<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>> Hello everyone: This problem I know has been discussed before, but I would still like to pose the question, "Is there something we are missing in our diets now that Gluten is gone from it, that is sabbotoging our metabolisms"?? Since gluten is a protein, and it has been eliminated from our diets, do we need more protein than normal???? I'm asking because since being GF for 2 1/2 years, I have steadily gained approx. 10- 15 lbs (I don't weight myself so I'm not sure, but I can't fit into my clothes from 2 years ago). I've always exercised, but in the last 8 weeks I have really been on a nutrition and exercise routine, that does not seem to be doing anything at all?? I want to train to enter my first marathon in the fall, so am very devoted and focused to get in good enough shape to do it. I've cut out all junk food, never really ate that much, mostly potato chips which are HIGH IN FAT, and tons of calories. I eat fresh fruits and vegetables, (mostly organic), eat skinless chicken, fish, cook with no oil, measure my food, have halfed my portions, eat small meals, and 2 snacks aday, (consisting of carrots, broccoli, hot air popped pop corn, fruit bars), but mostly have started to exercise consistently, every day, 6-7 day/week. My routine is, up at 5:30 a.m., bike to the park, jog around the park, at a good pace in the 7-8 zone, and bike back home, to do sit ups, leg work, etc. with weights, and 3 times/week work out with weights. It takes approx. 1 hr (for the biking and jogging) and 20 mins. of floor exercise. Then 2 nights per week, (this is in addition to the 1 hr in the morning routine) I go to a step/slide class, and an aerobox class (combination boxing and aerobics). I have done this consistently, for 8 weeks (before that I exercised approx. 3 days a week and ate well, but didn't really cut out the potato chips). I don't smoke, drink, or consume alot of sugar, don't drink soda pop, I drink 8-10 glasses of water per day, take vitamin C, a multivitamin, all the B vitamins, and Vitamin E. When I do bake, say a banana loaf, I do it without oil or margarine, I use skim milk yogurt. I am sooooo frustrated, I could scream!!!!! I don't feel I've lost anymore then 1 lb in all this time and effort. People who know me, always comment on my healthy lifestyle, but I know there thinking I should be in excellent shape, and trimmer. My thryoid has been checked over the last year and half, because it was leaning towards underactive, but my Dr., said it isn't low enough to diagnose Hypothyroid, and the further tests showed it didn't go any lower. Don't know if that has anything to do with it or not. I know as we age, our metabolism slows down and I just turned 40. But I just can't believe it's taking this long, with this much effort. It's baffling, and that's what makes me think there must be something that we are missing? There seems to be some correlation between lack of protein and weight gain, what- I don't know, but seems a lot of people with celiac disease have problems with weight gain after going GF,( understandably if they were losing weight because of intestinal damage and not keeping anything down). Any thoughts on this? I'm not giving up though, I'm going to increase my distances for running, but by the end of the summer, if I don't see any results, I'm going back to my doctor and maybe ask to see an endocrinologist. Thanks for any input or if you seem to have similar problems, would appreciate any comments regarding this. Jane Halifax, Nova Scotia Canada