Eating Less Healthy On Gluten Free Diet

[Shanmegjilal]

Hello,I was dx about 1 yr. ago.I crave breads,muffins,cookies(I eat the gluten-free ones) and chocolate.I find that I like a a couple glasses of wine at night now as my "treat" from being "deprived"!I've been gaining weight.I'm always hungry and find that a sandwich with udi's bread doesn't fill me at lunch so I snack on peanut m&m's in the afternoon,etc.I've tried to substitute with fruit but it doesn't help.I was never like this before dx!!!Help!!!!

[starrytrekchic]

Well, the gluten-free versions of those foods (cookies, bread, etc) are all more calorie-dense, that's why you're gaining weight. I'm guessing you're craving them because of gluten withdrawals? Though a year seems like a long time to go through that.

Stay active, get (or keep) fit, count how many calories you're eating every day, limit your breads and cookies and such--either smaller portions or fewer times a week. Don't deny yourself them...just try and keep them in control? Try filling up on high-fiber stuff like apples or popcorn--or high protein stuff to keep you from getting hungry in day.

[mushroom]

Yep, I think you need some more protein and good fats like avocado and olive oil; try some occasional handfuls of almonds, snack on crackers and cheese occasionally, corn chips and guacamole, small servings of pesto pasto with lots of pesto and parmesan cheese. See how that goes. Delicious, filling, and not too many carbs, and no sugars.

[TrickyMama]

I believe I have read and I certainly believe based on personal experience that the more processed carbs you eat, the more you crave, the more you eat, the more you crave. Science has definitely proven that this is true of high fructose corn syrup, which may be in the gluten-free processed prepared carbs you are eating. If I remember correctly, it interferes with the production of leptin, preventing you from ever feeling full. So you eat a muffin with HFCS, you don't feel full because your body is not producing leptin correctly to signal your brain that you are full, so you eat more, take in more HFCS, still don't feel full . . . it becomes a vicious cycle. I now make (or am planning to learn to make!) gluten-free bread so my son can take sandwiches to school, I make gluten-free pancakes maybe once a week, and the crackers and cookies are only treats for the kids. For treats, I, personally, have a scoop of So Delicious coconut milk ice cream or a bowl of watermelon, but I think you have to feel good to get to the point where you can make the switch. You need some incentive and not really in the way of a reward. The way I do that is with exercise. If you hate exercise, I think you haven't found the exercise that floats your boat. Take a dance class, walk on the treadmill with your ipod, row a boat (or a machine), play recreational soccer . . . whatever makes you feel alive. And if none sounds good, just pick one and get started. If you don't like it, try something else. When you exercise and have fun and release those good chemicals in your brain, you will likely stop wanting the foods you are wanting to eliminate. I'm neither a nutritionist nor an exercise physiologist, but I try to stay educated on these kinds of things, so hopefully, it is meaningful to you. If there is a nutritionist out there who wants to correct me, feel free! Best of luck to you, my friend. I hope you find your groove.

[Shanmegjilal]

I believe I have read and I certainly believe based on personal experience that the more processed carbs you eat, the more you crave, the more you eat, the more you crave. Science has definitely proven that this is true of high fructose corn syrup, which may be in the gluten-free processed prepared carbs you are eating. If I remember correctly, it interferes with the production of leptin, preventing you from ever feeling full. So you eat a muffin with HFCS, you don't feel full because your body is not producing leptin correctly to signal your brain that you are full, so you eat more, take in more HFCS, still don't feel full . . . it becomes a vicious cycle. I now make (or am planning to learn to make!) gluten-free bread so my son can take sandwiches to school, I make gluten-free pancakes maybe once a week, and the crackers and cookies are only treats for the kids. For treats, I, personally, have a scoop of So Delicious coconut milk ice cream or a bowl of watermelon, but I think you have to feel good to get to the point where you can make the switch. You need some incentive and not really in the way of a reward. The way I do that is with exercise. If you hate exercise, I think you haven't found the exercise that floats your boat. Take a dance class, walk on the treadmill with your ipod, row a boat (or a machine), play recreational soccer . . . whatever makes you feel alive. And if none sounds good, just pick one and get started. If you don't like it, try something else. When you exercise and have fun and release those good chemicals in your brain, you will likely stop wanting the foods you are wanting to eliminate. I'm neither a nutritionist nor an exercise physiologist, but I try to stay educated on these kinds of things, so hopefully, it is meaningful to you. If there is a nutritionist out there who wants to correct me, feel free! Best of luck to you, my friend. I hope you find your groove.

[Shanmegjilal]

Thank you for your help.I definitely need to cut back on the breads!!!I just find this diet so hard as I was always a bread lover!A lot of vegetables bother me such as spinach,broccoli,summer squash and zucchini.Also, different types of lettuce.The gluten free bread type products have just been easy but I'm paying the price.I do exercise but will try increasing it!Thanks.

[TrickyMama]

Shan...I really believe that to get the maximum physical and mental benefit from exercise, you must figure out what form of exercise you love. If you dread it, you won't do it. I wish you all the best and good health and relief from your carb cravings. Hugs!

[sb2178]

Yeah, try cutting back on the carbs and upping the protein. Fruit alone isn't terrifically filling, but fruit with a yogurt or tuna salad is generally pretty good. Have you had any bloodwork looking at nutrient levels recently? I'm famished whenever I end up with iron deficiency.

Can you start taking whole grain pilafs or bean salads with sandwich fillings instead of bread for lunch? Add more dairy? Cold turkey on added sugars is wicked hard, but tends to be pretty effective for as long as you can stick to it. Homemade low-sugar custards can be good substitutes for things like muffins, or start making your own muffins with less sugar. I've got a vague sort of recipe on my blog, or message me if you want an actual precise recipe.

Maybe cut the wine with seltzer so you still get a couple of glasses, but fewer calories. Only if it's cheap wine, though ;-).