New here, gluten sensitive and trying to loose some fat
 

Hi everyone!

I'm 27 and back on the need-to-loose train. I have tested lots of different diets since I was teenager, made many mistakes and learned quite a bit on the way. I have tried no-carb for months (and gained it all plus a bit back in two weeks after), various methods of calorie restriction and zero-fat diets. Because I have always had some weird undiagnosed (-able?) problem with my stomach, I have ended up being a vegetarian twice in my life (first time for 7 months, then years later for 9 months) - I simply couldn't face eating meat any more even though I craved it.

I am generally very active and sporty but I have learned that if I don't watch what I eat then sport alone won't keep me fit: the fat will still continue building up and all this pretty firm muscled shape simply won't show.

I recently returned home (I'm from Scandinavia) from France where I spent a few years, learning the mediterannean life style. Nutritionwise, the mediterannean diet has two sides - the light and the dark side, as I call them. In the beginning I learned the light side, which is cooking loads of delicious vegetable meals, because fresh produce is easily accessible on the markets all year round. Then I went on a long backpacking trip and with no access to a kitchen I started eating way too much french baguette and pastries. Needless to say, I got fat again.

The biggest problem though wasn't the weight I gained, but also my digestion went crazy and I started having serious health problems again. Then, I read about gluten sensitivity and when I returned home where we don't eat that much wheat, I spontaneously lost a few pounds in a week. It was weird, because I don't think I eat less than before, plus I cut back exercise 80%. So I experimented a bit with gluten free diet and continued overeating at family dinners every weekend or sometimes twice a week... still I lost 16 lbs in 2 months (from 187lbs to 171lbs effortlessly).

That already feels awesome and I have got no health problems. Except that at Christmas I ate too much cake (=wheat gluten, the worst) and had killing stomach pain that made me pass out...

I made a new year's resolution to go 100% gluten free and see what happens. Another rule I try to follow is "no sugar", because sugar makes me crave for cooking, cake and other stuff I shouldn't even look at. I hope to get down to 163 lbs (I am 5' 9" and quite muscular so I don't dare dreaming about anything lower) by the 1st of March and I hope that this community helps me find motivation to keep moving towards my goal.

Welcome to the forum! Wishing you all the best in meeting your weight loss goals!

I am also going Gluten-Free in 2012 (and as sugar-free as I can handle.) It seems like more and more people are developing gluten problems. I notice a big difference in body when I stop basing my diet on bead and pasta products. It is, however, a lot of cooking :)

All the best to you!

Graatsia, welcome, glad to have you join us. I suggest you look for a Challenge or Support group to join; small check-in groups make it easier to connect, get involved, and be accountable. We have groups centering arouns specific diets, themes, or age groups, find one that inspires you and just post to join! Be sure to check out the 20-Somethings and I think there's a Med/Sonoma group?

Thank you for your warm welcome and good hints! Joining specific glutenfree group would probably be a great idea. I already noticed the various veggie groups in this forum; both would be interesting to me - vegetarian weight loss cooking (this one can be a real challenge!) and motivating people to eat more vegetables as they are simply sooooo delicious. I will share my best recipes;)