Gluten free and LOVING it!

MurphysLawTD

Figured I'd get the ball rolling on this since I'm new to the GF club and it is such a (for lack of a better word) popular affliction these days.

So for months I hadn't been feeling well - it was always something. I cut out dairy, was modifying my intake, eating cleaner, trying to figure out what my trigger was. A big thing for me seemed to be beer, but I thought maybe I was just sensitive to it since I don't drink that much anymore. It took me way too long, but I finally went to a specialist and based on what I told him, he sent me for a celiac's panel. He said even if the test came back negative, to continue a GF diet and see if it helped.

Well, the test was negative thankfully, but I've been as close to GF as possible over the past few weeks and feel amazing. All my issues has seemed to diminish, I have more energy, and am just happier over all. I'm finding it really easy to stick to, concentrating more on what I can have rather than can't.

The one thing I miss is beer and pizza, but I shouldn't be eating those anyway! :drinker:

I'd love to hear other people's experiences with this diet, or from people who are considering trying it

craigineson

GF is, for lack of a more creative elaboration, really really nice. I am so much happier.

monicalosesweight

You could have a wheat allergy. That's totally different from Celiac's.

Monica

girlykate143

Good for you!
i'm actually considering joining the club. Yesterday, for about the 8th time in a few months, I broke out in hives from a white bread-type bread (maybe sourdough). This time it was not a bagel, but french toast. Yup. The old carb that you think will taste really good for a sunday breakfast and--boom--1/2 hour later I get lovely hives.

doesn't happen with whole wheat bread. . .might be going grainless for a while again.

sirabe

I've been gluten free for about 2 months now. I love it. I miss pizza. I have tried Domino's GF pizza but the symptoms came back when I ate it ( cross contamintation). I have never been a beer drinker ( thank goodness, I couln't imagine missing anything else on top of pizza)

I have learned that I don't miss bread at all. I have tried some bread substitutes. They are OK.

I can admit I have more energy and less headaches. I still occasionally have headaches when I eat too much salt or sugar. But all around it has been great. Well, except when my family stops somewhere quick to get a quick bite and there is nothing I can eat there.

Like you, OP, My celiac panel came back negative, but I think it is because I was already living gluten free for about a week before the test. I hear from my friend and others that the test will come back negative if you have not eaten gluten.

But yay for you that GF is working for you.

craigineson

For anyone whose gluten panel's came back negative, there's a blog post by Dr. Briffa here that you might be interested in:

http://www.drbriffa.com/2012/11/30/gluten-sensitivty-in-the-absence-of-coeliac-disease-exists-it-really-does/

MurphysLawTD

I've been gluten free for about 2 months now. I love it. I miss pizza. I have tried Domino's GF pizza but the symptoms came back when I ate it ( cross contamintation). I have never been a beer drinker ( thank goodness, I couln't imagine missing anything else on top of pizza)

I have learned that I don't miss bread at all. I have tried some bread substitutes. They are OK.

I can admit I have more energy and less headaches. I still occasionally have headaches when I eat too much salt or sugar. But all around it has been great. Well, except when my family stops somewhere quick to get a quick bite and there is nothing I can eat there.

Like you, OP, My celiac panel came back negative, but I think it is because I was already living gluten free for about a week before the test. I hear from my friend and others that the test will come back negative if you have not eaten gluten.

But yay for you that GF is working for you.

I had only been GF for about 12 hours before the test...prior to that I had a ton of pasta the night before. Hopefully it didn't alter the results, but it shouldn't have.

PaleoPath4Lyfe

Figured I'd get the ball rolling on this since I'm new to the GF club and it is such a (for lack of a better word) popular affliction these days.

So for months I hadn't been feeling well - it was always something. I cut out dairy, was modifying my intake, eating cleaner, trying to figure out what my trigger was. A big thing for me seemed to be beer, but I thought maybe I was just sensitive to it since I don't drink that much anymore. It took me way too long, but I finally went to a specialist and based on what I told him, he sent me for a celiac's panel. He said even if the test came back negative, to continue a GF diet and see if it helped.

