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Weight Gain

1morething

By 1morething
in Coping with Celiac Disease

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1morething Explorer
1morething
Posted

I was diagnosed in November 2008 and been gluten free ever since. I have however been gaining weight steadily since then. I eat well and exercise every day, but still gain weight. Has anyone experienced this? and what suggestions do you have to help me loose weight.

Thanks

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luvs2eat Collaborator
luvs2eat
Posted

I was diagnosed in November 2008 and been gluten free ever since. I have however been gaining weight steadily since then. I eat well and exercise every day, but still gain weight. Has anyone experienced this? and what suggestions do you have to help me loose weight.

Thanks

As I've said (many times... haha), I gained a good 30 lbs. after going gluten free because I went nuts w/ all the foods I COULD eat to make up for the foods I could no longer have! I'm also a total carb addict... I don't think there's some deep psychological reason... I think it's just that I much prefer mac and cheese to salad and a big fat sandwich and chips to ... salad. Ha ha.

I've had to pare down my carbs dramatically. I eat lots more veggies and fruits and lean meats/proteins and only have a sandwich once or twice a week and have done away w/ the mac and cheese altogether (I actually have no pasta in the house!). I measure out 1/2 to 1 cup of brown rice w/ my meal and try to limit my obvious carbs to one meal a day. I'm also eating way less fat ... occasional lower fat cheese. I've lost 15 lbs... another 15 to go!

Good luck!!

kikamonster Newbie
kikamonster
Posted

I have had the same problem. I don't know about you, but before I went gluten-free I could eat ANYTHING without gaining weight. So I think my portions got a little (or a lot!) out o control during that time. I'm trying to be more reasonable about my portion sizes, eat more fruits and veggies (since they make me feel full sooner, and better overall) and especially watch how much I'm eating of gluten-free replacements like bread, since they tend to be denser and can surprise me.

I am also trying to be happy about the fact that my body is finally getting the calories it needs, even if it means I have to watch my weight now!

clogger69 Rookie
clogger69
Posted

I was DX a year ago this month and have gained 30lb. I also love carbs, bread, mac & cheese. I was so physically active and now feel like I can hardly move. I do have knee issues from the dancing. I don't want to give up food I love but see I must do something :(

Shannonlass Apprentice
Shannonlass
Posted

As I've said (many times... haha), I gained a good 30 lbs. after going gluten free because I went nuts w/ all the foods I COULD eat to make up for the foods I could no longer have!

I have put on a few pounds since going gluten-free 4 weeks ago. This is most definitely the reason. I feel like I have to compensate so the few confectionery items I know I can have boy do I have them!!!I am trying to reign it in now before it gets out of hand.

CarolMil Newbie
CarolMil
Posted

I am glad I am not alone in this one. I have been gluten-free for about three months, and I have had the same issue. I want to eat more of the things I know I can have, and I find myself eating way too much. I was just thinking that something must be wrong with me. Most of my friends and family say "oh I'll bet that this way of life has made you lose weight", and whats funny is its just the oppisite.

So I have to be gluten-free and I have to learn to eat better. What fun! :)

Reba32 Rookie
Reba32
Posted

just because a label may say "Gluten Free" doesn't necessarily mean it is healthy for you. Pasta is still pasta and cakes are still cakes.

Gluten free manufactured products tend to be made from rice flour or potato flour, which are incredibly high in carbs, and incredily highly processed and lacking in general nutrition, just the same as the gluteny opitons.

Palin white rice is also extremely high in carb, and low in nutrients. Anything refined and processed is lacking in natural nutrients, they have to put it back in and "enrich" it.

My favourite mac n cheese alternative is mashed cauliflower with melted sharp cheddar. :)

The New Atkins is an awesome pairing with weight loss and gluten free diet. It also teaches you how and what to eat for lifetime maintenance, not just how to lose weight. And it's not all bacon and cheese either. It's LOTS of healthy vegetables, healthy fats and protiens.

