Following the Wheat Belly lifestyle of wheat and grain elimination results in weight loss in the majority of people in short order.
But there are exceptions. The exceptions should not be interpreted to mean that this lifestyle does not work; it should initiate a search for why the weight loss effect of wheat and grain elimination is being blocked. Iodine deficiency, for example, is a common cause for failed weight loss, no matter how perfect your diet and how much you exercise.
Another common cause for failed weight loss are prescription drugs and a few over-the-counter drugs. Among the common drugs that will block your ability to lose weight, even allowing weight gain, are:
- Beta blockers—metoprolol, atenolol, carvedilol, and propranolol
- Antidepressants—amitryptiline (Elavil), nortryptyline (Pamelor), doxepin, paroxetine (Paxil), and trazodone, and others
- Steroids such as prednisone
- Antihistamines—diphenhydramine (Benadryl), fexofenadine (Allegra), cetirizine (Zyrtec), cyproheptadine (Periactin) and others
- Lyrica for fibromyalgia and pain
- Valproic acid (Depakote) for seizures
- Actos and Avandia for pre-diabetes and diabetes
- Insulin—Injectable insulin can be responsible not just for failed weight loss, but astounding quantities of weight gain.
Drugs as common as antihistamines for allergies, or beta blockers for high blood pressure, will therefore completely booby-trap any effort at weight loss. The problem is not the diet; the problem is that you are exposed to a drug that blocks the physiologic capacity to lose weight. The solution is therefore not reducing calories, or more exercise, or going back to grains, but to get rid of the drug.
Note that many of these drugs were prescribed to treat conditions that were caused or worsened by wheat and grain consumption. It is therefore worth having a serious discussion with your healthcare provider about stopping or reducing your reliance on these drugs. Some drugs, such as beta blockers, cannot be stopped safely, but need to be reduced gradually to avoid a potentially dangerous withdrawal process. If your doctor refuses to discuss this issue, or is ignorant, find one who will discuss this important issue with you.
More discussions about factors that account for failed weight loss can be found in Wheat Belly Total Health.
Dr. Davis
I take metoprolol and Amlodipine. I think that my doctor is not gonna listen to me. Or just shoot down what i am trying to do. I honestly think its the drugs i am taking that is leading me to not lose weight. My blood pressure is about 160 over 90 without the drugs. Im scared to go off of them.
Allen Hiltbrand wrote: «I have been following your program for a long time…»
Thanks to a recent (and likely unintended) change in some blog setting, you’ve managed to reply to a 2012 and a 2015 post. The program has added and refined quite bit since 2012 (and continues to do so), so I need to ask: what vintage of Wheat Belly or Undoctored having you been following, and based on what reference material (e.g. books)?
re: «…and have not lost any weight.»
In particular, attention to microbiome arrived in 2014, leading to a later focus on SIBO and SIFO. In addition to the meds & weight problem discussed in the post above, various meds are commonly disruptive to gut flora.
re: «Do i just stop taking the blood pressure meds? … My blood pressure is about 160 over 90 without the drugs.»
No, and particularly not if BP remains hypertensive. Some medications cannot be just stopped, due to various discontinuance syndromes, and may also have withdrawal symptoms. The usual course is to wean off them when basically no longer needed, and before they become a hypotension hazard.
re: «…Vraylar…» (cariprazine)
Weight gain is a listed side effect, as is constipation. These agents have likely done a number of your gut, and it’s topic on which consensus medicine is currently clueless.
There’s a long list of questions that could be explored in your case, but this blog format is seriously sub-optimal for that. The Undoctored Inner Circle site (subscription) has a forum. You should be able to see enough of it to get a sense of whether some useful insights might be had.
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Im following the Wheat Belly Book. Will taking a 50billionCFU probiotic help with restoring the gut population back to normal so i can lose weight?
Allen Hiltbrand wrote: «Im following the Wheat Belly Book.»
2011, 2014 or 2019 Editions?
re: «Will taking a 50billionCFU probiotic help with restoring the gut population back to normal so i can lose weight?»
Depending on the product, that would only be part of a strategy for that. Here’s an overview of our modern situation.
And in this case, it could be a chronic battle, unless the more antagonistic meds can be unwound. But it’s battle worth undertaking, because you might discover that correcting dysbiosis has significant neurological benefits. The current explorations in not-really-yogurt making could also make important contributions there (and none of those are in any of the WB books to date).
