How Do Some Celiacs Put On Weight?

[Stacy hated pancake Sunday]

I have always battled my weight...out of control gains while eating the same portions as thin family and friends. The only successful weight loss I had prior to going gluten-free was Atkins and Anorexia(500 calories or less per day, 10-20 mile walks and non stop exercise in between work and walking...my membership to a gym was terminated because they felt I was over doing it and wanted no part of it...on that diet I went from 300lbs to 135lbs). Fast forward 10 years and several years stuck behind a desk 40-60 hours a week and I was pushing 300lbs again. Due to my weight my OB tried to prescribe a special diet for gestational diabetes to keep my weight gain under control during my 2nd pregnancy(they tested my glucose twice a week and could never catch it over the limit even after lunch...it drove them nuts)...the menu was easily 2-3 times more than I would eat on my own...of course my doctor thought I was lying. When I first thought that I might have issues with gluten I was over 400lbs...eating the same amount of food as my very fussy 4 year old ..add in some gluten induced anxiety and paranoia and going out for walks just wasn't going to happen..especially since my husband was always traveling and working....i.e. the fear of my babies being alone in their stroller outside because I dropped dead mid walk was enough to keep me in the house. I did try to find out why my weight didn't match my eating habits..they checked my thyroid...when that was deemed normal..I was offered Prozac, diet pills and surgery. I declined all.

Since going gluten-free I have dropped 80 pounds in a year...I have no appetite and have to force myself to eat..I think my weight loss would have been greater if I could eat more...I struggle to hit 1200 calories a day..and I lose a chunk of weight every time I eliminate something else that bothers me...corn, rice, dairy, etc. I need to add in exercise..I am just afraid that I will fall into anorexia mode again(falling numbers on the scale are addicting)....I'm not sure I would survive that after all of the stress the weight loss and gains and gluten has had on my system....200 more pounds to go...seems like it will take forever.

[cassP]

I have always battled my weight...out of control gains while eating the same portions as thin family and friends. The only successful weight loss I had prior to going gluten-free was Atkins and Anorexia(500 calories or less per day, 10-20 mile walks and non stop exercise in between work and walking...my membership to a gym was terminated because they felt I was over doing it and wanted no part of it...on that diet I went from 300lbs to 135lbs). Fast forward 10 years and several years stuck behind a desk 40-60 hours a week and I was pushing 300lbs again. Due to my weight my OB tried to prescribe a special diet for gestational diabetes to keep my weight gain under control during my 2nd pregnancy(they tested my glucose twice a week and could never catch it over the limit even after lunch...it drove them nuts)...the menu was easily 2-3 times more than I would eat on my own...of course my doctor thought I was lying. When I first thought that I might have issues with gluten I was over 400lbs...eating the same amount of food as my very fussy 4 year old ..add in some gluten induced anxiety and paranoia and going out for walks just wasn't going to happen..especially since my husband was always traveling and working....i.e. the fear of my babies being alone in their stroller outside because I dropped dead mid walk was enough to keep me in the house. I did try to find out why my weight didn't match my eating habits..they checked my thyroid...when that was deemed normal..I was offered Prozac, diet pills and surgery. I declined all.

Since going gluten-free I have dropped 80 pounds in a year...I have no appetite and have to force myself to eat..I think my weight loss would have been greater if I could eat more...I struggle to hit 1200 calories a day..and I lose a chunk of weight every time I eliminate something else that bothers me...corn, rice, dairy, etc. I need to add in exercise..I am just afraid that I will fall into anorexia mode again(falling numbers on the scale are addicting)....I'm not sure I would survive that after all of the stress the weight loss and gains and gluten has had on my system....200 more pounds to go...seems like it will take forever.

i was anorexic in my teens for a couple of years.. i grew up in the ballet world, and we got weighed in every saturday. i used to have an OCD habit of counting my calories-> even to this day (16 years later)- i PURPOSEFULLY do NOT count calories- because i do not wanna fall back into that neurotic obsession.

you can do this! you can lose weight for health reasons and NOT fall back into anorexia! you can... you just have to look at it all differently- yes it's addicting, and it feels good to be skinny... but you are now losing weight and eating right for health reasons!