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1morething Explorer
1morething
Posted
  • Author

Thanks to everyone for replying. I'm glad to see that I'm not the only on this diet gaining weight, not that I'm happy you are by all means, it's just that I was trying to figure out why this was happening. I'm also a diabetic and started using the Insulin pump in July of 2009 and I was considering taking the pump off for a few months because I thought that could be the reason. Well I took the pump off today and my blood sugar went through the roof.... Needless to say the pump came back on. Especially after reading all of your posts where weight gain seems common when starting to eat gluten free.

My plan is cut out the junk, not that I ate much of it, and also exercise more... I read that I can have a slow metabolism, so by shaking things up with more exercise I can get out of this rut. I'm also going to look into this New Atkins, that will surely help with my Diabetes as well as hopefully help me shed a few lbs.

Good luck to all of you :)

  • 1 month later...
jkr Apprentice
jkr
Posted

I've gained about 12 lbs ever since I went gluten free. Is it because I'm absorbing more fat or maybe because I have gone crazy with sweets! Could be a combination of both I guess. I'm trying to limit sugar and carbs. Hopefully it will help. I've never had to watch my weight ever, so it's weird.

Dace Rookie
Dace
Posted

Sugar and refined carbs/ high glycemic load fruits and grains are going to put weight on. You need to avoid those things, drink more water and you will see weight loss.

The Glutenator Contributor
The Glutenator
Posted

I went nuts w/ all the foods I COULD eat

I have this problem, too! For example I have gone to restaurants with gluten free desserts two days in a row now. When this happens, I usually have dessert with my meal, and order something else to go for later. I am such a sucker for baked goods, and we don't get fresh stuff very often on a gluten-free diet! If I go to a gluten-free restaurant for lunch, I usually also get another order to go for dinner, again since good prepared gluten-free stuff is hard to come by. Luckily these restaurants aren't very convenient for me to get so, or else I would find excuses to go too much! Since I only do in once in a while now, I let myself indulge when I get the chance.

kayo Explorer
kayo
Posted

Soy is linked to inexplicable weight gain. It's used in place of gluten in a lot of gluten-free free foods and it's in a lot of manufactured food in general. It's actually quite difficult to avoid, even more so than gluten. I believe soy is the culprit for my weight gain. I've been soy free for 4-ish months and just beginning to slim a bit but haven't lost any real weight. Since I'm dairy free I was eating a lot of soy (soy milk, soy ice cream, tofutti) but then when I found out I was intolerant and had to give it up I realized just how much soy is hidden in our foods. It's used as a filler. Something to consider as it totally threw me for a loop.

Dace Rookie
Dace
Posted

Soy is linked to inexplicable weight gain. It's used in place of gluten in a lot of gluten-free free foods and it's in a lot of manufactured food in general. It's actually quite difficult to avoid, even more so than gluten. I believe soy is the culprit for my weight gain. I've been soy free for 4-ish months and just beginning to slim a bit but haven't lost any real weight. Since I'm dairy free I was eating a lot of soy (soy milk, soy ice cream, tofutti) but then when I found out I was intolerant and had to give it up I realized just how much soy is hidden in our foods. It's used as a filler. Something to consider as it totally threw me for a loop.

Soy really is bad news, I avoid it like the plague!

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dreacakes Rookie
dreacakes
Posted

I've been having the same issue! And I don't eat many sweets- just the occasional simple chocolate, and then mostly raw and whole foods otherwise. I think maybe it's because I snack on nut mix, hummus, and avocados a lot now?? Either that or I am just absorbing more of my food.

mary4 Newbie
mary4
Posted

With all the carbs and sugar they put into gluten-free foods it is very well understood why we put up some weight. Especially in the beginning when I tried to compensate on all the food I can't eat by big gluten-free meals and goodies inbetween. Now that I got Accustomed to my new gluten-free diet, along with lots of water, and excersizing (and not overeating...) I can say that I am going back to my usual weight.

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