[Chito]

Hi - I wanted to start a thread for people who are going gluten free/reducing gluten from their diets, or thinking about it.

As some of you know, I've developed a few food related issues over the past several years, most notably my utter intolerance for processed soy protein (especially soy protein isolate). I started having some other troubling symptoms, not least of which was a persistent dull ache in my right side after eating a big meal. I thought maybe it was gall bladder, but when I started looking at my other symptoms (total inability to lose weight, bloating and fatigue, concentration issues, weird dry patches of skin, acid reflux), I pulled up articles about gluten sensitivity. Sensitivity is different than allergy; I'm decidedly not celiac. I decided to give it an elimination diet a go. If anything, I'd eat less carbs, and when I had a beer or two last weekend and I bloated up like a balloon and felt really lousy.

I haven't had anything with gluten in it since last Saturday, and while I didn't think I'd feel much different, holy shit. I've already lost 2 pounds, which is my biggest single weight loss in one week in a damn long time. I feel great, am sleeping sound, and am not experiencing bloating or fatigue. My dry patches and itchy skin? Healed.

Now...I'm not an idiot. I'm well aware that this could all be completely psychosomatic and could more be a result of less calorie intake because I'm not eating refined flour. I don't think I was 100% gluten free this week (I'm still learning about what I can and can't eat), but close.

Would love to know of any resources/personal anecdotes! And celiacs/gluten sensitive folk should have a thread.