Gluten & Dairy Free, Will I lose Weight??

ponyvillalobos
ponyvillalobos Posts: 37 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Hey there, I am just starting my 3rd week of gluten and dairy free. I have to say after getting past the first few days it's not that hard. And I am really enjoying not getting hungry every few hours after coming down from the severe blood sugar spike you get after consuming wheat! Anyway, I did this a while back but never really payed attention to calories consumed, this time I am, plus I have not had dairy either.

My question is, have any of you experienced weight loss from this? And if so, how long before you see it? I am committed to 2 months! I do not have celiac disease and I am not allergic to dairy. I am just doing this for the sole purpose of vanity, for the sole purpose of losing weight!

Age, 44, 20 lbs over weight!!

PS- my exercise routine is a 5 mile hike with hills, 5 days a week!
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Replies

  • Lemongrab13
    Lemongrab13 Posts: 206 Member
    There'll be weight loss if there's a calorie reduction.
    Removing foods doesn't mean that will happen.
    Unless you remove all food.
    But that's not recommended :bigsmile:
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    Oh lord. Here we go.
    OP: why would cutting out gluten and dairy lead to weight loss?
  • CitizenXVIII
    CitizenXVIII Posts: 117 Member
    Weight loss from cutting out those two things? Nope. Weight loss comes form a calorie deficit, not from cutting out two dietary groups.
  • sunil_l
    sunil_l Posts: 1 Member
    As above, the answer depends on what you eat instead. First thing is to make sure you're running a calorie deficit, but i'm a firm believer that the context of what else you eat counts, not just from a weight perspective, but general health.

    Myself and my wife are currently on week 3 of a 30 day no grain, sugar, dairy, legume diet, aka the 'Whole 30'.

    Last time we did it i think i dropped about 5kg, but that was coming from a few weeks of less than optimal eating.

    Personally, i find that quitting bread / sugars / processed food and eating lots of veg / protein / healthy fats make me feel better and be less hungry the rest of the time. As you say, after a few days it's not that hard - though we're lucky that we have enough time for food prep.

    Other than that the only challenge is to try and come up with interesting dishes...
  • itsbasschick
    itsbasschick Posts: 1,584 Member
    going gluten and dairy-free will only help you lose weight if it leads you to eat less calories, which you could achieve without going without either. i'm allergic to wheat, haven't eaten it since 1994 and don't each much gluten, but i still managed to get up to 242 pounds at one point.

    btw, i haven't eaten sugar in years, either, yet was heavier than friends who eat breads, cakes and lots of sugar and gluten.
  • Madame_Goldbricker
    Madame_Goldbricker Posts: 1,625 Member
    A calorie deficit leads to weight loss.

    I personally don't eat wheat as it triggers my IBS. However that's not what's caused me to lose weight. Cutting the amount of calories I consumed a day did.
  • ponyvillalobos
    ponyvillalobos Posts: 37 Member
    Thanks guys. Yeah, I know a calorie deficit leads to weight loss. I should have been more specific. I just hear so much about how all calories are not created equal anymore. ...How your body uses different fuel sources differently, some last longer, some raise your blood sugar, blah, blah, blah.

    If anything, it has made me way more aware of what I am putting in my mouth!!! This is always good!
  • _Zardoz_
    _Zardoz_ Posts: 3,987 Member
    I'm a vegan have been for 15 odd years. I got to 333 pounds of dairy free fatness. As others said it's calories you need to look at. If you have no medical or ethical reasons to eliminate these things it's pretty pointless
  • Madame_Goldbricker
    Madame_Goldbricker Posts: 1,625 Member
    Thanks guys. Yeah, I know a calorie deficit leads to weight loss. I should have been more specific. I just hear so much about how all calories are not created equal anymore. ...How your body uses different fuel sources differently, some last longer, some raise your blood sugar, blah, blah, blah.

    If anything, it has made me way more aware of what I am putting in my mouth!!! This is always good!

    In all honesty stop over thinking it. If all you are looking to do is drop a few vanity pounds (your words). Then just a small deficit coupled with regular exercise. Plus a decent variety of food is all you need to do. People get all het up about it but it really is that simple.
  • Delquin
    Delquin Posts: 33 Member
    Something works for everyone. My husband went paleo a while back - no dairy, no beans, no pasta, potatoes, corn, peanuts...I whatever else false into that group. Yes, he lost weight. And he exercises 4x week (at least) doing weights. As for a calorie deficit, he ate plenty. At least a 1/2 lb of protein at each meal (for muscle building) along with massive salads, manioc bread, almond butter, etc.