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does anyone that take Lisinopril for high blood pressure having difficulty seeing weight loss on the scale while following WB?
Wheat free since Jan. 1, 2015. I feel good.
What about popcorn? I eat it 3-4 times/week.
Is it that bad? It would be difficult to give up.
I like everything about it, the making of it, the noise, the bowl in my lap at the tv, the crunchyness,
the hand to mouth, just a bit o’ salt. What is its value? Anything? Negative?
Use up calories in the chewing of it? Is it a carbohydrate? What harm does it do?
Can you answer or direct me to an answer, please? I have been trying to find out for a while.
Re: What about popcorn? I eat it 3-4 times/week.
Even if it’s organic, non-GMO and air-popped, popcorn is still corn. It presents a carbohydrate load that usually hits the Wheat Belly 15 grams net carbs at relatively modest serving sizes. The zein protein of corn is also suspect. Any salt added is, perhaps surprisingly, not typically a problem.
The problems are that you aren’t likely to be eating a single modest serving of popcorn as your entire carb exposure in a six hour period. This might work, however, if accompanied by some nice fats, perhaps some cheese.
For most people, alas, the popcorn is GMO, has a full dose of pesticide uptake (including BEING a pesticide in the case of Bt GMO corn), is coated with all sorts of troubling flavorings, if not sugars to boot, and is drenched in adverse industrial grain oils. If oil-popped, make that oxidized industrial grain oils (sold to you as “healthy” Omega 6 “vegetable” oil).
Re: Is it that bad? It would be difficult to give up.
Usually it’s bad. We switched to pistachios.
I have been going 99%-100% wheat free and grain free and although my migraines have totally dropped from 16 times a month to a couple and I no longer have gassy and bloated stomach, I have not lost any weight. Having said that, I do work with a personal trainer 2 to 3 times a week and ride horses as well as breed Arabian horses so I am pretty active. I am on an anti-depression called Citalopram (Celexia) for another condition. I looked it up and did not find it among the drugs that would cause weight gain. Also I am going through menopause but am not on hormones. Any idea why I have not lost any weight? Thanks.
Re: I have been going 99%-100% wheat free and grain free …
What does the rest of your diet look like, in particular net carbs per day?
Re: … no longer have gassy and bloated stomach …
Also attend to gut health. In addition to correcting lower GI function, it usually improves sleep.
https://drdavisinfinitehealth.com/2015/01/remember-cultivate-healthy-bowel-flora/
Re: … I have not lost any weight.
Be sure to follow the links I’ve posted on this thread, and address the other common causes.
Re: … so I am pretty active.
Exercise is great, and necessary, but its role in weight loss is nil. It takes an enormous expenditure of effort for each calorie burned. Exercise provokes appetite. Exercise builds muscle (which is denser than fat). Exercise makes you healthier and more slender, but often no lighter.
Re: I am on an anti-depression called Citalopram (Celexa) for another condition.
If that’s for a sleep problem, there are a number of effective steps that I would take before considering such a med: gut health, blue light at night, circadian timing generally, and perhaps supplementing melatonin and 5-HTP.
Re: I looked it up and did not find it among the drugs that would cause weight gain.
Perhaps not, but it does have serious risks. We just learned that a relative had started taking a similar potion (Ambien CR) for sleep problems. Despite a decade-long history of class actions on that poison, it appears neither he nor the immediate family were warned of the potential severe psychotic side effects. Funeral arrangements are pending. Stop blindly trusting pill-pushing Consensus Medicine™ MDs. They can commit negligent homicide and get away with it.
I just listened to the three videos on possible causes for not losing weight. So I have some tools to work such as looking at net carb per meal, stopping dairy for 4 weeks, which I think I am sensitive too, and then doing a full thyroid panel check up. No I take citalopram for mood swings and have been taking it for at least 10 years.
As for activity, yes I have definitely seeing a difference in body shape and measurements so maybe I have lost weight but still am heavy on the scale :)
re: … I take citalopram for mood swings …
Be sure to try a 100% elimination of exposure to gluten-bearing grain products, and not just 95-100%: wheat, barley, rye, and due to cross-contamination, oats.
https://drdavisinfinitehealth.com/2013/01/say-no-to-drugs/
Thank you Dr. Davis. The only reason I said 99-100% because sometimes I forget to check where the wheat is hiding or I am at somebody’s place and there is no gluten free food (people often forget!). I can eat a little grain without too much consequence but if too much, I will bloat immediately and get gas and if I have gone overboard like for example a whole sandwich, I will get a migraine the next day. Do you think mood swings could be a possible effect of wheat/grain allergies? I would love to stop my medication :-) I will do a wheat/grain/dairy free diet for the next 40 days and see what happens!
re: Thank you Dr. Davis.
