Can't Put On Weight

[koko-girl]

Hi guys,

I was recently diagonised with Celiac disease. I have been extremely underweight for 1 year. 45 kg for 167m

I live in Dubai. The doctors just kept telling me that i should be happy that i was thin. I used to have a curvy normal body. That I should just eat more. I went on a 3000 cal diet - (all carbs, pastas, pizzas, ice-cream, junk food ect...) for a few months and put on 2 kg - still nothing.

Then 2 months late the doctor where i had undergone the colonoscopy called and advised that my small intestine was damaged, i went back and did the blood test. Apparently the figures were extremely high.

Ever since I have been Gluten free, now from my own diagnosis i think that i cannot tolerate Soy. I drank SILK SOY Vanilla flavor yesterday and felt ill, I also tried to start taking a Soy Based weight gainer and my system relapsed a few days ago.

My weight that had finally reached 48kg is now at 46kg. So frustrated.

Im taking: Calcium/Mag, Vitamin D, Glutamine, Folic Acid, and Fish Oil daily as this is supposed to heal the intestine. Doctors here do not know much about this condition and haven't prescribed anything.

Can anyone advise how i can start gaining weight again, I feel like its a lost case. Just want to be a healthy woman again.

[pianoland]

As someone who also struggled with keeping my weight on... PROTEIN is your new best friend. Fresh meat, fish, eggs, nuts. I'm not sure if you eat dairy but milk, cheese, yogurt, etc. Larabars are a great source of protein for a packaged snack. Stay away from soy for a while!

[SensitiveMe]

Hi back to you.

I have intestinal damage due to wheat and am too thin and underweight. Doctor has said "It is just going to be some time before you will gain it back."

Aside from being tired of people commenting on how thin I was, I wanted to gain weight because my clothes were too big and baggy and I didn't want to buy new clothes. My new diet of wheat corn soy and lactose free plus having to eat organic was expensive enough already.

So I added in calories by eating rice milk ice cream I made, and almond butter on wheat-free bread I made. All I ended up doing was overloading my digestive system and feeling worse and then losing the weight I gained from eating those things. I think I put more into my digestive system than it could handle. I am not quite 2 years without wheat and am still underweight. I do remember reading it takes about 2 years for an adult to heal from Celiac Disease. So maybe we just need to be more patient about gaining weight. At worst I was 98 pounds (about 42kg if I am converting correctly). Now I stay 103 to 106 pounds (about 47 to 48 kg).

[koko-girl]

Wow guys thanks so much for your insight. Its so hard to know what to do.

I keep reading articles about people that cannot loose weight. This is not our case.

I'm still struggling, I think that I am also over-loading my body I'm eating all the time. At least every 2 hrs. If not I feel weak and angry.

Its crazy I used to look at food and put weight on. Now I eat like a horse no kidding and nothing.

I've read article about the hunter- gatherer Paleo diet basically all organic. High in Protein, Meats, Fish, Eggs, Vegs, Fruits, Alomond milk (instead of Rice Milk). But this eliminates Rice, Patatoes and Dairy, Soy. Apparantely Celiacs that are not seeing any results just with Gluten free diets should try it.

Another word of advice is to try taking a probiotic - i was using Florea you take it before eating as it helps build the intestine, and glutamine it helps promote recover. I've noticed that the last few days since i run out i feel weaker. So try this.

I know how you feel its a battle every day to maintain weight, let alone gain a little bit extra so the weighing scales nos change to higher instead of lower.

Hopefully we can keep eachother motivated and let eachother know of any progress along the way.

Also how do you know when you're healing? What are the signs? As no one seems to mention this.

Courage xx

[SensitiveMe]

I once listened to a Doctor on television talking about healing of the digestive system after damage from Celiacs Disease or gluten. He said not to be concerned when you start hearing noises or even a lot of noise going on in there because it means it is healing. I don't know if it is true but it seems to me that noise would at least indicate it is attempting to try to work. He also said the more severe the symptoms were then the longer it would take to heal.

