Monthly Archives: February 2011

Food

Gaining weight on a gluten free diet seems easy with GOMAD

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Before I started eating gluten free, I had no energy but I had too much extra weight.  Since I found out about wheat intolerance though, I dropped weight in no time flat and I’ve had the opposite problem:  being way too skinny.

I ate a decent amount, but never exercised aside from a few walks each week with the dog.  What made things even worse though, was over the winter when I caught a bad flu.  Couldn’t eat for weeks, and ended up dropping about ten pounds to a level slightly below the recommendations for my height.

GOMAD makes protein easy

GOMAD is the plan that got me those ten pounds back, and I’m glad to say that they’re almost entirely muscle.  What is it all about?  Well, GOMAD stands for a “gallon of milk a day.”  Yeah, that sounds like a lot, and it is, but the results are quite noticeable and it is a great gluten free solution for muscle gain (as long as you’re not intolerant to lactose, casein, or something else in the milk!).

Each gallon of milk has about 128 grams of protein, and if you’re eating that in addition to sensible meals that include a little lean meat and a lot of vegetables, you’ll have more than enough fuel to build up muscle and gain weight.

Of course, you can’t just stuff yourself and expect to gain strength, you’ve also got to lift some weights and get active.  Find some dumbells that are almost too heavy to lift – or even ones that require a second hand to get started – and do whatever you can every other day.  Don’t just stop with the bicep curls either, be sure to work on the overhead trilateral pulls as well as overhead shoulder lifts.  If you don’t have any weights, pushups will work if you do a bit of research to learn the variations that target different muscles.

Then, when you wake up and your upper body is sore, it is time to give the legs a workout!  Jumping jacks are a good free standard, and there are also some stretches and lifts that will help you build muscle.  Of course, squats are ideal, but you’ll need some equipment, or a gym membership, and some guidance to make sure you’re doing it right.

Watch the fat…

One potential problem with GOMAD is that there is a whole lot of fat in milk.  If you’re as skinny as I was, this probably won’t be a problem at first, but once you’ve started to fill out and you get passed the easy gains that any new lifter can take advantage of, you’ll probably want to switch down to 1% or skim milk.  You’ll get just as much protein, calcium, and vitamin D, but you’ll save on your daily saturated fat intake.

Oh, and it is convenient!

Finally, the convenience of milk might be one of its greatest advantages in the gluten free diet.  There isn’t a whole lot of food out there that is ready to go out of the container, nutritionally balanced, and safe for people with Celiac Disease.  Milk is ready to go just as quickly as you can get to the fridge, and no matter where you’re out and about it shouldn’t be too hard to find a pint of whole milk.

 

Food

Eating good, cheap, and gluten free

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When I started this blog, my idea was to figure out how to eat good gluten free food on a slim budget.  Then I got back from the grocery store the other day with an expensive pile of gourmet grub and I realized just as soon as I had an opportunity I was spending as much as I could on steaks, fruit, wine, and fresh veggies.

So before I completely forget, here are some of the foods that got me through the times when I couldn’t afford such luxuries at the grocery store:

  • Rice is a great choice for a lot of reasons.  For a starchy food, it is also pretty good for ya.  In addition to that, it stores well for long periods of time and cooks easily.  Did I mention you can get giant bags of the stuff for next to nothing?  It can be bland on its own, but a little bit of salt, butter, soy sauce, or sesame oil does wonders for making it taste great.
  • Beans are a great, cheap way to get some protein and iron.  Mix them up with the rice and you’ve got a classic dish that is well balanced for taste and nutrition.
  • Eggs are the closest you’re going to get to meat though, without completely breaking the bank.  Eggs rich in omega-3 fatty acids can be a little more expensive, but they still deliver a great amount of protein and essential fats for a couple of bucks.
  • Milk isn’t exactly the cheapest stuff in the world, but if you’re able to tolerate lactose, it is really pretty good to have around.  It is well balanced between sugar, fat, and protein, and it is heavy on calcium & vitamin d (assuming it is fortified).   What is really great about milk is that it is one of the most balanced whole foods you can eat without any kind of preparation.  When you’re hungry and don’t want to cook, a glass or two of whole milk can be pretty satisfying.
  • Onions and peppers can vary wildly in price through the year, but when they’re cheap they’re a great way to add fresh vegetables to your eggs and rice.
  • Tea is probably going to be the best drink around in a rock bottom price range.  A box of 100 bags is available for the price of a soda bottle, but instead of processed sugars you get some antioxidants.  It is also enjoyable hot or cold, so it is a drink that can stick with you through the year.

While it might not be the world’s most exciting diet, it is a pretty healthy one that remains both cheap and completely gluten free.  It can be expensive to rely on meat for every meal, but it is definitely a great treat to mix up the routine and on special occasions.