one thing that really helped me was when i was dancing at disney- we had a physical therapist measure our fat percentage. now i was on atkins at the time- and was 113-118lbs... felt fantastic- but i never had to count calories and i never had to starve and i never felt obsessed with food- because the HEROINE-like addiction to Wheat & Gluten had been removed from my life- so my life didnt revolve around gorging

anyways- she tested my fat at 10.5 percent... and women should not go below 11... even at that low svelte weight- i sometimes still didnt like my thighs... but because i now looked at it in a health way instead of the numbers on the scale- i now know- that i just have to accept my body shape that God gave me- because even at borderline dangerously low fat levels- i still have my thighs.. and my organs & skin & hair need that fat... so THAT helped me.

you're gonna be fine... seriously- i now understand- that i wasnt so crazy- because wheat/gluten & dairy are seriously morphine like- and can turn u into a crazy person... eliminate those- and you begin to feel normal & in control

[love2travel]

I've been about 30 lb overweight for five years - lots of cooking and eating (and less exercise)! The only times I have less of an appetite are when I am ill. Was just diagnosed with celiac disease last week and have been gluten-free since, of course. The whole celiac disease thing was a shock to both my doctor and I since I have never been anemic nor have I exhibited GI symptoms or weight loss. Plus I have already gained 5 lb since going off gluten but have not been eating any gluten-free snacks - just naturally-occuring gluten-free foods. (Had been off gluten 5 months for my gluten challenge so have done all that before.) I certainly cannot afford to gain much more weight so hope this changes soon.

Anyway, food is my life and passion (I instruct cooking classes and cater). I feel better on gluten than off. Even on my challenge I was counting the days until I could go back on gluten and immediately felt better. My body is playing weird tricks on me!

[IrishHeart]

In 1995, I was a good weight for me (140), then I gained 30 lbs. in a brief time, then gradually packed on 45 more. (I once topped out at 225 and I am only 5'4".)

For 10 years, I was FAT and could not lose weight no matter how many diets I tried. I had GI problems, including a long illness that they treated repeatedly with antibiotics because they thought it was "giarrdia"...and no one thought celiac was an issue at all because I was overweight, despite many symptoms besides the GI stuff. They treated it as "IBS" and I always felt like crap.

In 2008, my celiac "triggered" and my weight plummeted 90 lbs., my hair fell out, I lost massive muscle tone and I was "borderline" anemic. I didn't figure out WHY until a few months ago. (I had been called "anemic" before, and I took iron and stopped it when the blood tests revealed a good level. The levels are fine now.) I struggle to eat and although I am the "thin" person I wanted to be, it was a horrible way to get here. I am not healthy at all right now.

So, gaining weight and/or losing weight can be part of the celiac picture. Anemia seems to be an off and on thing for me. Right now, I am ok.

[bmnissen27]

I'm freaking out..I'm a college student that has always been pretty slim and athletic. I'm 5'8 and weighed 133-138 last year (my senior year of high school.) Of course being a teenage girl, I was never happy with my body... but until my freshman year of college, I totally regret ever hating how I used to look.

Right before I was diagnosed with Celiacs in December of 2010, I weighed my maximum amount of 158 lbs... I freaked out because I still ate healthy (I didn't drink too often) and went to the gym about 4 times a week, 2 hours each session.

Starting off second semester Gluten-free, I lost weight and got to 146. I was so happy. But last week, I weighed myself and see that now I weigh 152. I am not very happy, and I don't know why I keep fluctuating. I work out even harder, eat healthy, and still barely drink.

Someone PLEASE help

[cassP]

I'm freaking out..I'm a college student that has always been pretty slim and athletic. I'm 5'8 and weighed 133-138 last year (my senior year of high school.) Of course being a teenage girl, I was never happy with my body... but until my freshman year of college, I totally regret ever hating how I used to look.

Right before I was diagnosed with Celiacs in December of 2010, I weighed my maximum amount of 158 lbs... I freaked out because I still ate healthy (I didn't drink too often) and went to the gym about 4 times a week, 2 hours each session.

Starting off second semester Gluten-free, I lost weight and got to 146. I was so happy. But last week, I weighed myself and see that now I weigh 152. I am not very happy, and I don't know why I keep fluctuating. I work out even harder, eat healthy, and still barely drink.

Someone PLEASE help

are you eating a lot of "gluten free" treats and substitutes??? the first month i went gluten free- i may have put on 5lbs.. i am telling you- i bought EVERY gluten-free treat there was!!!! every gluten-free oreo and cookie etc etc...

the 2nd month i went a little more Paleo... i mostly had fresh veggies, fruits and meat... some rice and rice pasta... and dropped the weight...

the more grains i eat... the harder it is for me to lose weight.