Overweight Before I Was Diagnosed. Has Anyone Lost Weight Since Going Gluten Free?

[jacklyn1981]

I have been overweight all my life and have recently been diagnosed....I keep reading about people gaining weight on a gluten free diet. I understand why but then again...for someone like me...gluten accounts for the majority of foods i eat (until now)...Has anyone lost weight since they went gluten free?

[Ursa Major]

Yep, I have! I was just getting heavier and heavier, while it seemed I was eating less and less, because my husband was constantly remarking on me gaining weight, and 'obviously' eating too much.

Since I went gluten free I've lost nearly 30 pounds, and hope to lose another 60 or so. It's slow going, as I've had too much stress and haven't had the energy to exercise.

[Guest nini]

I've been gluten-free for over 3 years now and since my dx I have lost (get this) 105 pounds... no I'm not kidding. I went from 260 to 155... from a size 3x to a 10-12!!!! I feel like a new human... I was to a point where I was gaining almost 10 pounds a week sometimes... mostly 5 pounds a week... and I was hardly eating anything. If you ever want to chat about how I helped the weight loss along, feel free to e-mail me at nisla@comcast.net

[4getgluten]

I too lost weight AFTER going gluten free. I lost about 12 pounds and have kept if off for a year. I used to be so bloated all the time, and I was slowly outgrowing my clothes. Now, all those old clothes are too big.

[BRUMI1968]

I lost 10 pounds after going wheat free two years ago; since going gluten-free two months ago I have not lost anymore (but I didn't need to). I think our bodies adjust out once we're eating well. Just watch out for replacement bread/muffin/cookie type things. I've replaced those with trail mix, fruit, etc.

Good luck.

[Kaycee]

Since being gluten free for five months, I have not gained or lost any weight.

I did loose 2 stone before diagnosis, through dieting, and would love to loose some more, but it is winter now, and I am feeling the cold, I will get back to the salads and things soon. The best thing is, I have found a diet that suits me, and doesn't leave me hungry like before, and I do make sure not to eat all those fat filled gluten free substitutes.

I don't want to put pressure on myself to loose any just yet, as it has been tough enough to work out this new eating regime, but I am quite confident as I have not gained any weight, it will eventually fall off.

Cathy

[ehrin]

I am in the minority here...I was overweight prior to diagnosis and have been gluten-free for 8 months. I do not cheat and am quite diligent. I keep putting weight on - I've put on over 15 pounds. I seem to have finally plateaued, but it's frustrating. I even started Weight Watchers two months ago and I would go down 2 pounds one week and up 3 pounds the next week and that cycle didn't stop - I'm actually up 3 pounds since I started. I also have a vast knowledge of food - I was in culinary school for a while and have read labels most of my life due to being a T1 diabetic. I eat as low on the glycemic index (GI) as I can as well. I do allow myself some of the gluten-free treats from time to time - but a loaf of bread will last 6 months. I don't eat them all that much because they are quite high on the GI. So I feel like I'm doing everything right and getting no where. I will mention that they've just discovered that I have a hyperthyroid - but doesn't that mean I'd be more prone to losing weight?

Hopefully you're not in my boat - I certainly hope you start to lose once going gluten-free, but I wanted you to know that it isn't always the case.

Good Luck!

Peace

Ehrin

[sparkles]

