Cealiac disease/weight gain.

Posted , 4 users are following.

Hi, guys. I am a coeliac disease sufferer for over 3 years now.

I read and hear information that when you eat gluten free, wheat free diet that you start feeling better, more energetic, you loose weight because you stop eating wheat and your bloated belly will disappear.

In my case it is all not true, but exact the opposite.

I suffer of extetreme bloating, less energy than before I started this diet after beeing diagnosed with Coeliac disease, I have gained 3 stone in the first 2 years.

I am now heavier and bigger than when I was into my 9th month into my pregnancy 4 years ago. I am the biggest ever.

My Coeliac disease symptoms started after my first child was born 4 years ago.

Do other sufferers have gain weight? do I have to cut off all gluten free, wheat free, barley free, oa free carbohydrates?dietican told me that I  must eat carbohydrates cos that give me energy.No! In my case, it is the only thing which I personaly strongly feel takes my energy. Any advice and your own experience, please.

Diana

1 like, 8 replies

8 Replies

  • Posted

    Hi Diana, when you have coeliac and stick to a gluten free diet your body is now able to take in all nutrients from your food.  Where as before if you were coeliac and ate a 'normal diet' the food was attacking your gut and your body wasn't able to take in the nutrients you needed and you might have thinner.

    In my case I was quiet thin for my height beforehand but now that I stick to my diet I've gained an extra stone and have been the same weight ever since (I haven't been pregnant though).  That was the first thing my dietician said to me, that weight gain is quiet normal once being diagnosed as your body is now taking in the nutrients you need.  

    I was always told that Coeliac sufferers should stick to a lower fat diet as weight gain can be an issue.  For me I stick to a 100% gluten free diet as I get really ill once I would eat the tiniest bit of gluten.  I don't eat - normal oats, rye, barley, malt, wheat.  You have to be very careful as some things say 'wheat free' but in fact contain gluten ingredients like barley or malt, always look for gluten free.

    I still also have the issue of getting tired and feeling drained, I have to go every 3 months to get my bloods checked as my B12, Iron and thyroid levels seem to be off at the minute. I would suggest you ask you doctor for blood tests to just check all your vitamin levels. 

    As for getting bloated, this still happens to me, mostly when I eat too much junk food or over indulge in dinner.lol!

    I hope this helpsbiggrin

    Laura

  • Posted

    Hi, dianaa

    thank you so much for telling us your experience with a gluten free diet. I was only diagnosed a few months ago but I have already put on weight. Although I take iron and vitamins b and d I am constantly tired. My gp says there is nothing they can do for me and just get on with it. My weight does worry me as I am osteopatic (thin bones) so I worry about that too. I'm seeing a dietician on Tuesday but I know that she will tell me that this is normal, I cannot remember the last time I felt normal. I'm sure that a lot of people with celiac s disease put on weight so don't feel alone, we'll all pull together, maybe we can start an on-line diet, just for celiac s  any suggestions would be welcome. Good luck dianaa.

    • Posted

      Thank you, Susan.

      Online diet and us, poor Cealiace disease sufferers suggestions and sharing our experience of anything that helps would be great.

      By the way, I also has been diagnosed with Oestoporoses abroad 10 years ago and diagnosed with Osteopatia 3 years ago, at the same time I was diagnosed with cealiace disease. However, meantime I must try to eat just meat, fish, vegetables and fruit and diary products. I also start swimming. That's the only physical activity I was allow to do by doctors, otherwise I will end up like Samuel L. Jackson in the movie "Unbreakable". I am pretty sure that I have gained weight from the white rice, corn, starch and potaetos pasta, seldom pizza, white gluten free, wheat free bread and cornflafes. I spoke to my new Diatecan, who is actualy not specialised in Cealiac (she has no clue) that my portions are normal or small. Please, let me know if you have a good idea or a great recipe. Thank you.

    • Posted

      I think a lot of coeliacs put on weight after starting gluten free diet because they begin to absorb food more effectively.

      Some carbs can cause you to feel tired by giving you spikes and then falls in blood sugar, so perhaps this is why you find carbs cause you to feel tired. 

      If I was you I'd cut right down on the carbs, as you suggest, and make sure you drink enough water as that can improve energy without gaining weight.

      I think your plan to eat fruit and veg and meat etc is a good one: you can get enough carbs from the fruit and veg, and for energy you can get calories in the meat, and calcium and some more calories from the dairy, so you probably don't need to add the gf pasta, white rice, potatoes, cornstarch, gf bread, cornflakes etc. 

      Hope you feel better soon.

      I have loads of recipes and recently posted some here http://coeliac.proboards.com/thread/3919/cheap-eats-gluten-free

       

  • Posted

    Its idiot 'celebrities' who recommend a wheat free diet in order to get rid of a bloated tummy - but they're just being ignorant.  So how do they get their flat stomachs?  They have personal trainers and do yoga every day and so on - things we don't have time or money for so we don't have much of a chance do we?

    So - like the rest of us, you're going to put weight on unless you're careful, its not ideal but at least it shows we're now healthy!

     

    • Posted

      You are right, Exdancer! So right! However, you are mentioning that we are healthy, at least.

      Well, I do not feel like healthy.

      I definitely had 10 times more energy before having Cealiac disease symptoms the first time in my life, 3 years ago.

      My favourite food were actualy wheat white bread, crossaints, baguettes, cakes, wheat pasta, rice and potatoes since I was born for another 41 years. No cramps, weight gain,fatique, nor severe toilet changes.

      I have news for you. I cut off my intake of bad carbohydrates a week ago. I am not that bloated and I do not feel as my belly is going to explode. I am sure I will also loose my weight visibly by the end of July.

      1 of the good carbohydrates is a brown rice. I tried it yesterday.

      It taste like eating sand mixed with little stones. It is like raw. Yuky! No, thank you.

  • Posted

    Just thought I'd jump in here. I went to see my dietitian yesterday as I was still very bloated and windy.as I was low in iron I upped my intake of veg, including broccoli , cauliflower and kale. NO NO NO, she said, all of these veg are bad for your stomach, you should be eating bean sprouts, alfalfa, peas and carrots. YOU CANNOT WIN

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