Well, the test was negative thankfully, but I've been as close to GF as possible over the past few weeks and feel amazing. All my issues has seemed to diminish, I have more energy, and am just happier over all. I'm finding it really easy to stick to, concentrating more on what I can have rather than can't.

The one thing I miss is beer and pizza, but I shouldn't be eating those anyway! :drinker:

I'd love to hear other people's experiences with this diet, or from people who are considering trying it

There is Gluten Free Beer. I have found some local craft beers at the micro breweries and a commercial one put out by Anheuser Busch called Red Bridge is good too.

And there is always cauliflower crust pizza which tastes really good.

MurphysLawTD

Figured I'd get the ball rolling on this since I'm new to the GF club and it is such a (for lack of a better word) popular affliction these days.

So for months I hadn't been feeling well - it was always something. I cut out dairy, was modifying my intake, eating cleaner, trying to figure out what my trigger was. A big thing for me seemed to be beer, but I thought maybe I was just sensitive to it since I don't drink that much anymore. It took me way too long, but I finally went to a specialist and based on what I told him, he sent me for a celiac's panel. He said even if the test came back negative, to continue a GF diet and see if it helped.

Well, the test was negative thankfully, but I've been as close to GF as possible over the past few weeks and feel amazing. All my issues has seemed to diminish, I have more energy, and am just happier over all. I'm finding it really easy to stick to, concentrating more on what I can have rather than can't.

The one thing I miss is beer and pizza, but I shouldn't be eating those anyway! :drinker:

I'd love to hear other people's experiences with this diet, or from people who are considering trying it

There is Gluten Free Beer. I have found some local craft beers at the micro breweries and a commercial one put out by Anheuser Busch called Red Bridge is good too.

And there is always cauliflower crust pizza which tastes really good.

True...I tried making a gf pizza this weekend to no avail. The way I see it, I'd rather just adopt new habits than try and modify the things I love. I'm kind of OK with that. It's only been a few weeks, but I'm finding it very easy to stick to.

bsmith404

Gluten Free is NOT a diet. Your going to have to eat like this the rest of your life. It is not a choice. You have a good attitude with focusing on what you can have vs what you can't. That's always hard in the beginning.

Be very careful with things marked gluten free. Your going to have to read almost every label of food you buy. Gluten is in almost everything. Some companies claim their product is gluten free but that just means they don't add any gluten to the product but let's say you have chips and those chips are going through the conveyer belt as something that had gluten in it. Well there you go cross contamination.

Cross contamination is going to be your worst enemy. I'm very anal but I do get "glutened" a lot and the results are not nice. A lot of restaurants will claim a prodcut is gluten free too but if they know what they are doing in the kitchen (different cutting board, different knives, changing gloves) you should be fine. But you do have to watch eating out.

Good luck.

Evachiquita

I am mostly gluten free. I call it "gluten reduced". I do not have Celiac or allergies, that I know of. I just know that I feel so much better when I do not eat a lot of gluten. So I eat homemade cookies or pizza or some other gluten containing food on occasion, like maybe 1-2 times a week, and some weeks not at all. And beer. I also think that because beer is fermented it digests differently. (It's OK if you think I'm crazy on this one) I also think that a lot of grains have a similar effect as gluten containing foods because they are high starch, high sugar etc. So I also try to eat only 1-2 servings of grain or starchy vegetable a day. It's all about finding what works for you!

MurphysLawTD

Gluten Free is NOT a diet. Your going to have to eat like this the rest of your life. It is not a choice. You have a good attitude with focusing on what you can have vs what you can't. That's always hard in the beginning.

Be very careful with things marked gluten free. Your going to have to read almost every label of food you buy. Gluten is in almost everything. Some companies claim their product is gluten free but that just means they don't add any gluten to the product but let's say you have chips and those chips are going through the conveyer belt as something that had gluten in it. Well there you go cross contamination.

Cross contamination is going to be your worst enemy. I'm very anal but I do get "glutened" a lot and the results are not nice. A lot of restaurants will claim a prodcut is gluten free too but if they know what they are doing in the kitchen (different cutting board, different knives, changing gloves) you should be fine. But you do have to watch eating out.