June of 2002, I was finally diagnosed with celiac disease. I immediately went gluten-free eating only fresh veggies, lettuce with oil and cider vinegar or lemon and hamburger patty. I was afraid to put anything into my mouth and reading ingredients to discover if any had gluten was just too overwhelming. I lost about 30#, going from 220 to 190 in 4 months. I felt great. All of the digestive tract symptoms disappeared along with migraines, depression, my blood sugars were almost to the point that I was experimenting (doctor's orders) with eliminating oral diabetic med. Then something happened....I think my body started being able to absorb food correctly again and I discovered gluten-free processed food. It is now 3 years later and I weigh 230#. I have stayed gluten-free during this time and my weight has come back and I struggle daily not to gain anymore weight. I try keeping the processed foods at a minimum and eat fresh veggies and meat. I do snack on popcorn...the kind I pop myself. I count carbs as to keep my diabetis under control. Even though I am still on glipizide, it is a very low dose. I am frustrated and angry. Now that my body is working right, it seems that even a starvation diet allows me to gain weight. My doctor says that I just need to eat less and exercise more. That sounds great on paper....or coming from her point of view....but if someone can gain weight on 800 to 1200 calories a day....I understand about the exercise but I have peripheral nueropathy and very flat feet. I wear orthodics but at times, my legs hurt so bad that I can hardly walk from one end of the house to the other. I am tired of the fight...I have looked into surgery but it is not recommended for celiacs....and I don't weigh enough to be a candidate anyway. I am almost ready to just give up...eat a loaf of 7 grain bread and have diahreha and throw up until I lose some weight. I know that in all honestly, every starch I eat or fat I eat goes right to the weight gain but I guess that all the will power I have to not eat gluten does not extend to not putting Smart Balance on my popcorn or mayo in my tuna salad. I hope that you have better luck and will power than I have.

[Guest nini]

Sparkles, you aren't getting ENOUGH calories... I know it sounds crazy, but when you are starving yourself your body goes into starvation mode and actually gains weight by holding onto everything instead of properly eliminating it.

You NEED calories in order to burn them to exercise. You just have to figure out what is the right combination of food for you. Stay away from anything processed. Eat fresh fruits and veggies, lean baked meats (protein servings no bigger than the size of your closed fist) grains like quinoa and brown rice, limit your white rice and potato intake for now... especially with diabetes. Stay away from diet sodas they are not good for you at all... drink water, or the occassional fruit juice but NO SODA. I only have a soda like once a month and I usually can't finish it, it tastes too nasty to me now.

It is astounding to me how little most medical Dr.s actually know about nutrition and dieting. Starvation diets never work. Even if you do lose the weight, as soon as you go off the diet, you gain it all back and some extra.

what makes me an expert? nothing, just losing 105 pounds in three years...

[StrongerToday]

I've lost 54 pounds in the past year! While some of that is that I'm gluten-free/DF, I've also learned about eating healthier... no more processed foods or ice cream, fast food, etc. I eat lots of protein now, potatoes/rice and veggies. There are a lot of good gluten-free products on the market, you can still gain weight by indulging in those donuts, cakes, brownies, etc. But what's helped me the most is just finally eating a good diet! The gluten-free just nudged it in the right direction.

[murlene]

I have the same problem, I am overweight and stressed out about it. I hope following the gluten free diet will help me make healthy eating choices. The doctor said I was one of the people with celiac disease who actually gained weight. I have been gluten free for 3 weeks and don't feel much better but I have been sick for over 2 years so who knows how long the damage will take to be reversed. I pray that we can get our weight under control and live life fully and happily. Best wishes to you.

[PreOptMegs]

My heaviest was 163. Last summer I got down to 146. I only eat unprocessed foods. The gluten-free goodies make me feel awful and I gain tons of weight with them.

[jennyj]

Before I found out I needed to be gluten-free we bought a new store and started moving our business, at the same time I gave up pop(soda) I started to drop weight and I thought how cool. At first it was just 5 pounds, then 10,etc. I was really happy until I got very sick. I ended up having scans, scopes, blood work and they found out I was celiac and possibly crohns. My weight is still dropping even after eating gluten-free foods. I have now lost almost 40 pounds since the end of Sept.

[Guest Robbin]

I have the same problem, I am overweight and stressed out about it. I hope following the gluten free diet will help me make healthy eating choices. The doctor said I was one of the people with celiac disease who actually gained weight. I have been gluten free for 3 weeks and don't feel much better but I have been sick for over 2 years so who knows how long the damage will take to be reversed. I pray that we can get our weight under control and live life fully and happily. Best wishes to you.

I have the weight problem too and have been sick for so long that I am unsure of when I actually did feel good in my life. I've been gluten-free for five months and lost weight at first but now am on a "plateau of frustration". The weird thing for me is that I seem to be losing weight according to my clothes, but the scales aren't showing any loss. I am sort of "absorbing" all these fatty bulges that I've had for 20 years but I still am not losing poundage. I must be using up the fat pantry I've been storing on my thighs and belly. It is very frustrating. My sons have the opposite problem, and it is just as frustrating for them, believe it or not. I am very thankful for this forum and we can all help each other. I am so sick of being sick AND fat. Double whammy it seems. I need to lose about 60 pounds. Nini, you are my inspiration!!

