Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Celiac And Strength Training

mhguitar4

By mhguitar4
in Sports and Fitness

Recommended Posts

mhguitar4 Newbie
mhguitar4
Posted

Hey guys. long story short, i suspect that i have celiac disease because my sister and dad were just diagnosed and i have many of the same symptoms. im getting tested soon and i havent started a diet yet.

my question is this: can celiac disease seriously impair your strength and ability to gain strength/muscle? im 6'3" 180lbs but i have always been pitifully weak. i started strength training about 7 months ago and i have worked my squat up from about 90lbs to 170lbs (3 sets of 5). In addition to having a hard time gaining strength/weight and being extremely weak for my size, i also lose what i have gained incredibly quickly. i stopped lifting for about 3 week to let a sprained ankle heal, but remained moderately physically active for those weeks. i come back and ive lost about 3 pounds and i couldnt even put up 150lbs 2 times! i know that everyones body is different... but that amount of strength lost that quickly doesnt seem natural to me. and this seems to happen every time i stop lifting for a week or more.

i have really been putting forth alot of effort to try to get stronger... but this is starting to get very discouraging now. i have been lifting for months and i STILL cant squat my own weight. has anyone had a similar experience with celiac disease? i am really hoping that this improves once i start a diet.

mhguitar4 is online now Report Post Edit/Delete Message

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


JillianLindsay Enthusiast
JillianLindsay
Posted

You bet it can!!! Celiac disease damages the lining of the stomach, which is responsible for absorbing nutrients from your food, including protein, Vitamin D, and carbs (among others), which are necessary for muscle building. It takes time, and a 100% gluten-free lifestyle (if you do, in fact, have celiac disease) for your body to heal.

Since going gluten-free 2 years ago, I have gained 10-15 lbs of muscle (I am still lean & athletic and all my clothes still fit lol)! Results will vary with each individual, but I think you're on the right track and there is definitely hope that if/when you go gluten-free, you will improve your strength. Even if your test is negative, you could always try the diet for 6 months to a year to see if it helps (there is such a thing as a false negative test).

Good luck :)

my question is this: can celiac disease seriously impair your strength and ability to gain strength/muscle? im 6'3" 180lbs but i have always been pitifully weak. i started strength training about 7 months ago and i have worked my squat up from about 90lbs to 170lbs (3 sets of 5). In addition to having a hard time gaining strength/weight and being extremely weak for my size, i also lose what i have gained incredibly quickly. i stopped lifting for about 3 week to let a sprained ankle heal, but remained moderately physically active for those weeks. i come back and ive lost about 3 pounds and i couldnt even put up 150lbs 2 times! i know that everyones body is different... but that amount of strength lost that quickly doesnt seem natural to me. and this seems to happen every time i stop lifting for a week or more.

i have really been putting forth alot of effort to try to get stronger... but this is starting to get very discouraging now. i have been lifting for months and i STILL cant squat my own weight. has anyone had a similar experience with celiac disease? i am really hoping that this improves once i start a diet.

chasbari Apprentice
chasbari
Posted

Agreed with the above. When I was so messed up it would take me a month to recover from any attempt at working out. I had seriously trained for much of my life but was getting weaker and weaker. Now, after several years of healing, I recover faster than when I was much younger and have gained considerable strength. Strict gluten free has enabled much of this incredible response.

Greenling Newbie
Greenling
Posted

Ditto to what the others have said. For the last several years, I was so frustrated by what I called "diminishing returns" from my workouts. I seemed to expend more effort, but get fewer gains (or even lose strength). Couldn't really understand it.

Now, I've been gluten-free for 15 weeks. I've only been able to really work out the last 3-4 weeks, but I see strength (re)gains very quickly (particularly in my core). Needless to say, I'm thrilled. :)

So, you'll probably see gains once you get the healing process started. But, please take it slow. It was hard for me to accept this too, but it's necessary. Your body's been through a lot. Slow and steady for a couple of weeks/months is worth it for the payoff in the long run. Good luck!!

GlutenGladi8or Apprentice
GlutenGladi8or
Posted
i am really hoping that this improves once i start a diet.

