For those of you who have given up wheat...

[Anonymous]

If you've given up wheat for weight loss (and b/c there seems to be a lot of benefits to not eating wheat once you start reading about it), did you have withdrawal and feel sluggish and more tired? How long did that last?

And when you ate wheat in the future, were there any bad effects? I'm not gluten intolerant and don't have celiac, but have lost 4 pounds in 4 days of no wheat. I no longer want to munch on food all the time - it's surprising.

BUT, I don't know if I'm ready to commit to this forever. I already can't have dairy b/c of allergies so makes it pretty tricky when eating with others.

Look forward to hearing other's experiences - thanks!

[Anonymous]

I didn't feel sluggish and tired, but I have given up wheat and other grains and it's been life-changing. I went from being a 'healthy whole grains' obsessed vegetarian for 20+ years to low carb and then paleo pretty much overnight. It's been surprisingly easy, plus I lost 35 pounds over the course of a year (between exercise, calorie counting, and low carb).

I just don't think eating grains is necessary for health, at least not mine. But the best guide is your own experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you've given up wheat for weight loss (and b/c there seems to be a lot of benefits to not eating wheat once you start reading about it), did you have withdrawal and feel sluggish and more tired? How long did that last?

And when you ate wheat in the future, were there any bad effects? I'm not gluten intolerant and don't have celiac, but have lost 4 pounds in 4 days of no wheat. I no longer want to munch on food all the time - it's surprising.

BUT, I don't know if I'm ready to commit to this forever. I already can't have dairy b/c of allergies so makes it pretty tricky when eating with others.

Look forward to hearing other's experiences - thanks!

No, not tired at all. I exercise a lot so even though I gave up wheat, I certainly did not give up carbs.

No bad effects, other than bloating. I'm also not allergic, so I do still consume stuff like soy sauce. I have just given up the obvious...baked goods, pasta, bread, crackers, pizza, wraps, quesadillas, and so forth.

I have plenty of hunger, I have not experience not wanting to munch on food. I wish!

[Anonymous]

So what do you munch on, PP? Considering a diet overhaul...love my wheat but weight loss has been impossible.

[Anonymous]

Not sluggish, also haven't lost any weight. I have an intolerance, though.

[Anonymous]

What do you eat to satisfy that carby craving?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So what do you munch on, PP? Considering a diet overhaul...love my wheat but weight loss has been impossible.

Tons of stuff!

I always have a nuts hanging around, popcorn, hummus with celery, GF chips, GF gingersnaps, tons of cold salads, banana and PB, Indian junk food (found at Asian groceries), and absolute ton of stuff. I find it pretty easy to eat GF, however, I do a ton of cooking and am militant about avoiding processed foods, so it was not that difficult. I still have my vices (see above). I'm also trying to lose 10lbs to go from normal to thin and for that, unfortunately I need to actually reduce calories, which I'm not sure if I'm ready to commit to any amount of hunger.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What do you eat to satisfy that carby craving?

GF does not mean carb free. Carbs, except wheat.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't do this unless a doctor thinks it is a good idea. Whole wheat, unless you have celiac etc, has many benefits.

If you lost weight, it is probably bc you decreased your options so ate less, bc wheat is in so much

[Anonymous]

Gimmickgimmickgimmicktrendytrendytrendy. Sheep.

[Anonymous]

since you aren't convinced 100% gluten free is the way you want to go and your driving force is weight loss, have you considered doing something between doing what you were before and giving up 100%?
if you were eating processed, bleached, white flours before, switch to 100% whole grain. some meals find a gf alternative and others enjoy the whole wheat option.
cut back without cutting out. it might be a more realistic option to maintain and still help with weight loss.

[Anonymous]

I followed whole 30 and gave up wheat/all grains, dairy, sugar and prcessed fooda for 30 days. I was pretty sluggish for the first 8 days then the energy hit me and I felt better than ever. I do think there is a period of carb withdrawl but once you get over that hump and get your body use to burning fat instead of carbs you will feel wonderful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:since you aren't convinced 100% gluten free is the way you want to go and your driving force is weight loss, have you considered doing something between doing what you were before and giving up 100%?
if you were eating processed, bleached, white flours before, switch to 100% whole grain. some meals find a gf alternative and others enjoy the whole wheat option.
cut back without cutting out. it might be a more realistic option to maintain and still help with weight loss.

I had already been eating whole wheat for years before I went GF.

Results speak. After giving up wheat, my belly that always looked about 4 months pregnant deflated. Additionally, my seasonal allergies have completely vanished. I used to be miserable 6 months out of the year.

I really see no health benefit to eating GMO processed wheat products. I eat a ton of other grains, such as quinoa, buckwheat, brown rice and then of course lots of legumes such as lentils, chickpeas, and black beans.

A lot of cultures don't eat wheat at all. If you have ever shopped in an Asian grocery, you are hard pressed to even find wheat products.

[Anonymous]

Finally something comes out against the whole wheat lovers. Many people do not respond well to wheat -- in fact only Northern Europeans really eat it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Finally something comes out against the whole wheat lovers. Many people do not respond well to wheat -- in fact only Northern Europeans really eat it.

Northern Chinese eat wheat as their staple as well. They are not the rice eaters the rest of China is.