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Is It Normal To Lose Weight When You First Go Gluten Free?

crissy82

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crissy82 Rookie
crissy82
Posted

I am going on a month Gluten Free now. I have lost about 15 pounds this month. I am overweight so 15 pounds isn't uncommon when I have gone on diets in the past. But I know this is not a diet. It is a way of life now. I was just wondering if it is common to lose some weight. Plus I have bad anxiety so I haven't been eating a lot anyways. I am hoping the anxiety goes away with time.

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Mom23boys Contributor
Mom23boys
Posted

I hope so! ;)

TeknoLen Rookie
TeknoLen
Posted

Weight loss is not guaranteed but it is not surprising either depending on how your diet has shifted. I have dropped a few pounds since going gluten-free/paleo, mainly due to elimination of sodas, ice cream, beer, dairy and processed grain carbs and replacement with more vegetables and lean meat. Weight loss could also partially be a result of malabsorption so you may need to keep an eye on your vitamin levels, like D, B12, B-complex, and magnesium to name only a few. B vitamins might help with the anxiety also, I seem to remember reading somewhere... Good luck.

Menic Apprentice
Menic
Posted

I lost about 25 lbs. Mostly due to more carefully monitoring what I was eating, and no beer. Amazing what happens when you stop eating fried foods, fast food, pastries, etc.

dani nero Community Regular
dani nero
Posted

I lost one dress size from going off gluten, but I think that was just the swelling caused by the gluten going away. After that any weight I lost was due to not being able to eat anything, but not because I was gluten-free. I know that if I start eating lots of carbs again all the weight will come back.

crissy82 Rookie
crissy82
Posted
  • Author

Thanks everyone! Like I said I have horrible anxiety. And I do mean horrible. My mother in law works at Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer center in Nashville. We had a family get together on Sunday night. My husband's grandmother had noticed how much weight I had lost. My mother in law then goes on to freak out and tell me that wasn't good and that is the first sign of cancer. Not what I needed to hear. Sent me into a major panic attack.

Bubba's Mom Enthusiast
Bubba's Mom
Posted

Thanks everyone! Like I said I have horrible anxiety. And I do mean horrible. My mother in law works at Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer center in Nashville. We had a family get together on Sunday night. My husband's grandmother had noticed how much weight I had lost. My mother in law then goes on to freak out and tell me that wasn't good and that is the first sign of cancer. Not what I needed to hear. Sent me into a major panic attack.

If you've shifted to more fruits and veggies, rather than breads and sweets, you'll lose weight. Malabsorption could be weighing in too?

I found I was losing weight because I was eating less calories, not less food.

If you have a lot of anxiety, you may be anemic? It sure doesn't help to have someone throw out the C word! :o I wish people would think before they speak.

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Mnicole1981 Enthusiast
Mnicole1981
Posted

I wish people would realize that if you are not eating food because you are scared to eat for fear that what you are eating is going to make you sick, you will lose weight. I went from 172 to 162 in two weeks. I was taking Miralax, eating Rice Chex like twice a day, and drinking water.

NJceliac Apprentice
NJceliac
Posted

Although some people experience a weight loss at first due to a drastic change in the kinds of food they eat overall people who go gluten free ultimately gain weight as their gut heals and they stop malabsorbing. Also, gluten free processed products tend to be very calorie dense compared to there gluten counterparts.

Stubborn red head Apprentice
Stubborn red head
Posted

I lost 2 pants sizes when I went gluten free a few weeks ago. I have recently started eating more chocolate and sweets, so my weight lose has slowed but if you notice cutting out gluten, usually means eating altogether healthier, no matter if you are gluten intolerant or not.

dani nero Community Regular
dani nero
Posted

I lost 2 pants sizes when I went gluten free a few weeks ago. I have recently started eating more chocolate and sweets, so my weight lose has slowed but if you notice cutting out gluten, usually means eating altogether healthier, no matter if you are gluten intolerant or not.

I'm afraid I can't agree with that. In my opinion, eating gluten-free doesn't necessary mean you're eating healthier. Gluten-free bread and pasta, as well as any gluten-free processed foods are still.. processed and will have the same toll on the body as any wheat-based processed foods.

Eating healthier means eating natural foods (that don't require a label in order to know what they contain), and not overdosing on sugar, saturated fats, chemicals, coloring, preservatives, salt and so on. In my opinion that is.

There are people who have a cola and snickers for breakfast, yet are slim because their body type can handle it. That doesn't make them healthy people. I just don't measure health by weight alone.

benXX Rookie
benXX
Posted

...

Eating healthier means eating natural foods (that don't require a label in order to know what they contain), and not overdosing on sugar, saturated fats, chemicals, coloring, preservatives, salt and so on. In my opinion that is.

...

I fully agree.

