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Weight Gain On Gluten Free Diet

sluct

By sluct
in Related Issues & Disorders

Recommended Posts

keysey Newbie
keysey
Posted

ahhh yeah cheers mate ill give that ago

  • 1 year later...
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Rworthy Newbie
Rworthy
Posted

I have not been diagnosed with Celiac disease, but have noticed that my problems which go back to childhood could be related to a gluten intolerance. I have been exercising religiously since April. I went back to a gluten free diet last week, not replacing wheat/gluten products with gluten free subsitutes, but getting rid of them completely. Last week I noticed I finally started to lose weight, a pound here, 2 pounds there. On Saturday I had a few vodka tonics (4 total), but other than that, did not cheat on my diet at all. (Every day averages about 1400 calories). I got on the scale Monday morning, and it said I had GAINED 7 pounds...from Friday. I am extremely discouraged to think that I was on a weight loss track, and now I'm back to my start weight after virtually starving myself and exercising like crazy, on this gluten free diet. I don't know what's going on, I've consulted several forums and everyone says don't worry it will come back down - it could be water weight, etc. I don't believe them. I walked an extra mile yesterday, for a total of 75 minutes in the heat. I weighed myself this morning and only came down 1 pound. Is this gluten free diet making me gain weight? How am I supposed to stay on track for losing weight (I need to lose about 30 to get out of the "obese" category and move into "overweight") if I don't even mess up, and am doing everything right, only to gain an enormous amount of weight literally overnight? I'm seeing a lot of posts here that say you were underweight because of the Celiac disease...is anyone OVERweight due to Celiac? I am feeling better because of eliminating gluten, but I am SUPER hungry, and even though I don't have any energy to exercise, I push myself WAY overboard because I want to see my hard work pay off. Is there something I can do to lose the weight I've already lost before starting this diet, and then lose more to get on track?

Super disappointed and confused!

  • 2 months later...
Coolclimates Collaborator
Coolclimates
Posted

i've gained about 7 pounds since going gluten-free 4 months ago and although I'm far from overweight, I'm very scared about gaining more and more weight. I'm trying to eat less calories with this new diet because before I could eat whatever I wanted and still was losing weight. I'm trying to eat lots of fruits and vegetables, but they just don't fill me up and I am constantly craving carbs and sweets. I've just started going dairy free because I have not felt much better since going on the gluten-free diet 4 months ago and think that maybe my intestines won't heal until I stop dairy for awhile. I'm tired ALL the time. It's so frustrating. I'm just so afraid of gaining more weight. And I exercise frequently (4-6 times a week on average).

  • 3 weeks later...
Nadia2009 Enthusiast
Nadia2009
Posted

i've gained about 7 pounds since going gluten-free 4 months ago and although I'm far from overweight, I'm very scared about gaining more and more weight. I'm trying to eat less calories with this new diet because before I could eat whatever I wanted and still was losing weight. I'm trying to eat lots of fruits and vegetables, but they just don't fill me up and I am constantly craving carbs and sweets. I've just started going dairy free because I have not felt much better since going on the gluten-free diet 4 months ago and think that maybe my intestines won't heal until I stop dairy for awhile. I'm tired ALL the time. It's so frustrating. I'm just so afraid of gaining more weight. And I exercise frequently (4-6 times a week on average).

It is interesting I must be the only one here who lost weight on the gluten free diet. Before starting the diet I was around 140lbs now I am about 127lbs and it is funny how when I met some old friends who knew me years ago they congratulated me for gaining some weight and I was like who gained weight? :o

I used to be skinny most of my life and I dont know if it was due to malabsorption but I melted when I went gluten. I even got scared when I reached 126-127lbs because I didn't want to keep losing but it it is stable for the last 6 months.

I think the reason why I lost so much weight was for me all the sugar was coming with the gluten. I am not someone who drinks pop and I dont add sugar to hot drinks. I also eat not too fat and with almost no restaurant food and no processed food, I am in control of the fat and sugar.

Maybe I precipitated my weight lost with two other things:

-by introducing coconut oil and using it for about 2 months

-with depression I had after being 6 months gluten free. I had 0 appetite.

Now, I am better and not depressed anymore so I eat well and sometimes I overeat ut for some reason, my gluten free over eating has limits I can't go on like when I was craving pizza or pastries. Generally like 80% of the time, I eat whole foods a lot of brown rice (mostly in bread sorgho chickpeas tapioca) I fry more food than ever before and since I find my food pretty boring (I am sick and tired of rice!) I do get some pastry and I indulge in home fried food. For now, I feel like nothing is making me gain weight. I wonder if I dont eat too much proteins or at least a lot more than before going gluten-free. Also, wonder if it is not an issue of hormones...maybe there is some imbalance and I have more testosterone lol I really hope not but I find my body has never been so lean except when I was a skinny teen.

