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How Much Weight Loss Should Be Good?

Fire Fairy

By Fire Fairy
in Coping with Celiac Disease

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Fire Fairy Enthusiast
Fire Fairy
Posted

My weight has varied a lot over the years. I wore a pair of size 10 jeans from 8th grade until age 25. Sometimes they were far too big, sometimes they were very tight. Since then in my late 20's I dropped suddenly to a size 4 and about 109 pounds (I'm 5'5). Then I gained to a size 12 and lost back to a size 4 in my early 30's. In the last couple years I jumped from size 4 to size 14. I was diagnosed on November 2nd 2010 and since then I've dropped from 172 and a size 14 to 145 and a size 10. I've been trying to estimate what my ultimate size is. Am I just at the begging of losing weight or am I getting close to the end of the natural gluten free weight loss? I know no one knows the answer but I was hoping maybe some of you could share your experience with this so I might get some idea of what to expect in the coming months. Personally I'm happy at my current weight and I don't mind losing some more. I just really don't want to get down to a size 4. I'm too thin at that point. Not to mention I'd have to buy all new clothes.

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diane64 Apprentice
diane64
Posted

I have lost weight too, since going gluten free. I think it's due to the fact that I don't eat much at parties, pot lucks, etc. When everyone else is eating pizza, I eat salad! Also, I am eating a lot more fruits and veggies.

Anyway, I have lost about 10 pounds. I don't want to lose much more. I have had to buy new pants, only to have them get too loose on me!

Hmmm... I am curious to see what others say!

Diane

My weight has varied a lot over the years. I wore a pair of size 10 jeans from 8th grade until age 25. Sometimes they were far too big, sometimes they were very tight. Since then in my late 20's I dropped suddenly to a size 4 and about 109 pounds (I'm 5'5). Then I gained to a size 12 and lost back to a size 4 in my early 30's. In the last couple years I jumped from size 4 to size 14. I was diagnosed on November 2nd 2010 and since then I've dropped from 172 and a size 14 to 145 and a size 10. I've been trying to estimate what my ultimate size is. Am I just at the begging of losing weight or am I getting close to the end of the natural gluten free weight loss? I know no one knows the answer but I was hoping maybe some of you could share your experience with this so I might get some idea of what to expect in the coming months. Personally I'm happy at my current weight and I don't mind losing some more. I just really don't want to get down to a size 4. I'm too thin at that point. Not to mention I'd have to buy all new clothes.

missy'smom Collaborator
missy'smom
Posted

It's very individual, as you know. There's no set expectation. The goal is to eat good balanced meals-3 a day and maybe a balanced snack, a good amount of protein at each meal and not too many carbohydrates. Ideal weight depends on bone structure. height etc. As long as you feel good, have enough energy, no menstrual problems(sometimes one can fail to menstruate if one's weight drops too low), then that's a good guage that you are ok.

Fire Fairy Enthusiast
Fire Fairy
Posted
  • Author

Thanks Diane and Missy's Mom.

It's very individual, as you know. There's no set expectation. The goal is to eat good balanced meals-3 a day and maybe a balanced snack, a good amount of protein at each meal and not too many carbohydrates. Ideal weight depends on bone structure. height etc. As long as you feel good, have enough energy, no menstrual problems(sometimes one can fail to menstruate if one's weight drops too low), then that's a good guage that you are ok.

My doctor simply told me to eat 5 fruits and 5 vegetables a day, a protein with low fat per meal, plus a healthy fat to help me absorb my vitamins. He told me not eat potatoes because they are "empty" calories. That was just about all the information I started with when I left the Dr's office to go gluten free. But I've done a lot of reading on the subject and I'm trying to do just as you suggested.

txplowgirl Enthusiast
txplowgirl
Posted

Hi Fire Fairy,

My weight has always stayed about the same since I was 14. Between 205 to 215 since then. I hardly ate anything, I was a picky eater, never eating more than 1500 calories a day but I couldn't lose weight at all. I wore a size 24. After I went gluten free back in April of 09. I discovered I couldn't eat a lot of things including squash, cucumbers, any kind of pepper anything from black pepper to bell peppers. Then found out I couldn't eat any gluten free products or even those on shared lines. So, I am down to just a whole foods diet, plain meats, nuts, brown rice, some beans, and some veggies. I had gotten down to 155 but I guess i've healed some or i'm starting to eat more because i'm back up to 165 and I'm staying there. I've gone down from a size 24 to alternating between 18 and 20.