What I noticed in the forum is that the majority of the people are just replacing the gluten-rich products for the gluten-free ones and continue their unhealthy eating habits. Thereby risking a lot of mistakes. And, let's face it, the gluten free specials are far more expensive too.

I believe that changing your eating habits completely by one that is originally gluten free is a far better option.

Going on Paleo, I think, would actually be, by far, the healthiest choice for us. Yet, it can come along with a lot of weight loss. I do believe, however, it is the best way to start the gluten free journey, as it clears up the gut flora first.

Stubborn red head Apprentice
Stubborn red head
Posted

I'm afraid I can't agree with that. In my opinion, eating gluten-free doesn't necessary mean you're eating healthier. Gluten-free bread and pasta, as well as any gluten-free processed foods are still.. processed and will have the same toll on the body as any wheat-based processed foods.

Eating healthier means eating natural foods (that don't require a label in order to know what they contain), and not overdosing on sugar, saturated fats, chemicals, coloring, preservatives, salt and so on. In my opinion that is.

There are people who have a cola and snickers for breakfast, yet are slim because their body type can handle it. That doesn't make them healthy people. I just don't measure health by weight alone.

You have to think when you first switch over did you eat gluten-free pastries, breads, bagels, or pastas? I didn't because my parents don't. My parents still don't after 10 years. So in my experience eating gluten-free is healthier eating. gluten-free to me means eating more whole foods, less processed foods, and making more things from scratch. My mother at her smallest was eating 2 king size snicker bars and a 12 oz steak with a loaded baked potato for dinner because everyone thought she was too skinny.

dani nero Community Regular
dani nero
Posted

gluten-free to me means eating more whole foods, less processed foods, and making more things from scratch.

To everyone else a gluten-free diet is a diet that excludes foods containing gluten, but does not necessarily exclude processed foods.. which is why I got confused :-) We're on the same page in principles, but not in definitions ;-)

Newings Newbie
Newings
Posted

I'm totally new at this, started eating Gluten Free last October. But I have dropped 3 sizes. I have peanut allergies and am often fearful of processed foods, having had a reaction to a few gluten free mixes. So I typically just eat meat, veges, fruit and some rice pasta. I also notice that I'm not as hungry as I used to be, so I can eat less and feel full.

cougie23 Explorer
cougie23
Posted

I'm afraid I can't agree with that. In my opinion, eating gluten-free doesn't necessary mean you're eating healthier. Gluten-free bread and pasta, as well as any gluten-free processed foods are still.. processed and will have the same toll on the body as any wheat-based processed foods.

Eating healthier means eating natural foods (that don't require a label in order to know what they contain), and not overdosing on sugar, saturated fats, chemicals, coloring, preservatives, salt and so on. In my opinion that is.

There are people who have a cola and snickers for breakfast, yet are slim because their body type can handle it. That doesn't make them healthy people. I just don't measure health by weight alone.

I totaly agree with you Dani...I've been thinking this for awhile and wanted to remind everyone GLUTENFREE DOESN"T MEAN FATFREE!

I know when we are first diagnosed we tend to freak out alittle ...thinking omg look at everything I CAN'T eat! then when we see/find substitutes theres a sense of relief! But this is a GREAT oppertunity as several of you have said...to GET RID OF BAD HABITS AND EAT HEALTHY! This is not a loss...thats the CARB ADDICTION talking! once you give HEALTHY a chance...you don't even WANT those fattening foods...it will make your body feel bloated and slow. the right subs...from NATURAL sources are more satisfying and tastier!Eat organic DARK chocolate if you MUST...there are different GRADES which affect sweetness(if you like it sweet)its a GREAT antioxident as well...fruit...honey...dates...all sweet and tasty...much healthier for us.And if you don't know what to do with all these new found foods google celiac recipes...vegiterian recipes..or wonder over to the FOOD section of the celiac forum where some of our most CREATIVE members are TOTALLY willing to share thier expertese and best foodie secrets...not to mention advice! LOL! HEALTHY CAN BE YUMMMY!LOL! :P

(...and don't forget...that SUBSTITUDE we are using...corn...is also fed to livestock to FATTEN them up! EEEWWWW!!!!...LOL :blink::rolleyes: ...just saying! :D )So even though we are kinda being FORCED to change our food habits...its not a BAD thing....WE can make it a GREAT thing by being healthier than we EVER have....(it may take a little relearning...but its worth it...AND there is a WORLD of great food out there...YOU just have to FIND it!) BON APPETETE! :D

Oh...and did I mention veggies...(I just mentioned sweets)...Veggies DON'T HAVE TO BE BORING...They just need some clever combos!...There are INCREDABLE things you can do to flavor up VEGGIES...you just need to LEARN! I've been seeing amazing dishes to make latly....I can't wait to try them!

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