As for me I didn't start hearing noises until a month ago (1 and 1/2 years after going gluten-free). And it has gotten progressively noisier in there. So I am hopeful it is healing. Also I have begun to feel some little stinging sensations at different areas in my intestines which makes me think it is starting to heal. The stinging is nothing really compared to what felt like electrical shocks shooting threw me when I first became ill. And too, there is my age...since I am over 50 I am expecting it will take longer to heal than for someone younger.

Yes, courage is needed...Celiac's and gluten sensitivity isn't for sissies . A speedy healing to all and best wishes for weight management whether it be losing or gaining. All of the people I have met in my area with Celiac's have gained weight and they are just as troubled with trying to lose weight as I am with trying to gain weight.

[MaryJones2]

Have you had your thyroid checked? It is quite common to have thyroid issues with celiac and if you are eating that much and not gaining weight you could have hyperthyroidism or have some other condition that is preventing you from gaining weight.

[erc1]

Have you had your thyroid checked? It is quite common to have thyroid issues with celiac and if you are eating that much and not gaining weight you could have hyperthyroidism or have some other condition that is preventing you from gaining weight.

I am having the same issue! Before I discovered my intolerance for wheat/gluten I was hovering around 170lbs. After getting sick and losing 15-20lbs within the span of 1.5-2 months (prior switching to gluten free), I have been incapable of putting weight back on. I have increased my protein intake in an attempt to put on weight along with helping to build muscle and I've also stopped watching my sugar/carb/calorie intake. I've been purposely letting myself eat worse in hopes that it will help put on any kind of weight! Nothing seems to be working!! I hope you have more luck with it than I and would be interested to hear any other tips / success stories!

[kkgirl]

i am in the same boat you guys are in. im 18 and my weight hasnt really changed since i started this diet a year ago. i am 91 lbs it goes from 94 to 91 in that area. the only time ive weighed 98- 100 was when i ate alot that day.

[Howard the Celeriac]

I have the same problem.

I have been a Coeliac for 7 years and strictly adhere to the diet but I cannot put on weight. I was hoping now that I'm 30 my metabolism is going to slow down but so far no change.

It's frustrating because everyone just tells me I'm really lucky and that they can't lose weight.

However I am a martial artist and would like to gain a bit of weight to turn to muscle which seems impossible.

[Benso]

Hi guys,

I was recently diagonised with Celiac disease. I have been extremely underweight for 1 year. 45 kg for 167m

I live in Dubai. The doctors just kept telling me that i should be happy that i was thin. I used to have a curvy normal body. That I should just eat more. I went on a 3000 cal diet - (all carbs, pastas, pizzas, ice-cream, junk food ect...) for a few months and put on 2 kg - still nothing.

Then 2 months late the doctor where i had undergone the colonoscopy called and advised that my small intestine was damaged, i went back and did the blood test. Apparently the figures were extremely high.

Ever since I have been Gluten free, now from my own diagnosis i think that i cannot tolerate Soy. I drank SILK SOY Vanilla flavor yesterday and felt ill, I also tried to start taking a Soy Based weight gainer and my system relapsed a few days ago.

My weight that had finally reached 48kg is now at 46kg. So frustrated.

Im taking: Calcium/Mag, Vitamin D, Glutamine, Folic Acid, and Fish Oil daily as this is supposed to heal the intestine. Doctors here do not know much about this condition and haven't prescribed anything.

Can anyone advise how i can start gaining weight again, I feel like its a lost case. Just want to be a healthy woman again.

Hi I am a male and at the moment cant seem to gain weight either.

Doctors just say you will be OK and ytour blood tests are OK in the UK they just want to save money.

I think being a guy and losing weight is really hard,i am going to try different methods and i will report back

The last time i gained weight by doing weights at the gym but i would love to find another method so i dont feel too underwieght

[GFinDC]

I am having the same issue! Before I discovered my intolerance for wheat/gluten I was hovering around 170lbs. After getting sick and losing 15-20lbs within the span of 1.5-2 months (prior switching to gluten free), I have been incapable of putting weight back on. I have increased my protein intake in an attempt to put on weight along with helping to build muscle and I've also stopped watching my sugar/carb/calorie intake. I've been purposely letting myself eat worse in hopes that it will help put on any kind of weight! Nothing seems to be working!! I hope you have more luck with it than I and would be interested to hear any other tips / success stories!

