Is There A Light At The End Of The Tunnel In Regards To Sports?

[loxleynew]

So I'm pretty depressed and have been for the ~ 3 years ive had this go undiagnosed. I recently found out I was gluten intolerant and have only been on the diet for a week. I think what i'm going through is just healing crisis because it seems to be worse.

Anyways, before this 3 years and during the first 2 years of "hell" I played sports such as ultimate frisbee, tennis and my main passion was weight lifting. I even got my degree in kinesiology wanting to go into fitness. Boy did that change. I dropped maybe 20 lbs and was forced to stop lifting and playing sports. Whenever I lift for more than 5 minutes I get massive bloating and indigestion and fatigue. Sports similar story. Has anyone been there? Especially in regards to lifting weights? I feel as though my life of weight lifting and playing tennis is over. Pleassssee let there be light at the end of this tunnel.

As I stand now I am underweight because playing sports and lifting seemingly was the way I could maintain a healthy weight.

[lorka150]

Yes! I don't have time for a proper reply but here is the nutshell.

I did a lot of sports, avid runner, strength training.

Got very sick, lost 60+ lbs, near death.

Slowly, surely, go better.

Now low-end, but normal weight, more muscles than before, soon to start rebuilding cardiovascular endurance (still holding off until I put on a little more body fat). Now going to be personal trainer and fitness instructor as opposed to pursuing a career in what I have my masters in.

Feel free to PM me if you want, I just don't have time right now for a proper reply.

[lonewolf]

I don't have much time either, but I can briefly share my experience. I played multiple sports in HS, played basketball in college and became a PE teacher and HS basketball coach, while still playing in basketball and volleyball leagues, doing "fun runs" and playing tennis and working out (mild weight lifting).

Then I had kids and got really sick - my weight ballooned up and then I got way down underweight while I was getting it all figured out. I had arthritis that messed me up too. There were 3-4 years where I couldn't really do a lot in terms of teaching, sports or working out.

But to make a long story short, I now am fanatically gluten-free (12 years wheat free and almost 5 years gluten-free) and very healthy. I started running triathlons 9 years ago, I teach PE full-time and I coach HS basketball again. At 45 I can keep up with my players at practice pretty well and I often scrimmage with them. I play in a women's basketball league (I'm the oldest on my team by 11 years) and work out/lift weights a few times a week. I rarely have time for tennis, but I can play again. I honestly thought I'd never be able to do more than a simple triathlon, but I have gotten back into really good shape - better than any of my other friends who haven't had the challenges that I've had.

You might have to give it some time, but there is light at the end of the tunnel!

[loxleynew]

Thanks for the replies! I guess I just needed confirmation. Everyday that goes by and every week that I lose another lb and see myself more like a skeleton than a former active person makes me want to give up. I know I won't but it just gets harder everyday to continue.

What makes it worse is since starting on this diet a week and half ago I feel even worse. I seem to be able to eat even less and it just gets me even more depressed. I'm hoping this is just my body "clearing itself out" before it gets better.

I have always dreamed of doing a triathlon but just as me and a friend were going to start preparing for one I got sick.

[Felidae]

Like the others said, it will come with time. It is a slow process and I think your body has to adjust to the "poison" removal and to absorbing foods properly as it should be. I was very sick for a long time and had difficulty with fitness. After being gluten-free, my fitness improved greatly. I have way more endurance than before. I also lift weights and it feels great. I am very skinny and have not been able to put on much weight. But, exercise does help me maintain what little weight I have.

Be patient and even if you can only go for walks, they will help with your mental health too. I was getting quite down and I found walking outside helped keep me more positive. At least it was something. You will get there in time.

[NorthernElf]

I've been dealing with celiacs for about 5 years. It does get better and being "fanatical" (as someone said!) about avoiding gluten is a must ! I also *mostly* avoid dairy as it seems to bother me.

FWIW, I'm a fitness instructor and big time fitness fan, runner, etc. Currently I'm teaching 2-4 classes a day during the week so I'm not doing too much on my own. I love the endorphin rush and I find keeping active helps my digestion, rather than hinders it. Could it be you are still somewhat in the healing phase ? Or could it be you are still getting some gluten somewhere ? I know for awhile I thought I was gluten-free and was still feeling ill & then I went and got my own baking pans, strainer, etc. and made most of my kitchen gluten-free (my family has one small corner for their bread and doesn't put any gluten on my side!). I even have a small 'gluten free zone' sign so they remember. Also, as to the dairy thing, if my stomach is at all in a bad way, I am very dairy sensitive.

I lost 5 pounds when I went gluten-free and it has stayed off. I'm active enough that I don't worry about weight anymore but I do eat healthy & often. I have found that larger meals bloat me up as well, I do much better on smaller, more frequent "meals".

[munchkinette]

It probably took me about a year on the diet to really work out hard like I did in college. (Running more than 5 miles at a time, several times a week.) Even in the past two years I've had some other issues, like finding that I needed to avoid other foods, and being set back a few weeks after a glutening. You will get better on the diet eventually, provided you don't uncover other big things. It's a process, but keep a journal. You should notice after a month, six months, one year, etc. that you see improvement.