Do note that I’m not Dr. Davis (nor any sort of Dr for that matter).
re: .. or I am at somebody’s place and there is no gluten free food …
A focused deliberate elimination for a month or so should shed some light. And I presume you are aware that most processed foods promoting themselves as GF are just other kinds of junk carbs, many even more glycemic than sugar.
re: … but if too much, I will bloat immediately and get gas …
Which raises the question of: what’s going on here, really? The Wheat Belly Total Health (WBTH) book covers multiple possible mechanisms, one of which is that the grains may be feeding a population of adverse bacteria, perhaps a fungus or two, that need to be separately addressed. Things like SIBO, candida and C.Dif often need focused therapy even with grain elimination.
re: … mood swings could be a possible effect of wheat/grain allergies?
That is a topic that arises throughout the WBTH book . And I would argue that we are all allergic to grains, it’s just a matter of degree and decades. Celiacs just get hit harder and faster.
Be sure to avoid replacing any wheat with corn. The zein protein interferes with tryptophan (and that’s in addition to whatever effects results from pesticide uptake, any GMO frankenproteins, not to mention being actual Bt pesticide).
re: I would love to stop my medication :-)
I suspect most people can. As a species, we have not been suffering for thousands of years from an undiagnosed deficiency of risky chemicals just invented in the last 70 years.
haha I thought Bob NIland was a nickname :) I have bought his books and read them and yes NO corn or anything corn for that matter!! thanks.
> haha I thought Bob Niland was a nickname :)
I’ve never seen anything to suggest that Dr. Davis posts replies as any user name other than “Dr. Davis” (which replies would also include his avatar, presently the bread loaf about to be dynamited).
Now; Boundless – that’s a nickname :)
Since this blog started, there have been several users who, at various times, have contributed answers to questions (some which might be candidates for the FAQ page, others not). When the answers are correct and materially complete, it saves Dr. Davis a lot of time, and allows him to focus on the questions with non-obvious answers.
Cool, so how long have you been at this?
> Cool, so how long have you been at this?
Which “you”?
We’re at maximum reply nesting depth here, so I can’t see which reply your is in reply to.
User Boundless has been following the WB Blog since about October 2011 as I recall. The blog started in July of that year.
Actually it was to the both of you; Boundless and Bob!
re: Actually it was to the both of you …
I’ve been following since about July of 2014.
I see iodine deficiency listed as a weight loss blocker. If you don’t have a thyroid due to thyroid cancer how does that affect your iodine levels and ability to store iodine. Should someone without a thyroid take iodine?
if you had a type 2 diabetic reliant on insulin (metformin no longer works) and is on a beta blocker after a heart attack, what would your advice be regarding these medications and weight loss?
I’m taking Cymbalta, rather than Lyrica, for Auto-Immune nerve pain issues. Wondering if it, too blocks weight loss.
I recently ate some wheat products during a week in Napa, after almost 5 mos. wheat-free, and have had terrible sleep and pain issues for over 2 weeks. Not doing that again!
Wondering if anyone has tried the Hayden Flour Mills (AZ) heirloom flour? Has to be healthier than King Arthur gluten-free? I know some people can successfully eat wheat products when in Europe. I’ve heard Italy is now importing American wheat.
Re: … Auto-Immune nerve pain issues.
I can’t speak to the Cymbalta, but the first thing to do about an auto-immune condition is to stop aggravating it. Stop consuming toxins that cause gut leakage (and get gut health in order). Move to a low glycemic diet. Stop consuming inflammatory fake fats. Many people use diet to arrest AI conditions, and sometimes reverse them, but reversal takes time. There were articles on this blog lately on both inflammation and AI.
Re: Wondering if anyone has tried the Hayden Flour Mills (AZ) heirloom flour?
See “Heirloom wheats” at http://wheatfreeforum.com/index.php/topic,89.0.html
re: Has to be healthier than King Arthur gluten-free?
Both need to be avoided. That Hayden flour is still a gluten-bearing sky high glycemic grain. It’s only slightly less hazardous than runt mutant goat grass (sold to you as semi-dwarf hybrid wheat).
The KA GF flour is even higher glycemic (91% net carbs), and the rice content presents both wheat germ agglutinin and arsenic risks.
