Gluten Free Diet Plan – Weight Loss Results Before and After Reviews

Chances are, you probably know someone who is on a gluten free diet plan either because of health reasons or in hopes of experiencing gluten free weight loss.

They are either on gluten free diets because they have to be due to disease or sensitivity, or they have chosen to go gluten free as a dietary lifestyle choice.

Going gluten free can be a rough transition just like any other new diet, but it isn’t all that complicated. The majority of the foods you are eating now can still be eaten on a gluten free diet plan, as long as you know what you are doing.

If you are thinking about trying a gluten free diet plan, or your doctor has told you that you need to do so, here is a beginner’s guide to what the gluten free diet is, why there is such a thing as a gluten free diet and how you can make a gluten free diet work for you.

Continue reading to find out more about the gluten free diet plan and read honest reviews.

Gluten-Free Diet Review

Gluten free diets are diets that exclude foods containing a protein called gluten. Gluten exists naturally in foods that contain wheat, barley and/or rye. Going gluten free is a necessity in cases of celiac disease, which occurs when the small intestine is hypersensitive to gluten which may lead to diverticulosis, making proper digestion difficult.

For people with celiac disease, gluten and inflammation of the small intestine is a real problem, so for them, going on a gluten free diet plan relieves signs and symptoms and allows them to live mostly free of extreme discomfort and other complications while avoiding severe damage to their digestive systems. For these people, living discomfort-free are the only gluten free diet results they’re looking for.

Those who experience symptoms similar to those with celiac disease when they eat gluten, but do not have celiac disease, have non-celiac gluten sensitivity. Some people with non-celiac gluten sensitivity might benefit from cutting back on gluten, but for people with celiac disease, it is a necessity, not an option.

Gluten Free Diet Plan Basics and Rules

To make transitioning to gluten free a little easier, we’ve put together this simple gluten free diet plan for beginners guide to get you moving in the right direction.

Which foods to avoid

Anything containing wheat, barley and/or rye, including:

• Breads
• Cakes and pies
• Cereal
• Candy
• Cookies and crackers
• Processed meats
• Salad dressings
• Salad dressings
• Soups

Unless specifically labeled gluten free, these foods should always be avoided.

Many, but not all grains, are off limits on the gluten free diet plan for beginners. Compared to many other diets out there, though, this one eliminates far fewer types of foods from your diet. Before you start mourning over your terminated relationship with pizza and breadsticks, know that there are plenty of options out there for you to choose from – much more so now than there were even five years ago. Cutting out many gluten-ridden carbohydrates may lead to several gluten free diet results, including gluten free weight loss.

Foods that have healthy gluten-free options available

Going out to eat at restaurants is one of many things that will become more difficult once you decide to cut gluten from your diet for good.

You will be able to find gluten free alternatives to some of your favorite foods in many grocery and health food stores. Just be careful that you are using these as part of a healthy diet and not simply replacing foods that contain gluten with unhealthy alternatives.

• Gluten-free pasta
• Gluten-free flour and bread
• Gluten-free cereals

You can make your own pastas and breads using gluten free flour. This is only one example of how cooking at home can make a gluten free diet plan for beginners much healthier and more rewarding.

Foods you can substitute at home for those that contain gluten

One of the hardest things about taking on a gluten free diet plan for beginners, at first, is accepting that many of the foods that used to be easy to make are either inaccessible or will have to be made from scratch in different ways than you are used to. For some, this is a challenge they are willing to accept. For others, it is a hurdle they will have to slowly learn to climb over again and again.

You are going to have to get creative when cooking meals for yourself (which you will be doing a lot of, since there won’t be gluten-free options at every single store or restaurant you visit, though they are becoming more and more common).

This is a lot simpler, and a lot more fun, than it looks. You can make pasta out of vegetables, pizza crusts out of cauliflower. You can make homemade soup with rice instead of noodles, and use safe foods like chicken and vegetables to create many different combinations of meals so you do not get bored with what you are eating. You can find gluten-free cookbooks online to help you get started.

Do you need to take supplements while on a gluten-free diet?