Congrats on figuring this out. Now, with the proper diet, get ready for take off! Your body will be absorbing the nutrients and protein at an accelerated rate.

Since you speak of diet above, the most crucial building block for muscle is the lean protein that you'll need with nearly every meal. Do a search on my various posts and you'll list after list of protein recommendations that I make.

Within time, you'll be lifting an incredible amount of weight... take it from me.

Welcome to post-Celiac success days!

  • 4 months later...
Ellie84 Apprentice
Ellie84
Posted

It's so true :) In my student days tried to gain some muscle for improved metabolism, but the results were meager to say the least. After diagnosis and treatment I picked up weightlifting again and I'm getting in shape really quickly now. Before I suffered from dizzyness and lack of energy during training, that's nearly gone now. It's also easier to stick to a healthy lifestyle now, because my hunger binges are gone. I could eat for hours and hours and still be hungry.

  • 1 month later...
GFdad0110 Apprentice
GFdad0110
Posted

I have been gluten free my whole life and been working out for about 11 years (off and on) and I believe that the diet is very healthy. I have two older brothers and I'm bigger (muscles) then both. There is plenty of good nutritious gluten free grains out there. One of my favorite (probably the best grain for us in the world) is quinoa. i have a feeling you will notice quick results, both with energy, size and strength once you go gluten free.

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      @Jane02, I hear you about the kale and collard greens. I don't do dairy and must eat green leafies, too, to get sufficient calcium. I must be very careful because some calcium supplements are made from ground up crustacean shells. When I was deficient in Vitamin D, I took high doses of Vitamin D to correct the deficiency quickly. This is safe...
    2. Jane02
      - Jane02 replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      Thank you so much @knitty kitty for this insightful information! I would have never considered fractionated coconut oil to be a potential source of GI upset. I will consider all the info you shared. Very interesting about the Thiamine deficiency. I've tracked daily averages of my intake in a nutrition software. The only nutrient I can't consistently...
    3. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      Hello, @Jane02, I take Naturewise D 3. It contains olive oil. Some Vitamin D supplements, like D Drops, are made with fractionated coconut oil which can cause digestive upsets. Fractionated coconut oil is not the same as coconut oil used for cooking. Fractionated coconut oil has been treated for longer shelf life, so it won't go bad in the...
    4. Scott Adams
      0

      Penobscot Bay, Maine: Nurturing Gluten-Free Wellness Retreat with expert celiac dietitian, Melinda Dennis

      until
      Hello! Join me and treat yourself to a four-day, three-night restorative gluten-free retreat in a peaceful, private coastal retreat setting near Penobscot Bay in Maine. Dates: April 10-13, 2026 Enjoy engaging classes...
    5. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      I do not know this, but since they are labelled gluten-free, and are not really a product that could easily be contaminated when making them (there would be not flour in the air of such a facility, for example), I don't really see contamination as something to be concerned about for this type of product.
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      133,331
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Kristy2026
    Newest Member
    Kristy2026
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.6k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • knitty kitty
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      @Jane02, I hear you about the kale and collard greens.  I don't do dairy and must eat green leafies, too, to get sufficient calcium.  I must be very careful because some calcium supplements are made from ground up crustacean shells.  When I was deficient in Vitamin D, I took high doses of Vitamin D to correct the deficiency quickly.  This is safe and nontoxic.  Vitamin D level should be above 70 nmol/L.  Lifeguards and indigenous Pacific Islanders typically have levels between 80-100 nmol/L.   Levels lower than this are based on amount needed to prevent disease like rickets and osteomalacia. We need more thiamine when we're physically ill, emotionally and mentally stressed, and if we exercise like an athlete or laborer.  We need more thiamine if we eat a diet high in simple carbohydrates.  For every 500 kcal of carbohydrates, we need 500-1000 mg more of thiamine to process the carbs into energy.  If there's insufficient thiamine the carbs get stored as fat.  Again, recommended levels set for thiamine are based on minimum amounts needed to prevent disease.  This is often not adequate for optimum health, nor sufficient for people with absorption problems such as Celiac disease.  Gluten free processed foods are not enriched with vitamins like their gluten containing counterparts.  Adding a B Complex and additional thiamine improves health for Celiacs.  Thiamine is safe and nontoxic even in high doses.  Thiamine helps the mitochondria in cells to function.  Thiamine interacts with each of the other B vitamins.  They are all water soluble and easily excreted if not needed. Interesting Reading: Clinical trial: B vitamins improve health in patients with coeliac disease living on a gluten-free diet https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19154566/ Safety and effectiveness of vitamin D mega-dose: A systematic review https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34857184/ High dose dietary vitamin D allocates surplus calories to muscle and growth instead of fat via modulation of myostatin and leptin signaling https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38766160/ Safety of High-Dose Vitamin D Supplementation: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31746327/ Vitamins and Celiac Disease: Beyond Vitamin D https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11857425/ Investigating the therapeutic potential of tryptophan and vitamin A in modulating immune responses in celiac disease: an experimental study https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40178602/ Investigating the Impact of Vitamin A and Amino Acids on Immune Responses in Celiac Disease Patients https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10814138/
    • Jane02
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By Jane02 · Posted