Welcome to the site Erc!

i am in the same boat you guys are in. im 18 and my weight hasnt really changed since i started this diet a year ago. i am 91 lbs it goes from 94 to 91 in that area. the only time ive weighed 98- 100 was when i ate alot that day.

and another welcome to you Kkgirl!

Hi I am a male and at the moment cant seem to gain weight either.

Doctors just say you will be OK and ytour blood tests are OK in the UK they just want to save money.

I think being a guy and losing weight is really hard,i am going to try different methods and i will report back

The last time i gained weight by doing weights at the gym but i would love to find another method so i don't feel too underwieght

And not but not least howdy Benso!

Here are some threads that might help some. None of them are specifically about weight gain, but they do have good info.

The thing with celiac disease is that we tend to develop reactions to other foods. So it is best not to assume that any food is safe until you trial it via an elimination diet. One theory is that we tend to develop reactions to foods that we eat a often.

The foods that are commonly a problem for people are the top 8 food allergens. You could eliminate all of those first to see if there is an improvement. If not then you may need to try a more thorough elimination diet.

Avoiding processed foods is a good idea, and eating only whole foods only for a few months may help.

No dairy or soy and lots of protein are good ideas.

Avoiding alcohol may help also.

Mayo Clinic top 8 food allergens

• Milk
• Eggs
• Peanuts
• Tree nuts (such as almonds, cashews, walnuts)
• Fish (such as bass, cod, flounder)
• Shellfish (such as crab, lobster, shrimp)
• Soy
• Wheat

FAQ Celiac com

http://www.celiac.co...celiac-disease/

Newbie Info 101

http://www.celiac.co...ewbie-info-101/

What's For Breakfast Today?

http://www.celiac.co...reakfast-today/

What Did You Have For Lunch Today?

http://www.celiac.co...or-lunch-today/

What Are You Cooking Tonight?

http://www.celiac.co...ooking-tonight/

How bad is cheating?

http://www.celiac.co...t-periodically/

[nhabib]

welcome to the club everyone, I am a celiac n under-wight I am 47Kg and my height is 5.5ft and I m on gluten free diet since 2 years and i have gained only 2kgs. I have tried everything to gain weight i even drink ensure for some calories and eat meat all sort of but still its not working for me. People call me skinny and I feel really bad sometimes I have tried to follow a diet plan but in the end I got sick coz i guess i over loaded my digestive system.

Now i have accepted it mentally that I have to be happy with whatever I have. being celiac is not easy its a very tough job and no one understands that but I m glad there r many celiacs on this forum who can understand and will actually read my reply as well.

[GFinDC]

welcome to the club everyone, I am a celiac n under-wight I am 47Kg and my height is 5.5ft and I m on gluten free diet since 2 years and i have gained only 2kgs. I have tried everything to gain weight i even drink ensure for some calories and eat meat all sort of but still its not working for me. People call me skinny and I feel really bad sometimes I have tried to follow a diet plan but in the end I got sick coz i guess i over loaded my digestive system.

Now i have accepted it mentally that I have to be happy with whatever I have. being celiac is not easy its a very tough job and no one understands that but I m glad there r many celiacs on this forum who can understand and will actually read my reply as well.

Welcome Nhabib! Lots of people seem to be having weight loss problems.

This thread link has some ideas for gaining weight and other conditions to check on.

Thyroid is one possible issue as you can lose weight if you are hyper-thyroid. (over active thyroid).

Another is diabetes which can cause some people to lose weight.

I Am Wasting Away - Please Help!