Most likely, yes. For those with celiac disease, supplementation is necessary because it is often difficult to absorb many of the nutrients consumed while eating due to the gluten and inflammation of the small intestine and other complications. Those without celiac disease and gluten sensitivity may also become deficient in the following nutrients:

1. Iron
2. Calcium
3. Vitamin D
4. B vitamins

You can replenish these lost nutrients by taking supplements. You will want to review your specific diet with a trained professional (registered dietitian) so they can help you choose which supplements are right for you individually.

Menu and Meal Planning

Many of the suggestions you will find online for what to eat when you are on a gluten free diet plan for beginners are simply gluten-free versions of unhealthy foods, like cookies, cereals and other desserts. One of your goals going gluten free should be to come up with new and creative ways to eat healthy meals that don’t include foods with wheat, rye or barley in them. The sample menu below features recipe and food suggestions, as well as snacks, that are healthy and exciting.

Grocery Shopping List

Here is a list of suggested gluten free-friendly foods you can purchase at your local grocery store as you try out a gluten free diet plan for beginners. Try to avoid gluten free snack foods as much as possible and purchase whole foods, like fruits and vegetables, as often as you can.

• Corn
• Rice
• Beans
• Potatoes
• Quinoa
• Meat, poultry and fish
• Eggs
• Gluten free flours such as potato flour or corn flour
• Almond milk
• Cheese
• Nuts and seeds
• Avocados
• Lettuce
• Frozen green beans, peas
• Eggplant
• Squash
• Tomatoes
• Spinach

Do Gluten Free Diets Work?

Is there evidence that going gluten free if you are not intolerant has any health benefits? No. In fact, many experts recommend those who do not have celiac disease or a gluten sensitivity should opt out of gluten free diets unless they are knowledgeable enough about how to do it correctly and have met with a nutrition expert to go over a specific diet and supplement plan.

Foods that contain gluten, such as whole grains, are foods recommended by the USDA because they contain essential nutrients such as vitamins and minerals. So if you decide to go with a gluten free meal plan and end up cutting out grains without knowing how to add those nutrients back into your diet, your long term health will probably suffer. And, although you may experience gluten free diet weight loss, it will likely come with a nutritional price tag.

Also, note that above we mentioned ‘healthy’ gluten-free options you can add into your diet. Does this mean products that are gluten free are unhealthy? Yes; many of them are. Foods that normally contain gluten are often highly processed in order to remove the gluten, which also removes most of the nutrients from those foods. So if you think going gluten free will help you eliminate processed foods from your diet, you aren’t wrong – but you need to learn to make smart choices when shopping.

Reviews and Weight Loss Results

While many people approach a gluten-free diet because gluten and inflammation is a real problem for them, many make the transition flawlessly and have amazing results and gluten free weight loss to show for their efforts. Go ahead, check out their gluten free diet results for yourself.

Ash (@busy_girls_society_fitness)

“I’ve been gluten free since Thanksgiving of 2002. Not a fun time to make the switch… Thanksgiving! And let me tell you… gf options in 2002- HA! Disgusting. Honestly, I think the lack of options when I first went gf is what helped me realize the best route is to just eat clean.

Before I went gluten free, my weight was always around 130. It did get up to 140 when I was gluten free but I was visiting Cuba and eating a lot of beans and rice. I weigh about 116 now. That has been gradual and I owe a lot of it from not substituting with a lot of packaged gluten free foods and using the portion fix system I use in my Busy Girl’s Fitness Challenges. It’s all clean-not packaged or processed foods but in the right portions. So, rice or potatoes, although gluten free… you need to know the portion size! Same with fats and any of the food groups.

I used to cry over not being able to eat bread and bagels… when I’d be super stressed- I felt like I was living a curse. Now I could care less. 15 years is a long time to get used to it! The most difficult part for sure is eating at restaurants and at people’s houses because I feel like such a prima donna and I know there are tons of hidden glutens and preservatives used in the marinades and ingredients.