Just one more thing: just before gluten started hiting me hard and feeling pain about 1.5 year ago, I was on gluten like some people are on drug and I was eating lots of calories in just pastry and ice-creams.

Lisa79 Enthusiast
Lisa79
Posted

I have been gluten-free since I was diagnosed with celiac disease nearly 18 months, in have gained 18kg in the last 12 months :( I was very thin when I was first diagnosed so the first 5kg I happily accepted, I am not extremely overweight, I do look and feel healthier but the weight is just not stopping. The last couple of weeks I have been very careful eating well exercising (riding/walking) at least 4 times p/week, bought my own juicer and been juicing all sorts of fruits and veg daily, and I gained another 0.5kg... I know in those first few months I overcompensated with chocolate and other gluten-free yummy food, maybe just to replace what I couldnt have and a bit of feeling sorry for myself coming to terms with the celiac disease, but 18kg is alot to gain in 12 months, and I have changed my eating to healthier foods.

I do find I have a bigger appetite now. I have other food intolerances too, which does also cause bloating and constipation, I avoid dairy, nightshades, soy, eggs, but I must admit to slip up with these things occasionally, my diet is pretty restrictive but I manage to keep gaining weight.

I am seeing a homeopath which has done wonders so far with my intolerances, I can slip up and dont feel much of the effect, I have heaps more energy and my anxiety is undercontrol.

Now I just want to lose a few kg and keep my weight at a healthy weight that I am happy with.

I also had my gallbladder out about 3-4 years ago, interesting to see how many had gallbladder issues. I think anyone with Gallbladder issues should be tested for celiac disease.

Wolicki Enthusiast
Wolicki
Posted

I, too, gained a lot of weight. And I mean a LOT. At diagnosis, I weighed 93 pounds. I had been losing steadily for a few years. I went from a very slim 150 lbs. (I am 6 ft tall female) down to 93. As soon as I started the gluten free diet, I started gaining weight at an alarming rate. My body went haywire, and I gained massive amounts from fluid retention that has never gone away.

I gained 120 pounds in 7 months, while eating about 1400 calories per day and exercising 6 days per week in boot camp. I ride 3-6 hours per weekend on my bike. No processed food, no grains, low fat, no sugar. Doc says it's because of malnutrition and my body is hanging onto every calorie preparing for the next famine. He thinks it will eventually work itself out.

Before anyone yells that the calories are too low, I was gaining, gaining, gaining at everything above 1400 and the doc says this is the new normal for me. I can't do anything else but hope it eventually fixes itself. Skinny to fat in no time flat.

On the bright side, I am healthy, if somewhat plump. I guess plump is better than dead, right?

So when I say "I understand," I really understand.

Reba32 Rookie
Reba32
Posted

A whole, natural foods diet with properly balanced healthy fats, protiens and low-ish carbs is the healthiest (and biologically "normal") diet there is. It's how our ancestors ate before they started refining sugar and grains.

Check out the new Atkins. There's a new book, it's easier to follow, and there's lots more foods on the list you can eat, even in the first phase. The great thing about Atkins is that the early phases are naturally gluten free, (and that's how I found out I have Celiac!) and you don't *have* to re-introduce grains.

There's absolutely no reason that you have to eat grains, you can have a perfectly healthy diet without them. Despite what the government food pyramid says, science proves it's not viable, and it's basically upside down!

For fibre, I eat flax meal, and lots and lots of veggies, nuts and seeds. I've lost the 30+ extra pounds I didn't need, and I'm never ever hungry, and I'm the healthiest I've ever been in my entire life. I highly recommend it.

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TexasLaura Newbie
TexasLaura
Posted

I'm also a newbie, going into my second month gluten-free. Along the way, have added lactose-free and cane sugar-free, due to really poor reactions to both. Oh, and I quit smoking (after 18 years) five weeks ago, as well. I figured it had to be done, so why not get it all over with at once?

Anyway, I've had some issues with my weight, too, mainly because I'm hungry as a bear all the time. I don't really crave gluten foods or sweets or necessarily even carbs-- in fact, the past three days have been marked by a constant craving for garlic-stuffed olives-- just random foods, and a constant supply of them. I feel like a grazing animal!

