Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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I have been thin all my life, and am currently trying to gain weight. So I eat a lot, and often, and I'm lucky to see a pound a month of weight gain, if that. But when I cheat (infrequently) and have a slice of bread, some pizza, or (last night) some cupcakes at a wedding, I am guaranteed to be up 3# the next day, and for several days after.

For those that cheat once in a while with wheat, have you seen this? I eat potatoes, rice, and sweet potatoes fairly often and never see this effect from them.

flag	asked Nov 7 2011 at 5:12 Mike Gruber 834●4●6

Eric · Answer 1 · 2011-11-07 05:18:16Z UTC

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Likely water retention.

answered Nov 7 2011 at 5:18

Eric
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Why would wheat do that more than other carbs, such as the sweet potatoes, potatoes, and rice that I normally eat? – Mike Gruber Nov 7 2011 at 5:34

I just recognize the pattern of a quick gain as being water. It happens to me when I am LC and raise above that threshold. – Eric Nov 7 2011 at 5:42

Wheat does it MUCH more than other carbs for me--a major reason why I swore it off for good--but I can't give you a scientific explanation. – Nance Nov 7 2011 at 19:22

The Loon · Answer 2 · 2011-11-07 05:38:10Z UTC

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Always with wheat, never with the other foods you listed here.

answered Nov 7 2011 at 5:38

The Loon
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Luke · Answer 3 · 2011-11-07 13:53:30Z UTC

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Dont eat Wheat is the answer.

answered Nov 7 2011 at 13:53

Luke
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Renee · Answer 4 · 2011-11-07 19:17:34Z UTC

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I'm wondering if it's not just water retention but waste retention. Wheat makes a lot of people (myself included) constipated.

answered Nov 7 2011 at 19:17

Renee
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staceychev · Answer 5 · 2011-11-07 10:53:23Z UTC

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Yep. I hosted a fancy shmancy French dinner on Saturday night and ate bread. I woke up three pounds heavier. Water retention, I'm sure. (It could have been the ridiculous amount of wine, too.)

answered Nov 7 2011 at 10:53

staceychev
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iHaveNoName · Answer 6 · 2011-11-07 11:40:09Z UTC

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It's in your head. You need 3500 calories to create a pound of mass...I doubt that you are eating that much excess!

answered Nov 7 2011 at 11:40

iHaveNoName
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It's not in his head. If you wake up and find yourself 3 pounds heavier on the scale. That is a physical change in the real world. -1 – Cody Nov 7 2011 at 13:45

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True. But it's not 3 pounds of fat ... it's water weight (whether due to retention from salt, glycogen storage, etc). This is why it is always temporary in these stories. – Beth-WeightMaven Nov 7 2011 at 14:47

biggie · Answer 7 · 2011-11-07 12:46:16Z UTC

You're not alone, if I go off paleo for a few days (or even one) I put on serious weight. I know it sounds like way too much, but two or three days of non-paleo eating can cause me to gain 10-15 pounds. Probably water retention, but it may also have to do with the number of fat cells you have and them being fed when consuming wheat. In either case, a week of eating right drops the weight right off.

Efaitch · Answer 8 · 2011-11-07 13:52:46Z UTC

If I'm LC, yes. However, I've been eating other carbs and ONLY when I have the wheat do I put weight on. I've put on 4lb and I can feel it. It's not just on my tummy either, I can feel it on my legs too.

I have other symptoms pretty much instantly (sensitive teeth & sore skin around my fingernails) too.

Whether it's gluten intolerance or I'm nutrient deficient, mechanism doesn't matter, I feel bad whatever it happens to be.

Happy Now · Answer 9 · 2011-11-07 19:57:43Z UTC

I get insta-bloat from wheat, seriously couldn't button previously loose pants within a few hours of eating. The next day 3-5 extra pounds on the scale and I'd guess from the pants tightness a minimum of 4 extra inches in the middle. It makes me think of that classic having to unbuckle the belt after Thanksgiving dinner.

Lots of bone broth leading up to cheats in recent months seems to have lessened the effect, which makes me think it could be that ol' notorious leaky gut and subsequent inflammation as the body moves fluid to the area to dilute the irritant and fight any invaders.

I have several other theories though:

Grains consumed in large quantities cause bloat in animals, being animals I see no reason why we wouldn't bloat too as the grains combine with digestive juices and continue to swell.

Food allergies often cause general swelling, so if it is full body swell, I wouldn't be surprised if you did have a sensitivity or allergy to wheat.

Do others gain weight instantly on a wheat cheat?

9 Answers