[Jean-Luc]

Jackyln1981 and and Sparkles:

I am sort of a newbie to the board, but you both need to speak with a nutritionist familiar with celiac. Nini hit the nail on the head. A persons body cannot and should not be starved, EVER! Overall bad idea, your body will learn to store calories for the period when you starve yourself.

As with Nini, I am no expert. Just a former Navy Diver.

[Guest nini]

glad to be someone's inspiration!

[trents]

I am a 55 yr. old male and went gluten free about 2 1/2 years ago after having developed, in hind sight, Celiac disease in about 1990. I noticed that within 2 months of going gluten free I put on about 10 lbs. which I attribute to better absorption of nutrients. I've put on about 2 more pounds since then. I exercise semi-regularly. At my stage of life some weight gain is to be expected, I suppose, as metabolism slows down and there are hormonoal changes. Right now I'm trying out a fat-reducing product called CLA (conjugated linolic acid) which is being endorsed even by the medical community as something that really works to reduce belly fat in men and hip/belly fat in women. In the Pacifi NW where I live it is hard to be active out of doors during the Fall, Winter and most of the Spring because of the nearly constant rainy weather.

[Papa-Hen]

I'm losing it quickly and without a thought.

(What? No struggle?...This is too easy. Isn't it supposed to be hard?)

And my inflammation bloodwork results are way down.

- Henry

[Guest The Weasel]

Yep, my doctor hadn't seen me for a few months since going gluten free and he remarked on how he could tell I lost a lot of weight and looked different. I had to buy new clothes even! I was following a strict regime of gluten-free from November until about February and I lost twenty or thirty pounds. I still have a long way to go and have since been slipping up occasionally and I've noticed during the slip-up periods is when my weight will fluctuate highly so I know it's the gluten that's causing the weight issues. I'm making a promise to myself that I will work ten times harder now to stay gluten-free and lose weight because I was a lot happier and had a lot less mental and physical problems those few months that I was strict about it.

[Tawnya]

Hi,

I lost 5 pounds as soon as I went gluten free, but it came right back. Well, since a gluten free diet is similar to Atkins, I just decided to go all the way with it. I have been on phase 1 (induction) for just one week and have lost 2 or 3 pounds. Supposedly, after 2 weeks of this phase, I will see "dramatic" results. I eat a lot of protein, which gets tiresome, but would stay on this track if the diet turns out to work. I also need to lose 60-70 pounds. So far, the best thing about this part of the Atkins program is that I have absolutely no highs and lows as in my gluten days, and I am never overly hungry because I can always eat something. I do realize that if I go on to the next phases, I will have to modify the diet, but I'm not too worried about that because I can stay in phase 1 for up to 6 months, with vitamin supplements of course. I'm just taking it one day at a time.

[majicbunnies]

I've definately lost weight. I'm 5'1" and 17yrs old, and almost two years ago, when I found out I was gluten intolerant, I lost 20lbs in three weeks. I was 130lbs and went down to 110. I maintained that for a while, but eventually developed EDNOS and now I'm 99.5lbs. Which really isn't underweight for my height.

[mommylove777]

I am in the minority here...I was overweight prior to diagnosis and have been gluten-free for 8 months. I do not cheat and am quite diligent. I keep putting weight on - I've put on over 15 pounds. I seem to have finally plateaued, but it's frustrating. I even started Weight Watchers two months ago and I would go down 2 pounds one week and up 3 pounds the next week and that cycle didn't stop - I'm actually up 3 pounds since I started. I also have a vast knowledge of food - I was in culinary school for a while and have read labels most of my life due to being a T1 diabetic. I eat as low on the glycemic index (GI) as I can as well. I do allow myself some of the gluten-free treats from time to time - but a loaf of bread will last 6 months. I don't eat them all that much because they are quite high on the GI. So I feel like I'm doing everything right and getting no where. I will mention that they've just discovered that I have a hyperthyroid - but doesn't that mean I'd be more prone to losing weight?

