Frustrating having to have such a restrictive diet

[Carbaholic876]

Since reaching my 30s, I've had to really limit the amount of sugar and refined carbohydrates that I eat as well as the portion size.
I ate half a plain scone earlier as a treat, no butter on it or anything, and felt funny and bloated afterwards.
At work I see women both in their 20s and 30s who are incredibly slim, look to be a size 6-8, (I am a similar size but they have an incredibly slim body type).
They seem to eat whatever they want, helped themselves to scones with cream and jam no problem, white buttery toast, basically every time there are treats brought in they can eat what they like and however much they like.
Sometimes it feels miserable, I eat a cake or chocolate bar once a week as a treat now, that's it. No white carbs, I have to be really careful or I puff up all over.
I know there are worse problems in the world, I'm lucky to be healthy. But it does get a bit frustrating sometimes seeing others so slim but eating whatever they like.
How do others deal with it?

I hear you OP. I'm similar although only started in my 40s. Despite allergy testing, endoscopy etc the only diagnosis I have is "gastritis". I think my digestion has just hot more sensitive and rubbish as I've got older.

Luckily I like eating healthily and hate the feeling that comes on when I eat crap, to stick with it...

I get intense bloating and pain after eating any Carb other than potatoes.I get it.
I'd love to eat a cake or a baguette without worrying about what I'll feel like after

If you're planning to get tested for coeliac disease then don't cut out gluten as you need to have it in your system to be tested.

I was going to say the same thing.

My DD has coeliac disease and suffered with bloating a pain for years before it was diagnosed and she went onto a completely gluten free diet.

There's reason why your body is reacting the way it does.

You need to make an appointment with your GP and find out what's going on.

I'm 35 and the same. I was tested for celiac which was negative. I had an endoscopy done which found I have a hiatus hernia and gastritis. I now take omeprazole everyday which has helped but my digestion is still shit. I'd love to be able to eat whatever I want but I can't and it sucks 😞I just want to be able to enjoy food

Oh and if you do see a GP, don't let them fob you off with IBS

I agree about seeking medical advice. I also wonder if different exercise could be of some help.

Look up FODMAP

That isn't a normal physical reaction to half a scone, there is surely something medically wrong with you?

Haha hit the nail on the head!

When I was 14, I got mononucleosis. The doc put me on a strict diet for liver patients because mono affects your liver. He gave me a list of things I could and could not eat.
The choices were awful, and I ended up eating sourdough bread, low-fat cottage cheese and diet citrus fizzy drinks for two months. That’s it.
I lost a ton of weight. I dreamt of grilled cheese sandwiches every day, but when I finally had one, it tasted of grease.
You don’t realize how restrictive a diet is until you truly have to be on one.

My mum is coeliac and your symptoms sound similar. Go to your GP and ask him to refer you for a biopsy, it's the only way to determine if you are. He will also do blood tests. Try going gluten free for a week and see if things improve

This is my thought as well. That level of bloating doesn’t sound normal. I know through my friend’s experiences that coeliacs can take a while to be diagnosed because their reactions to gluten can be put down to so many different things, but I also know several people that are gluten intolerant and feel much better avoiding all gluten products.

I think you have a nasty intolerance going on. Don't give up anything yet but keep a record of what you're eating and what flares it up.

It took my stomach about six weeks to settle down once I gave up gluten.

It sounds like you either have an intolerance of wheat, in which case do some research and get gluten free options. Or you don’t and this is psychological / an eating disorder, in which case some therapy w someone w experience of eating disorders is what you need.

A lot of people (including me) just can’t have most sugary, fatty, salty foods, it just ends in bingeing. Sadly it is not possible for everyone to manage food in a normal way. But if you get rid of the trigger foods, then beyond that you can eat normally, which is something. @Bobbins36 what I think does help is to have a plan for managing lapses so they don’t become relapses.

You can be skinny and eat crap as long as you don't exceed your daily calorie allowance.

Gluten free bread. Warburton's Tiger loaf - cut two thick slices, toast well and add lots of butter (and jam if you like that sort of thing).

If you don't bloat up/feel awful afterwards, make an appointment with the GP.

I went from literally carrying a stomach like a 42 week pregnancy to flat (well, still fat, but the squish goes straight down from the rib cage) within a fortnight of being diagnosed celiac.

It can be a bit crap when you can't eat everything in the shops, but it makes it easier in my head because I can't have them, no question about it - and that's meant I've lost a lot of weight really easily.

Thanks for all the suggestions. I had a look at that gluten free bread tonight, £3.75 a loaf!

I find it really hard to understand how you've been reacting like that to food and yet it hasn't even occurred to you that you might have an intolerance or need to see a doctor

You could always try making a few scones with spelt flour. Often the gluten in Prehistoric varities of wheat isn't as irritating.

100% agree. Currently stuck on this for my DS.

Orp another agreeing on the gp. I so much as look at more than a slice of bread or any cake or wheat cereal and my stomach looks like I am pregnant and feels really sore. Am waiting a year now for a scope but am on stomach tablets. When I cut carbs to the bare minimum my stomach is much flatter and feels great but I love carbs and also believe they’re part of a healthy diet. Also I’m in a shop running around all day so the days I don’t eat carbs it’s a tough slog!!! Best of luck op!

If you keep your bread in the freezer there's no waste

I agree with the gluten and dairy comments. I had to cut them out for a while but can now have them in moderation. My GP was useless so I cut it out myself. I found shop-bough bread was terrible for me.
I can have wholemeal bread and sourdough just fine.