Good luck.

Agreed, I don't really thing anything is a diet. Any altering of your day to day food intake is a lifestyle change. Fortunately, I don't think my level of sensitivity is so strong that I can't have something with soy sauce or a little bit of gluten once in a while, just no sandwiches and pasta every day (not that I was doing that anyway!)

I can definitely feel the differences, though, and am really enjoying it!

MurphysLawTD

I am mostly gluten free. I call it "gluten reduced". I do not have Celiac or allergies, that I know of. I just know that I feel so much better when I do not eat a lot of gluten. So I eat homemade cookies or pizza or some other gluten containing food on occasion, like maybe 1-2 times a week, and some weeks not at all. And beer. I also think that because beer is fermented it digests differently. (It's OK if you think I'm crazy on this one) I also think that a lot of grains have a similar effect as gluten containing foods because they are high starch, high sugar etc. So I also try to eat only 1-2 servings of grain or starchy vegetable a day. It's all about finding what works for you!

Well said! :flowerforyou:

sugarfree123

I am Celiac. Diagnosed by biopsy about 4 years ago. Before diagnosis, I felt like my abdomen was going to explode after a meal. Very uncomfortable and painful bloating. I also had no energy. I would do one thing then go sit down because I was tired. Being a nurse I thought I might be celiac but tried eating gluten free and it did not help. However, I did not read all the labels so I was getting hidden gluten. Like I can eat Heinz ketchup but not Hunts Ketchup. One brand of mayo is gluten free but not another. ect. Now that I have been gluten free for several years, I have tons of energy and I went from having 20 + migraines a month to having maybe 3 or less per month. I do eat Mazzios GFpizza occasionally and I tell them not to cut it. Less chance of cross contamination that way. so far so good. If you are wanting to get healthy and lose weight then I have some advice. Its ok to be gluten free but not to eat gluten free. In other words, There is a lot of unhealthy gluten free crap on the market. It still has white rice flour, sugar, salt and fat. Don't eat it. Stick with plain meat, and natural veges and fruits and you will be healthy.
sheila

AllisonMart

Welcome to the club! I've been GF 4 years. I've never been tested for Celiac because I'd have to eat gluten again and that is NOT happening. I most definitely have a gluten intolerance at a minimum. I've been seriously glutened only twice in 4 years and boy is it horrible! Might as well eat rat poison.

Stay focused on the positive - what you can have vs. what you can't. When you really have a craving that won't go away, go ahead and have the GF substitute but keep it a treat, don't eat that stuff too often. It has a lot more fat, sugar, etc, and should only be used occasionally. Stick to whole foods that don't require labels like meats and veggies and you'll be fine. The benefits are so huge that I really don't find it hard to stick to. I know that if I eat that cookie, I'll be in severe pain for 3 days at least, and no cookie is worth that. Add me if you want. Good luck!

ash8184

I'm the same way! No Celiac's, but definitely sensitive. I think it's one of those things where you feel so awesome that if you do revert to your old habits (beer & pizza, my personal favorite thing that I indulge in maybe once a year), you'll feel terrible and remember why you don't eat those things anymore. I know that when I do eat something I normally don't have (anything bread-y or gluten-y), I feel TERRIBLE for at least a day and then I feel tired and achey, don't want to work out, and it starts a cycle that isn't beneficial.

Stick to it and you'll keep feeling great! Congrats

MurphysLawTD

Now that I have the attention of some celiac's and gf's alike, can someone tell me why I'm constantly burping all of a sudden??! I had these symptoms slightly before I went gf, and now they're WORSE! Morning, noon and night. Is there any connection or has anyone experienced this before?

I have an doc's appointment tonight, but he didn't seem that concerned about it when I called a couple weeks ago asking what I should do!

nbkuipers89

I always get really gassy when I am glutened - its often one of my first symptoms of it. Perhaps double check for hidden gluten. I got glutened the other night and seriously looked 9 months pregnant within half an hour - it was insane!

