Weight Watchers And gluten-free Diet?

[LIZARD]

Hey, folks.

I'm brand-spankin' new here--just reg'd a couple of minutes ago. I was dx'ed with celiac disease on Monday and am still trying to get my footing on what to eat, so suggestions are welcome and greatly appreciated.

I was over 300 lbs 3 years ago and joined WW in August of '05. I quickly took off 95 lbs (in a year and a half), and with about 55 or so to go, I started experiencing a multitude of symptoms consistent with hypothyroid. I was dx'ed in August of last year and am doing well since treatment.

Then in December, I got a dx of severe D deficiency. After 5 months of vitamin therapy, that is normal, but some symptoms still persisted, so my endo did bloodwork for several things, including celiac disease. Lo and behold...

So...here I am, having gained back 17 lbs over the past year. I haven't quit WW and don't intend to, but I know with the gluten-free regimen, I won't really be doing WW, and I feel a bit like a fake.

Have any of you done WW while doing gluten-free? How does it work? How on earth do you get your fiber in, especially if you aren't a veggie lover?? (I do eat them, but not nearly enough to make up for the fiber I was getting from WW bread and muffins...although I try!)

Thanks for any and all suggestions!

LIZARD, clueless celiac disease newbie

[lizard00]

Welcome Lizard

I felt I should answer as you and I share the same name

I have never done weight watchers, but I do know a little about food. There are many other grains, if you can tolerate them, that provide just as much if not more fiber. And most of them provide more protein as well.

To name a few off the top of my head: quinoa, amaranth, rice, buckwheat; and beans, although not a grain, are a great source of fiber and protein. Ground flaxseed is another way to get fiber and omega 3 fats, which are really good for you. You can add it to gluten-free oatmeal (again, if you can tolerate it or like it), or sprinkle it on vegetables, or put it in yogurt, or put it with fruit for a smoothie. YUM!

Honestly, I find that being gluten-free has made me eat a MUCH healthier diet. You immediately cut out a lot of unhealthy foods, and your selection of processed foods greatly diminishes. So, in some ways, you are ahead of everyone else with what you have to change or cut out of your diet.

Those are just some suggestions to help get you started. I hope they helped, and I'm sure others will add what has helped them.

Lizard00

[LIZARD]

Thank you, Lizard00.

How funny...I thought I was unique! I was first called "LIZARD" (all caps; he was yelling at me) by my best friend from high school, and it just stuck.

I really hope it's as easy as everyone keeps saying. I'm a picky eater by nature (neuro issues that triggered sensory integration problems), so it'll be even more fun than for most folks.

So...many of the issues I thought I was having from hypothyroid and D deficiency (both of which I was dx'ed with a few months ago) are also apparently connected to Celiac. The most annoying symptoms right now (besides the hunger and weight gain) are arthritic-like pain and stiffness in my knees, fatigue, itching, and a persistent "frog" in my throat. I am always clearing it. Have you had these? I'm also having to wean off gluten, since it's essentially all that's in the house. <blush>

The "other" LIZARD

[home-based-mom]

Welcome to the forum!

Many of your symptoms will go away once you are gluten free. Please get yourself that way ASAP - you won't regret it.

Near the top of the page you should see a search feature with the radio button already selecting a forum search. Type in Weight Watchers and numerous threads will come up, just waiting for you to browse through them!

[LIZARD]

So...I just went gluten-free this week (and not completely, as I'm still learning), went to my WW meeting, was OVER points...and LOST 2.2 lbs!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This stuff really works! Now I just have to get my son on it.

LIZARD

[lizard00]

Congratulations!!!

You may find that once you truly embrace the gluten-free diet, you begin to lose weight easier. Many times, people equate celiac disease with rapid, unexplained weight loss. But, it can most definitely go the other way, and cause unexplained weight GAIN, making it very difficult to lose weight. Both happen for the same reason, your body is starving. Some people lose weight, some people gain. Basically, your body is not getting enough nutrients and so it is hanging on to EVERYTHING it gets, thus causing weight gain. My cousin, who could stand to lose a pound or two, is borderline malnourished. She eats healthy, exercises, but has yet to go gluten-free totally. I truly believe if she would take that plunge and let her gut heal, she would be more successful at trying to lose weight. But, what are you going to do?

I'm very happy to hear your success!!!!

[curlyfries]

and a persistent "frog" in my throat. I am always clearing it.

That sounds like acid reflux, or GERD. Mine got better when I eliminated gluten and most dairy and sugar. My daughter clears her throat a lot, especially when she does't take her Prilosec. Haven't been able to get her to go gluten free, yet.

Lisa

[LIZARD]

That sounds like acid reflux, or GERD.

Well, I have had a couple of bouts of reflux before, and it doesn't feel anything like that; it's just a "gunky" sensation.

gluten-free I can do, but I can't even fathom going CF! I love cheese too much! I already feel better, even after just a few gluten-free meals. Can it really happen that fast??

