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When You First Went Gluten Free, Did You Lose Weight?

Prezwilson15

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luvs2eat Collaborator
luvs2eat
Posted

On the contrary! I was diagnosed w/in 2 months of symptoms so there was no unexplained weight loss for me. And after I was diagnosed, I was so upset at all the food I could no longer have... I OD'd on all the foods (translate carbs) I could have and gained 40 lbs. in the first year!!

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GlutenGladi8or Apprentice
GlutenGladi8or
Posted

I actually gained about 25 pounds. But they were 25 good (muscle) pounds. For years, my body was robbed of its ability to absorb the lean protein that I was consuming. That also goes for the multiple protein shakes that I was drinking.

While gaining those pounds I also was able to decrease my body fat percentage (hovers right around single digit these days).

I will admit, when the doctor first told me that I had Celiac and attached the word "disease" to it, my heart nearly stopped. But today, I feel blessed to live a gluten free lifestyle. I do NOT miss those empty wheat carbs at ALL. :)

mamabear272 Explorer
mamabear272
Posted

I will admit, when the doctor first told me that I had Celiac and attached the word "disease" to it, my heart nearly stopped. But today, I feel blessed to live a gluten free lifestyle. I do NOT miss those empty wheat carbs at ALL. :)

I was the same way! I was pretty freaked at first but now I embrace it. I pride myself on making gluten recipes gluten-free. It's like a game for me. And the fact that I feel so much better is amazing!

GlutenGladi8or Apprentice
GlutenGladi8or
Posted

I was the same way! I was pretty freaked at first but now I embrace it. I pride myself on making gluten recipes gluten-free. It's like a game for me. And the fact that I feel so much better is amazing!

I told a woman at the gym this morning that I had Celiac Disease. She said "oh... I'm SO sorry".

My reply "Don't be sorry for me, it's been nothing but smooth flying AND body building".

chasbari Apprentice
chasbari
Posted

I lost in the neighborhood of 35 pounds in the first two months gluten free. It was scaring my wife but I felt so much better. I was weak and skinny fat. I looked like a typical "healthy" American middle aged male before being diagnosed but I knew how weak I had become. It didn't help that I had rheumatoid arthritis as an excuse for my immobility, etc. I lost so much body fat that it revealed just what muscle mass I had left. Bottomed out in the low 130's. I was able to workout more and more as I healed and started to absorb nutrients. Contrary to what many contend here, I consume plenty of fats, including whole fat raw dairy and plenty of raw eggs. I am up to a very lean 150 pounds now and have never been stronger. The thing I noticed once I started adding fats like coconut oil and fatty meats was that I feel much younger uh.. shall we say.. hormonally. I eat a very low carb diet with a few servings of fresh fruit and a select group of non nightshade veggies and greens (turnip, mustard, collard.) I eat good sized meals every day and am finally not starving all the day long like I was at first.

mamabear272 Explorer
mamabear272
Posted

Good for you GlutenGladi8tor!

GFinDC Veteran
GFinDC
Posted

I actually stayed about the same after going gluten-free at first but did gain some lbs after a while. But my appetite changed a lot and I found I was staying at basically the same weight but eating much less food after going gluten-free. I just wasn't as hungry all the time like I Was before. I could stand to lose a few pounds now, but I never had a weight problem at all before gluten-free. I guess I Wasn't absorbing a whole lot of the nutrients I Was eating. I was kind of thin my whole life but always ate plenty of food, more than my brothers who were heavier than me. Except for my youngest brother who had Crohn's, he was even skinnier than me. Both my remaining brothers are fairly heavy now though. They are big boys. :)

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domesticactivist Collaborator
domesticactivist
Posted

I didn't just go gluten-free - we did GAPS. I lost 20 lbs almost immediately, then stabilized. I was around 145 at 5'6 and went down to about 125. I was concerned because if I got any smaller I'd be too thin, but it seems my body was just finding a new normal. This is actually the size I was before I had kids (about 13 years ago!)