I have a strong history of Coeliacs in my family, and during my pregnancy I became very unwell, needing iron injections (OUCH) twice a week for the majority of it. I realized I was reacting to the gluten, however I was not willing to risk the operation to get a definitive diagnosis while I was pregnant, so just went gluten free. I tried to eat it again to get the operation - NOT a good idea for me! My little girl also has suspected Coeliacs - she reacted severely to her first exposure to gluten, and every time since, and even things like playdoh give her excema.

So I have been 90% gluten free for almost 3 years now. In that time, I lost 30kg - before I got lazy and gained some back! I have to admit I find it hard - and often just eat it as I crave the junky take aways - but am beginning to pay the price again with my iron levels - will I ever learn!

MurphysLawTD

Well I consciously had a hamburger roll yesterday. I felt pretty OK after it, some abdominal pain that subsided. But the burping is constant, w/ or w/out gluten. And I make my own meals so unless there is something I'm missing, or maybe there's something ELSE I'm reacting to, there doesn't seem to be a link between the two! It's very weird. But like I said, I'm going to the doc tonight, so hopefully he can help me to alleviate it. Driving me NUTS!!!

........other than that, I feel great! LOL

_Shelley_

I have been totally GF for 3 months and prior to that I was only eating it once a week (silly me, I thought it wouldn't bother me) for about a year. Whenever I ate anything with gluten in it, I was bloated, in horrendous pain, and I wouldn't...go...for days on end. Since going totally GF I haven't had any issues with the above! It's fantastic.

Now as for the burping, it might be slight IBS. That's what I have been officially diagnosed with. It makes me very very gassy, regardless of what I eat. Esp after cardio.

Feel free to add me! I'd love more GF friends

MeeshyBW

I've been gluten free for about 9 months I reckon and it has changed my life.

I have suffered from IBS and GERD for 10 years and my symptoms have decreased massively.

I would whole heartedly recommend it but my advice would be - DO NOT RELY ON GF PROCESSED ALTERNATIVES!

GF Bread, GF pasta, GF cakes etc are full of carbs and sugar, far worse for you than the regular stuff. Its junk!

Akimajuktuq

Not only am I GF, but I am grain and legume free. I'm absolutely loving it too! So awesome to not feel sick and depressed all the time. My child is enjoying having a mother who can function and do things with her! Am I "suffering" and "restricted" by giving up foods that make me sick; NOT!!!

justkeepswimng

Gluten Free is NOT a diet. Your going to have to eat like this the rest of your life. It is not a choice. You have a good attitude with focusing on what you can have vs what you can't. That's always hard in the beginning.

Be very careful with things marked gluten free. Your going to have to read almost every label of food you buy. Gluten is in almost everything. Some companies claim their product is gluten free but that just means they don't add any gluten to the product but let's say you have chips and those chips are going through the conveyer belt as something that had gluten in it. Well there you go cross contamination.

Cross contamination is going to be your worst enemy. I'm very anal but I do get "glutened" a lot and the results are not nice. A lot of restaurants will claim a prodcut is gluten free too but if they know what they are doing in the kitchen (different cutting board, different knives, changing gloves) you should be fine. But you do have to watch eating out.

Good luck.

Agreed, I don't really thing anything is a diet. Any altering of your day to day food intake is a lifestyle change. Fortunately, I don't think my level of sensitivity is so strong that I can't have something with soy sauce or a little bit of gluten once in a while, just no sandwiches and pasta every day (not that I was doing that anyway!)

I can definitely feel the differences, though, and am really enjoying it!

di·et/ˈdī-it/
Noun:
The kinds of food that a person, animal, or community habitually eats.


I understand what you guys are saying, but g-free definitely is a diet, it is a a lifestyle diet and not a diet trend but nonetheless it is a diet.

I have had ulcerative colitis since I was 15. I had my colon completely removed when I was 20. I am just now trying to do the g-free thing. I have been on it for about two months, but I must admit I am still cheating occasionally (I usually feel like crap after I cheat though which will help me stick to it in the long run.)

