrictions I eat what my body craves--not what my eyes see or my head tells me I should want. Fortunately I am familiar with enough different kinds of foods that sometimes I crave vegies, sometimes fruit, sometimes meats, sometimes nuts, sometimes breads, sometimes sweets, etc. I also like to eat balanced meals so I stay not hungry longer, because I don't like most snack foods (except nuts) or fast foods. I prefer 'slow foods' or well prepared meals which I can really enjoy, rather than just poking something into my mouth to stop the hunger. Obviously I don't diet--don't we celiacs have ENOUGH restrictions without worrying about fats, carbs, calories??? However, I naturally crave a balance of fats, carbs, fiber and protein just about everytime I eat. Despite the overabundance of DIET books available, there are also several good NONDIET books which teach people to let their bodies tell them what, when and how much to eat. We celiacs should listen to our body feedback anyway. How else will we detect accidental contamination? BTW, I have maintained the same weight (within 5-10# range) for the past 38 years.

BURDEE

[Peaches503]

Thanks Burdee. It's helpful to know that there are other people out there to help. I will definitely try to follow your advice. Thanks again.

-Peaches

[ianm]

I had a serious weight problem before going gluten free. I also don't get the full feeling in my stomach so I have to carefully monitor how much I eat because I can easily eat to much and not realize it. The low carb thing has worked exceptionally well for me but may not be for everyone. Whenever I get nailed with gluten I get bloated. Bloating used to be a big problem before. This disease affects everyone differently. It seems that most can't gain or they lose too much weight when eating gluten but some of us do gain weight on gluten.

[Rikki Tikki]

I will have to find a Trader Joe's near me. Does the bread taste like real bread?

I don't have a Whole Foods anywhere near where I live. I have tried ordering off the internet but the shipping cost was so expensive.

[Peaches503]

The bread doesn't exactly taste like real bread, but it's not too terrible. I like to eat it only with pb&j. It's just really dry and dense. I've only been on this diet for about 2 weeks, so I haven't tried all of the breads, just the tapioca bread. I'm aiming to eventually stay away from carbs anyway. Fruits, veggies, and meats are the way to go for me. If you don't have a Whole Foods near you, I know that many P&C stores, Price Chopper, Hannaford and a couple other chain stores carry a small "organic" section that contains gluten-free foods in them.

[burdee]

After ignoring my body sensations for YEARS, I had to really work to learn what 'full' or 'satisfied' (2 different sensations) felt like. (As a child 'full' was when my plate was clean and not a bite sooner! ) I also learned that higher protein/fat worked better to keep me satisfied, although I did not intentionally choose low carb foods. With all my celiac restrictions, depriving myself of a food simply because of a 'carb' rating would make my head want more, even though my body didn't. I agree with what Ron Hogan says in 'Dangerous Grains' that gluten (and even casein) proteins create 'opiate peptides' which stimulate the opiate receptors in our brains to make us crave the very foods which cause celiac disease reactions. I know that before I abstained from gluten I could easily overeat gluten containing foods (when I let my mind rule my choices, rather than my stomach). However, I was REALLY addicted to casein (dairy products) and STILL feel deprived because I haven't found an acceptable substitute for cheese, ice cream, etc. because I also don't tolerate SOY. So I can understand how people would gain weight while eating gluten--because that addictive quality makes them lose control and overeat--but lose weight on gluten-free foods which are less 'addictive'.

BURDEE

[PreOptMegs]

I definately don't understand why I am gaining weight. It seems like simple mathmatics to me.... don't take in many calories and have your body burn more than what you take in and you lose weight. That has been the most disappointing and frustrating part for me. I am the healthiest eater and don't eat more than 1200 calores daily, but can't get weight off!!!!!!!!!! To top it all off, I am a college basketball player at a division 2 school, so definately getting enough exercise!!

[Guest gfinnebraska]

PreOptMegs:

I was just like you... dieted, exercised... didn't lose an ounce!! The only thing that is working for me now is to completely clean myself out. I am doing the Specific Carbohydrate Diet. It is a year long process of cleaning/repairing your intestines. I have lost 20 lbs. so far. You can get information from:

Open Original Shared Link

Good luck!! Hope this helps ~ hang in there!!

[PreOptMegs]

gfinnebraska --- How long has it taken you to lose the weight and how long after starting this diet did you start to see results? I saw the list of legal and illegal foods, and I can't believe some of the illegal foods that I eat (quinoa, potatoes, milk, canned vegetables to name a few...), so hopefully if I stay away from them as much as possible, I will see results too!!!

[Guest gfinnebraska]

I started seeing results right away... I had diahrea (sp) for the first 2 weeks ~ that is normal ~ and then started feeling great! It has been 7 weeks for the 20 lbs. I was not able to eat cheese at all before starting the diet, but after around the 5th week I could eat cheddar cheese with no side effects!! Bonus! Please read the book and follow the diet carefully if you want to go that route. There are a lot of dos and donts...

Good luck!!

[PreOptMegs]

How long did you stay on the "Intro" diet. Also, where did you get your calcium from if you started introducing cheese 5 weeks into the diet?

[cdford]

If you are either gaining or losing and are pretty certain it is not a dietary issue, have your thyroid checked. Those like me who are hypothyroid, tend to gain weight even if they don't eat much at all. Those with overactive thyroids tend to lose weight even if they are eating enough.

My husband tends to slack off taking his thyroid medicine. When he does, he gains weight left and right (and front and back...you get the picture).

[Guest gfinnebraska]

I stayed on the "intro" for 2 weeks. I take a mulitvitamin, vit. B-12 and B complex vitamin. Not being able to eat dairy was one reason I started the SCD. I was to the place that if I touched dairy I had the same reaction as if I had just eaten a doughnut!! Ugh! NOT fun. So, I started the SCD with the intent of "cleaning and healing" myself. So far so good!!

Yes, I need to have my thyroid checked again. I often wonder if that isn't part of my problem.

[Susan123]

To Peaches503... the tapioca bread was awful!! it actually made me gag everytime I went to swallow it. I found I liked brown rice bread (food for life- frozen) I would toast it after defrosting it and use it with pb&J. Its definitely an acquired taste.

[Guest gfinnebraska]

My favorite bread, when I am eating bread again that is *sigh*, is the Gluten Free Pantry Sandwich Bread mix. I just dump it into my bread machine and wait!!

It is SO good when it comes out and you cut off the ends and eat it with butter and jam... LOVE it!! It stays soft for quite a few days. I use it for open face sandwiches, toast or pizza. It tastes better toasted after it cools off. Yummy!!