Jump to content
This site uses cookies. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. More Info... ×
  • 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

Do I Have A Closing Window Of Opportunity To Lose Weight?


nvsmom

Recommended Posts

nvsmom Community Regular

I'm a mom to three boys, who is 38, around 5'8", and weighs about 175lbs on a bloated day. I am about 30-35 pounds heavier than I'd like to be. I was diagnosed celiac almost a month ago, although I suspect I've had it my whole life. Withdrawl symptoms are slowly lessening and I now feel well enough to start thinking about losing my extra weight again.

This was prompted by the fact that I think my stomach circumference has dropped a few inches since the bloating has subsided and I like looking smaller. I honestly had thought that I just had a lot of belly fat... The type where people start thinking you are a few months pregnant. Not the look I really wanted, but I just thought I was becoming more apple shaped in my old age. LOL :blink:

A couple of years ago, I lost about 30 lbs following an almost paleo diet, and I felt great. Now I know it wasn't so much the pounds dropping off that made me feel good but the gluten-lite diet that I was following. Eventually though, I remember eating a muffin as a treat and then it all fell apart from there... I regained the weight.

I'm rambling. Sorry...

My question is:

Is it a good idea to try to lose my weight now before my gut heals over the next 6 to 24 months?

I've heard that it can get harder to lose weight once gluten-free, and many celiacs even experience weight gain once they are healed. Is this accurate? Do I have a window of opportunity here to lose my weight more easily (than it will be in a year) that I should work hard to take advantage of, or should I not deprive my body of calories while I'm healing?

I have to admit that I'm leaning towards working on it hard now even though I'm healing.

I should add that I probably won't be adding much exercise for a few more months. I have enough joint, back, and weird upper body and knee weakness that I'm hoping will resolve a bit on this gluten-free diet. If I lose weight, it will be primarily though calorie restriction (on a gluten-free diet).

Thanks for any answers, advice or personal anecdotes you can offer. :)


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



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



bartfull Rising Star

It depends on you. If you eat a lot of gluten-free breads and other replacements, you may indeed gain weight. But if you go with whole foods only, or something similar to the paleo diet, you will lose weight and feel great while you're doing it.

I started at 170 pounds a little over a year ago and am now down to 128 pounds. And believe me, I still eat a LOT of ice cream. But my regular meals are simple whole foods - meat and sweet potatoes and veggies, eggs too. I eat a banana and an avocado each morning for breakfast, top that off with a big bowl of ice cream, and cheese for snacks during the day. Then when I get home at night I eat MORE ice cream! I'm STILL losing weight!

veronika Newbie

I agree with bartfull, if you stay away from the gluten free replacement foods you probably won't be gaining a ton of weight. They are typically full of simple carbohydrates which will not make you feel full, so you'll be eating more than you would otherwise. Eating protein and good fats (ex. avocado, olive oil, nuts) with each meal or snack will help stabilize your blood sugar and make you feel full. I think this is the time to give your body the nutrients it needs to repair all the damage :). I'm trying to gain weight right now (I'm one of those gluten intolerant people who are stick thin) and find it really really hard to gain -- and I snack/eat every 1.5-2 hrs lol.

Razzle Dazzle Brazell Enthusiast

I'm a mom to three boys, who is 38, around 5'8", and weighs about 175lbs on a bloated day. I am about 30-35 pounds heavier than I'd like to be. I was diagnosed celiac almost a month ago, although I suspect I've had it my whole life. Withdrawl symptoms are slowly lessening and I now feel well enough to start thinking about losing my extra weight again.

This was prompted by the fact that I think my stomach circumference has dropped a few inches since the bloating has subsided and I like looking smaller. I honestly had thought that I just had a lot of belly fat... The type where people start thinking you are a few months pregnant. Not the look I really wanted, but I just thought I was becoming more apple shaped in my old age. LOL :blink:

A couple of years ago, I lost about 30 lbs following an almost paleo diet, and I felt great. Now I know it wasn't so much the pounds dropping off that made me feel good but the gluten-lite diet that I was following. Eventually though, I remember eating a muffin as a treat and then it all fell apart from there... I regained the weight.

