Anyone Newly Diagnosed Starving?

[danikali]

Hi everyone!

Well, when I was eating gluten, my diet def. wasn't healthy at all. I could eat a sandwhich and some pretzals within a 24 hour period and not be that hungry yet my stomach would look like a balloon! And even when I was hungry, it wasn't like now, and I would be so scared to eat because (I thought) all food made me feel like crap!

Anyway, now that I am gluten free, I feel like I can't stop eating! I am feeling better everyday and symptoms are clearing up all over the place, but I'm scared I'm going to gain an insane amount of weight if I keep this up! I've heard that protein is supposed to supress your appetite, but it doesn't for me! Any kind of meat, or fish......I could eat an ENORMOUS piece of steak, AND STILL BE HUNGRY! And yesterday, after I had lunch, of course, I was still craving something, in a bad way..... so I got plain almonds, and couldn't stop popping them in my mouth! And I know like a handful of those are 200 calories, so multiply that times 10!

Anyway, maybe it's because when I eat these days, I don't get bloated anymore.......and feel irritable and tired so maybe my body is craving everything because it's waiting to get back to that stage so it knows that I'm full?

Also, I can't tolerate casein, and even those gluten/dairy/egg free cookies bother me in a bad way, so I'm staying away from anything processed like that. Maybe my body just wants some chocolate cookies like I had before I went gluten free, and it's a withdrawl kind of thing?

Anyone ever had this? And if so, when does it go away? And what could be the reason for this?

Thanks!

[Carriefaith]

When you were eating gluten, your intestines probably would have been damaged and your body would have been lacking vitamins and minerals. Once you went gluten free, your intestines would have started to heal, which may have resulted in extreme hunger since your body could absorb properly again. Before going gluten free, most celiacs are malnourished and the gluten free diet fixes that. That's my opinion. I'm usually always hungrey, but when I first went gluten free, I had extreme hunger for a few months. There seemed to be nothing I could do to make it go away, this gradually got better.

[danikali]

  Carriefaith said:

When you were eating gluten, your intestines probably would have been damaged and your body would have been lacking vitamins and minerals. Once you went gluten free, your intestines would have started to heal, which may have resulted in extreme hunger since your body could absorb properly again. Before going gluten free, most celiacs are malnourished and the gluten free diet fixes that. That's my opinion. I'm usually always hungrey, but when I first went gluten free, I had extreme hunger for a few months. There seemed to be nothing I could do to make it go away, this gradually got better.

Okay good! I'm glad that I'm not the only one! But it did go away? Right? For example, right now, I had breakfast already, a bowl of ceral and a HUGE apple, and now I'm starving again and I'm going to have to eat my snacks I brought to work before I even get to lunch, and after that, who knows! Gosh, I just want to eat all day, and it's so bad that I can't concentrate if I don't eat! I have homework to do but all I want to do is eat! And finals are coming up!

[kabowman]

I added a lot of potatoes to my diet, which helped, is not healthy, and I have gained weight which I now need to take off but I wasn't nearly as hungry. I also added salt because lack of sweet stuff and the salt seemed to temper that a little. I have been able to back off the salt some - I never used a lot of salt before either...I just seem to crave it now.

[jenvan]

I experienced that intially too. One thing is to make sure you are eating a good balance of protein and carbs...It's possible that your new diet is not 'filling you up' as it should.

[jerseyangel]

The first 2-3 months gluten-free, I was hungry and thirsty all the time, too. I was also very tired. I tried to just give my body what it obviously wanted. I ate as healthy as possible when I was hungry and rested as much as I could. Gradually, my hunger lessened, and I was less tired. It dosen't happen overnight. You have to be patient and more importantly, realize that you're body has been through a lot. As you start absorbing the food you're eating, you will feel more satisfied with more "normal" amounts. For now, don't worry.

[danikali]

  jenvan said:

I experienced that intially too. One thing is to make sure you are eating a good balance of protein and carbs...It's possible that your new diet is not 'filling you up' as it should.

How do you know if you are eating balanced foods? I mean, which of what are you supposed to eat more of, etc.? Whenever I eat dinner, I have some protein, veggies, and potatos or rice.....and breakfast is usually some rice cakes with peanut butter or jam and maybe fruit, and then lunch is usually Amy's gluten-free/milk free soup.......and then in between I eat things like nuts, (sometimes neccos or gummi bears-I know, it's not healthy, but I need something to chew on other than fattening almonds and peanuts! ) and I also bring some carrots to work or cucumbers and things like that.........

[Carriefaith]

  Quote

Okay good! I'm glad that I'm not the only one! But it did go away? Right?