      Thank you so much @knitty kitty for this insightful information! I would have never considered fractionated coconut oil to be a potential source of GI upset. I will consider all the info you shared. Very interesting about the Thiamine deficiency.  I've tracked daily averages of my intake in a nutrition software. The only nutrient I can't consistently meet from my diet is vitamin D. Calcium is a hit and miss as I rely on vegetables, dark leafy greens as a major source, for my calcium intake. I'm able to meet it when I either eat or juice a bundle of kale or collard greens daily haha. My thiamine intake is roughly 120% of my needs, although I do recognize that I may not be absorbing all of these nutrients consistently with intermittent unintentional exposures to gluten.  My vitamin A intake is roughly 900% (~6400 mcg/d) of my needs as I eat a lot of sweet potato, although since it's plant-derived vitamin A (beta-carotene) apparently it's not likely to cause toxicity.  Thanks again! 
    • knitty kitty
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Hello, @Jane02,  I take Naturewise D 3.  It contains olive oil.   Some Vitamin D supplements, like D Drops, are made with fractionated coconut oil which can cause digestive upsets.  Fractionated coconut oil is not the same as coconut oil used for cooking.  Fractionated coconut oil has been treated for longer shelf life, so it won't go bad in the jar, and thus may be irritating to the digestive system. I avoid supplements made with soy because many people with Celiac Disease also react to soy.  Mixed tocopherols, an ingredient in Thornes Vitamin D, may be sourced from soy oil.  Kirkland's has soy on its ingredient list. I avoid things that might contain or be exposed to crustaceans, like Metagenics says on its label.  I have a crustacean/shellfish/fish allergy.  I like Life Extension Bioactive Complete B Complex.  I take additional Thiamine B 1 in the form Benfotiamine which helps the intestines heal, Life Extension MegaBenfotiamine. Thiamine is needed to activate Vitamin D.   Low thiamine can make one feel like they are getting glutened after a meal containing lots of simple carbohydrates like white rice, or processed gluten free foods like cookies and pasta.   It's rare to have a single vitamin deficiency.  The water soluble B Complex vitamins should be supplemented together with additional Thiamine in the form Benfotiamine and Thiamine TTFD (tetrahydrofurfuryl disulfide) to correct subclinical deficiencies that don't show up on blood tests.  These are subclinical deficiencies within organs and tissues.  Blood is a transportation system.  The body will deplete tissues and organs in order to keep a supply of thiamine in the bloodstream going to the brain and heart.   If you're low in Vitamin D, you may well be low in other fat soluble vitamins like Vitamin A and Vitamin K. Have you seen a dietician?
    • Scott Adams
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      I do not know this, but since they are labelled gluten-free, and are not really a product that could easily be contaminated when making them (there would be not flour in the air of such a facility, for example), I don't really see contamination as something to be concerned about for this type of product. 
    • trents
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By trents · Posted

      Contact them.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.