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Will I Definitley Gain Weight?


Nicole H.

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Nicole H. Explorer

Hey everyone, I am new on here. My name is Nicole, I'm 25 and I just was diagnosed with celiac just over a week ago(with a blood test and biopsy so confirm) So let me tell you the scoop on my background. My symptoms were, being tired all the time and joint aches, and going to the bathroom a lot(but not ever diarrhea...it was always a normal bowel I just went like 3-4 times a day sometimes) Also, I didnt lose a substantial amount of weight. Actually I was just married 3 months ago...and I had gained some weight in the summer and before the wedding lost about 5 lbs. So thats it. I started my gluten free diet and now have lots of energy! Will I gain a ton of weight? My doctor said since Im very normal for my height 5'3, 122lbs I probably wont because I didnt lose much. But is he right? I see a lot of people gain weight...are they eating bad? Ive always eaten well. I eat tons of fruits and veggies and lean meat. Of course Ill have chocolate sometimes too but overall my diet seems well-balanced. Thanks for listening!


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lizard00 Enthusiast
Hey everyone, I am new on here. My name is Nicole, I'm 25 and I just was diagnosed with celiac just over a week ago(with a blood test and biopsy so confirm) So let me tell you the scoop on my background. My symptoms were, being tired all the time and joint aches, and going to the bathroom a lot(but not ever diarrhea...it was always a normal bowel I just went like 3-4 times a day sometimes) Also, I didnt lose a substantial amount of weight. Actually I was just married 3 months ago...and I had gained some weight in the summer and before the wedding lost about 5 lbs. So thats it. I started my gluten free diet and now have lots of energy! Will I gain a ton of weight? My doctor said since Im very normal for my height 5'3, 122lbs I probably wont because I didnt lose much. But is he right? I see a lot of people gain weight...are they eating bad? Ive always eaten well. I eat tons of fruits and veggies and lean meat. Of course Ill have chocolate sometimes too but overall my diet seems well-balanced. Thanks for listening!

Hi and Welcome :)

It sounds like you eat really well to begin with, so you probably won't gain weight. I lost about 10 lbs in the beginning, mainly because of my diet change, but have gained about 5 of it back.(But 10 was too much to lose, so I'm very ok with that)

It doesn't sound like you overindulged in gluteny goodies before celiac, so you probably won't have a problem with gluten-free goodies.

mommida Enthusiast

There is still a chance that you could lose weight. If your Potasium and Magnesium levels were out out of whack your body could have been retaining water. With your energy level being higher and not having as much joint pain you will be able to be more physically active too.

Welcome to the board! :)

Nicole H. Explorer

thank you guys! I will def keep checking in on some tips and hints...

  • 2 weeks later...
MammaG Newbie
Hey everyone, I am new on here. My name is Nicole, I'm 25 and I just was diagnosed with celiac just over a week ago(with a blood test and biopsy so confirm) So let me tell you the scoop on my background. My symptoms were, being tired all the time and joint aches, and going to the bathroom a lot(but not ever diarrhea...it was always a normal bowel I just went like 3-4 times a day sometimes) Also, I didnt lose a substantial amount of weight. Actually I was just married 3 months ago...and I had gained some weight in the summer and before the wedding lost about 5 lbs. So thats it. I started my gluten free diet and now have lots of energy! Will I gain a ton of weight? My doctor said since Im very normal for my height 5'3, 122lbs I probably wont because I didnt lose much. But is he right? I see a lot of people gain weight...are they eating bad? Ive always eaten well. I eat tons of fruits and veggies and lean meat. Of course Ill have chocolate sometimes too but overall my diet seems well-balanced. Thanks for listening!

If you are eating healthy then it is just a matter of how your body will deal with the diet change. What I mean is I was very underweight I needed to gain 14 pounds by BMI standards. I went gluten-free and slowly gained 11 pounds (over a year's time). I stayed there for a long time and just recently 5 pounds jumped on m3 from no where. I'm not complaining it was just surprising. The thing is my body was used to being starved (pre gluten-free). And so I think I and my body are in the habit of eating more and holding on to whatever it can. So if you continue to eat healthy your body will adjust. Don't hover over the scale if you notice an uninvited change than just adjust your portion size or your activity level. Don't panic. I expect to yo-yo between 5 - 10 pounds till my body realizes it no longer has to be in starvation mode- who know's how long I was gluten intolerant for? Take care and don't let chocolate become your enemy.

kmcr80 Newbie

From the sound of your diet, I doubt you'll gain weight. If you work out, you might gain muscle but you won't add fat.

MNBeth Explorer

I've lost about 20 lbs in the year and a half I've been gluten free - weight I needed to lose. :-) I'd like to lose about 10 more, but am glad to be doing it slowly.

And all the previous commenters are right - for most of us (not all), it's all about how we eat.

Before going gluten-free, I was very whole grain oriented and already wary of empty carbs. That wariness helped me avoid adding in a lot of starchy gluten-free products, which, I think, are such a trap for many people going gluten-free. I think you'll do just fine!


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  • 1 month later...
Gfresh404 Enthusiast

In my experience the majority of people who go gluten-free after diagnosis gain weight, but stop once it levels out. So you might gain some, but I would not be concerned about gaining too much.

  • 2 weeks later...
Liveenjoylife Apprentice

I was the same way, 5'8" and 125lbs. Now I am tipping the scale at 140lbs. I am hoping it stops there. Its sounds like you may not gain any more, but still keep your eye on your weight.

SGWhiskers Collaborator

Here's my experience.

I was thin to normal my whole life. As I hit my 25th birthday, I needed to do a little weight watchers in the spring to keep myself around 130. Celiac hit hard, but was undiagnosed. My doctor told me to eat a low fiber diet and eat soft foods. I hit 145 lbs. Then plain old food allergies were diagnosed. I dropped to 125 over the next year and was thrilled with my size 6 body again. I stayed that way for the next several years and then when celiac was diagnosed 8 months ago, I started gaining dispite eating very healthy foods. I'm 138 now with 0 exercise. My plan is to continue to eat well for the first 2 years of recovery. I promise I will start exercising now. After the 2 years of recovery, I will go back to weight watchers type weight control and cholesterol control. The last thing my body needs right now is me starving it with a diet.

Oh, and as someone who has always been concious, but not concerned, about her weight, the gluten-free lifestyle and healty feeling is so worth the weight changes. I now think I could exercise if I wanted to. Before getting out of bed was exercise enough.

  • 2 weeks later...
msmini14 Enthusiast
I was the same way, 5'8" and 125lbs. Now I am tipping the scale at 140lbs. I am hoping it stops there. Its sounds like you may not gain any more, but still keep your eye on your weight.

I know how you feel, I was always an average of 125lbs and same height as you. I weigh around 135 now (I think, I am afraid to weigh myself) and going crazy lol. I walk a lot but I guess that isnt cutting it.

Just watch what you eat and you will be ok. Your body is probably adjusting like all of ours has and you need to balance out.

ohiolady Newbie

Hi everybody my name is Barbara i am 39 and about 3 months after many different diagnosis i now have a right diagnosis of celiac disease i have alwasys been very under weight 4"11 87lbs.. i hope and pray that the gluten -free diet help me put on weight can anyone help with weight gain tips ...HELP PLEASE.....

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