GlutenGladi8or Apprentice
GlutenGladi8or
Posted

I Wasn't absorbing a whole lot of the nutrients I Was eating.

That's the beauty of being diagnosed... your body absorbs the protein and nutrient that has been lacking. If you're trying to gain muscle and just newly diagnosed, prepare for take off!

"Houston... we DON'T have a problem!"

zentex Newbie
zentex
Posted

Three months into the gluten-free lifestyle...I have not gained nor lost a pound. In the year before I went gluten-free, I had a lot of stomach troubles and gained about 30lbs--mostly because I didn't feel good and quit exercising. I also turned to comfort foods.

As soon as I feel comfortable with the diet (and this heat wave breaks); I'll look into resuming my active lifestyle

jmrogers31 Contributor
jmrogers31
Posted

This is so interesting. I have been gluten free for 1 month now and the nutritionist told me to be careful because I will probably gain weight due to absorbing more of the food I am eating. All I know is I used to run religiously and even completed 2 half marathons and was around 195-200 pounds which is very heavy for a runner since I am only 5'10. After I got a bad sinus infection in January the symptoms I always had magnified and I felt horrible all the time and didn't exercise at all. Everything I ate seemed to floor me and my weight dropped from 204 to 188 with no effort of my own. Now after being gluten free for 1 month, I feel great and my weight has gone from 188 to 179. First time since college in the 170's. I started exercising again which could explain some of that. I think it is interesting that so many people lose weight when I was told not to be surprised if I started gaining weight. 25 pounds since the first of the year, not bad considering I haven't made a conscience effort to lose.

  • 2 weeks later...
Junior Chef Rookie
Junior Chef
Posted

I've been gluten free for 6 months and I've lost 20 pounds, without exercising! So far I'm not gaining any back, either.

Rocketlegs Newbie
Rocketlegs
Posted

I couldn't lose weight no matter what I tried before, but since juicing and eating fruits/vegetables/meat/rice I've been losing 1 pound a day. I was 5'5" and 260 when I started so I have fat to lose. I'm going this to feel better though!

GlutenGladi8or Apprentice
GlutenGladi8or
Posted

This is so interesting. I have been gluten free for 1 month now and the nutritionist told me to be careful because I will probably gain weight due to absorbing more of the food I am eating. All I know is I used to run religiously and even completed 2 half marathons and was around 195-200 pounds which is very heavy for a runner since I am only 5'10. After I got a bad sinus infection in January the symptoms I always had magnified and I felt horrible all the time and didn't exercise at all. Everything I ate seemed to floor me and my weight dropped from 204 to 188 with no effort of my own. Now after being gluten free for 1 month, I feel great and my weight has gone from 188 to 179. First time since college in the 170's. I started exercising again which could explain some of that. I think it is interesting that so many people lose weight when I was told not to be surprised if I started gaining weight. 25 pounds since the first of the year, not bad considering I haven't made a conscience effort to lose.

Just for the heck of it, you should go to a gym (or somewhere) and see if you can get your body fat tested. I wouldn't be surprise (and your shouldn't either) if you are dramatically decreasing you body fat percentage.

  • 2 weeks later...
Guest Cassie Getty
Guest Cassie Getty
Posted

Yes I did! With the help of exercise and discipline. Along with the weight, I also noticed that I haven't had migraine attack for quite a long time. I use to wake up feeling dizzy and light headed but not anymore since I started with my gluten free diet. :)

  • 2 weeks later...
caligirl2001 Newbie
caligirl2001
Posted

Yes, I lost weight. I dropped 50 lbs over the course of the first year or so. The weight loss stabilized on it's own. I just stopped losing once I reached a certain weight, even though I didn't make any further changes. I've maintained for almost 2 years now. I've seen a few other comments on here from people who said that they couldn't lose weight prior to eliminating gluten and I fall into that category as well. Once gluten was eliminated, the weight seemed to fall off on it's own until my body reached a weight that it was comfortable with. My appetite also regulated itself.