I'm rambling. Sorry...

My question is:

Is it a good idea to try to lose my weight now before my gut heals over the next 6 to 24 months?

I've heard that it can get harder to lose weight once gluten-free, and many celiacs even experience weight gain once they are healed. Is this accurate? Do I have a window of opportunity here to lose my weight more easily (than it will be in a year) that I should work hard to take advantage of, or should I not deprive my body of calories while I'm healing?

I have to admit that I'm leaning towards working on it hard now even though I'm healing.

I should add that I probably won't be adding much exercise for a few more months. I have enough joint, back, and weird upper body and knee weakness that I'm hoping will resolve a bit on this gluten-free diet. If I lose weight, it will be primarily though calorie restriction (on a gluten-free diet).

Thanks for any answers, advice or personal anecdotes you can offer. :)

If you have leaky gut make sure you space meals and exercise b/c eating then exercising too soon can cause more allergies to surface. Oh and I don't think calories is a huge issue since you are overweight but vitamins is definitely important. I would think as long as you eat a good variety of fruits and veggies, you will be fine. They are a lot more filling raw, as I am sure you know. A little exercise is good even if it is just walking or my personal favorite, water aerobics. I am just now getting to the point after like a month and a half where my appetite is no longer insatiable. So I think you will find it actually will become easier to lose weight. Just like bartfull said though, if you eat a bunch of fattening gluten free processed foods it won't do ya any good. Good luck

nvsmom Community Regular

It depends on you. If you eat a lot of gluten-free breads and other replacements, you may indeed gain weight. But if you go with whole foods only, or something similar to the paleo diet, you will lose weight and feel great while you're doing it.

I started at 170 pounds a little over a year ago and am now down to 128 pounds. And believe me, I still eat a LOT of ice cream. But my regular meals are simple whole foods - meat and sweet potatoes and veggies, eggs too. I eat a banana and an avocado each morning for breakfast, top that off with a big bowl of ice cream, and cheese for snacks during the day. Then when I get home at night I eat MORE ice cream! I'm STILL losing weight!

That's good for me to hear that you haven't regained any lost weight after a whole year gluten-free. Yeah! :) I should be okay avoiding replacement foods except on special occasions like birthdays; as long as it's not in the house, I'm good. LOL I did go on a bit of a gluten-free binge trying some of the prepackaged foods after I was diagnosed, but my appetite has dropped so I didn't go too nuts... actually lost some weight.

I agree with bartfull, if you stay away from the gluten free replacement foods you probably won't be gaining a ton of weight. They are typically full of simple carbohydrates which will not make you feel full, so you'll be eating more than you would otherwise. Eating protein and good fats (ex. avocado, olive oil, nuts) with each meal or snack will help stabilize your blood sugar and make you feel full. I think this is the time to give your body the nutrients it needs to repair all the damage :). I'm trying to gain weight right now (I'm one of those gluten intolerant people who are stick thin) and find it really really hard to gain -- and I snack/eat every 1.5-2 hrs lol.

I've never had a problem gaining weight... darn it. LOL the grass is always greener, eh? ;)

Thanks for the advice. Sticking to whole foods is a good idea.

If you have leaky gut make sure you space meals and exercise b/c eating then exercising too soon can cause more allergies to surface. Oh and I don't think calories is a huge issue since you are overweight but vitamins is definitely important. I would think as long as you eat a good variety of fruits and veggies, you will be fine. They are a lot more filling raw, as I am sure you know. A little exercise is good even if it is just walking or my personal favorite, water aerobics. I am just now getting to the point after like a month and a half where my appetite is no longer insatiable. So I think you will find it actually will become easier to lose weight. Just like bartfull said though, if you eat a bunch of fattening gluten free processed foods it won't do ya any good. Good luck

I'm not sure if I have a leaky gut or not... is that fairly typical? I know I'm lactose intolerant, does that mean anything? In another week I'll find out the results of all my vitamin level tests and TSH tests; I suppose I'll know more than. I will be sure to keep my veggie intake fairly high and take vitamins to help with that.

