Weight Gain

[lbv6684]

How many of you actually gained weight after going on a gluten-free diet? I am struggling with this. I am overweight, could use to loose about 50 pounds or so to reach what I consider a healthy weight. Before I was diagnosed with celiac, I was doing well, loosing weight slowly with Weight Watchers, and working out. I was diagnosed 8 weeks ago, and have fallen off of the weight loss wagon. I just can't get back on. I have gained about 5 pound since starting. I need to get back into the swing of things but can't get my mind around how to do this. Does anyone else feel this way? I get very discouraged when I see posts that say "I have lost 30 pounds since going on this diet".... I feel like ALL food is the enemy right now, but I can't seem to stay away!

[Wolicki]

I am with you, but I don't know the answer. I was seriously emaciated before going gluten free last summer, and now I am plump. This is while working out like a dog and watching every bite, never consuming more than 1500 calories a day. I just don't get it. I don't eat any processed food, rarely grains. Lots of lettuce

I ate and ate and ate before I was diagnosed, just trying to put on some weight, and since diagnosis have gained so much that my weight has doubled. My doctor keeps saying give it time, your body was starving and is holding onto everything. He says once it realizes that it will not be starved again, then the weight will come off. Well, it's been almost 9 months. Will someone please tell my body it's not starving???

Sorry this turned into a rant. But I do understand. My thyroid went wonky, and I take Levoxyl for it, but the Endo says it's not enough to cause weight gain.

If anyone has answers, lbv and I would love to hear!

[luvs2eat]

I've told my tale of weight woe before, but I was diagnosed very quickly... after only a few months of symptoms. In the next year, I put on about 30 lbs... happily filling up on all the foods I COULD have to make up for the foods I could no longer have.

I do know that a lot of gluten free foods (rice pastas, breads) have a higher glycemic index and often more calories per serving that a lot of gluten foods. And there are no "diet" breads, etc. for us.

I've had to cut way back on obvious carbs... breads and pastas... and I eat mostly lean meats, veggies, fruits... low fat too. I've lost almost 20 lbs. in about 3 months w/ another 20 or so to go!

[Tehana]

I was always thin built until I started becoming very ill, I went from about 105lbs to about 135 in a few months, but much of that was water bloat, my stomach was swollen. When I went gluten-free I lost much of that water bloat and slowly began to put on healthy weight. I'm still between 130lbs and 135, but its much different weight than I had before. I've been hoping to loose a bit of this weight, as I'm quite short and the weight packed on a little bit too quick for my liking, but I haven't had any luck.

[Nor-TX]

I have also found that I have gained a little weight. I've gained 5 lbs. since October, and couldn't figure why. I guess I am eating many more carbs than before... and guess where they are settling? Yes.. right around my middle...

[lbv6684]

Interstingly enough, I had a GI appt today, my first since going gluten free 2 months ago. When I went gluten-free he told me that many people gain weight, and asked today about it, I have only gained a few pounds, but he actually said that was a good sign (easy for him to say, skinny man that he is!). He has had a hard time actually dx me as I have a positive biopsy and negative blood work and so going gluten free was the test to see if celiac was the dx. Gaining weight to him means that I likely had some intestinal damage before, which meant that I wasn't absorbing nutrients as I should be. I was working on loosing weight before and was thrilled that it was coming off easily etc, but now that I think about it, this may have been because I was sick and not really because I was following Weight Watchers (darn it!) Now that my intestines are healing, gaining weight makes sense because my intestines are doing what they are designed to do- abosorb nutrients. Sort of a double edge sword if you think about it. At least it made me feel better about the fact that I am healing! Yay! Now I need to get to the point where I give up the gluten-free cookies, cakes and breads that I have worked so hard to learn how to make

[WheatChef]

Going on a restrictive diet can have many unintended consequences. What sort of breakfast are you eating on a regular basis?

[KateGrace]

I lost weight on this diet, mainly because I had to give up dairy as well as gluten. (I used to overeat on both.)

I also don't eat any of the gluten-free packaged foods because I'm still healing, which is probably helpful.

And ever since my (ex) favorite chocolate started included dairy and possibly wheat (damn you, Green & Blacks!), I've stopped eating chocolate. So another food addiction--gone.

