72 hours is about the same for me. It also takes about 72 hours for the bloating to subside and all the excess water weight to clear my system. The only way I've found to increase the speed of "healing" is to drink more water than usual to flush things out, do as close to a 24 hr fast as possible, and get to the gym - even though working out when feeling gross is fairly unpleasant...

I found myself in Durango, Colorado and could not help but indulge in many microbrews from the area, as well as a less than strict diet.

Hrm ... granted this is probably hyperbole, but there are alcoholics out there where "can't help myself" is more of a reality than an exaggeration.

However, yes! My sometimes cheat is a beer now and then. While I prefer a nice dry cider, or a glass of wine, with my meals, sometimes I still enjoy a beer when out with friends. By "sometimes" I mean less than once a month. I've gotten tested for gluten allergens, and I'm "somewhat highly" allergic to gluten (not celiac). From the days I did not know firmly that I was, when I'd also have a touch of bread when dining out about once a month, I can say that beers affect me less than solid grain products.

So, beer ... the next day I will feel "irrationally hungry". This rarely lasts the entire day. It doesn't last more than 1 day. However, that one beer will destabilize my body weight (probably inflammation & water retention), and that doesn't normalize for about 3 days.

Over time, I came to the conclusion that cheating just isn't worth it. Been sticking to my cider and wine when out for about 3 solids months now.

I think I only really get this when I indulge in bread, and perhaps it has to be bread made with yeast. I'm not entirely sure that a flat wheat tortilla messes me up too much (the jury is still out). And I don't think non wheat beer causes it in me. Odd, right. Perhaps I'm deluded, or at least there are degrees.

But yeah, after binging that results in drunken burger / bacon bap eating (with bun) etc, then it takes a few days to de-bloat and lose the weird hunger pangs.

Its always the last thing I feel like doing after falling off the wagon (intentionally or not) but a good 18-24 hour fast, lots of water, bone broth if it suits you, and a good night's sleep do wonders for me.

I agree, the gluten seems to be the worst of it - i can get away with a little sugar, cream, wine, rice, hummus, chocolate...but get a little bread in me and I feel an urgent need to eat crap for days.

After tempting fate far too many times, I try to save the really bad (and by bad I mean delicious) stuff for very, very special occasions.

agree!! ive been thinking about this same thing too. after christmas, new years eve, and my birthday (all december) it took me 3 days to get to feeling back to normal. working out and skipping breakfast helped too. I did restrict calories a bit, maybe not ideal, but it works and lets me get back on track. i went up 8lbs after christmas eating and after 3 days of no breakfast, paleo, and working out, I was back to normal and able to get back onto it. exact same results for new years.

When I eat a hefty amount of gluten one day - such as a thick sandwich - the next few days I feel absolutely terrible. It never hits me right away, but the next morning I have a heavy mental fog accompanied by successive sneezing. For the first day I sneeze non-stop, burning through a whole tissue box, and the following day I just have an irritated nose and an occasional sneeze fit. For me, the only thing that has seemed to help was strict paleo dieting with omega-3 supplementation, matcha, and plenty of water - I have found raspberries to dramatically help too, but I think that may be a personal thing.