If you’re considering the diet, don’t eat gluten free because it’s a trend and don’t expect to feel better if you are just swapping regular bread for gf bread. If you really have an intolerance or celiacs, you’ll probably feel crummy with the processed foods, no matter if they have gluten or not. Don’t stop tweaking your diet until  you feel like a well oiled machine. Eating shouldn’t hurt. I’m now gluten free, dairy free, soy free, and almost totally refined sugar free. Vegetables are your friend!!!! Take daily probiotics… focus on healing, not finding loopholes in a diet. For anyone wanting to go gluten free or eliminate normal allergen culprits in a programmatic and healthy way, I have several programs that can help with that and if you’d like to join one of my Busy Girl’s Fitness Challenges (losingitwithsamandash.com/ busygirlfitnesschallenge) I will not only give you the tools you need but I’ll be your personal coach to give you feedback on whether what you’re going through or considering is normal or what your next step should be towards holistic wellness. Your body is not broken! It just might take longer to figure out. ”

Maria (@chronically_chic)

Before

After

“I have been living a gluten free (and dairy free lifestyle) since March 2015! I also am on a low food map diet for my health, which is eating foods that are easier to digest.
Since March of 2015, which was the heaviest I ever weighted, I have lost over 60 pounds. My weight has been fluctuating since I am on steroids for Chron’s Disease ( I just gained 10 pounds out of the blue in this last week). I went from a size 14/16 to an 8, which I’m super happy about!
The easier part of my diet is that it actually made me feel better!! It’s shocking how cutting out gluten and dairy can instantly make you feel better (it also helps that I have a gluten intolerance and I’m lactose intolerant). The hardest thing about my diet was eating out, especially with friends. I used to love getting jumbo slice pizza after hitting up the bars and drinking beer. I will admit at first it is hard to see your friends eat and drink what you can’t have it, but after a while, I got used to it.
To anyone that is interested in being gluten (and dairy) free my strongest advice is that it’s always hard at first to cut out things that you love, but it gets easier as time goes on. I used to love eating the cheesiest of pizzas and big bowls of pasta, but there’s always a gluten free version out there! Pinterest has been a great help for finding recipes of food I would never expect or have dreamed of to be gluten or dairy-free.”

Before and After Success Stories

In addition to making many converts literally feel better, gluten free diet weight loss is also a pretty great side effect

Tara (@tara.mattson)

“I have been gluten free for just over 15 months.

I have lost about 10 pounds from changing my diet. I suffer from IBS, and gluten is a definite trigger for my symptoms. Being gluten free keeps my digestion healthy and pain free. I took a look at some fit tea reviews and found out that it was a nice herbal supplement to help suppress my appetite.

At first the most difficult part at first was beer, but now I cannot tolerate beer for other reasons, so it doesn’t bother me. The easiest part was having lots of alternatives to shop for or cook with. I really enjoy cooking, so for me it was an exciting challenge to come up with gluten free (and dairy free) meals.

I definitely believe that eating gluten free is worth a try for everyone. The side effects of gluten in American food is terrible, due to all the additive chemicals and preservatives added during the processing. Not only is it an inflammatory food, but the acidic factor and neurological side effects to the body are quite scary. I 100% believe in being proactive in your health, and it all starts with food.”

Michelle (@thegfjourney)

“I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease back in 2012 at the age of 18. Going gluten free was a huge struggle for me since I was a freshmen in college and was not fully aware of what did and did not have gluten (or what gluten was for that matter). So with that being said, I would “cheat” every other day, which led to weight gain (40 lbs to be exact) and having a lot of health problems. Those health problems were high cholesterol, high body fat, high triglycerides & hypoglycemia. After graduating college this past May, I decided it was time to take care of my body, educate myself on what gluten was, what had gluten, and the danger of not following a gluten free diet when having Celiac Disease, but overall I just told myself I am too young to be having so many health problems.

In June 2016, I was weighing 180 lbs with a 38% body fat. I became a member of LA Fitness and decided to start working out. In late August, early September I approached one of the personal trainers at the gym and he measured my body fat at which time I was weighing 170 lbs, with a 32% body fat. Today I am weighing 160 lbs with 30% body fat, so in total since I started I have lost 20 lbs and lost 8% body fat. Aside from weight loss, I have lowered my cholesterol and I have a lot more energy than I used to have compared to when I was still eating gluten.