What is really remarkable is I eat more now than I did back then. That's over 40 something pounds! Wohoo! Now, if I can just stay here or lose a little more i'll be happy, happy, happy. :)

sb2178 Enthusiast
sb2178
Posted

Okay, potatoes are not empty calories. They aren't a great idea if you are diabetic/borderline diabetic and not that great when fried (aka potato chips and french fries = empty calories). BUT, they have plenty of nutrients, are affordable, and readily available.

Eat 'em in moderation in the place of grains. Great source of potassium, good source of vitamin C, fiber if you eat the skin, etc. Mix it up with other roots like turnips, sweet potatoes, parsnips, rutabagas, daikon, etc. Do not use them to replace the vegetable superstars like greens and carrots, and don't load them down with the less good for you foods like sour cream and fake bacon bits.

BTW, I am at my early high school weight, down about 10 lbs from my average "adult" weight. I'm still eating some refined grains and sweets, so it's not so much that I've had a major diet change from processed to whole foods.

And I like potatoes (in case you didn't guess). In fact, I just put two in my bean soup, along with a couple of carrots, parsnips, and a turnip!

julandjo Explorer
julandjo
Posted

My weight has varied a lot over the years. I wore a pair of size 10 jeans from 8th grade until age 25. Sometimes they were far too big, sometimes they were very tight. Since then in my late 20's I dropped suddenly to a size 4 and about 109 pounds (I'm 5'5). Then I gained to a size 12 and lost back to a size 4 in my early 30's. In the last couple years I jumped from size 4 to size 14. I was diagnosed on November 2nd 2010 and since then I've dropped from 172 and a size 14 to 145 and a size 10. I've been trying to estimate what my ultimate size is. Am I just at the begging of losing weight or am I getting close to the end of the natural gluten free weight loss? I know no one knows the answer but I was hoping maybe some of you could share your experience with this so I might get some idea of what to expect in the coming months. Personally I'm happy at my current weight and I don't mind losing some more. I just really don't want to get down to a size 4. I'm too thin at that point. Not to mention I'd have to buy all new clothes.

I've lost 35 pounds so far and am still losing. My whole adult life I've been a size 16/18. No matter what I did and how physically fit I've been, I could not lose weight and I was hungry all the time. When I finally got diagnosed and my gut started to heal enough to absorb nutrients, that hunger started going away and I naturally ate less. And now my diet is so stripped down that I am not eating any of the stuff I used to pig out on. (And I do eat a LOT of potatoes, and I'll be honest, a LOT of potato chips!) I'm not trying to lose weight but it's still coming off. I do still maintain my workout schedule, but I'm not pushing myself to lose, if that makes sense. I'm in a size 10 now and am looking and feeling really good. I figure my body will level off wherever it's meant to be, but it would be nice to have an idea where that is so I could buy/not buy clothes! ;)

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Mac55 Apprentice
Mac55
Posted

My weight has varied a lot over the years. I wore a pair of size 10 jeans from 8th grade until age 25. Sometimes they were far too big, sometimes they were very tight. Since then in my late 20's I dropped suddenly to a size 4 and about 109 pounds (I'm 5'5). Then I gained to a size 12 and lost back to a size 4 in my early 30's. In the last couple years I jumped from size 4 to size 14. I was diagnosed on November 2nd 2010 and since then I've dropped from 172 and a size 14 to 145 and a size 10. I've been trying to estimate what my ultimate size is. Am I just at the begging of losing weight or am I getting close to the end of the natural gluten free weight loss? I know no one knows the answer but I was hoping maybe some of you could share your experience with this so I might get some idea of what to expect in the coming months. Personally I'm happy at my current weight and I don't mind losing some more. I just really don't want to get down to a size 4. I'm too thin at that point. Not to mention I'd have to buy all new clothes.