    Not something I could do. I love me a good PB&J on crappy white bread with a glass of milk. :)
  • paperpudding
    paperpudding Posts: 9,275 Member
    I dont get a severe sugar spike from eating wheat.

    OP there is no need to cut out gluten or diary unless you want to.
    In themselves they will not make you gain or lose weight.
  • Born_to_Nope
    Born_to_Nope Posts: 3
    Gluten-free bread substitutes (also pasta, cookies, dough, etc) are actually higher calorie than normal breads and such. So, it could hurt more than help.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    Thanks guys. Yeah, I know a calorie deficit leads to weight loss. I should have been more specific. I just hear so much about how all calories are not created equal anymore. ...How your body uses different fuel sources differently, some last longer, some raise your blood sugar, blah, blah, blah.

    If anything, it has made me way more aware of what I am putting in my mouth!!! This is always good!
    I understand what you're trying to do, but neither gluten nor dairy is considered among those foods. Enriched, bleached flour, yes.

    instead of focusing on cutting things out, perhaps consider building a diet around nutrient dense vegetables, meat and fish (if possible), reasonable dairy, legumes, nuts and seeds, and some fruit and WHOLE grains.
    And, if you want to lose weight, eat at a reasonable deficit.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    Gluten-free bread substitutes (also pasta, cookies, dough, etc) are actually higher calorie than normal breads and such. So, it could hurt more than help.
    And sugar/starch.
  • Shalaurise
    Shalaurise Posts: 707 Member
    I'm a vegan have been for 15 odd years. I got to 333 pounds of dairy free fatness. As others said it's calories you need to look at. If you have no medical or ethical reasons to eliminate these things it's pretty pointless

    You. I less than three you. *nods* I do believe you just became my favorite vegan.

    Disclaimer: I don't know if I know vegan people, I am just presuming I don't.
  • tycho_mx
    tycho_mx Posts: 426 Member
    Unlikely, if the rest of your diet doesn't result in a deficit. Peanut butter is gluten and dairy free. If your diet contains two cups that is 3,000 calories. I doubt most people exercise enough if they consumed that.

    I am dairy free for decades - lactose intolerant. No effect on my weight loss/gain.
  • holliebevineau
    holliebevineau Posts: 441 Member
    I did that for the Lenten season and I did not lose weight. I ate too much of the foods that I did not restrict.
  • berry987
    berry987 Posts: 11 Member
    As someone who has cut out both because my son is gluten intolerant and we were dairy free for a stretch to see if dairy was contributing, I'd say no. I never lost any weight taking out either.
  • skinnyforhi
    skinnyforhi Posts: 340 Member
    There are actually studies that consuming low fat dairy is correlated with weight loss (although there's a study for everything!). I have had better luck with weight loss when I consume yogurt, string cheese, or other low-fat dairy products. I can't eat dairy now for health reasons and it has provided no advantage to me and it may be making it harder, but that's anecdotal.
  • ryanwood935
    ryanwood935 Posts: 245 Member
    As a few others have said, cutting these foods out of your diet will only help you lose weight if it means you consume less calories. Giving up gluten or dairy is beneficial to those individuals allergic/intolerant to those foods. In fact, a lot of gluten free products contain more unhealthy ingredients ie sugar to make up for the awful taste :)
    Most dairy (milk, cottage cheese, etc) has casein protein in it. This is a slow digesting protein that should keep you feeling full for longer, since it stays in your stomach longer.

    Gluten free items are also more expensive! Take any money you are spending on gluten-free products and buy veggies instead. I mean, if it works for you then keep at it, but there are certainly better ways to approach weight loss.
  • AllOutof_Bubblegum
    AllOutof_Bubblegum Posts: 3,646 Member
    WHy arte you doing gluten and dairy free? Do you have any intolerance or allergies to either?