I've only gained about three pounds, but I'm concerned. I've upped my exercise level, too, to at least an hour of moderate to vigorous something-or-other every day. This is a bit of a problem because I also have persistent and almost-debilitating-at-times body aches and joint pain (which didn't start until after starting the gluten-free diet, by the way.) I just work through it, and usually feel less achey (though exhausted) for a few hours afterward.

Part of my problem is that I've always enjoyed whole foods, natural foods, even strictly raw foods, but have been surrounded by potatoes-and-gravy-and-apple-pie people. Since having my allergy diagnosed, I've finally had an excuse to eat like I like to eat anyway, and I think my inner child is having a field day.

I actually like my new diet, much better than the old one, which I adhere to out of convenience, reluctance to make waves with family, wanting to be part of good old 'Merican Culture, etc.. And the only "substituting" I've done is with Crunchmaster Roasted Garlic Multiseed Crackers, and Enjoy Life Flax Perky's cereal.

But I promise you this: you can still gain weight on bean soup, if you eat enough of it!!

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    • trents
      I think a UTI caused by Aspirin, made me a Celiac

      By trents · Posted

      Welcome to the forum, @jimmydee! Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder, meaning the consumption of gluten triggers a response by the immune system that causes the body to attack it's own tissue. Celiac disease has a genetic base that requires some kind of trigger for the genes to be turned on. We know that there are two primary genes responsible for providing the potential to develop celiac disease and we know that about 40% of the population carries one or both of these genes. However, only about 1% of the population actually develops celiac disease. So, that tells us that something more than just having the genes is necessary in order to develop celiac disease. Something must trigger those genes to wake up and produce the active disease. It's that "something" that we are struggling to understand and that is somewhat of a mystery. But there is a growing body of evidence pointing to the culprit being a disruption of the proper balance of microorganisms in the gut. Apparently, the microorganisms that live in our intestines produce chemicals that regulate the size of the openings in the mucous lining of our small bowel. A disruption in the healthy balance of this microorganic community causes an increase in the size of the openings in the mucous lining. This in turn allows protein fragments from the food we eat that are larger than normal to invade the mucous lining where they are detected as threats by the immune system. This is what is happening with gluten for those with celiac disease. The attack in the mucous lining of the small bowel by the immune system on these incompletely broken down gluten components causes inflammation and, over time, as we continue to consume gluten, it damages the mucosal lining of the small bowel which results in the loss of efficiency of nutrient absorption. This mucosal lining is made up of millions of tiny finger like projections that create an enormous surface area for the absorption of nutrients when healthy. The "wearing down" of these millions of finger-like projections due to celiac inflammation greatly reduces the surface area and thus the ability to absorb nutrients. This in turn typically results in numerous health issues that have a nutrient deficiency base. But the answer to the question of why there seems to be an epidemic of celiac disease in recent years may not be simple. It may have many facets. First, we don't know how much of this epidemic is real and how much is apparent. That is, how much of what we perceive of as a dramatic increase in the incidence of celiac disease is simply due to greater awareness and better detection methods? Celiac disease is not new. There is evidence from ancient writings that people suffered from it back then but they did not have a name for it. And it wasn't until WW2 that gluten was identified as the cause of celiac disease. Current thinking on what is causing imbalance in gut biology has put forth a number of causes including overuse of antibiotics and pesticides, environmental toxins, fluoridation of drinking water, preoccupation with hygiene and sanitation, and the western diet. https://www.celiac.com/celiac-disease/theories-on-the-growing-prevalence-of-celiac-disease-and-gluten-sensitivity-over-the-last-half-century-video-r6716/?tab=comments#comment-25345 All this to say that I doubt your UTI or the low dose aspirin had anything to do with the onset of your celiac disease. It was probably just coincidence unless the UTI was the stress trigger that activated the celiac potential genes. The onset of celiac disease an happen at any stage of life and many people report it following a period of illness. But what is interesting about your low dose aspirin theory is that aspirin is in a class of medications known as NSAIDs (Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs). Scientific studies have shown that long term use of NSAIDs can damage the villous lining of the small bowel in the same way as celiac disease.  The other thing I wish to point out is that unless you have actual testing done for celiac disease, you can't be sure if you have celiac disease or NCGS (Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity). They share many of the same symptoms, the difference being that NCGS doesn't damage the lining of the small bowel. There is no test for NCGS, celiac disease must first be ruled out. NCGS is 10x more common than celiac disease. The antidote for both is a gluten free diet.
    • julie falco
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    • jimmydee
      I think a UTI caused by Aspirin, made me a Celiac

      By jimmydee · Posted

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