William Davis, MD, is a preventive cardiologist whose unique approach to diet allows him to advocate reversal, not just prevention, of heart disease.
He is the founder of the 
Jeanine left this telling tale of gaining weight despite vigorous exercise.
We see this day in, day out: People who exercise, even to extreme degrees, who are unable to control weight. We see it on overweight professional athletes. We see it in overweight triathletes, marathon runners, and long-distance bikers. A big part of the motivation driving such extreme exercise efforts is a desire for . . . weight loss.
But it’s not the exercise that represents the crucial factor here. It’s the wheat.
As of today, I have lost 30 pounds following Wheat Belly. My original goal was to lose 40 pounds, and someday that might happen. But what I realized along the way is that it’s more important to be “healthy” and today that has become a reality.
Last September, I went to the doctor for my annual physical and realized that my weight put me at just shy of “obese.” I had been trying off and on for years to lose weight and the news that day couldn’t have been more depressing. I had been running three times a week for the previous five months, and instead of losing weight – I had gained. [Emphasis mine.]
Since an increase in exercise did nothing for me, I became obsessed with nutrition and trying to figure out the exact combination of foods and calories would lead to weight loss. I read a lot of books and studied the Food Pyramid. When I read “Wheat Belly”, it’s like a light bulb went off and I decided to give wheat-free eating a try.
I couldn’t believe the success I had right away. I thought for sure it wouldn’t last. I even weighed myself every day because it helped me to see the effects when I was eating right and when I wasn’t. Forget calories in/calories out…I finally knew how to lose weight.
Today’s milestone is a big one. I’m “healthy” according to several different measurements and I hope that I never have to worry about being in the “unhealthy” range ever again. I’m planning to start running again in the spring, but this time it will be for pleasure and not for exercise.
Question for Dr. Davis: Gin is made from wheat (or rye). Is that allowed on a wheat-free diet?
only first thing in the morning and have only one.
LOL, might be better for you than what comes out of the tap.
Hi, Joe-
Generally, only the most gluten-sensitive will have problems with liquors brewed from wheat, rye, or barley. Most do not.
My dad used to break out across his nose in a light red rash once he drank that second whiskey. When I used to drink beer (years ago) I would breakout down my neck and across my cheeks with a hot rash just like my Grandfather (Dad”s dad).
I have lost 75 pounds following a paleo diet and eliminating wheat for over a year know.
A few months ago I went on a business trip for 4 days in new Orleans. My meals were all Paleo good, but in the evening I would have gin and tonic. Upon my return home my weight went up 5lbs.
I would say gin is not good (at least not for me)
Dan, a lot of stores carry diet tonic water nowadays and most brands are quite good — though it”s not so common in bars. I would guess the sugar in the tonic water was the problem.
It”s been 6 weeks and 7 pounds for me. The BMI moving into normal. But more important was a discovery I make last week. I found myself in a mall at dinner time, where I had a plate of garlic broccoli and for the meat I thought I”d have spicey pork. it was covered in flour and sugar, probably to hide the taste of the salt, as they make their money off soft drinks, full of sugar and salt. I didn”t have a drink, but the next day, with just that small amount of wheat and sugar, I absolutely craved food all day long…….Well no wonder. I haven”t had a craving in 6 weeks, but they left gradually so I didn”t notice. No wonder my weight went up and my health went down……
Yup, Jerald. Once you understand it, it becomes crystal clear.
And the solution seems so incredibly simple.
One of my customers told me about Wheat Belly and was raving about how he lost 17lbs in 4 months and his arthritis is barely noticable. So i downloaded the book and was blown away. I stopped eating wheat (i cheat sometimes but no bread) 4 weeks ago and have been losing 2 lbs a week. No change in exercise, just walk my dogs morning and night. I also have a visalus shake for breakfast and sometimes lunch. I hope I can lose the 40lbs that are weighing me down!!
Great, Jenny B!
And weight loss is just the start.
Great news Jeanine… and the rest of the folks who posted.
Today I arrive at week 11 utilizing the wheat belly approach. This morning I checked and have lost 35 pounds to date. I”m not starving myself either. I am delighted with the recipes that I have found online that are wheat free. I enjoy items such as almond loaf, crackers, and more. Yes…wheat / grain free!