Now I'm 5'8 and weigh 120 lbs, like I did in high school, and am no longer plagued by cravings. I don't believe in "fast" metabolism or "slow" metabolism, I just believe in overeating! And I don't blame myself or anyone for lack of "willpower," I blame our food for being so horribly refined and loaded with calories. Staying away from packaged food definitely helps in that regard, because they are usually filled with "taste-enhancers" (like MSG, usually disguised as "natural flavoring") that make you overeat. I think they should be outlawed.

My doctor keeps saying give it time, your body was starving and is holding onto everything.

This is definitely valid. What I have found that works--it may sound counterintuitive--is to supply your body with lots of "good," healthy fats. Olive oil and avocados, for example. They will not only fill you up for hours (that's important), but encourage your body to get rid of its own fat deposits.

I'm a poor grad student, but I manage to spend $14 on my olive oil (Napa Valley organic) and just drench my daily salad with it. It's very satisfying and I don't get hungry for hours.

In turn, I don't spend money on gluten-free crackers, pasta, cookies, and so on. I intuitively know that I would overeat on those. Instead, I snack on fruits, salads, and eat steamed veggies for dinner. Every few days I'll get some protein in there, too. Eating such whole foods has helped me to determine what "hunger" is versus "craving."

Another thing I've learned is to eat my biggest meal early in the day. Our metabolism peaks at noon and then tapers off. Also, if you give your body time to digest its last meal in the evening, then you'll burn more fat at night.

I tend to leave such long posts, sorry, I'll shut up now.

[Reba32]

My new favourite chocolate is Endangered Species 80% cocoa Certified gluten free, kosher and vegan!

Gluten free alternative foods are incredibly high in refined carbs. If you stay away from manufactured and processed foods, stick with whole, natural foods, include healthy fats, protiens, and lots of veggies, you'll feel better, and will lose weight.

For baking, switch to coconut or almond flour rather than rice or potato flour. Switch to stevia for a sweetener rather than sugar or honey.

Try The New Atkins. It is awesome, very easy to follow, and the early phases are naturally gluten free. Once you get to the grains rung, you can just skip those recipes. There are lots of alternatives, and along the way, you learn what and how to eat for a healthy lifestyle, not just to lose weight.

(and no, I don't work for Atkins!)

[lbv6684]

The strange part for me was that prior to being diagnosed, I was already reading lables, eating less processed things, and had already eliminated anything "white" from both my diet and my families. Suddenly when I was told I could not have this I went bonkers and searched high and low for anything and everything that is processed and ready to eat AND started baking like a maniac, knowing full well that it wasn't good for me. I am so sure that if I could just get my mind off of the "no" foods I will find that there are plenty of "yes" foods to fill me up and satisfy me!

[juppygirl]

I have gained 2 stone I dont need since starting gluten-free last summer- unfortunately I didnt lose weight with the illness before I was diagnosed - am very fed up. I admit I havent been too healthy with choices but it is still frustrating

[foodiegurl]

The strange part for me was that prior to being diagnosed, I was already reading lables, eating less processed things, and had already eliminated anything "white" from both my diet and my families. Suddenly when I was told I could not have this I went bonkers and searched high and low for anything and everything that is processed and ready to eat AND started baking like a maniac, knowing full well that it wasn't good for me. I am so sure that if I could just get my mind off of the "no" foods I will find that there are plenty of "yes" foods to fill me up and satisfy me!

wow, i actually had to look who wrote this, because i thought it might have been me. i could have totally said these words! just like you i read labels carefully, and now i will eat anything that says gluten-free...which is so unlike what I used to be like.

and like many of you said....before i was diagnosed, i was trying to loose weight and it melted off, like 15 lobs super easy, i was so happy, and then about 3 months after going gluten-free it started to creep back up and now i am like 20lbs over...and so miserable about it. i actually rote a blog post about it today on my blog..glutenfreemusings.com, about this very thing.

it is like if i see something that is gluten-free, i have to grab it right there and then, because i am scared it might not even be found again

[Heather's Mom]

All I can offer you is my support as I am not a Celiac myself. My 11 year old daughter was diagnosed about 6 months ago. We just went in for her 6 month check up and we all cheered and praised her for gaining 7 lbs! I chuckled and told her enjoy it while you can...won't be long before gaining weight is not what you want. As a person who has struggled with my weight for my entire life I totally empathize with you. I lost about 75 lbs on Weight Watchers about 7 years ago and with a little ups and downs have mainly managed to keep it off (I'm up 10 lbs right now and back on the wagon). I say stick with Weight Watchers. Count your pointes and stay faithful to the program. Don't think of food as the ememy. I wish you much luck.