My appetite is down after almost a month, and I did lose 5 lbs somehow (could have just been bloat). I hope the lowered appetite lasts, especially if I absorb nutrients and calories better after I heal.

I'm sure I'll get some mild exercise, but I tend to be very black and white when it comes to exercise... I've got plans to restart my P90X workouts when we are home from vacation. :P Not water though...I don't even like to sit in a bath! LOL

Razzle Dazzle Brazell Enthusiast

Oh leaky gut in a quick sense is when your damaged gut allows things to enter the bloodstream from our intestines and our body respond to it much in the same way as gluten. I think this is common with corn proteins and milk proteins. I hope I explained it right. I thought I was lactose on tolerant too but learned that lactose free milk that has milk sugar already broken down, still causes D and stomach cramps so I cut it out. My metabolism is so much better when my gut moves appropriately. If i get bloated, it slows me down big time and I always gain weight and then lose it back once it calms down.

nvsmom Community Regular

Oh leaky gut in a quick sense is when your damaged gut allows things to enter the bloodstream from our intestines and our body respond to it much in the same way as gluten. I think this is common with corn proteins and milk proteins. I hope I explained it right. I thought I was lactose on tolerant too but learned that lactose free milk that has milk sugar already broken down, still causes D and stomach cramps so I cut it out. My metabolism is so much better when my gut moves appropriately. If i get bloated, it slows me down big time and I always gain weight and then lose it back once it calms down.

Ah, okay... that makes sense to me! :) That could explain milk sensitivity and why gluten-free tortilla chips gave me a stomachache. Thanks.


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



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



justlisa Apprentice

I'm just going to "ditto" what others have said....natural, whole foods (meats, fruits, veggies...cheese and dairy if you can tolerate). I eat...and I eat substantially... I think that the greatest factor for the weight gain experienced by some who go gluten free is that they try to "mimic" their old diets (which were unhealthy regardless of the gluten intolerance issue) and eat too much "replacement food"...processed food...etc...etc... I, also, am coming to believe that these folks are the ones who continue to have more/new "issues"... It's UNHEALTHY...gluten free is irrelevant...

Razzle Dazzle Brazell Enthusiast

Ah, okay... that makes sense to me! :) That could explain milk sensitivity and why gluten-free tortilla chips gave me a stomachache. Thanks.

You are very welcome. I just try and help as many have helped me here. :-) I would suggest you continue to browse and learn from the forum. You may discover something else that makes your life easier. :)

Nay-Nay Newbie

I was just dx with Celiacs two days ago. Im happy I found this forum because I have been working with a personal trainer for quite a few months now and both he and I noticed that everything is pretty much toned and looking the way I want it to except my stomach. No matter how many abdominal excercizes I do my stomach always looks somewhat distended. Guessing that all the gluten in my system is to blame. I wonder how long it will take for that to go down. Also, how far into following a gluten free diet will I start to feel better? Its only been 2 days of avoiding gluten but I still dont feel better. Still the nausea, abd pain, and diahrrea. :(

justlisa Apprentice

Nay nay... I noticed a huge difference in my stomach region within the first week. More of "feeling", really...my stomach felt lighter, less "dense" (if that makes sense)...hard to explain... But let's just say that I don't remember ever feeling this way...ever... just less "pressure"... Even at times of being "skinny" I didn't feel like this.. it's like, "so, this is what "normal" feels like"...

Nay-Nay Newbie

Nay nay... I noticed a huge difference in my stomach region within the first week. More of "feeling", really...my stomach felt lighter, less "dense" (if that makes sense)...hard to explain... But let's just say that I don't remember ever feeling this way...ever... just less "pressure"... Even at times of being "skinny" I didn't feel like this.. it's like, "so, this is what "normal" feels like"...

