Advice on non acceptance

#21

Hi, Sharon. I’ve been eating keto since January 2017, and I still find it difficult to talk to some people. How’s that for an encouraging reply? :grin:

So what we’re dealing with is literally decades of nutritional indoctrination, and it’s going to take some time for this to really sink in. Especially in a day and age when we’re surrounded by SO MANY fad diets, and keto looks just like all the rest. Everyone knows fad diets don’t work for the long-run. :wink:

Ironically, we experience so many changes SO quickly with eating keto, that it’s easy to think if people would just try it, they would know too! Right? Remember, decades of propaganda.

I personally think it’s going to take awhile for my family and co-workers to believe the weight loss and changes to the food I eat are here to stay (I’ve had several at work lose lots of weight only to gain it all back in a year or so), and only then maybe they’ll be interested, and we can talk.

As far as people thinking you’re doing something wrong, just try to have comfort knowing they’re in a position of ignorance, and you’re not. :wink:

(Bob M) #22

If it’s something specific, like wheat, you could say you’ve determined wheat causes you issues. Ice cream? Lactose problem. Etc. :smirk:

#23

What do you guys say to this?

(Julie ) #24

I let others know up front that this may not be for them. And that I have gone back to basics, like i ate when I was younger. No processed food and health fats, veggies and proteins. Usually that is enough to clam them up.

#25

That one drives me nuts. There are lots of sharp responses that would be completely appropriate (something about having higher standards that not dying) but honestly the most effective is something like -
“Ha! Probably not. So how was your weekend?”

#26

It might be too late for some of your family/acquaintances, but I would avoid the word “keto” unless someone is genuinely looking for advice, and really even then I would only talk about limiting carbs.
My husband and I have some extended family who heard we were doing Paleo, and we have never heard the end of it. If we had just avoided the grains and desserts at family dinners I don’t think anyone would have really noticed, or we could have just said that they weren’t agreeing with us, but now it’s an endless stream of comments :expressionless:

(Bob M) #27

I just say I’m weak, and one will lead to 10.

(Clara Teixeira) #28

My co-workers gave me the most trouble. Mocking the way I eat, constantly shoving doughnuts in my face, etc. My family joined me and a decent number of them are keto or low carb! :smile: In dealing with my co-workers I simply explained that I would get sick if I ate their food and to please respect that. Had to remind them on a weekly basis of course. I am extremely sensitive to grains (wheat in particular) and do get very sick if I eat too much. Haven’t eaten a doughnut in 5 years! So it is easy for me to turn those foods down.
I start at a new place of work this week and do not plan to tell my new co-workers. I will be working at a butcher shop/meat store so am hoping I will have less issues with sweets being shoved in my face on a daily basis.

(Bob M) #29

You only realize how bad wheat is when you don’t have it for a while, then eat it. If you have it all the time, you think the issues you are having are “normal”. Allergies? Everyone has those. Chest congestion? Normal. Then you go off wheat and realize those things aren’t normal.

#30

#dreamjob

(Clara Teixeira) #31

Absolutely! I already butcher a large percentage of the meat I eat from my little farm. Excited to learn more about the industry.

(KCKO, KCFO 🥥) #32

I use low carbs, healthy fat is anyone asks me about my eating habits.

I ditto the response above about changing the subject to how their weekend went. Also “I am not really hungry right now.” If they keep pushing at that point, say fine give it to me, then toss it in the trash in front of them. I have done this. Because my goal was worth it. I got to a space where I didn’t give a freakin’ care about how those pushy people felt. The office eatathons were the worst. So glad I don’t have to put up with that anymore.

You can take a lesson from Megan Ramos, when people bugged her, she just asked if they are volunteering to drive her to her dialysis appointments when she needs to go to those if she eats that stuff. Worked for her :slight_smile:

(John) #33

Luckily for me I have no one in a position to comment on what I choose to eat. My wife is fine with it, I don’t have any other nearby family, and I work at a location where I have no immediate co-workers that I have to worry about explaining what I am eating or why.

I assume at some point if I lose enough weight people at work may ask what I am doing, and I’ll just tell them the truth (though not necessarily in the order of importance): exercising more, shopping for groceries and cooking my own healthy meals, eating healthy whole foods, and eating in moderation. If they press further, I can add that I cut out sweets, starches, and alcohol, don’t snack between meals, and drink lots of water.

Everything about that is true, and nothing in it to raise anyone’s eyebrows because you aren’t going into details about the specific types of food.

Usually you’ll get some comment like “I wish I could do all of that” or “I’d never have the time” because you know, it’s really all about them, not you.

If you do get someone that seems genuinely interested and wants to give it a try, then point them to some of the bigger web sites and let them start doing some research on their own.

#34

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

#35

“I don’t want it!”

I also use “I ate earlier” card, “It will make me feel bad”, and “I have allergies/gluten intolerance”. All true.

If I want to play I’ll launch into describing the pain eating that doughnut/pizza will cause me, that to avoid it I’ll have to take antihistamines and go home early because they knock me out. Bore them into submission! :slight_smile:
Though I try to see the wheat in a pizza as a delivery system for the cheese.

(Jane) #36

Just smile and say “No thank-you” and leave it at that. No explanations. Brook no argument.

#37

I’m lucky, I guess. Nearly all of my family, friends, and colleagues have been very understanding.

When someone does offer me something with carbs, I say something like, “It looks really good, but I’m feeling so much better now that I’m no longer eating that type of food.”

There has really been only one time that I’ve given in - I was invited to a pizza party in which the host made the pizza himself. I fasted prior to going to the party and then ate one slice of pizza while I was there. I told the host that it was very good, but that one slice put me slightly over my carb limit for the day. (FWIW, my perception was that the tomato sauce tasted really, really sweet, but I think that’s due to my tastes having changed.)

#38

I don’t think people really care what you eat. It’s actually all about them like most things. It’s the guilty feeling that they get from eating crap knowing that you have the willpower to abstain. It’s cognitive dissonance just like a smoker trying to mentally justify their bad habit.

(Troy) #39

^^
This😄

(Running from stupidity) #40

“Not right now, but it will contribute down the line.”

Also, if you don’t like the person much: "Mind you, for people for whom ‘long-term thinking’ means “where should I go in order to stuff my face at lunch’ that’s not going to mean much.”

:metal::metal::metal::metal::metal:

I guess @Janie isn’t going to agree with me here :slight_smile: