3 Weeks gluten-free - Have Lost Appetite, Food Not Appealing

[zeeclass6]

I have been gluten-free for 3 weeks. About 2 weeks in, I started to notice a sharp decline in my appetite and cravings. I used to crave carbs, but I don't anymore (which is a plus, IMO).

But I also seem to have totally lost my appetite, too. I eat because I'm hungry, not because some food sounds good to me or smells good or even tastes good. In fact, nothing seems to taste particularly good to me at all lately. Except for (strangely) the Trader Joe's milk chocolate covered raisins (they are gluten-free) that I eat sometimes as a little treat.

I am not dairy-free, but I am limiting my dairy to an extremely small amount (a little Lactaid milk in my scrambled egg, for instance). I am lactose intolerant.

I find this symptom to be alarming. I used to have a hearty appetite and most of my life I have been a bit of a "foodie," enjoying all sorts of international cuisines on a regular basis. Of course since going gluten-free, I have barely eaten out. I have limited my eating out to a very mediocre local Mexican restaurant which has a big gluten-free menu, a nice steakhouse restaurant which has a gluten-free menu, or a Thai restaurant which totally understand gluten-free. I've also visited a local gluten-free bakery for an occasional cookie or something. But other than that, I've just eaten at home.

Why would my appetite disappear? Why is food, in general, so unappealing to me right now? Is this something that other people have experienced? Will it go away?

I am gluten-free because my doctor told me to do it because I have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. My Celiac blood test was negative, but I have very low IGA.

[zimmer]

I think your body is adjusting to the change. Living gluten-free is all about adjusting: physically, mentally, socially, etc. I think it just takes some time to get used to it all, especially the eating at restaurants part!

I noticed a change in food's appeal and my appetite, and welcomed the return of my hunger pangs. It's different to eat because your body demands something rather than because it's lunch time or snack time or party time or whatever.

I can't address the Hashi's part, but that could play a role. There are very knowledgable, friendly people here who can help you with that part.

[OrangeBeacher]

I know how you feel. Aside from having to eliminate a lot of delicious foods, which is frustrating, I think it's mostly psychological. I tell everyone I have a love-hate relationship with food. What used to be an enjoyable experience and one that required no more thought than "What would I like for dinner" now involves so much thought and discussion it no longer feels like a natural part of your life. It's more of an aggravation. There is a bright side though. If you are going gluten-free, you are eating a lot healthier and I don't mean just the elimination of gluten. Think of all the processed foods you can't eat which means you are also eating a lot less preservatives and chemicals in those foods. It will take time but you will adjust to the change particularly when you start feeling so much better.

[Kate129]

I had this same thing happen.. Actually the first month I went gluten free I lost 13lbs from just not wanting to eat anything.. I figured out that I pretty much craved things that had gluten in them.. I could count on the fact that if I wanted it it probably contained gluten and sure enough I would read the label and yep sure did.. I read a lot about detox from gluten on the Internet and apparently gluten can act like a mood booster ite helps you to produce seratonin.. About a month after I was gluten free I discovered that starbursts and skittles were gluten free and I started eating the because that was all I felt like eating.. I ate candy umm a lot for about the next 6 weeks.. Sugar is also a mood booster and so I replaced one craving for another.. Then I came to my senses and stayed away from the sugar and made myself figure out how to eat a balanced gluten free diet with maybe some candy every now and then.. Now I sometimes forget to eat because I get busy doing something which would have never happened when I was eating gluten.. It is really nice,. It is like a sense of freedom from food that I never had before.. I also noticed that after going gluten free my hunger pangs weren't nearly as painful I used to almost throw up I would get so hungry before.. Good luck and don't worry you will feel like eating again it is just your body adjusting

[Strawberry-Jam]

it was about 6 to 9 months into gluten free that I totally lost my appetite for food, and only eat when I'm hungry... if I eat at all...

I have always been the opposite of an emotional eater, tho. my whole life if i was very depressed, lonely, scared, or even excited, hyper, etc, I couldn't eat anything. my emotions always interfered with my appetite. now that food is more difficult, i have a bad problem of sometimes going for days only drinking liquids or maybe eating one meal a day or snacks only. it's not good. if I become more skinny than I am, it will be unhealthy.

ugh and now I'm very sick and can't eat even when i want to (extremely sore throat, mouth full of cold sores)

[pricklypear1971]

I think its a phase. I hit it about 2-3 months in. It got better but my enjoyment of food and love of cooking didn't come back til a week or so ago and I'm at about 7 months gluten-free.

Just roll with it...

[zeeclass6]

Yeah, I've lost a bit of my enjoyment of cooking as well. I have purposely spent a lot of time at Whole Foods seeking out sauces, marinades, and spices to help me cook well again. I feel like the wind has been taken out of my sales regarding cooking, to some extent. I used to love to make Farro with greens, Bulgar with caramelized onions, stuff like that.

But on the upside....I just discovered buckwheat (kasha) which I think I can substitute for some of that stuff.

Thank goodness for Whole Foods. That store is like a lifeline for me. A gluten-free wonderland.

Today, I was out-and-about, a few towns away and was hungry for lunch. Much to my surprise, a local chain of Pizzeria had a gluten-free menu. I would say it was the first time in weeks that I thoroughly enjoyed my meal and looked forward to eating it. I had a gluten-free Caesar salad (no croutons of course) and a gluten-free pizza with veggies, sausage, and pepperoni. It was like I'd died and gone to heaven.

So I guess there is hope.

The main advantage, I guess, is that I'm really not craving carbs anymore.

[Kjas]

I had a phase like this a while after being gluten free for 1 month. It lasted for a month and a half. I think it was withdrawal because I really really really wanted garlic bread but didn't realise it until my family made some and the smell drove me crazy.

Then I had a phase of being constantly hungry no matter what or how much or how often I ate. I could literally eat a big meal and 20 mins later still be hungry, it was constant. This phase only stopped a couple of weeks ago, I think it was from long term chronic vitamin deficiencies.

[BarryC]

I think its a good thing. Like the others have said your body is adjusting. I have lost my cravings for booze. Now I can have a couple drinks and be OK-how good is that!?