Gluten Free For 2 Years...gained So Much Weight

[TiffanyB]

I have been gluten free for about two years now. I never cheat due to fear of getting sick. All my life I have weighed about 100lbs, I've never worried about weight before. Over the past 5 months I've gained over 20lbs. I can no longer fit in my clothes and my stomach is big. I do try to work out 3 times a week, but now I can not even fit in my gym clothes and I feel like I look horrible. I have not had a attack for a year and a half now. So I am happy about that, but so not happy about this weight problem. what am I doing wrong? So unhappy and I can not afford to buy all new clothes. help! LOL

[TrickyMama]

I do not know what you look like, how tall you are or your frame but is it possible you were severely underweight and are actually normalizing due to improved health? Not too many adults can be healthy and weigh only 100 pounds.

[luvs2eat]

I gained a good bit of weight after going gluten-free. I finally had to cut back on a lot of the breads/baked goods. Many have a higher glycemic index and more calories because of the flours we use (rice!). I lost 20 lbs. in about 4-5 months by eating mostly lean proteins and lots of fruits and veggies... I cut way back on the carbs.

[rain]

I can relate! In my case, I've been on the diet for 6 months, but I've been about 113 for 15+ years and am now stuck at 118. And what bugs me is that rather than feeling like I've reached an ideal weight I feel heavy. In my case my appetite is changing so I'm still eating when I'm not hungry. But I'm not used to how little I need to eat now that food is being absorbed! Plus I'm just over 40... I don't care what they say, the metabolism dive is a big deal (at least for me). I'll second the comment on gluten free carbs - I don't touch them. But going into the gluten free diet I was in a good place to control carbs.

It stuck out that you said you gained all the weight in the last 5 months. Did something change? Or did I misunderstand?

[scuzy]

I have had the same issue of eating when I'm not really hungry. I was so used to eating all the time because my body felt starved of nutrients. I think it just takes some practice, it's kind of like if we had to learn how to walk again, but with food.

[Wheatfreedude]

Over the past 5 months I've gained over 20lbs.

help! LOL

Hi Tiffany:

Nearly 20 years ago, I did a study on all of the new Fat-Free food items that were infiltrating the marketplace. The "likes" of Entemann's suddenly had fat-free cookies/brownies/coffee cake. Consumers flocked to these items, because "hey, they are fat free and I can eat as many as I want..... Right?".

Well, they may have been fat free but those carbs can easily add a Michelin tire to anyone's waist line.

Keep this little scenario in mind the next time you go shopping. Just because the cookies, chips, bread, pasta, cereal, granola bars, snack bars, side dishes, and appetizers say "GLUTEN FREE"... it doesn't necessarily mean that it won't pack on the pounds.

Instead, start shopping more in the "golden horseshoe" of the store (the perimeter): produce, dairy, meat, deli, etc. There are plenty of wholesome foods there.

Why do I have a "sneaking suspicion" that you are buying plenty of packaged gluten-free goods from the middle of the store?

~Wheatfreedude~

[KikiUSA]

I totally understand how you are feeling. I have been gluten-free for 9 months now and I have went from 110 pounds to 126 pounds and I do work out atleast 3 times a week. I never had a problem before I was diagnosed and although I am starting to feel better inside I feel horrible on the outside. I hate the way I look and always feel like a whale and it depresses me. I have cut out almost all carbs now but haven't seen a change just yet but keeping my fingers crossed.