LIZARD, who can't wait to be human again!

[dadoffiveboys]

Hey, folks.

I'm brand-spankin' new here--just reg'd a couple of minutes ago. I was dx'ed with celiac disease on Monday and am still trying to get my footing on what to eat, so suggestions are welcome and greatly appreciated.

I was over 300 lbs 3 years ago and joined WW in August of '05. I quickly took off 95 lbs (in a year and a half), and with about 55 or so to go, I started experiencing a multitude of symptoms consistent with hypothyroid. I was dx'ed in August of last year and am doing well since treatment.

Then in December, I got a dx of severe D deficiency. After 5 months of vitamin therapy, that is normal, but some symptoms still persisted, so my endo did bloodwork for several things, including celiac disease. Lo and behold...

So...here I am, having gained back 17 lbs over the past year. I haven't quit WW and don't intend to, but I know with the gluten-free regimen, I won't really be doing WW, and I feel a bit like a fake.

Have any of you done WW while doing gluten-free? How does it work? How on earth do you get your fiber in, especially if you aren't a veggie lover?? (I do eat them, but not nearly enough to make up for the fiber I was getting from WW bread and muffins...although I try!)

Thanks for any and all suggestions!

LIZARD, clueless celiac disease newbie

My wife and I use the weight watchers ONLINE. TRY IT! We LOVE it for the the recipe builder! We use it to put all the ingredients into our Gluten Free Recipes and it tells you the numbers of points / serving! Then it's easy to track what you eat. Regular WW doesn't help as much because you really need the recipe builder on a gluten-free diet. Believe it or not, it's pretty easy to use when you add your own foods and recipes online. It does have a monthly cost. We don't use the groups or anything else - just the online recipe builder

Hope this helps!

[LIZARD]

Thanks for this. It helps. I do have the Monthly Pass, which includes ETools, and I would never give my meeting. I just have to explore the ETools more and use all the "goodies."

LIZARD

[Nancy Lake]

I left Weight Watchers because all I could do is maintain. I go to the gym and try and diet but it didn't seem to help me.

I have about 70 pounds to loose. Most people think Celiac disease means you are extremely thin.

I am having a huge withdrawl...right now. Two days into gluten free. I just feel sluggish and awful. Don't know why.

I do want to go back to WW so I have noted all the really good advice. I do miss the meetings.

And somehow I know that I will start loosing weight. I am loosing lots of water weight...peeing..lol.

I am so sleepy right now. Wonder if that happens too.

Nancy

[aikiducky]

Nancy, it's quite common to feel bad when you first go gluten free. Some people have a sort of withdrawal period. What I also think might be going on is you must remember that the reaction to gluten is an immune reaction. Your immune system can keep going on even after you've removed gluten for a while, once the reaction has been triggered it will run it's course. This is also why accidental glutenings take a while to get over with. Hang in there, it'll get better.

Pauliina

[munkee41182]

I go to WW and I'm gluten-free...again....

in 01 I was Diagnosed....started WW and went on the gluten-free diet and lost about 25 lbs. Then I started "cheating" and was feeling fine. Even when I was diagnosed, I mentioned slightly having heartburn and some constipation as well as family history and was schedule for blood tests and a biopsy all in the same day. Now I think party of the reason why I fell off the gluten-free wagon was because when i did cheat...I felt fine! Then 3 months ago, had another biopsy (Doc knew of me not following the diet) and low and behold, I had some pretty decent damage. So back on the gluten-free diet and back to WW and now I'm starting to drop the weight again. It definately can be done. I follow the flex plan just because some of the pasta/breads that are gluten-free I'm not sure if they're core. Try doing the flex plan first...that way you can still sneek in gluten-free pasta and bread and be able to follow the plan.

And I remember the cravings too after going gluten-free....

GL!

[Cherylsflowers]

I am relatively new to the Gluten free diet but not so new to the Weight Watchers Diet, I lost 40 pounds last year, Yea! Now I am trying to eat gluten free and have gained 8 pounds!!! I have counted points stayed within range only to find I gained another pound. What in the world is going on???

[Live2BWell]

I've done weight watchers twice - and in total lost about upward of 30 pounds. I ended up stopping WW several months ago because being sick (autoimmune thyroiditis, insulin resistance, and undiagnosed food sensitivities) was taking such a toll on me, that I felt it was easier to have as little on my plate as possible (no pun intended!)

Ofcourse, in hindsight, I can see that ultimately - atleast food wise- doing so has made things worse, if not better (since I am undiagnosed I am not yet gluten free and am struggling with the whole gluten-free thing, even though deep down I know I'm harming myself atleast nutritionally, if not seriously, due to Celiac if I have it.)

I have gained back about 10 of the pounds I lost (because, most of my "happy food" contains gluten, and doesn't make my body too happy!) I have about 45 pounds to lose in order to be in a healthy BMI.

So, I'm not really a weight-watcher anymore, and I'm not quite gluten-free either, but I'm a newbie here to this board and definitely relate