Yes, the extreme hunger eventually went away. I still get hungrey quickly, but not near as bad as before. I find that some things fill me up more than others. For breakfast, I find that drinking blueberry smoothies in addition to my breakfast really fills me up until lunch. You should give it a try! Here is an example of a breakfast that would hold me over until lunch:

1 piece of fruit, usually a banana

2-3 scrambled eggs placed on 2 pieces of gluten free toast

1 small glass of orange juice

1-2 glassess of blueberry smoothie

Here is my recipe for the smoothie:

1 overflowing cup of frozen blueberries

1 1/4 cups of So Good Vanilla Soy Milk (Rice or almond milk should also be fine)

2 tablespoons of honey.

Mix in a blender until smooth. About 1 1/2 cups of frozen raspberries in place of blueberries is also good!

[jerseyangel]

Carrie--I am going to try your smoothie--we bought blueberries over the weekend! I'll use my Pacific Rice Milk. Also, on an unrelated note, I made your stuffing w/apples for Thanksgiving--it was fantastic--thanks

[Carriefaith]

  Quote

Carrie--I am going to try your smoothie--we bought blueberries over the weekend! I'll use my Pacific Rice Milk. Also, on an unrelated note, I made your stuffing w/apples for Thanksgiving--it was fantastic--thanks

Thanks I love the smoothie and the stuffing, two of my favorite recipes! You may have to modify the ingredients in the smoothie to suit your taste and texture. I like mine sweet, so I sometimes add extra honey!

[Mango04]

You might want to check out "The Metabolic Typing Diet" - a book written by William Linz Walcott and Trish Fahey. It will help you find out what your metabolic type is and how to eat the correct carb to protien ratios with each meal. Each person is different, but I feel a lot better since following some of the guidelines the book suggests.

[danikali]

That recipe does sound really good!!!!! Unfortunatley, I don't have time in the morning to cook all of that. But I will def. get around to trying out that smoothie! And YESSS, I am addicted to vanilla rice milk!!!!!!!! I really crave that! I never really cared for milk, probably because it always bothered my stomach, but I can't get enough of the ricemilk! (Surprise Surprise!-haha)

[Rusla]

Actually since going gluten-free I am not hungry all the time, went off coke (the drink, not the drug) cold turkey and chocolate. Before I could sit down and eat a whole box of chocolates now one chocolate is just fine. I was always hungry before and even taking my synthroid I would not lose weight now, I have lost almost 15 lbs being gluten-free and I don't eat like I did before.

[mookie03]

since going gluten-free, i def have an increased appetite, i am always hungry, even after i eat a big meal...the only things that really seem to fill me up are things like nuts (i dont know, say, 2000 calories worth of almonds ) or tortilla chips or something very filling like that - and yes, ill usually have to eat half the bag before im sufficiently full..haha... i have gained a few lbs since going gluten-free but i can tell that its b/c im actually absorbing foods now.

i will say, though, i am never as hungry as when i am glutened... after i am glutened i am completely ravenous for the next 24 hours, kinda makes me wonder why the gluten-free diet is leaving me hungrier than before. my best explanation is that i used to LIVE on bread (bagels, muffins, etc.) and my brain still thinks thats what i need to fill up.

[tarnalberry]

Are you getting ehough fat and protein in EACH of your meals? It will help keep you full longer than a high-carb meal.

[mookie03]

  tarnalberry said:

Are you getting ehough fat and protein in EACH of your meals? It will help keep you full longer than a high-carb meal.

I am, but for me i think its more that my brain and body need to adjust to the change, considering iwas a carb ADDICT before going gluten-free. Im pretty sure its similar to when a few of my friends tried atkins and south beach and said they were always hungry-- its more just a huge dietary change that your body needs to adjust to. I will say i am hungriest in the morning now and never used to be a big breakfast eater, so i actually think this is a much healthier way to be for me, i used to have to force myself to eat in the AM!

For me, i think its just that my body still needs a few more weeks to figure out how to digest normally- i am finally not having stomach problems for the first time in 24 years! (that said, my diet could still stand to improve, but im working on it...)

[danikali]

  tarnalberry said:

Are you getting ehough fat and protein in EACH of your meals? It will help keep you full longer than a high-carb meal.

Well, there's fat in nuts and in steak and chicken .........I also drink tons rice milk (cos I love it and it's as close to egg nog and milk shakes as I can get!)