I know that dense feeling you speak of all too well! I'll take feeling light over looking light anyday. Can't wait till I get to that light "normal" feeling. Feel like I have a brick in my stomach. And I get full easily!

nvsmom Community Regular

NayNay - It took over a week for me but I was pretty happy with how much flatter my gut got... and surprised!

RuskitD Rookie

Its never too early or late to begin eating healthy. Make the right choices, even if the weight does not begin to come off.

I tried from the beginning of gluten/corn/soy free life to lose weight. After logging on a diet site I realized I was not eating enough. Factor into that leaky gut or/and malabsorption trouble, and I was starving while being obese. I was finally able to raise my caloric intake without feeling sick from stuffing myself.

My weight began to drop. But.... at the same time I got a rebounder.

I have to say again, I read about rebounding (mini trampoline). Even just gentle bouncing on one stimulates our lymph nodes to drain. (its been proven by NASA, you can find the test results online) I dropped 10 lbs in a few weeks. It was 10 lbs of fluid from inflammation, I am sure of it. I continue to use my rebounder. I swear it has given me energy, and its just plain fun to do. I am down by nearly 20 lbs now, and very flabby. I have no doubt that my body was just carrying fluid from the inflammation, and that is what I have lost. I hope to lose some of the fat I carry. But if I don't, at least I am not bloated with inflammation, and I am healthier than ever!!!! BTW I am 6 months gluten-free.

Good luck on your journey!

nvsmom Community Regular

A rebounder, eh? I've thought about getting one of those, more for my kids than me, but it could be fun. Hmmm.

Thanks for the advice. And congrats on 6 months and your weight loss success.

Archived

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


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,192
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    MariaV
    Newest Member
    MariaV
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):