I know what you mean about the weight fluctuations! For 10+ years before my diagnosis my weight was all over the place. I would gain and lose weight for no reason. I was diagnosed Feb 09 and within a couple of months I went from a size 16 to a 12. I'm a 12 now and I think that's the size that's natural for my body, maybe a 10. Has your weight loss slowed? My weight loss was pretty quick. It slowed down then leveled off.

Thanks Diane and Missy's Mom.

My doctor simply told me to eat 5 fruits and 5 vegetables a day, a protein with low fat per meal, plus a healthy fat to help me absorb my vitamins. He told me not eat potatoes because they are "empty" calories.

Just wanted to add that potatoes aren't empty calories. I actually didn't realize how much was in them until my husband and I were debating it. I had to eat my words! Here's a link to a site about their nutrition. I actually ate a lot of potatoes in the first 4ish months. I couldn't handle much in the way of rice, so more potatoes! Just watch what you put on them. :)

Open Original Shared Link

starrytrekchic Apprentice
starrytrekchic
Posted

Your ideal weight depends on a lot of things. I'm the same height, 5'5", and my ideal weight is around 136. But you have to take into account body build, muscle mass, chest size (for girls), whether you have narrow hips/shoulders or broad hips/shoulders, how fit you are, etc. Pants sizes aren't a great indicator because they vary so much from manufacturer to manufacturer (and sometimes within manufacturers).

Really, it should be whatever you're comfortable with, makes you feel good, and is healthy.

Fire Fairy Enthusiast
Fire Fairy
Posted
  • Author

Thanks everyone! I truly appreciate all of your thoughts. Mac55 I'm very glad to hear it wasn't just me who had a lot of weight changes prior to diagnoses. As far as potatoes go, I love them. I think my Doctor was trying to scare me away from them because he was concerned about my weight and thought I'd replace pasta with potatoes. I am a medium build woman and I've lost a bra size since going gluten free I was a 36B and now I'm a 34B. I have very little muscle as prior to diagnoses I didn't have much energy. Julandjo you and I have the same concern, I'd love to know what size clothes to invest in. I still have my old size 8's but I don't own anything smaller. I'm really hoping I'll get to be around 135 I think that was a very healthy weight for me.

Again thanks so much to everyone who has commented. I really need the support as I have no one to talk to face to face who can really sympathize.

lcarter Contributor
lcarter
Posted

Wow, you can loose weight on this diet? Since going gluten free, I have gained weight and have a normal weight for the first time in my life. I was always underweight before - I weighed only about 98-102 lbs for many years at 5'3'' [except when pregnant]. Always had problems with being anemic, spells of D and vomiting, nausea, apthus mouth ulcers, vitamin deficiencies, under-active thyroid, and neurological problems + later osteoporosis. Now I weigh 123-126 lbs and am active, swimming laps everyday, and in great health at 68 yrs young. Also, for the first time in my life I have to watch what I eat so I don't gain weight!

missy'smom Collaborator
missy'smom
Posted

Wow, you can loose weight on this diet? Since going gluten free, I have gained weight and have a normal weight for the first time in my life. I was always underweight before - I weighed only about 98-102 lbs for many years at 5'3'' [except when pregnant]. Always had problems with being anemic, spells of D and vomiting, nausea, apthus mouth ulcers, vitamin deficiencies, under-active thyroid, and neurological problems + later osteoporosis. Now I weigh 123-126 lbs and am active, swimming laps everyday, and in great health at 68 yrs young. Also, for the first time in my life I have to watch what I eat so I don't gain weight!

Wow, that's great and encouraging. It's all about body in balance. I've been low carb to manage diabetes for 2 years now? and was very underweight when I started but am finally gaining, which I am happy about. How many people try to GAIN weight on a low carb diet? I think I've found the right balance for my body and some healing has taken place somewhere so my body is getting back to where it should be.

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