Hopefully you're not in my boat - I certainly hope you start to lose once going gluten-free, but I wanted you to know that it isn't always the case.

Good Luck!

Peace

Ehrin

I too was hyperthyroid. However, my Dr. told me that not everyone typically does the same thing with the weight loss. I didn't lose. My metabolism just stopped. If you were just dx with hyper-t. then you could have actually been up and down on your levels and gaining when you were in hypo-t. and you didn't know you were hypo. My levels are up and down. I was told when I get me a Endocrinologist, I need to find a good one cuz they will become my best friend due to how much you will see them and they will take your blood. You want to be checked very regularly.

[Mayflowers]

Losing weight has been a struggle since I passed 40. I think I finally figured out my weight loss plan! Maybe this will help.

I eat semi-vegetarian low carb. Fish, chicken and some turkey, but mostly fish.. I allow myself gluten-free bread or spaghetti once or twice a week, usually on weekends. I cannot eat any gluten-free processed foods like, cookies, donuts or cake. My weight starts to climb. I also found out that red meat has the same effect. My weight starts to climb. I think it's the harmones they give the animals to make them bigger.

The best way to do it is to monitor your weight and see if it starts to go up after eating certain suspect foods.

I try to eat low carb, since I gave up wheat and gluten, that's not hard at all. I try to limit sugar and I don't use artificial sweetners. I have an idea of how many carbs at meals work to make me lose weight without making me feel depressed or tired. If I feel tired I increase them by 10. Just like Atkins said. You have to find the right amount for you. It's a lot of trial and error.

I've been gluten free since August and I've lost 10 pounds, with a broken ankle and not moving around much. So I think it's working for me.

Has anyone read the blood type diet? I'm A+ and I'm almost following my blood type diet to the letter and I'm losing weight! Dr. D'Adamo must have figured it out!

[georgie]

Ehrin, I noticed your post and reference to hyperthyroid. To answer your confusion - some Thyroid complaints swing from hyper to hypo as your Thyroid is attacked by antibodies - it dies./ If you have Thyroid issues you won't lose weight. Pop over to 'Related Disorders' and topic of Temp Charts. Or PM me.

Hopefully you're not in my boat - I certainly hope you start to lose once going gluten-free, but I wanted you to know that it isn't always the case.

[CMCM]

Weight problems...bleechhh! After having no weight problems at all, I had my 2nd child at 36, put on extra lbs and have never taken it all off....I'm now 57, I weigh 157 and would be at my best at about 135. No matter what I do, that weight does not budge. When I went gluten free I thought that might be the key for me, but it made no difference. There has been only ONE thing that let me lose weight quite effortlessly: Atkins induction diet. I tried it for about 6 or 7 weeks several years ago BEFORE I had my gluten diagnosis. I had sprained my shoulder and broken a rib skiing and could not exercise at all during this period. Well, the weight dropped off with no effort at all and I got to my lowest weight (about 140) in 20 years. So what was I eating on Atkins? Meat and eggs, green veggies, but more importantly: NO WHEAT OR OTHER GRAINS, NO DAIRY except for limited hard cheddar cheese, NO FRUIT, NO SUGAR.

I still need to lose about 20 lbs....I keep telling myself to go back to Atkins. It got somewhat tiring, though, and I had to eat a lot more meat than I usually want to eat. I do think Atkins would be useful to drop the weight, then go into a careful maintenance version of his diet....of course, you would not be adding grains back in, possibly keeping the dairy and fruit very limited. They key is SMALL SMALL meals, but 5 or 6 mini meals per day.

I'll also add that going into Atkins, I was the world's worst sugar-pastry-cookie-cake junkie. Very early on in the diet I had ZERO cravings for those things. You just lose all cravings. However, down the road what sets in is boredom...when I realized how much of my munching was entertainment, not based on actual hunger.

The other thing is that as you get older, it gets harder and harder to LOSE or maintain weight. You've just got to get all these things under control and figure out how to live with it and deal with it....no way around that. Your metabolism definitely changes as you get older. Exercise is very important too...you'd just got to do it, especially if you like to indulge in food.