Re: I know some people can successfully eat wheat products when in Europe.
It only appears so. Europe is getting fat and diabetic too. You are only slightly less likely to encounter modern menace wheat. Any dough may be aged. The diet is generally higher in healthy fats.
Re: I’ve heard Italy is now importing American wheat.
As a government-subsidized commodity, it’s been cheap for decades, and is everywhere. There may be trouble when the world wakes up to what has been going on.
Hi. I am a month into this diet. Initially I lost 5 lbs quickly and fet really great. But after that, my weight just got stuck at the same level. Like my body is refusing to lose the fat. Any ideas why that is happening? I take BPC and 2 boiled eggs in breakfast, daal soup, salad and ghee in lunch and dinner.
re: my weight just got stuck
Have you seen the articles and videos on the more traditional roadblocks:
https://drdavisinfinitehealth.com/?s=lost+the+wheat
I am really enjoying the changes. Going to see cardiologist soon for a follow up. He will want me to stay on the carvedilol, I have recovered from the heart failure. Is there another replacement to try?
Otherwise is there a place to find a safe alternative to recommend? Thanks
I have been following your wheat free lifestyle over 3 years. I was able to lose 147# while taking the beta blocker metropolol along with ramipril. Am I an exception or lucky. Should I speak with my doctor anyway to try and sub the metropolol? Also I’ve followed your advice about adding D3 but now am considering iodine. How much do you recommend?
re: …. now am considering iodine. How much do you recommend?
That’s not a question that has a simple answer. The recent Wheat Belly Total Health book has an entire chapter on it. Getting sane and useful testing, diagnosis and treatment from Consensus Medicine™ is a major challenge.
In the meantime, have a look at:
https://drdavisinfinitehealth.com/2012/07/an-iodine-primer/
what about two drugs I take? Alfusozin, an alpha blocker for the prostate and Metformin for metabolic syndrome. The latter ought to reduce weight! But does it?
re: Alfusozin, an alpha blocker for the prostate and Metformin for metabolic syndrome.
I’m not a medical professional, but just looking at the known side effects for Alfusozin, I’d be looking at almost any alternatives. For example, is the stuff clinically proven to be materially more effective than OTC saw palmetto? (and I don’t know the answer to that) There have also been scattered anecdotal reports of prostate symptom relief just by following Wheat Belly.
On the metformin, in the absence of permanent loss of a critical mass of beta cells, metabolic syndrome is totally optional and fully reversible. See:
https://drdavisinfinitehealth.com/2015/01/diabetes/
Once BG is controlled by diet, as reported by the glucometer, I would expect that met could be tapered off and eliminated, and we see this reported here frequently.
I have to take one of the beta blockers for my congenital heart condition, and it’s not something I can change or back down. Not everyone can back down off drugs just because they stop wheat.
It is good to know there is a reason for the immovable arrow on the scale.
That’s right Jennifer. I too have medication issues but even though it is frustrating, there have been serious benefits to going off grains for me and I don’t regret it at all.
At least my other medical issues are not exacerbated by being on wheat, that’s the way I regard it!
I’ve been on both Prozac 40 mg. and Trazodone 75 mg. for several years and would like to quit both. I’ve been on the WB diet for about 10 days and have lost about 3 lbs. Trazodone worries me about stopping. If I go to bed and forget to take it, I’ll be plagued with nausea to the point where I think I’m getting the flu. But, sure enough, I’ll find in the morning I’d forgotten to take it. I’ve tried cutting in half or even by a quarter and that’s still too much.
Been on the recommendations since the original book came out. Close to 4 years. Had to invest in a totally new wardrobe…….oh drat! Even shoes. Came off all over not leaving globs of fat in strange places. Dr. Davis you mentioned Benadryl above – I knew it would kick up blood pressure – but had forgotten it can cause weight gain. Around the holidays I had put back about 5 lbs.. thought it was the heavy cream and coconut oil in my coffee. I did get a runny nose about that time and have been using 1/2 Benadryl to somehow keep it from running so I could some work done.. No more from tonight on. We’ll see if that does the trick.
Guys and girls, don’t get discouraged. It works. If it doesn’t you may have some clues to where to start your medical staff looking instead of costing you bookoo bucks and floundering. I cannot say how proud I am of the ladies that shared their storing and pictures recently, every one was amazing. And, thank you Dr. Davis for the increase in featured stories. The keep the readers on their toes. Love them.