MurphysLawTD

Can anyone suggest some gluten free restaurants? This is the first time in months I have to go out and get lunch b/c I didn't have anything to make and I'm not sure where to go.

I'm thinking Muscle Maker Grill, they have something called the Arizona that's advertised as gluten free (I think MMG is NJ specific.)

Any other ideas?

AllisonMart

Eating out is hard because of cross contamination. Some people can handle a little gluten and some can't. I can handle a little, like some soy sauce with my sushi, but not too much over time (so if I have that soy sauce, I can't have a salad that touched croutons the next day without dire consequences). All gluten things like cookies, pizza, etc. are completely out for me no matter what. Even the gluten-free versions make me a little uncomfortable so I don't eat those often either.

Restaurants are getting better about GF but you still have to be careful. When I first figured it out I ate almost nothing but Chipotle for a few days, and I still do well there. Outback has a great GF menu. My rule of thumb is that you can tell how well educated a restaurant is about GF by the menu presentation. If they just hand you a binder with a printed page in it of gluten free options, be very very careful (can't tell you how many times I've found blue cheese on that menu!). If they have a separate, graphic, nice menu like Outback does, it shows they really put some thought into it and you're probably OK. But still...you never know! There are apps you can download that will show GF restaurants near you. A lot of it is research. If my friends want to go somewhere, I'll get online and check their menu first. There are also usually GF food bloggers in your area and there may even be a support group. I live in a small city in Kansas and we have both so I'm sure NJ does too! Our local group does Celiacs Eating Out once a month, where we meet at a restaurant to try their GF offerings. Still, I can't tell you how many times I've been stuck eating a darn salad. Ugh. That's just the way it is, unfortunately. My first symptom is coughing while eating, so I know now to stop as soon as I start coughing.

The longer that you go GF, the more sensitivity you will develop. At first I could still handle eating a chicken nugget now and then, but now I can't. I'm far healthier and better off than ever before, but I can't handle as much gluten, either. I also really don't care, because "Nothing tastes as good as gluten-free feels"!

Sorry can't help you with the burping! Gas isn't my issue but I have heard of it. I'm stomach cramps, diarrhea, and terrible crippling arthritis pain. For months I coudl hardly hold my own toothbrush or hairbrush. I had bad acid reflux before which I controlled by eating yogurt every day, but turns out it was gluten and I haven't had acid reflux in years now. The gas may be temporary - you've made a huge change and your body has to heal and learn to process foods the right way. Start taking vitamins right away if you haven't already. I was severely anemic by the time I figured out the gluten thing and I still take iron everyday just to stay at a normal level. Your body has not been processing your food correctly for a while, possibly years, and it takes about a year for your intestines to heal and absorb nutrients like they should. Give it time. Good luck!

MurphysLawTD

Well, turns out I won't know for sure what the cause of the burping is until I have an endoscopy next month. Should be delightful!!

Yes, I believe I can handle SOME gluten in moderation, but like you said, nothing tastes as good as gf feels!

That's very cool you're part of a group that specifically eats out once a month gluten free. Very cool! I'm sure there's a lot of that around here, I'm just so new to it that I don't know the ins and outs yet.

Thanks for all your words of wisdom! :flowerforyou:

AllisonMart

If you have a local GF group, they are probably registered under the Celiac Sprue Association - www.csaceliacs.info/find will take you to the local chapter search.

It is overwhelming at first. It was probably a year until I no longer obsessed every single day about food! For most of that I didn't know any other GF people either, so it was just me learning it on my own. Hang in there, it will be OK!

monicalosesweight

The one thing I miss is beer and pizza, but I shouldn't be eating those anyway! :drinker:

Gluten Free Beer Red Bridge

Udi's makes a great gluten free pizza crust. I've heard that Against the Grain is pretty good. I haven't had a chance to test that one. I use Udi's and their crust is nice and crispy.

The Red Bridge beer is good and they have that in Florida in Publix which is a local market. I bet most markets have it but it's like 6 bottles and usually refridgerated. I think Anheuser Busch makes it.