  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Ginger38
      So I recently had allergy testing for IGE antibodies in response to foods. My test results came back positive to corn, white potatoes, egg whites. Tomatoes, almonds and peanuts to name a few.  I have had obvious reactions to a few of these - particularly tomatoes and corn- both GI issues. I don’t really understand all this allergy versus celiac stuff. If the food allergies are mild do I have to avoid these foods entirely? I don’t know what I will eat if I can’t  have corn based gluten free products 
    • Kris2093u4
      Geography makes a difference.  I'm in the West and Trader Joe's gluten-free bread tastes great and is a better price than most gluten-free breads sold elsewhere in my area.  
    • JForman
      We have four children (7-14 yo), and our 7 year old was diagnosed with NCGS (though all Celiac labs were positive, her scope at 4 years old was negative so docs in the US won't call it celiac). We have started her on a Gluten Free diet after 3 years of major digestive issues and ruling out just about everything under the sun. Our home and kitchen and myself are all gluten-free. But I have not asked my husband/her dad or her other siblings to go completely gluten-free with us. They are at home, but not out of the home. This has led to situations when we are eating out where she has to consistently see others eating things she can't have and she has begun to say "Well, I can't have <fill in the blank>...stupid gluten."  How have you supported your gluten-free kiddos in the mental health space of this journey, especially young ones like her. I know it's hard for me as an adult sometimes to miss out, so I can't imagine being 7 and dealing with it! Any tips or ideas to help with this? 
    • Jane878
      By the time I was 5 I had my first auto0immune disorder, Migraine headaches, with auras to blind me, and vomiting, sensitivity to light and sound. I was 5 years old, and my stepfather would have pizza night, milling his own flour, making thick cheesy gluten pizza, that I would eat and the next day, I would have serious migraines, and my mother & stepfather did nothing about my medical problems. When I was 17 in my first year at college, I was diagnosed with my 2nd known auto-immune disorder, Meniere's disease. I was a elite athlete, a swimmer, and soccer player. And once again my parents didn't think anything of understanding why I had a disorder only older people get. Now after my mother passed from Alzheimer's disease she also suffered with living with gluten. She had a rash for 30 years that nobody could diagnose. She was itchy for 45 years total. My brother had a encapsulated virus explodes in his spleen and when this happened his entire intestines were covered with adhesions, scar tissue and he almost lost his life. He has 5 daughters, and when I finally was diagnosed after being pregnant and my body went into a cytokine storm, I lost my chance to have children, I ended up having Hashimoto's disease, Degenerative Disc disease, and my body started to shut down during my first trimester. I am 6ft tall and got down to 119lbs. My husband and I went to a special immunologist in Terrace, California. They took 17 vials of blood as we flew there for a day and returned home that evening. In 3 weeks, we had the answer, I have Celiac disease. Once this was known, only my father and husband made efforts to change their way of feeding me. At the family cabin, my stepfather & mother were more worried that I would ruin Thanksgiving Dinner. It wasn't until one of my cousins was diagnosed with Celiac disease. They finally looked into getting Gluten Free flour and taking measures to limit "gluten" in meals. He did nothing but ask for me to pay for my own food and wi-fi when I came to the cabin to stay after our house burned down. When he informed my mother, they proceeding to get into a physical fight and she ended up with a black eye. The is just more trauma for me. Sam had no interest in telling the truth about what he wanted. He lied to my mother that he had asked my husband if I could pay for "food" when he asked Geoffrey if I had money to pay for my wi-fi. My mother hates when he spends so much time on the computer so he lied and said I could pay for my own food. I will remind you I weighed 119lbs at this time. (At 6ft) that is a very sick looking person. Neither parent was worried about my weight, they just fought about how cheap my stepfather was. As my mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2014. He had her sign over the will to a trust and added his children. He had no testimonial capacity at the time, so she signed without proper papers. Making this Trust null and void. When I gave my brother my childhood home, my mother stated I would be getting an equal part of inheritance to the house on Race. It currently worth 2.0 million $. I got nothing, and my stepfather has since disowned me b/c of my claim and he knows that my mother would never have left it uneven between my biological brother and myself. She sat me and my husband down, as we lived at the Race Street house and treated and took care of it as our own. My brother took over b/c he was going through a horrific divorce and needed a home so he could get a better custody deal with his soon to be ex-wife who was a Assist DA for Denver. She used the girls against him, and he & I were the primary caregivers. We, Judd and I spent the most time with them pre the divorce. Once Judd moved into the house, he threw all of my mother, grandmother and my family heirlooms out to the Goodwill. Nobody told my mother about this as she was going through cancer treatment and had Alzheimer's disease in her mother and her sister. My stepfather and biological brother took advantage of this matter, as I called a "family council" that my brother just never could make it to at the last moment. All of the furnishing, kitchen ware, everything was in the house my brother just moved into. He had had 2 weddings, I chose to elope b/c my stepfather ruined my brother's first wedding by talking about his relationship with my brother in front of my dad and his entire family, insulting him and having my grandfather leave the ceremony. It was a disaster. My stepfather just plays dumb and blames my father for the slight. I was the only child not to have a wedding. So, my mother and stepfather never had to pay for a thing. My mother had had an agreement with my father he'd pay for college and all medical issues with their kids, myself and Judd. So truly my mother never had to pay for anything big for me in her entire life. I am looking for anyone that has had a similar story, where they grew up in a household that had a baker that regularly milled flour and ate gluten. What happened to you? DId you suffer from different auto-immune diseases b/c of living with a baker using "gluten" Please let me know. I have been looking into legal ways to get my stepfather to give me what my mother had promised, and he erased. Thank you for listening to my story. Jane Donnelly  
    • trents
      Possibly gluten withdrawal. Lot's of info on the internet about it. Somewhat controversial but apparently gluten plugs into the same neuro sensors as opiates do and some people get a similar type withdrawal as they do when quitting opiates. Another issue is that gluten-free facsimile flours are not fortified with vitamins and minerals as is wheat flour (in the U.S. at least) so when the switch is made to gluten-free facsimile foods, especially if a lot of processed gluten-free foods are being used as substitutes, vitamin and mineral deficiencies can result. There is also the possibility that she has picked up a virus or some but that is totally unrelated to going gluten-free.
×
×
  • Create New...