I’ve been eating WB for the past 2 months. I lost about 10lbs the 1st week or so. After that, nothing. I eat no sugar, minimal black or raspberries and according to test strips, am spilling ketones.
I bought a glucose meter 2 weeks ago and was surprised to see that my fasting blood sugar is averaging about 105.
I do take estrogen and progesterone (for unbearable fot flashes) and I’m wondering if that could have an effect? I’m 59, 5′ 7″ & weigh 180.
I’m staring to get dejected as I am not seeing any benefits.
re: … lost about 10lbs the 1st week or so. After that, nothing. …
Be sure to see the discussions on the more traditional roadblocks:
https://drdavisinfinitehealth.com/?s=lost+the+wheat
Nancy,
I had a discussion with my doctor about HRT and she said to cut the dose in half (using one of those pill cutters) and gradually cut them out over a period of months which I did. I still get the occasional hot flash and some night sweats but I’m sure that getting nearly all the sugar out of my diet has helped enormously.
Eating well on the wheat belly diet has resulted in a weight loss of 44 lbs over the last seven and a half months, a gradual weight loss that is working for me as we are about the same age and height. I love avocado’s and all the green leafy veggies and eat plenty of them so I’m getting lots of vitamins and minerals.
See your doctor about cutting the HRT dose in half gradually so your body has time to get used to it.
Thank you. I will schedule an appt with my gyn. He is very anti-grain and I’m sure would be receptive to helping me. My primary doc, not so much. I like her very much, but I feel she’s very dismissive about this issue. She says that it’s basically faddish and it can’t hurt me so go ahead and try it. She doesn’t want to do what she feels are unnecessary tests.
re: … she’s very dismissive about this issue.
Customers need to be more dismissive of dismissive service providers.
Wheat Free Forum: What’s Up With My Doctor?
http://wheatfreeforum.com/index.php/topic,275.0.html
Yes, their formal training failed them horribly, but we don’t need to get sicker and sicker because of it.
Nancy, apparently hot flashes have something to do with phosphorus levels. Check which foods increase your phosphorus levels, go off those and check your flashes. You may be able to get off your flashes meds sooner than you think!
Check out the phosphorus/hot flashes issue, sorry I can’t give you a link but I lost it.
My hot flashes – which were just beginning -went away when I went on WB by the way.
Thanks Jill. I checked out the relationship and it looks like low phosphorus levels can cause hot flashes. I do eat quite a bit of meat, which should help, so I don’t know if that’s the issue. One website suggested maybe thyroid issues contribute to hot flashes. Mine has been tested and I’ve always been told it’s fine. I think I need to see if the T3 was tested as I am the picture of what you would think someone with low thyroid would be….thin hair, always tired, dry skin, etc. etc. I’m finding this all so frustrating!
Re: I think I need to see if the T3 was tested
I can almost bet it was not. The “standard” thyroid test is TSH, which is actually a test of pituitary response, and not the thyroid per se (and can be as useless as Total Cholesterol if the HPT axis is messed up).
In addition, the reference values most MDs rely on for TSH understate the prevalence of hypothyrodism. We won’t even talk about the dumb stuff they do if they actually make a hpyo diag. Getting useful testing, diagnosis and treatment of thyroid is a festering scandal all its own.
If you don’t have a copy of Wheat Belly Total Health, see https://drdavisinfinitehealth.com/2012/07/an-iodine-primer/ for an overview of the situation.
Thank you for the info Bob.
When you get tested, have them ck the T3, T4 and the T4 uptake, that’s where they measure whether your body is actually doing something with it. Also, Take Biotin to improve hair and nail growth. after I got my test results and understood what was going on I started to focus on the Adrenals function and am currently trying to get that balanced out again.
Thanks Linda. I’ll try that!
On Lyrica & Beta blocker. Hope I’m still reaping all of the benefits of this lifestyle.
Do you ever get letters from other physicians who believe in Wheat Belly? Is it possible to post a list of them somewhere? Finding a doctor who will listen is a frustrating and expensive proposition for many people. Upon dropping my A1c from 6.8 to 6.3, my doctor told me to go eat a cupcake. He’s never going to buy into dropping my medication. I haven’t lost a single pound and it cold be due to the Carvedilol I have to take.
Rose,
Google Functional Medicine or Paleo Doctors in your area or country and go from there.
Or use your doctor as a prescription filler and for records til you find someone else.
Thank you JillOZ, I’ll take that advice with great appreciation for it.