Always Feel Like I Need To Eat

[yogismith]

I am a newly diagnosed celiac disease. I feel like I am hungry all the time. lately i have had a really big sweet tooth and I will eat alot of candy. I try to chew gum so i don't over eat on candy but this dosen't always help. is this happening or has happened to any once they were on a gluten free diet.

[jerseyangel]

I am a newly diagnosed celiac disease. I feel like I am hungry all the time. lately i have had a really big sweet tooth and I will eat alot of candy. I try to chew gum so i don't over eat on candy but this dosen't always help. is this happening or has happened to any once they were on a gluten free diet.

Hi and welcome to the board!

Yes, this happens to a lot of us. Your appetite should even back out over time as you heal, but maybe try eating some protein with each meal or snack to keep your blood sugar even. Things like an apple with nut butter, gluten-free trail mix, a Lara Bar, a piece of string cheese with some fruit or celery make good snacks. For meals, focus on whole, unprocessed foods like lean meats, poultry, veggies, rice, potato and eggs. The idea is to eat enough food so as to not be starving between meals and to get the most nutrition from what you do eat.

[kmille1]

I felt this way too when I first went gluten free. I was HUNGRY all the time, like I hadn't eaten all day. I think it was because my body finally could absorb all the nutrients it couldn't get before. Stick to good filling foods that will help heal your body, It will go away...it just takes time!

[GlutenFreeKate]

This happens to me whenever I am "glutenend". I don't know the medical reasons why it occurs, but it's from the adjustment of your body to not having gluten. It should even out soon, so keep on healthy snacking!

[nmlove]

This happened to me. I've heard a few reasons but who knows why it happens. The worst was the first two weeks but then it started to ease way up. Until my first glutening last Friday. My appetite's finally getting back to normal. What helps me is eating frequently and eating whole foods (meat, fruits, veggies).

[freeatlast]

I have been eating gluten-free for almost 13 years, but there was a period of time of about three years that I started back eating gluten, wheat, etc. During that time, I felt like I was hungry constantly. Always. Now that I'm back eating right, I'm not hungry all of the time. As someone said above, eating a little protein each time you eat and, I might add, some good fat such as 3-6 almonds or olives helps stave off the hunger, too.

[Reba32]

when I was doing the 8 week gluten challenge, I was starving the whole time. Plus I was bloated and constipated, so not a good mix!

All the other suggestions to eat whole natural foods, and make sure you get protiens and fats are good ideas. Fats and protiens keep you satiated, and will help to stave off cravings. Don't allow yourself to get hungry, eat a snack every 2 or 3 hours. Celery and cream cheese. Olives and pickles. Half an avocado. A piece of chicken with some mayo.

The more GOOD food you put into your body, the less you'll crave the bad stuff.

[happygirl]

It is apparently pretty common - from: Open Original Shared Link

"Q: I feel hungry all the time. Is that normal?

Yes, it is very common. Your body is making up for the time it wasn't fully absorbing foods. Hunger levels tend to normalize within the first months after eliminating gluten and beginning a well balanced diet of gluten-free foods."

[Lynayah]

It is apparently pretty common - from: Open Original Shared Link

"Q: I feel hungry all the time. Is that normal?

Yes, it is very common. Your body is making up for the time it wasn't fully absorbing foods. Hunger levels tend to normalize within the first months after eliminating gluten and beginning a well balanced diet of gluten-free foods."

I know it is true because my hunger levels definitely went up -- very frustrating. It also doesn't make sense -- you'd think that once you finally start absorbing nutrients, your body would get satisfied more easily and crave LESS food, not more! Where's the justice?

[kristianne75]

I certainly don't know the medical reasons for it either, but I kind of assumed that the whole grain sort of acted as a filler. For me that was usually pasta or bread, and that is filling. Much more so than an apple. I can honestly say, since I have gone gluten-free about a year ago, I have not felt that feeling of, oh I am so stuffed. You are not alone, I know that for sure!

[Lynayah]

My hunger level went up when I did the gluten challenge, too. AND my hunger level was out of control many, many years back when I was overweight and eating A LOT of heavily processed gluten foods, every day.

For me, my best years, hunger-wise, were when I was losing weight and after I lost weight. During that time, I ate mostly fruit, vegetables, meat, legumes and many servings of whole grains each day (which of course included wheat, barley, rye). I ate a low-fat, high fiber diet. On days when I ate meat, it was lean meat only, and the portions were moderate. Mostly, I ate legumes, eggs, dary and soy for protein. I also used to drink a lot of smoothies made from whey.

(Now I'm watching soy, dairy and eggs as they seem to be giving me grief, too.)

So, kristianne75, you might be right about the grains--especially if they are healthy, whole grains, giving a different sense of fullness and satisfaction.

Protein plays an important part, too. I miss the low-fat options of eggs, yogurt, soy, etc. How I used to love a veggie burger on wheat bread! And it was FILLING.

Of course, exercise is important, too. If I exercise, I'm not as falsly-hungry as I am on days when I do not exercise.

I am still trying to find a low-fat, high fiber gluten-free balance of foods that leaves me as satisfied as I used to be back then. It has been a challenge so far.

Thank goodness, I've still managed to keep off most of what I lost back in the early 90's. I lost over 100 pounds.

This gluten thing caused me to gain 15. I've been able to maintain the gain and not gain more . . . but I haven't been able to lose those darn pounds!

Since I was at the top of my BMI range before I gained it, I am now at the lower end of being overweight, and it's driving me CRAZY.

So far, the low-fat foods that seem to satisfy me most are potatoes, beans and Corn Thins Multi-grain (love these with fat-free refried beans on top). On days when I stick to these, I feel lighter. Problem is, I get tired of eating the same thing, so I eat differently the next day and, whammo, my satisfaction level goes down.

I'm going to find that balance! I'm on a quest!