Need Some Help Understanding Weigh Loss/gain On gluten-free Diet

[lischro]

I'm brand new to all of this but seem to be under the impression that my going on a gluten free diet will help with the unexplained weight gain I have had the last couple of years. I'm 24/female and I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism about 3 years ago and was told my symptoms would be relieved after about 6-8 weeks of taking levothyroxine, but nothing has changed. Among many others, my main symptoms rae being so tired, chronic constipation/bloating, mood swings and weight gain.

My thryoid levels are and have been normal. I've been very adament about checking.

My doctor finally ordered a blood test for celiac but I haven't gotten my results yet but am convinced I am gluten intolerant.

Anyway, I need some help figuring out how certain people are having trouble gaining weight on the gluten free diet and some are having trouble losing and some are even gaining weight! It's so confusing!

Anything would be of great help!

[cyberprof]

  On 7/19/2010 at 9:07 PM, lischro said:

I'm brand new to all of this but seem to be under the impression that my going on a gluten free diet will help with the unexplained weight gain I have had the last couple of years. I'm 24/female and I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism about 3 years ago and was told my symptoms would be relieved after about 6-8 weeks of taking levothyroxine, but nothing has changed. Among many others, my main symptoms rae being so tired, chronic constipation/bloating, mood swings and weight gain.

My thryoid levels are and have been normal. I've been very adament about checking.

My doctor finally ordered a blood test for celiac but I haven't gotten my results yet but am convinced I am gluten intolerant.

Anyway, I need some help figuring out how certain people are having trouble gaining weight on the gluten free diet and some are having trouble losing and some are even gaining weight! It's so confusing!

Anything would be of great help!

Hello and welcome,

The questions of weight, over/underweight and weight loss/gain are tricky. I think the "classic" celiac loses lots of weight before diagnosis, gets very sick and needs to gain weight back. Others, like me, are among the 40% of newly diagnosed celiacs who are overweight. Some of us can lose weight easily --others can't. My dietician explained to me that my body thought it was starving because it wasn't getting nutrients from food and therefore held onto every calorie. I was deficient in vit D and vit B...others are deficient in iron or calcium. I have early osteoporosis due to the low vit D absorption.

So, I'm not sure what your body's reaction to celiac is, but in any event it isn't always easy to figure out. I'm not able to advise about thyroid, but I think it might make things trickier. The only thing that seems to work for me is to eliminate processed carbs (gluten-free Bread, crackers, sugar) and eat a good-carb diet (fresh/frozen veggies, fruit, meat, fish, eggs) and no "white stuff" - rice, potatoes, flour, sugar. The South Beach diet is a good plan, as is the paleo diet, and both are compatible with celiac.

Also, take gluten-free vitamin supplements - B12, B6, folate (best under-the-tongue for good absorption...also known as sub-lingual), Vit D, magnesium (very important IMHO), and calcium. I use Nature Made brand plus Trader Joe's vit b sub-lingual. These really helped with my symptoms.

Good luck to you!

[VitaminDGirl]

So do some celiacs lose fast because they are having diaherrea?

Or why is that?

The past year I was 'trying' to lose weight and got to my smallest size ever. BUt now I wonder how much of it was by my trying, and if it's just because of the gluten? I do not get diaherrea though. Mine has been more constipation.

I'm worried once I go totally gluten free I will now GAIN weight if this is 'why' I lost.

Does that make sense?

I hope you can help me understand that.

Thanks.

[cyberprof]

  On 8/9/2010 at 2:41 AM, VitaminDGirl said:

So do some celiacs lose fast because they are having diaherrea?

Or why is that?

The past year I was 'trying' to lose weight and got to my smallest size ever. BUt now I wonder how much of it was by my trying, and if it's just because of the gluten? I do not get diaherrea though. Mine has been more constipation.

I'm worried once I go totally gluten free I will now GAIN weight if this is 'why' I lost.

Does that make sense?

I hope you can help me understand that.

Thanks.

I'm not a scientist or doctor but my understanding is that since the lining of the small intestine is damaged, it does not absorb nutrients, vitamins and fats as it normally should. This can cause diarrhea, constipation, vitamin deficiencies, weight loss, weight gain, metabolism changes and other symptoms of malnutrition: Any or all of these can by symptoms/outcomes.

As to whether or not you will gain weight, that is variable too, but others have suggested staying away from the

[VitaminDGirl]

  On 8/9/2010 at 4:52 AM, cyberprof said:

I'm not a scientist or doctor but my understanding is that since the lining of the small intestine is damaged, it does not absorb nutrients, vitamins and fats as it normally should. This can cause diarrhea, constipation, vitamin deficiencies, weight loss, weight gain, metabolism changes and other symptoms of malnutrition: Any or all of these can by symptoms/outcomes.

Thanks for your response.

[lischro]

It's so confusing! VitaminDgirl- I also have the constipation side of things.

I apologize if you've already mentioned this, but are you taking any specific supplements that you've noticed helping the constipation?

So far the gluten free diet alone has done nothing for my constipation. I'm looking for examples other than adding more fiber or food choice, but instead, information on viatmins or supplements would be awesome!

Thanks!

[cyberprof]

  On 8/10/2010 at 9:02 PM, lischro said:

It's so confusing! VitaminDgirl- I also have the constipation side of things.

I apologize if you've already mentioned this, but are you taking any specific supplements that you've noticed helping the constipation?

So far the gluten free diet alone has done nothing for my constipation. I'm looking for examples other than adding more fiber or food choice, but instead, information on viatmins or supplements would be awesome!

Thanks!

Try magnesium. I feel a lot better when I take it. Plus, it has a laxative effect at higher doses. Start out small, add more to see if it has that effect for you. I use Nature Made, gluten-free and dairy-free.

[julandjo]

  On 8/10/2010 at 9:02 PM, lischro said:

It's so confusing! VitaminDgirl- I also have the constipation side of things.

I apologize if you've already mentioned this, but are you taking any specific supplements that you've noticed helping the constipation?

So far the gluten free diet alone has done nothing for my constipation. I'm looking for examples other than adding more fiber or food choice, but instead, information on viatmins or supplements would be awesome!

Thanks!

I've found that a good omega 3-6-9 supplement helps somewhat. I brought the constipation issue up w/my GI doctor, and he recommended probiotics as well. I noticed a big improvement once I added those in.