[Lizanne]

Hi all - in March I weighed 138 pounds. I found out I had celiac disease in July. I started losing weight before my diagnosis due to felling sick constantly. Dr first thought I had IBS. I've been eating gluten free since July and have list weight steadily- I now weigh 119. I eat plain alot of chicken rice and vegetables. I also eat gluten free breads, etc. I still cannot eat dairy. I think I eat alot, I'm always hungry!

What to do?

[rebeccanicole88]

I've had weight issues all my life. It took 6 years for doctors to find out gluten was my problem. I couldn't keep weight on and I was either not hungry or afraid to eat. I eat more now that I am gluten free and still not gaining which is fine for me but my doctors seem to think I need to gain weight. I don't know what to do to gain weight.

[rebeccanicole88]

After you gain weight, how do you keep it on?

[DerpTyler]

After you gain weight, how do you keep it on?

Keep eating? muscle will stay on you as long as you keep excersing

[ncdave]

At 6 feet 4 inches and 200lbs (tall and skinny) I lost 40 lbs  in 14 months on the gluten-free diet. I was eating way more protein than a body needs, and it did not help. I hated to look in a mirrow cause I looked like I was starving, nothing but skin an bones.  In the last 3 weeks I have gained 9 pounds.  Try not to concentrate on the weight lose, but stay more focused on eating gluten-free and getting your insides healed. The weight will come back when you get healed up inside. The amount of time it takes will vary depending on how much damage has been done inside. I wish the best of luck to everyone, after 14 months I thought I was on a downward spiral that would never end.

 

If you see the light at the end of the tunnel, get off the train tracks !!!

[BZBee]

I never thought I'd have this problem. My intestines are in bad shape, and I've lost 40 lbs and keep continuing to lose. The Dr. told me that the intestines need to heal.

[Halah]

OMG, There is many of us :'''),

 

Thank you Koko_girl for raising this topic, it makes us feel like we belong somewhere,

 

I have discover my gluten/Diary intolerance about 6 months ago and since then, I've been on a gluten/diary-free diet.

 

my doctor said that in the path of 6 to 12 months i will be starting to notice some weight gain :''), but unfourtently non of that happened,

 

am 39-40 Kg and 164cm, which is extremly under weight, and i've been under weight my whole life.

 

the doctor said that due to my gluten intolerance my food habits was very bad since childhood, because whenever i eat food i feel bad so i avoid eating,

 

she said its a habit thing that should change with time,

 

i guess it could help to count your calories intake daily and make sure that you get more calories than ur BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate) by 500 cals at least.

 

also, try healthy food suplements like Opticomplete from Optinutrition, you can order it from Open Original Shared Link since its not avaliable in UAE. it has almost 1500 cals a scoop with vitamens and minerals. you just need to double check if it is Gluten free

 

Gud luck all :''') <3

[hannisa]

OMG, There is many of us :'''),

 

Thank you Koko_girl for raising this topic, it makes us feel like we belong somewhere,

 

I have discover my gluten/Diary intolerance about 6 months ago and since then, I've been on a gluten/diary-free diet.

 

my doctor said that in the path of 6 to 12 months i will be starting to notice some weight gain :''), but unfourtently non of that happened,

 

am 39-40 Kg and 164cm, which is extremly under weight, and i've been under weight my whole life.

 

the doctor said that due to my gluten intolerance my food habits was very bad since childhood, because whenever i eat food i feel bad so i avoid eating,

 

she said its a habit thing that should change with time,

 

i guess it could help to count your calories intake daily and make sure that you get more calories than ur BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate) by 500 cals at least.

 

also, try healthy food suplements like Opticomplete from Optinutrition, you can order it from Open Original Shared Link since its not avaliable in UAE. it has almost 1500 cals a scoop with vitamens and minerals. you just need to double check if it is Gluten free

 

Gud luck all :''') <3

I'm so grateful too for this thread. It's such a relief to be able to talk about being underweight.

 

 I've always been thin (but then I may have always had celiacs!) and can't put weight on. I'm really struggling at the moment, feeling glutened but not knowing what is causing it (I am strictly gluten free). I am just hoping I feel better soon because the thought of going on an elimination diet does not fill me with joy!