alex11602 Collaborator
alex11602
Posted

So I thought that my weight stabilized after losing 30 lbs in 3 months, but I started losing again and at 6 months have now lost 70 lbs and I'm still losing some.

pricklypear1971 Community Regular
pricklypear1971
Posted

I haven't weighed...but I starting dropping immediately (I was also moving so very active). then I hit the gluten-free processed foods and was stationary. Now I'm losing again, don't have s scale but when I hit a new clothes size I'll know for sure.

I have a lot of personal training appts. Left at LA Fitness - I'm going to try to use them soon since the DH is disappearing and I can stand to get sweaty again.

  • 3 weeks later...
glutengirl42 Rookie
glutengirl42
Posted

I went Gluten Free about 3 months ago and I have gained weight. I constantly feel hungry. I've heard that many have lost weight. I'm hoping that I get this under control and lose weight as well. Hang in there. That's all we can do.

  • 2 weeks later...
GlutenDude Newbie
GlutenDude
Posted

I made the mistake after my diagnosis of buying a lot of gluten free processed foods, because it was easy and I was so overwhelmed. I ended up gaining about 10 pounds the first year. It was only when I thought "healthy" instead of "gluten free" (and of course consistent exercise) that the weight started coming off. I've been gluten free five years now, I'm 46 and feel in the best shape of my life. Celiac does have its assets :)

glutengirl42 Rookie
glutengirl42
Posted

You are totally right gluten dude. Lots of gluten free pre-made foods are very high in sugar, carbs and fake additives to make up for the taste and lack of gluten. I'm starting the specific carbohydrate diet Oct 17th.. I'm sure I'll lose weight and feel even better on that.

TracyandLyss Newbie
TracyandLyss
Posted

I was hoping that would be the case for me...but unfortunately I have not lost an ounce...gained about 4 pounds though. I am not 100% sure I am totally gluten-free though, I have to wait for my next blood test, since I have no symtoms!!

  • 2 weeks later...
granolagal Apprentice
granolagal
Posted

I was only diagnosed 6 days ago, and have been gluten-free for...6 days! :P As soon as I was diagnosed I've had SEVERAL people tell me "this will be good for you - you'll gain weight!". Problem is...I'm terrified of gaining weight. Right now my BMI is 19.6, and I have actually gained 8 pounds over the summer because I got so sick I wasn't able to work out anymore. So right now I'm at the maximum weight I would want to be. I really really really hope I don't gain....

meinelse Rookie
meinelse
Posted

Went gluten-free in July and have dropped nearly 20 lbs--before that I had been steadily gaining weight because I was so sick and wasn't active at all. I think I have gained muscle mass as well because I'm able to do yoga again and move around a bit. I am worried about falling underweight now though--I'm always starving, and I can't eat much because I have hypo and a nightshade intolerance, too. Pretty limiting. I think the weight loss is partially just from those restrictions, I can't just grab a snack off the shelf or drive through McDonald's. But I've wondered whether it is also related to some other changes in my body (absorption, reduced swelling, etc). The reduction in abdominal swelling was the first thing I noticed, I dropped a full pant size in a very short period of time, but I'm also losing weight and dropped almost another full pant size since then. I feel like a skeleton!

  • 3 weeks later...
K-Lea Newbie
K-Lea
Posted

I haven't eaten gluten/wheat for 6 weeks now. I dropped 8 lbs. before I went gluten free because I was sick. The sickness is what prompted me to go gluten free. I expected to gain the 8 lbs. back once I was no longer sick, but the sickness stayed away and so did the pounds. It is my best guess that I would have lost them on the gluten free diet had I not lost them due to sickness first. I am glad to lose those pounds because I had gained them in the past year. That being said, I don't have many other extra pounds to lose (maybe 5 or so). If I lose more than that I will be concerned.

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