Eating Like A Horse!

[The Glutenator]

It seems as though, no matter how much I eat, my body can barely keep up. Has anyone else noticed this with the celiac diagnosis? I am usually hungry, but even if I'm not I''m diligent about snacking between meals, plus my meals are just bigger than those around me. Add to that the fact that gluten-free processed foods tend to be more calorie dense than the regular stuff, and I am thinking "where are all these calories going?". I am fairly balanced during meals with fruits, veg, protein, and dairy but have dessert almost every night (cheese cake, brownies with ice cream...). My snacks are pretty big too! It has been about 3 months gluten free and at this stage I feel like I can barely maintain my weight! Can anyone else relate?

[my.oh.my]

Hi there,

Must be difficult to eat a lot knowing that they are full of carbs and can show.What I would suggest is having your Thyroids tested. I know my mom had the same issue and was clueless until she got her thyroids tested.That was the answer!!!

Good Luck!

[The Glutenator]

It can be socially awkward. I try to keep snacks around, but my friends are just getting used to me always munching on something. Since I am pretty tiny, when people see me consistently eating the quantities I do they begin to have questions! Gah.

[chasbari]

I know what you are dealing with. For the first 9 months or so I couldn't get enough calories and could barely keep from dropping any more weight after dropping a frightening fast forty pounds... and I was eating all day long. Huge meals and constant snacking. In the last several months things have finally eased a bit. Coincidentally I upped my vitamin D3 intake substantially and the appetite seemed to settle a bit and I also actually gained a pound over the course of a few weeks. I figure with all the healing that has to happen it is no surprise that I have been this hungry. Now that I am not assaulting my body with poison it wants all the calories it can get to try to make things work better again.

[ciavyn]

Me too! I've been gluten-free for six months, and I'm ALWAYS hungry. I am training for a half-marathon, so logically I'm going to be hungry, but I'm famished constantly. And it's real hunger, not emotional munching craving. Very frustrating.

[The Glutenator]

Its great to hear that there is hope, then. I mean, I like having dessert every night, but it is less of a treat when it is part of your daily routine! Finger's crossed that my body will start to settle at some point too. I am spending some time in Europe in August, and would like to put on a bit of weight before then. I am tiny right now, and since most people lose weight backpacking (and thats when they enjoy pastries, gelato, beer, and all the other local foods that I am totally depressed to be missing out on!) I need some safety weight, or else I'm worried I'll have no energy.

[allisons]

I think it's possible there's a number of things happening here - first of all, gluten foods are higher in protein than a lot of their gluten-free substitutes and they're going to make you feel fuller longer. Sugary foods don't make you feel full, no matter how much calories you have because they digest so quickly. Rice NEVER makes me feel full, neither does corn. How often/how much meat do you eat? How much quinoa or other protein rich grains do you get? How about diary and eggs?

Second, you're probably not getting as much fiber as you used to, either. Another thing to make you feel full. Most American diets get a big ole chunk of their fiber from whole wheat - cut out the wheat and it's not easy to replace it with the rice flour based substitutes.

But also, 6 months is really just the very beginning of recovery of your villi - you may not be absorbing everything as well as a healthy person yet but with most of the inflammation going away, you might have an appetite back that was suppressed by discomfort before you began the gluten-free diet. If you still haven't gained any weight in another six months, I'd get worried.

I'll second the bit about getting your thyroid checked - many celiacs are falsely diagnosed with thyroid issues - maybe it could go the other way? I know that one autoimmune disorder increases your risks for a second one, and thyroid is a simple blood test so it shouldn't be hard to do.

Don't be ashamed of eating. But do talk to your doctor about anything you feel is "odd"

[Leper Messiah]

I'm always starving. I've got weak adrenals too so it's like a constant worry where my next gluten-free meal is coming from. I need to plan my meals better.

Hunger was easing a bit on the gluten-free diet but after a glutening it goes back into overdrive.

[Shannonlass]

If you are staying at the same weight I don't see a problem really. Lucky you. My weight just keeps going up and up and up no matter how carefully I eat or how much exercise I take

[The Glutenator]

I just saw my GI today, and he said that any time now, as my intestines heal, I'll start retaining more nutrients and my weight will go up. He was poking around my abdomen and said, due to muscle depletion, my abdominal walls are weak and my kidneys and other organs aren't very protected. Eek! So more brownies and cheesecake for now! Could be healthy and say protein bars, healthy fats, and proteins, but hey how often in life do you have a excuse for constant treats?!?

Note: No I am worried I will be on here in 2 months saying I can't control my massive weight gain, but one step at a time for now...

[ciavyn]

I just saw my GI today, and he said that any time now, as my intestines heal, I'll start retaining more nutrients and my weight will go up. He was poking around my abdomen and said, due to muscle depletion, my abdominal walls are weak and my kidneys and other organs aren't very protected. Eek! So more brownies and cheesecake for now! Could be healthy and say protein bars, healthy fats, and proteins, but hey how often in life do you have a excuse for constant treats?!?

Note: No I am worried I will be on here in 2 months saying I can't control my massive weight gain, but one step at a time for now...

If you are able to start some light exercise (or continue, if you already are) you should be fine. I eat like a horse, too, and I think it's because I'm so active...but I also don't gain weight at this point. Which I'll take...

[The Glutenator]

I am active with exercise, so that could be part of it. For now, just going to eat more calorie dense foods and more often. Once I get my weight up a bit, I can go back o eating what I have been (still a lot) and hopefully stay stable. Come on muscle...