Wondering About Weight Issues

[Kathleen Smith]

Hello All,

I was diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 years ago (or more). I was put on Paxil and gained about 20-25 pounds over a couple years. Now, maybe because I was getting older (I'm 34 now), maybe b/c Paxil is notorious for weight gain (but i didnt know that then, nor did doctors). I have always been a "gym" person. Nothing crazy but I go 3-4 times a week. Every now and then I fall off the wagon and only go 1-2 times.

Since I gained that weight (couple years ago now) I cant lose it. I switched to Lexapro and still nothing. I have been on Lexapro for 2 years. Weaned off and had bad withdrawal, went back on.

Since being diagnose with Celiac I believe that my anxiety could have been related to this all along. So I am weaning off slowly. I am just about ready to discontinue. My migraines have gone away since gluten free!!! Thats amazing, I struglled with Migraines since I was 11!.

So I hoping that once I get off the antidepressnts and since I have been stablizing on the gluten free diet and feeling better maybe a few pounds will drop. I still go to the gym, prob only three days a week. I have the Gluten Free down. I didnt good for 3 months then cheated in August (rookie mistake I guess) and payed for it. I am now strictly gluten free for life.

Could celiac have something to do with my body not respoding to eating right and working our or is it the antidepressent or is it just the way my body is???

Just was wondering what you all thought?

[Lynayah]

Hello All,

I was diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 years ago (or more). I was put on Paxil and gained about 20-25 pounds over a couple years. Now, maybe because I was getting older (I'm 34 now), maybe b/c Paxil is notorious for weight gain (but i didnt know that then, nor did doctors). I have always been a "gym" person. Nothing crazy but I go 3-4 times a week. Every now and then I fall off the wagon and only go 1-2 times.

Since I gained that weight (couple years ago now) I cant lose it. I switched to Lexapro and still nothing. I have been on Lexapro for 2 years. Weaned off and had bad withdrawal, went back on.

Since being diagnose with Celiac I believe that my anxiety could have been related to this all along. So I am weaning off slowly. I am just about ready to discontinue. My migraines have gone away since gluten free!!! Thats amazing, I struglled with Migraines since I was 11!.

So I hoping that once I get off the antidepressnts and since I have been stablizing on the gluten free diet and feeling better maybe a few pounds will drop. I still go to the gym, prob only three days a week. I have the Gluten Free down. I didnt good for 3 months then cheated in August (rookie mistake I guess) and payed for it. I am now strictly gluten free for life.

Could celiac have something to do with my body not respoding to eating right and working our or is it the antidepressent or is it just the way my body is???

Just was wondering what you all thought?

Hi,

I had to do a gluten challenge before I had my tests, and I gained 15 pounds that for the life of me won't come off. I have been gluten free since late Sept. I can appreciate -- at least in part -- how you feel.

I am giving myself 6 months to a year for my body to readjust. In the meantime, I am eating whole foods -- or trying to anyway -- and trying not to beat myself up too much.

I am no expert, and I do not know a thing about how the meds might be affecting you, but regardless, I would suggest two things:

1- Give your body time to heal, even if you go off the meds. It may take a while for your body to readjust to where you can lose more easily.

2- Eat WHOLE foods instead of processed. There are a lot of gluten-free breads, mixes, etc. out there, and many of them are life-saving yummy, for which I am most grateful, but in my humble opinion, our bodies respond best to foods we were born to eat: Meat, veggies, fruit . . . and watching not to over indulge too, too much.

OKAY, so now that I've said that, let me also say that this is easy to say but not always so easy to do! There's a weird thing that happens to a lot of us. I like to call it the "I can have it syndrome." Here's how it works . . .

Someone offers you a gluten-free cupcake.

Before being diagnosed, you'd seldom eat a cupcake because you're all about healthy eating. However, now that you have been told that you can't eat a-whole-bunch-of-stuff-for-the-rest-of-your-life, there's this thing that happens that makes the cupcake okay . . . not only okay, but a blessing! . . . not only a blessing, but an entitlement! Good grief, you HAVE to eat it BECAUSE YOU CAN!

This may not be true for you, but it is true for so very, very many of us here. What really makes it tough is that many of the breads, cakes, mixes, are much higher in fat and calories than the gluten ones. Ouch!

For someone suffering from depression, it can be even more of a challenge I would guess. I mean, what better way to soothe a soul than to eat? (Not the best or right way, but it sure feels like it at the time). Again, maybe this is not true for you, but oh boy is it true for countless others. I sure know that when I have down days, it's all-too-often all about the food . . . and it was REALLY all-about-the-food back in the days when I weighed over 300 pounds (see below).