    If not, then you are suffering unnecessarily. Gluten and dairy are not responsible for weight gain. Too many calories is. Eat at a deficit, of anything you like, and you will lose weight.
  • DebTavares
    DebTavares Posts: 170 Member
    Hmm. Well I was diagnosed with celiac disease 8 years ago before it was popular. I was always thin when eating gluten, but as soon as I went off it I piled on quite a bit of weight. The only gluten free substitute I added was gluten free bread so I don't think I was consuming more calories, but who knows. I know that my gut healed so I started absorbing nutrients again and stopped going to the washroom a billion times a day, but not sure if this would cause weight gain.
  • ponyvillalobos
    ponyvillalobos Posts: 37 Member
    I agree with you whole heartedly.
  • ponyvillalobos
    ponyvillalobos Posts: 37 Member
    Hi there. I am going gluten free because foods with gluten (or wheat flour for that matter) raise blood sugar higher than nearly all other foods. Yes, that’s true for even whole grains. More than table sugar, more than a Snickers bar. Organic, multigrain, sprouted–it makes no difference. Because of this it causes a crash thereafter and the sense of being hungry (or STARVING). When I cut gluten this cycle starvation stops and as a result I eat less. The first few days were kind of hard because of the addictive quality of it but now I don't miss it at all. I eat, rice, corn torts...
  • knittnponder
    knittnponder Posts: 1,953 Member
    I have to be gluten, corn and potato free due to food intolerances and my dairy is limited to the certain things that I can tolerate. I actually gained weight went I first went gluten free because I was trying out all the gluten free recipes so my family wouldn't feel deprived. For some people you can see a loss if your body doesn't tolerate it, the planets are all aligned and unicorns are frolicking in your front yard but I didn't have any of those things even though I can't eat it. Just be aware that cutting gluten may not have the impact you're hoping for if you're replacing gluten filled items with a gluten free version. If you're just eating a bunch of vegetables then yeah, you'll probably see a drop. :)
  • Leana93412
    Leana93412 Posts: 162
    If you don't have an allergy to gluten or dairy, you can eat both those things while losing weight. Weight loss needs a caloric deficit. That's it. Not cutting out anything.

    But hey if it floats your boat...
  • inertiastrength
    inertiastrength Posts: 2,343 Member
    there is only ONE way to lose weight cals in < cals out. period.
  • itsbasschick
    itsbasschick Posts: 1,584 Member
    no, they don't. it depends on the individual food, but a no-sugar added sour dough bread won't come anywhere near the GI of a snickers bar. perhaps it's because you're eating too large of servings. i've taken my blood sugar after virtually every food i ate, and rye bread (which is a gluten grain) didn't raise my blood sugar half as far as the exact same amount of other foods. in fact, calorie for calorie rice raised my blood sugar more. and fat free greek yogurt increases my blood sugar much less than most foods including the same amount of calories of corn tortillas.
    Hi there. I am going gluten free because foods with gluten (or wheat flour for that matter) raise blood sugar higher than nearly all other foods. Yes, that’s true for even whole grains. More than table sugar, more than a Snickers bar. Organic, multigrain, sprouted–it makes no difference. Because of this it causes a crash thereafter and the sense of being hungry (or STARVING). When I cut gluten this cycle starvation stops and as a result I eat less. The first few days were kind of hard because of the addictive quality of it but now I don't miss it at all. I eat, rice, corn torts...
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    Hi there. I am going gluten free because foods with gluten (or wheat flour for that matter) raise blood sugar higher than nearly all other foods. Yes, that’s true for even whole grains. More than table sugar, more than a Snickers bar. Organic, multigrain, sprouted–it makes no difference. Because of this it causes a crash thereafter and the sense of being hungry (or STARVING). When I cut gluten this cycle starvation stops and as a result I eat less. The first few days were kind of hard because of the addictive quality of it but now I don't miss it at all. I eat, rice, corn torts...
    This isn't accurate, not even close, but best of luck.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    Hi there. I am going gluten free because foods with gluten (or wheat flour for that matter) raise blood sugar higher than nearly all other foods. Yes, that’s true for even whole grains. More than table sugar, more than a Snickers bar. Organic, multigrain, sprouted–it makes no difference. Because of this it causes a crash thereafter and the sense of being hungry (or STARVING). When I cut gluten this cycle starvation stops and as a result I eat less. The first few days were kind of hard because of the addictive quality of it but now I don't miss it at all. I eat, rice, corn torts...
    This isn't accurate, not even close, but best of luck.
    One last comment: GLUTEN is a protein. It actually slightly SLOWS digestion.
    WHEAT is a carb.
    Enriched, bleached wheats and other non-whole grains do cause hunger and cravings in some. Sprouted grains and other intact grains should not.
    Snickers works the way it does because of the nuts. Put some nut butter on your sprouted grain and voila.
    Wheat Belly is an interesting book, but PLEASE read other sources. You're setting yourself up for failure and making things much more complicated than they need to be by considering William Davis's work as gospel.
    Are you planning on going entirely GRAIN FREE? That sounds miserable. Are you planning to eat gluten free flours? Prepare to gain weight.

    ps: note that the book is called WHEAT belly, not Gluten belly. cheers

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