The most difficult part about the diet was craving something that had gluten and not knowing how to make it gluten free! I had to adapt to eating things that I would have never eaten before like kale, chia seeds and flax seeds in order to get the necessary fiber in my daily intakes. Also grocery shopping was a challenge because not only did I have to learn how to read labels but I had to face the reality of how expensive healthy food is (because you will not lose weight on a gluten free diet, if you are buying/eating products like cookies/brownies/muffins that say Gluten Free on them). Another thing that was very difficult for me was pushing myself to go to the gym, having that self motivation, at least for the first month. I can’t say that there was an easy side to this, if not I’d be lying. Celiac Disease is not just going gluten free how many people think it is, it is a lot harder than that. I got depressed, I got moody and stressed, but if there is an “easy” side to this I would call it “fun side” instead of easy. I’ve had fun experimenting and challenging myself in the kitchen, coming up with new recipes and am constantly learning new ways to eat certain foods.

Gluten free diets are not just for people who have Celiac Disease or gluten intolerance. Many people follow a gluten free diet for weight loss purposes. That is not my case but even though I did not use the gluten free diet for weight loss purposes, I have lost 20 lbs by not eating gluten and exercising and have seen other people that do not have Celiac Disease lose weight on the gluten free diet. For everyone out there that is just being diagnosed with Celiac Disease and feels like it is the end of the world; it really isn’t. Yes, it will be tough but if you educate yourself, research, ask, and have a support group, you will be able to get through it and it will get to a point where you will not remember that gluten exists!”

Q&A’s

Is a gluten-free diet also wheat-free?

Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. Therefore, cutting gluten out of your diet also eliminates wheat. However, cutting out wheat does not cut out all gluten. If you have a wheat allergy, you do not have to entirely give up gluten.

What is the difference between celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity?

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system attacks the small intestine in response to eating gluten. People with celiac disease experience a long list of symptoms, and absolutely must go on a gluten-free diet unless they want to suffer long-term damage to their digestive system.

Non-celiac gluten sensitivity or non-celiac wheat sensitivity occurs when people experience similar symptoms to celiacs, but do not test positive for celiac disease. These symptoms can include “brain fog,” depression, abdominal pain, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, headaches, or chronic fatigue. Researchers have confirmed this is a real condition — there are people who experience these symptoms, but symptoms go away once they stop eating wheat. That’s the key here, though: scientists aren’t sure if it’s gluten, or just wheat, causing these symptoms in people. Many stop eating wheat and feel fine, but since removing gluten from your diet also removes wheat, many go gluten-free whether they technically need to or not. As long as it relieves symptoms, going fully gluten-free can’t do much harm.

What are the benefits of a gluten-free diet?

How much you benefit depends first on whether or not you have celiac disease. People with celiac who go gluten free see significant improvement in their symptoms because their bodies cannot handle gluten at all. For them, a gluten-free diet is less of a benefit and more of a necessity to maintain optimal and long-term health.

If you don’t have celiac disease, the benefits depend entirely on your food choices. A gluten-free diet can certainly discourage you from eating many processed foods that contain gluten, like cookies. However, gluten free cookies also exist — and they aren’t necessarily healthier than cookies with gluten in them.

You can still eat healthy without gluten. You can bake with gluten free flour or give up pasta and bread. However, you still have to include other foods in your diet besides gluten-free snacks, pastas, and sweets — especially fruits, vegetables, and meat and dairy products if you eat those. The benefits of a gluten free diet for lifestyle or weight loss are the same as any other diet, as long as you eat a variety of nutritious foods in reasonable amounts.

Going gluten free, regardless of your motivation, is hard at first. Many of the foods you once loved are now out of reach. In time, though, you will learn how to adapt. You will figure out that going gluten free can be a healthy range of choices as long as you are mindful of what you are actually eating. Enjoy it – and try to learn to have fun with it.

Still not sure if going gluten free is right for you? Check out this ketogenic diet article instead.