I am exercising because I feel great. I have noticed at the track that many folks are dedicated, walking and “sweating.” I”ve been in those shoes. I was so often puzzled at the struggle for so many of us who try to lose visceral fat around the mid-section and it remains a stubborn battle despite sincere efforts at “working it off.” I dropped wheat and I dropped weight – 35 pounds so far.
Congratulations to you all. Keep the stories coming; your successes are an encouragement.
Terry
Having trouble getting to post a comment or ask a question.
Mother and I made the wheat free pizza but it gave us both excessive gas, and Mother had diarrhea.
Could the gas be from the cauliflower?
Could Mother be allergic to olive oil? (she gets diarrhea when she eats anything with oil at Italian restaurants.
We want this Wheat Free diet to work as we both have a lot of the problem is the book – I bought the book and we both read it. Also, neither of us can exercise much – I”m 71 and Mother is 94 and we both have mobility problems.
Marybelle, this evening I made an excellent non-wheat pizza crust using chicken breast and parmesan cheese with excellent results. This was my first time having pizza since I went wheat free, and starch free 4 months ago. I couldn”t help noticing how good I felt after eating – I hadn”t realized that pizza doesn”t have to make you feel bloated and nauseous. Gee, remove the wheat and it”s filling, delicious and no gastric issues – image that!
I”ll post the recipe in the recipe section – when I”m successful:-) you can find it there.
Putting aside the possibility that something might have been contaminated or rancid, it”s possible that your conversion to a wheat-free lifestyle, Marybelle, may be changing the composition of bowel flora, a common phenomenon.
If this continues, you might consider taking a probiotic for a few weeks to assist your conversion and smooth the process.
I”ve begun reading your Wheat Belly book, and I”m wondering if you might comment on a possible connection between fibromyalgia and the consumption of wheat. I searched this site and nothing came up. Thank you so much.
There”s definitely a connection, Lolly, but it has not been well-explored formally.
If you have fibromyalgia, however, there is nothing to lose in going wheat-free to assess your response.
Please report your experience back here, however!
Thanks so much for your response, Dr. Davis. I”m going to give it a try and will report back what happens. Wouldn”t it be wonderful if it helped!
Lolly,
I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia in Sept 2010. I went gluten-free in January 2011. My muscle pain and other fibro symptoms went away within a short time. Please give it a try. The only thing you have to lose is pain and weight. Best of luck.
Thank you, Debbie B. If I can lose the pain and weight, I”d be thrilled! I love my homemade bread, but it will be an easy trade for loss of pain and weight.
Lolly, I can tell you that wheat is absolutely connected with fibromyalsia (and any other autoimmune neuro condition). My sister”s (15 year) fibro was so severe that she was on morphine to help dull the pain. It wasn”t until she completely gave up ALL grains that it went away. Took her less than a month to experience signficant relief. That was about a year ago and she hasn”t had an attack since.
She was also dealing with a diagnosis of MS and all those symptoms disappeared, too. Hmmm . . . are these really “diseases” or are they just responses to wheat? You have absolutely nothing to lose by giving up wheat and I can”t recommend it too strongly. I am certain you”re going to see such a huge change.
Thank you, PJ, for sharing your sister”s story. It”s an encouragement to me! I have begun eating wheat-free and am excited about a future of being healthier and having less pain. After three days of avoiding wheat, I already feel better.
Thank you, Dr. Davis!
After I read Wheat Belly 18 weeks ago I gave up grains and most sugar (except for a little sugar & cream in my coffee) and lost six pounds right away, but nothing more after the initial weight loss. Thyroid lab results were all normal. If I didn”t feel so much better I would quit and try another approach to weight loss because I had hoped to lose 30-40 pounds by now.
I have had a similar experience to you, Tracy. I gave up wheat about five weeks ago, lost six pounds in the first couple of weeks, and have lost none since, even put a couple back on. I have had my thyroid tested, including the “deep thyroid” test, which looks for Hashimoto”s Disease. Test results normal, although thyroid function a little low, so dr gave me a natural supplement to stimulate my own thyroid, instead of replacing those hormones with synthetics. After reading this whole entire blog, including every comment made on every entry, I have to say I was expecting a little more weight loss! I would appreciate tips on things to look for in our diet that we may be making mistakes on, athough we now eat mostly salads, veggies, lean meats, nuts, eggs, some cheeses. We have cut out wheat completely (i think!) and reduced all other carbs.
Thanks in advance for any response from anyone, and also thanks to everyone who has taken the time to write in with advice and knowledge, you have helped many people around the world!
Sarah
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