Afraid Of Gaining Weight

[kim307]

Hi everyone,

I am newly diagnosed (1 month). I had a horrible experience with my diagnosis. I went to a GI suggested by my general physician who I love...and the doctor was horrible. I went in for burning in my stomach. I always was running to the bathroom, and that was part of my life. The doctor who I don't trust told me my blood work and biopsy were positive for celiac. When he gave me the official diagnosis, I was in and out of his office in five minutes. He didn't explain anything to me. I have since met with a flakey nutritionist and am now paranoid about gaining weight.

I have always been small, 5'2 and 100 pounds. The most I ever weighed was 112 and I felt HUGE. Now, all I hear is that since I will actually digest my food, I am going to gain weight. This is horrifying to me! I have read a ton of posts about gaining weight and not being able to lose. I need to know, is this true? Even if I continue to work out and take my thyroid meds on schedule? Help!!

Kim

PS- I am switching doctors and going to a specialist at the Celiac Disease Center at Columbia. My doc was a quack

[Emilushka]

I haven't gained anything since being diagnosed a month and a half ago, but I obviously haven't gone that long since diagnosis. For me, it's been more a matter of making sure I try to pack in as many nutrients as possible ... Most of my vices are gone, though. I can't have my beloved cheese and I can't have my beloved pasta (and my super-beloved combination of those two ... )

Don't freak out about possible weight gain. Try to eat healthily - that's really the essential thing. If you focus on fruits, veggies, and lean proteins (lean meats like turkey and chicken, healthy protein-fat combos like fishes and nuts, whole grains like buckwheat flour and wild rice and quinoa) I think you'll do OK weight-wise.

[realmaverick]

It's been 4 weeks and I've gained some weight. Not sure how much, because I'm too scared to step on the scales.

However I'm quite sure it's due to the fact I've been stupid and eat way more junk than I should have. I've been eating a lot of processed gluten free baked goods and gluten free chocolate.

I now need to cut out all the rubbish and focus on losing weight, as it's really bothered me.

[GlutenFreeManna]

Hi Kim,

I beleive the reason the doctors are telling you that you will gain weight is that your current BMI is considered underweight. While you are not super underweight right now, 112 would be in the normal BMI range and a healthy weight for you. As the other posters said, please don't try to obsess about your weight. Instead focus on being healthy and gluten free. I am 5'2" myself and while I don't want to share my weight here online I will tell you I am considered obese based on the BMI. I lost weight when I first went gluten free. I would like to lose a little more, but I am not worried if I don't right away. I just focus on being as healthy as possible so my body can heal.

[RideAllWays]

I'm 5'1 and 100 lbs as well. I was 95 before diagnosed, then up to 110 (other health complications and starting college hehe, and yes I felt ginormous but apparently nobody noticed) but now that I have got this diet 100% figured out I am back down to my healthy 98-100 pounds. I think the trick is STAY AWAY FROM REPLACEMENTS. The breads and cookies are fine for a treat, but they pack a ton of calories so instead of always having sandwiches, have a lettuce wrap or use a rice cake instead of bread. If you have any questions message me, I have tons of quick and easy and healthy meals that I eat every day. Just keep up your exercise and fill up on fruits, veggies, nuts, rice, beans..

[luvs2eat]

I completely agree w/ RideAllWays. I was a normal weight when I was diagnosed... I was diagnosed quickly and didn't experience unexplained weight loss. I was so upset about all the foods I could no longer have... I ate WAY too much of what I could have... gluten-free breads, pastas, etc. I gained about 40 lbs!! I had to cut out a lot of those carbs and only have them occasionally and have lost 20 of that 40. Stick to the real foods we can already have (lean meats, fruits, veggies) and limit the replacements and you should be just fine.

[kim307]

Thanks everyone!

Yes, when you are first diagnosed you go right for the gluten free foods because you feel like they are the safest thing to eat I also have a hyothyroid (shocker for a celiac person... so that is why i am nervous. Between the awful doctor, and the nutritionist...they were a real downer.

Yes, I miss my food too. I am 100% Italian, and our holidays and meals revolve around pasta and bread, and breaded food I hope those gluten free breadcrumbs are good.

Was anyone else in disbelief when you received the diagnosis?

So glad I found this forum!

[Kay DH]

My weight is much more stable than when I could eat gluten. Junk food has gone away and I'm much healthier now. Going gluten-free means smoother emotions and more stable digestion, both of which help with weight control. There is a transition phase when people try to keep eating like they were, and that can cause gain and (or) loss. It is rather like a period of grieving. While it may not seem so now, life is much better going gluten-free. And, yes, I understand your frustration with doctors. My GI and GP didn't know anything about celiac, and the GI was an arrogant little scudder.

[KikiUSA]

Unfortunatly for me I have gained 20 pounds now in 10 months and I am depressed about this..I am 5'1" and use to weigh 107lbs to 110lbs so for me to be weighing 130lbs now it makes me cry alot and I am a whale. I exercise alot and dont eat any processed food and the starches I do eat are potatoes and rices but only a couple of times a week so I feel full.

I truly am now thinking of not eating for a few weeks and just doing a liquid diet to see if I can lose anything!

My dr is not very helpful and said my thyroid is just fine and acted like it was all in my head! Helloooooooo he can see that I have put weight on!

Hang in there and hopefully this wont happen to you.