(But on other note.........I just have to add this........I've been going to the bathroom every other day, normal ones, all by myself! hahah, no lax. or fiber pills!!! (I just had to add this, because it's a miracle to me! I've never been so regular! Ever in my life! Okay, well it's only been since Saturday, but still, I'm excited! )

Sorry that's off the subject, I just want to tell the world! hahah

Anyway, that's the only way I know how to get the fat in my diet.....Seriously, yesterday and the day before I had a HUGE tuna steak (Monday) and HUGE real steak (last night), I mean, HUUUUUUUUGEEE and I finished the whole thing with no problem plus had potatos and veggetables! And I wasn't full or anything! I mean, steak is really fattening, right?

[RiceGuy]

For that full feeling, you might try apples. It's because the fiber will fill you up, which is probably what the wheat diet did. The benefit with apples is that there isn't the fat content, plus you'll be helping your gut move food along better with the soluable fiber. That wil definitely help you in the bathroom. I also find dark green leafy veggies helpful, such as spinach, brussel sprouts, etc. These will also give you a boost of nutrients like magnesium, which aids numerous body functions. I have found that tinkyada pasta fills me up better too, which I'm guessing is because of the brown rice bran. Though I eat rice like every day, it's not brown rice, as that always made my stomach turn just smelling it. I have been thinking of trying it though since the pasta is so good, and I haven't tried it since going gluten-free. The tortilla chips do fill me better too, and I think there is a brain-satisfaction factor there too I munch on peanuts as much as I can, but they are kinda pricey.

I'm still looking for more stuff to munch on, as I'm always hungry. I overstuff myself and still there is a lack of satisfaction somehow. I know I tend to eat too fast too, but my appetite is just relentless! I am slowly getting better at pacing myself - trying to make the meal last a bit longer. I recall reading it takes at least 20 minutes for the brain to turn off the hunger signals.

I haven't tried this yet, but I plan to make corn bread and/or corn muffins. I've been craving those, and since the chips fill me pretty good, I figure this could work. Plus they will keep at room temp so I can have them handy anytime. Corn does have a good percentage of fiber too as I understand.

[Carriefaith]

  Quote

That recipe does sound really good!!!!! Unfortunatley, I don't have time in the morning to cook all of that. But I will def. get around to trying out that smoothie! And YESSS, I am addicted to vanilla rice milk!!!!!!!!

I'm sure rice milk will taste fine in the recipe. Where do you get it? I've been looking for some and the only brand I can find has gluten in it. Surprisingly, I can make and eat that meal in about 20 minutes! Another thing that you could do is make extra food at dinner and save the leftovers for breakfast in the morning. This would be quick and easy and should fill you up.

[danikali]

  Carriefaith said:

I'm sure rice milk will taste fine in the recipe. Where do you get it? I've been looking for some and the only brand I can find has gluten in it. Surprisingly, I can make and eat that meal in about 20 minutes! Another thing that you could do is make extra food at dinner and save the leftovers for breakfast in the morning. This would be quick and easy and should fill you up.

You're right, I really should make extra at night just to reheat in the morning......I'm so hungry talking about all of this food-hahah

Anyway, I get my ricemilk at Whole Foods. It's gluten/dairy free Lundberg. Here is the website:

Open Original Shared Link

It's amazing, and it gives stores that they sell it at. If you can't find it in your area, you can buy it offline, and of course, since it's dairy free, you can buy a lot at a time and just store it in your cabinets. I go through like 2-3 boxes of it a week I love it so much! (A box is one carton, ya know? haha)

I also liked your new taco concoction!!! (I read in another thread)......that sounds so good!!!!!!!! Also, I noticed that you can't have dairy either, are you allergic or intolerant to the casein? Or lactose? If it's casein, do you know of any casein free cheeses? That's my favorite food of all time, and I miss it, A LOT!

[Carriefaith]

  Quote

Anyway, I get my ricemilk at Whole Foods. It's gluten/dairy free Lundberg. Here is the website:

Open Original Shared Link

It's amazing, and it gives stores that they sell it at. If you can't find it in your area, you can buy it offline, and of course, since it's dairy free, you can buy a lot at a time and just store it in your cabinets. I go through like 2-3 boxes of it a week I love it so much! (A box is one carton, ya know? haha)

I also liked your new taco concoction!!! (I read in another thread)......that sounds so good!!!!!!!! Also, I noticed that you can't have dairy either, are you allergic or intolerant to the casein? Or lactose? If it's casein, do you know of any casein free cheeses? That's my favorite food of all time, and I miss it, A LOT!

Thanks so much! I may look into buying some online if I can't find any here.

I believe that I am intolerant to casein. I used to take the maximum amount of lactaid pills plus extra when I ate dairy and I still got sick. I've found a few casein free cheeses at my local grocery store and I will look into them to see if they are gluten free. I'll let you know if any of them are gluten free.

Yeah the tacos are very good!