The bottom line is that, now that you're diagnosed, your body will heal and you will get better every day. HANG IN THERE. Pray.

I am struggling, too. I know how to lose weight and keep it off. I've kept over 150 pounds off for over 18 years (and proud of it), and I've stayed within a healthy BMI, but now my body isn't responding to my efforts. I've been able to maintain the weight 15 pounds over, without gaining more, which I suppose is a blessing, BUT IT MAKES ME SO MAD I WANT TO SCREAM.

Again, I've decided to just love myself--and try not to scream-- and give myself time. I want the weight loss yesterday, but oh well, that's not happening right now, and I just need to be grateful that at least I now know what is wrong with me.

It will be okay -- I must believe this, both for you and for me, too!

Thank you for this post -- it's a great one. I hope others will respond, too.

PS: Thank goodness you have a diagnosis and you're on the road to getting better. That's the most important thing.

Hugs,

Lyn

[Wolicki]

I struggled constantly trying to gain weight before going gluten-free. Then my body went completely haywire and I started gaining, out of control gaining, while on a low calorie, whole food diet and exercising like a dog. Now, at 4 months gluten-free and doing daily Kettlebell classes, I've stopped gaining, THANK GOD

I still eat low calorie, whole foods, nothing processsed (except the occassional Udi's) and do 35 minutes of hard core exercise everyday. Doc says body is in shock and metabolism is almost dead because of long term malnutrtion. He says give it a year to see a difference. So, i am trying not to stress about being 10 pounds overweight I went from literally skin and bones and looking like death warmed over to slightly plump in 4 months. Go figure! It will all even out, i think. Just give it time.

[Lynayah]

I struggled constantly trying to gain weight before going gluten-free. Then my body went completely haywire and I started gaining, out of control gaining, while on a low calorie, whole food diet and exercising like a dog. Now, at 4 months gluten-free and doing daily Kettlebell classes, I've stopped gaining, THANK GOD

I still eat low calorie, whole foods, nothing processsed (except the occassional Udi's) and do 35 minutes of hard core exercise everyday. Doc says body is in shock and metabolism is almost dead because of long term malnutrtion. He says give it a year to see a difference. So, i am trying not to stress about being 10 pounds overweight I went from literally skin and bones and looking like death warmed over to slightly plump in 4 months. Go figure! It will all even out, i think. Just give it time.

It is comforting to know I am not alone in all this! Thank you for this post.

[Kathleen Smith]

Thank you all for the posts, it really, really made me feel better. One day at time. I am very happy to just know I have celiac and to be feeling better. Once you feel better about one thing, you want to fix it all right away and I guess it takes time. I am going to join Weight Watchers next week, just to get some perspective and see how that goes. Thanks again everyone and good luck to you as well.

[Erin Elberson]

You have already been given some great feedback, and it sounds like you are on the right track. You are absolutely right to take one day, one issue at a time, and also me gentle with yourself and be patient. Fat loss is a process.

I agree with Lyn 100%-I think we tend to eat more sweets/processed stuff that's labeled "gluten free" because we know it will be safe. I just touched on this in an article I wrote. Meanwhile, safe doesn't necessarily correlate to low calorie or healthful. As celiacs the keys to weight loss are no different than any other person, we just have to be aware of a few more factors. Moving more, whether in formal exercise or just activity, in combination with smart nutrition will work.

Best wishes and good luck with Weight Watchers!

[Lynayah]

You have already been given some great feedback, and it sounds like you are on the right track. You are absolutely right to take one day, one issue at a time, and also me gentle with yourself and be patient. Fat loss is a process.

I agree with Lyn 100%-I think we tend to eat more sweets/processed stuff that's labeled "gluten free" because we know it will be safe. I just touched on this in an article I wrote. Meanwhile, safe doesn't necessarily correlate to low calorie or healthful. As celiacs the keys to weight loss are no different than any other person, we just have to be aware of a few more factors. Moving more, whether in formal exercise or just activity, in combination with smart nutrition will work.

Best wishes and good luck with Weight Watchers!

Erin, where is your article? I'd love to read it.

[Erin Elberson]

Erin, where is your article? I'd love to read it.

Hey Lyn, it's on my blog. I don't want to get in "trouble" by linking it. It's called "Beyond the Gluten Free Label."