Gluten Free?

JavaJael
JavaJael Posts: 43 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Is anyone doing a gluten free or reduced gluten diet? I was recently diagnosed with a celiac gene (HLA-DQB1.) and even though the biopsy did not show active celiac disease the specialists recommended trying a gluten free diet because I may be sensitive to it. I've also been diagnosed with Sjogren's and fibromyalgia. I have non specific arthritis in my joints and I keep tearing the achilles and other tendons in my feet (which is seriously hampering my exercise efforts).

I've lost weight before (using Body for Life) but that was before I had children and I could devote that much time and energy, now spending hours planning meals, counting calories, and planning workouts - just not as easy and it's harder for me to accomplish (harder but not impossible - I know it has to be made and kept a higher priority in my life than it has been).

Anyhow - I'm embarking on a new journey. I'll be trying (and hopefully succeeding) in going gluten free to see if that helps my attempts to lose weight, but also hopefully helps with some of the inflammation and autoimmune issues that are going on.

Cheers,
Jael

Replies

  • MissLotte
    MissLotte Posts: 101 Member
    I'm not doing Gluten Free myself as a diet but I do eat gluten free from time to time and I like to try and bake gluten free as my Mum has a gluten intolerance. Is there anything particular that you are struggling with gluten free wise? I haven't found that it has increased my weight loss but I prefer some gluten free foods to the normal ones, like spaghetti and pasta, because they are lighter and less stodgy and don't make you feel bloated. Calorie wise though, I don't think there's much difference.

    I live a busy life too and work away from home a lot. It's really easy to eat badly when you're on the go. I haven't really embarked on any exercise yet as part of my weight loss. I have lost 22lbs since October 2012. All of my family have lost a lot of weight without yet involving exercise as we have all felt too big to conquer any just yet. Boring as it sounds, I have found keeping things simple and regular the best way. I haven't been on MFP for 3 months, I lose better when I'm online, but even being off I didn't gain and lost a little because of my routine. I try and have similar breakfast and lunch everyday, ones that I know the calorie content of because it's on the packet or tin (cereal, soups, pre-packed salads etc.), then I cook a different evening meal each evening from scratch when I'm at home. Nearly of the foods in my cupboard now consist of the lowest calorie version, be it rice, flour, margarine spread, jams etc. I also include a LOT of fresh veg in my evening meals, this keeps meat and carbohydrate content to a minimum and yet still offering a satisfying and nutritious meal. I find it a lot easier to plan meals like that because I can just throw something together and know I have used as few calories as possible.

    The only other control after that is portion size. I was brought up not to waste food and to eat everything on my plate blah blah blah... Now, as soon as I feel full or am taking a deep breath before the next mouthful, it's time to stop eating (if it's not a meal I have pre-weighed and counted). If all the food and all the calories are gone, I'm done, but I don't over eat anymore if there is food or calories left. Not once since I started this new management of food have I felt bloated, uncomfortable or hungry. I keep reminding myself that food is fuel.

    I suppose what I'm saying is, leave the exercise for a bit and concentrate on food management, it's not a diet! Get yourself into new routines and new habits, try not to do too much at once, one thing at a time!! The exercise can come later when you feel ready to tackle it, if you injure yourself at the start you set yourself back.

    Good luck on your journey and I hope that it is a success for you. I jumping back on the counting wagon now, guessing calories worked OK, I didn't gain, but time to start losing again!

    All the best
    MissLotte. x
  • JavaJael
    JavaJael Posts: 43 Member
    Thanks for the reply! I didn't see a notice that someone had replied or I would have found it sooner :). I'm currently doing gluten free because it's one of the few things I haven't really tried. Since having the gene for celiac (but not full blown celiac) it was one of the few things the highpowered team of doctors could come up with for me. It could be the source of some of my autoimmune issues, nonspecific athritus, joint and muscle pain.

    I think the hardest part for me right now is that when I started getting sick I started substituting in convenience packaged items. (packaged stock instead of making my own from scratch that kind of thing).. Almost all of those items are lower in quality in terms of nutrition, and full of other things like hidden forms of MSG and surprisingly wheat. Any time it says "natural flavor" it could be barley malt - which has gluten in it. I was eating less anyway because I wasn't as active and just not as hungry. I wasn't moving as much because it hurt to move, and so I wasn't eating as much either. When I started gaining weight despite eating less - I started cutting back even more. Calorie wise - in theory - I should be losing, but after logging my food for a few days I suspect actually I've strangled off my metabolism by not eating enough. I guess I got a bit panicky to see the scale keep going up and my clothes get tighter and tighter as I got sicker and sicker and having more and more pain, and less and less energy. I'm having to push myself to eat more (but eat better foods). Definitely harder without convenience items. (soups, stocks, sauces).

    Cutting out the wheat did start to move the scale after almost 2 weeks, but then we had spring break and went on vacation with my family - had wheat in food while traveling, and indulged in some chocolate and potato chips as well (and while they were gluten free they still had calories LOL). so now I'm back home and severely limiting the wheat again... seem to have lost some weight in the last week. So hopefully this might make a difference.

    It's definitely much easier to log your food when eating prepackaged stuff with it all posted on the label. Much harder to do it without that - but not impossible.

    So in summary - the biggest thing I'm struggling with "gluten free" is finding out how much wheat is in EVERYTHING, and also, I really miss the covenience of wheat bread for a quick sandwhich! Local stores do have some gluten free breads but the consistency is not quite the same (tend to fall apart) and dang they are very expensive!! So far my attempts to make my own gluten free bread have not gone so well :/ I'm going to keep trying though. The most important thing right now is to feel better so I can enjoy life again. Of course it would be nice to look good again too but that's secondary to feeling better.
  • lotusfairy1
    lotusfairy1 Posts: 3
    hi,
    I am gluten free and dairy free.. lately i have even been grain free. I have tons of ideas and recipes and great bloggers that i follow... feel free to add me we can privately message!

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