[tiredofdoctors]

I do the smoothie thing, too, but since I'm not casein intolerant mine are made a little differently. Also, some of the soy milks contain gluten, so you have to be really careful. I use a large carton of plain yogurt, add a powdered combination of Milk & Egg protein (in a large can at the store), ground flax seed, any kind of fruit that I want, then 1/8 - 1/4 cup of turbinado sugar (depending upon how sour the fruit is! -- I'm definintely NOT a "sour" person!). It makes an entire blender full, and I usually have a large glass for breakfast. It makes about 3 large smoothies. It's pretty good, and I don't get hungry at all.

[mookie03]

  RiceGuy said:

For that full feeling, you might try apples. It's because the fiber will fill you up, which is probably what the wheat diet did. The benefit with apples is that there isn't the fat content, plus you'll be helping your gut move food along better with the soluable fiber. That wil definitely help you in the bathroom. I also find dark green leafy veggies helpful, such as spinach, brussel sprouts, etc. These will also give you a boost of nutrients like magnesium, which aids numerous body functions. I have found that tinkyada pasta fills me up better too, which I'm guessing is because of the brown rice bran. Though I eat rice like every day, it's not brown rice, as that always made my stomach turn just smelling it. I have been thinking of trying it though since the pasta is so good, and I haven't tried it since going gluten-free. The tortilla chips do fill me better too, and I think there is a brain-satisfaction factor there too I munch on peanuts as much as I can, but they are kinda pricey.

I'm still looking for more stuff to munch on, as I'm always hungry. I overstuff myself and still there is a lack of satisfaction somehow. I know I tend to eat too fast too, but my appetite is just relentless! I am slowly getting better at pacing myself - trying to make the meal last a bit longer. I recall reading it takes at least 20 minutes for the brain to turn off the hunger signals.

I haven't tried this yet, but I plan to make corn bread and/or corn muffins. I've been craving those, and since the chips fill me pretty good, I figure this could work. Plus they will keep at room temp so I can have them handy anytime. Corn does have a good percentage of fiber too as I understand.

Riceguy, i totally agree about the fiber. As soon as i read your post i realized thats exactly what my problem is. When i say i was a carb addict in my past life (ha, i mean before going gluten-free), i was really a wheataholic. i ate whole wheat EVERYTHING- bread, bagels, pretzels, muffins, pretty much everything possible. i always ate a very high fiber diet, which kept me full all the time. Now, i find it hard to get the fiber in my diet in the same amounts. I know a lot of fruits and veggies are high in fiber as you pointed out, but i have eliminated a huge portion of my daily fiber w/ my lack of wheat.

Apples are a great solution, i love sliced apples w/ peanut buttter and find it to be a very filling snack. Also, i know nuts can be expensive as you said, but i love making my own trail mix- i buy raw almonds, pistachios (w/o shells), soynuts, dried cranberries and/or raisins and i ALWAYS have a bag of it in my bag for whenever i get hungry. i find that works really well during the day. I also have the eating too fast problem, what can i say - i love food!!!

[Claire]

I have posted this before but here goes again. This is a wonderful snack food. You can bag it up and take it anywhere. Also I mix with several kind of gluten-free several - sometimes mix in a little applesauce. Delightful. Does wonders for hunger pangs.

It is all nuts, seeds, dried cranberries, blueberries, apricots, dates and whatever else good I happen to have. Family members give me hints so they will get a jar full for Christmas. This is sweet, chewy, filling and portable.. It satisfies the sweet tooth and provides the texture that is missing from many gluten free foods. Add to that - it is packed with nutrition. Added to cereal it is just a bonus. It is wonderful with the Buckwheat flakes.

I do not refrigerate mine though there is no reason not to. There is nothing in the mix that is likely to spoil in that time. All the contents are unrefrigerated when I buy them.

As gifts, I pack jars or tins - these are so popular! As I said, I get hints early on.

There is no recipe as such. I used to start with a commercial packaged mix (from the health store) and then added 1/4 to 1/2 cup of each dried fruit (per pkg). (I stopped buying the mix when there got to be more sunflower seeds than anything else and the price remained the same) I use less of pumpkin seeds. For the chocoholics I add some chocolate chips. I also have used butterscotch chips. These can be found gluten-free if doing it for yourself. If you make it all the time as I do, you can shop around for the best price on the ingredients. I just found a place online where the price of dried cranberries is very fair. Also I have a dehydrator and I live where there are peaches and strawberries in season - apricots also some years. The online source of the cranberries also sells cherries, blueberries, strawberries. You can make yourself a feast. I never tire of it. Claire

[Carriefaith]

  Quote

The online source of the cranberries also sells cherries, blueberries, strawberries. You can make yourself a feast. I never tire of it.

Do you have a link to the website?