[Brandiwine]

I got down to 110lbs before GFD, and stayed there for weeks into starting GFD. I was concerned because I didn't want to lose any more weight, weight is a problem with the women in my family my mother weights 90-95lbs. I don't want to be that small I don't feel healthy, my youngest son told me he doesn't like when I'm skinny mommies are supposed to be squishy! This comment is adorable put did kind of hurt my heart when I heard it. I have been putting on weight by eating lots of potatoes, hummus, trail mix with nuts, raisins and seeds, and lots of beans, I do lose weight every month because of my cycle, right now I'm only a few days away from it so I will probably lose some this week but I'm at 135lbs if I can keep it here I'd be happy, I just have to have some weight on me to feel healthy.

[1desperateladysaved]

Have you tried Pancreatic Enzymes to help break down your food?  I am not underweight, by the way.  I have been told I am carrying water,  so am not sure how I will look when I lose that.  I looked a tiny wisp of a girl in high school: I was even skinnier than a friend that suffered from Asthma attacks that she caused frequent lack of appetite for her!

[stefie444]

Wow guys thanks so much for your insight. Its so hard to know what to do.

I keep reading articles about people that cannot loose weight. This is not our case.

I'm still struggling, I think that I am also over-loading my body I'm eating all the time. At least every 2 hrs. If not I feel weak and angry.

Its crazy I used to look at food and put weight on. Now I eat like a horse no kidding and nothing.

I've read article about the hunter- gatherer Paleo diet basically all organic. High in Protein, Meats, Fish, Eggs, Vegs, Fruits, Alomond milk (instead of Rice Milk). But this eliminates Rice, Patatoes and Dairy, Soy. Apparantely Celiacs that are not seeing any results just with Gluten free diets should try it.

Another word of advice is to try taking a probiotic - i was using Florea you take it before eating as it helps build the intestine, and glutamine it helps promote recover. I've noticed that the last few days since i run out i feel weaker. So try this.

I know how you feel its a battle every day to maintain weight, let alone gain a little bit extra so the weighing scales nos change to higher instead of lower.

Hopefully we can keep eachother motivated and let eachother know of any progress along the way.

Also how do you know when you're healing? What are the signs? As no one seems to mention this.

Courage xx

 

 

Hi, I just found this site and I'm so glad to see others discussing this problem.  I eat so much and still I can't gain weight.  I just hope I'm getting some nutrients at least.  Has anyone started to gain and how long did it take.  Why does it take so long?  I feel so skinny and people think I have an eating disorder when I eat way more than I ever did before.  Thanks everyone for sharing - it sure helps to have support.  Stefie

Hi I am a male and at the moment cant seem to gain weight either.

Doctors just say you will be OK and ytour blood tests are OK in the UK they just want to save money.

I think being a guy and losing weight is really hard,i am going to try different methods and i will report back

The last time i gained weight by doing weights at the gym but i would love to find another method so i dont feel too underwieght

[Lizanne]

Hi Again    I posted on this topic in August after I was newly diagnosed with Celiac Disease.  I lost alot of weight initially noting that I weighed 119 when I posted in August.  I now weigh 113.  My doctor told me my weight would eventually stabilize and it has.  I am used to the new weight (was 138 before diagnosis) and bought new clothes.  But as I mentioned in my last post, I am always hungry.  I eat much more than my husband.  I eat a good variety of foods- meats, vegetables, rice, potatoes and gluten-free breads and snacks.  I cannot have dairy still.  I still get frustrated with eating out and traveling but am still grateful that I no longer get sick.  I take multivitamins and calcum as well as B complex (helps with energy) and Biotin (as my hair really thinned out.)  My doctor said that at my last visit my bloodwork was excellent so that was great news. 

Everything takes time I guess, my stomach is so noisey at times and sometimes it still gets irritated by things like coffee, alcohol and strangely bananas.  Good luck to everyone.  These forums are such a comfort to me knowing others are in the same boat and care.