Extreme Underweight Issues

[Ms. Skinny Chic]

I am extremely underweight currently; my weight is 115 lbs

My weight used to be 100 lbs, before my physician put me on the gluten diet.

I thought my diet was gluten free, but recently I discovered my ensure drinks contained casein.

I don't even eat lunch in school anymore, because I always get sick 30 minutes later.

My problem is my weight gain isn't occurring fast enough. People judge me upon my slender appearance.

No one really understands what Celiac disease is really.

Does anyone else have this problem???????????????

[ShayFL]

I have been on the SCD (Specific Carbohydrate Diet) and have gained weight nicely. Gluten Free with lots of healthy fats. Casein is not gluten, just so you know. You may have a problem with casein, but it is not gluten.

[Ms. Skinny Chic]

I have been on the SCD (Specific Carbohydrate Diet) and have gained weight nicely. Gluten Free with lots of healthy fats. Casein is not gluten, just so you know. You may have a problem with casein, but it is not gluten.

what kind of foods do you eat???

My problem is also that many things contain contain gluten. I have ingested soups, which contain gluten and more.

I probably need to eat more period. I am just afraid half the time of food period now.

[missy'smom]

I've always weighed much less than most people and get tired of the comments, some well intended and some not so. Others are allowed to talk about their weight but I'm not allowed to even say a word about it or about mine. But I was at the doctors recently and he said my weight was ok with him even though it was lower than the weight charts for someone of my height and age. My blood work shows that I am healthy and other physical things show that I am too so I've acccepted again that I am just small. I'm back to what I was a little over 10 years ago. My weight was going up before gluten-free but I've lost alot since so that's where my new acceptance of my current weight comes in. It is hard to be different than most people around you so I understand. Don't let others opinions get you down. Focus on being you and being healthy. Unless your doctor is asking you to gain weight more quickly, be patient with yourself and your body. I don't know how long you've been gluten-free but the healing process takes time. I was wearing my old clothes that were a size too big and felt like a sick person wearing them. So, I went out and bought a few new, inexpensive clothes that I like and that fit me now and I feel better. If we can help you out with lunch let us know.

[Ms. Skinny Chic]

I've always weighed much less than most people and get tired of the comments, some well intended and some not so. Others are allowed to talk about their weight but I'm not allowed to even say a word about it or about mine. But I was at the doctors recently and he said my weight was ok with him even though it was lower than the weight charts for someone of my height and age. My blood work shows that I am healthy and other physical things show that I am too so I've acccepted again that I am just small. I'm back to what I was a little over 10 years ago. My weight was going up before gluten-free but I've lost alot since so that's where my new acceptance of my current weight comes in. It is hard to be different than most people around you so I understand. Don't let others opinions get you down. Focus on being you and being healthy. Unless your doctor is asking you to gain weight more quickly, be patient with yourself and your body. I don't know how long you've been gluten-free but the healing process takes time. I was wearing my old clothes that were a size too big and felt like a sick person wearing them. So, I went out and bought a few new, inexpensive clothes that I like and that fit me now and I feel better. If we can help you out with lunch let us know.

PLEASE GIVE ME SOME LUNCH IDEAS... ANYTHING ACCEPT RICE CAKES..

[missy'smom]

I lost a little more weight because I was a little afraid of certain foods because of a health concern other than Celiac. You need to do some more homework to find out what you can eat, so that you're making choices based on good information and not out of fear or lack of knowledge. Don't take that the wrong way, I've been there. If we can help with that let us know. There are alot of things out there that are gluten-free! Not so long ago I posted here about my weight and got some support(lots!, thanks guys!) and did some homework and was able to gain enough weight to get myself back on track.

[missy'smom]

What kind of lunches would you usually have, without the gluten restriction? I'm assuming that you need lunches to take with you. Do you need things that are prepackaged or can you cook something and take it? Do you have to eat it at room temp. or will you be able to warm it up in the microwave? Do you shop at regular grocery stores or are you able to shop at places like Whole Foods or health food stores? Do you have any other restrictions beside the ones listed on your profile?

You mentioned soups. Healthy Choice Chicken and Rice soup is gluten-free. Pacific(comes in cartons and often found in the healthfood section) has many creamy type soups that are gluten-free-creamy corn, tomato, squash and broccoli I think.

[julirama723]

I'm still kind of new at this, but I have to bring my lunch to school each day too (I'm a teacher) and can't eat what's served in the cafeteria--each time I have, I've felt pretty gross.

These are some of the foods I usually eat now or have eaten in the past:

apple with peanut butter

fresh veggies (broccoli or cauliflower, sometimes carrots)

grilled chicken (grilled at home, gluten-free, I always make a huge batch so I have leftovers during the week)

bean burrito on a rice tortilla with guacamole (you could also use corn tortilla)

rice cakes and peanut butter

gluten-free beef jerky

chicken salad with celery and onion

salad with nuts/seeds, chopped veggies, gluten-free dressing (look for Annie's Naturals)

If you want a quick pre-made snack, check out larabars or pranabars. Bumble bars have brown rice syrup (some brown rice syrups are made from barley malt) BUT the wrapper says GLUTEN-FREE, so they might be OK, too.

[Ms. Skinny Chic]

I'm still kind of new at this, but I have to bring my lunch to school each day too (I'm a teacher) and can't eat what's served in the cafeteria--each time I have, I've felt pretty gross.

These are some of the foods I usually eat now or have eaten in the past:

apple with peanut butter

fresh veggies (broccoli or cauliflower, sometimes carrots)

grilled chicken (grilled at home, gluten-free, I always make a huge batch so I have leftovers during the week)

bean burrito on a rice tortilla with guacamole (you could also use corn tortilla)

rice cakes and peanut butter

gluten-free beef jerky

chicken salad with celery and onion

salad with nuts/seeds, chopped veggies, gluten-free dressing (look for Annie's Naturals)

If you want a quick pre-made snack, check out larabars or pranabars. Bumble bars have brown rice syrup (some brown rice syrups are made from barley malt) BUT the wrapper says GLUTEN-FREE, so they might be OK, too.

thanks, i will try some of these lunch ideas... I normally try to eat room temperature foods at school. I was diagnosed with celiac in late September. My intestines are still pretty delicate.

[missy'smom]

Hard boiled eggs

Hormel Naturals Deli Meats(in the brown recycled paper package)-various kinds of ham, turkey, salami

Jello or use Knox unflavored gelatin and your favorite fruit juice(apple, grape, whitegrape, pomegranate are our favorites) to make fruit juice gelatin

Jello pudding cups-choc. or vanilla

bananas

use gluten-free pasta(Tinkyada is good), tuna or canned chicken, apple, and Hellman's mayo to make a pasta salad

Kraft will put all gluten on the labels so if you don't see the words "wheat, barley or oats" on the labels of a Kraft product it's safe. Find a safe salad dressing and use that extra grilled(as the previous poster mentioned) or roasted chicken from dinner on a salad for the next day's lunch. I roast bone-in chicken breasts for dinner-takes only about 20 minutes and make an extra one for lunches. I would post names of safe salad dressings but I usually make my own with different oils, vinegar and herbs or other seasoning.

There are alot of recipes out there for rice or quinoa salads that are quite tasty and use fresh naturally gluten-free ingredients. Someone usually brings a quinoa salad to the support group that is basically quinoa, salsa, corn, black beans.

It is a big learning process. It does get better and you will find that there are so many things you can eat. Don't hesitate to ask any questions that you may have.

If you haven't already seen it, here's a good resource to help with reading labels and finding companies that are helpful in their labeling policies. Open Original Shared Link Don't hesitate to call the 800 numbers on packages or look on their websites or e-mail them. Many are prepared to give us useful information. On the websites you can often find info. about gluten under FAQ's or Contact Us.

[Sorimar]

Hi

I have the same problem I'm 5"2 and use to be about 114lbs and just lost weight when I got really sick with the celiac symptoms then once diagnosed and went on the gluten-free diet I lost more weight and I believe i am still ingesting gluten somehow don't know from where. I currently weigh 100lbs and look ill. I feel horrilbe and ashamed of how skinny I have gotten. I try to eat big portions when I eat but it's not making me gain any weight and I'm not even hungry in between meals I try to force snacks in. I have the same problem in school I just skip the meal or eat a fruit b/c I don't know what to bring most of the time. The biggest problem for me is knowing what to eat for lunch. I find it really hard making something at home or while i'm out so I either eat a fruit or rice cake with peanut butter. So i'm not getting a lot of calories there. I just want to be at a healthy looking weight and feel better about myself. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to gain the weight and what to eat for lunch that's quick or on the go? Thank you all

[ShayFL]

I think you should work on where you might be getting the gluten first. All efforts will fail until you get it out of your diet.

I am just shy of 5'4 and was down to 113 through all of this. I used to be in the 130's and I looked healthy. My D cups went to a low C. Completely deflated. I am now up to 120ish. And my boobs are back. But I am 100% gluten-free. My entire house is gluten-free. I dont eat out anymore. I dont eat processed foods. I make all my own foods.

Hard. Yes at first. Then you get used to it. And bottom line is that it works.

[missy'smom]

If you go to the Baking and Cooking forum and type in "lunch" or "lunches" in the search topic box,at the bottom left, lots of threads of ideas will pop up. It's something that's a challenge for us all.