Of course you COULD say "NO I am not." I'm the same..keep saying it..and you shrink. ( an mess with their minds by saying you are on an all popcorn diet, or all licorice, or only cough suryp… they may think anything you do is crazy anyway

Years ago when I worked in a big corp the HR manager actually came up and HUGGED me..encouraging me..boy was that inappropriate… so I never said anything after.

most people who see you are fat will assume you will fail anyway..and it is sad it takes a 50-90 ln loss to get attention you did something right.

For me I am short and high densityy..I can pack on 36 extra pounds and I look the same..so losing it is the same too…will take a while to really show..so I escape comment.

I TRIED talking about LC to a neighbor who was interested, but I could see the skeptical eyes…even loaned them Dana Carpenders recipe book, and Volek & Phinney's 2nd book on eatingLC..not sure if they are following ay of it.

I NEVER talk about butter/fats..as in FIght Club…"The first rule of LC is you don't talk about LC"..eh?

sorry I was no help at all

I've recently told people that I just gave up all fruits and vegetables. The last person I told this to thought she heard it wrong. When I explained that she hadn't, she thought it was a joke. Another coworker was there and told her it was no joke. The conversation stopped there. She had nothing to say. LOL

I watch what and how much I eat, I try to eat only whole foods, so no processed or refined things anymore.

"I cut out sugar and grains and it's been working for me." I either get an, "Oh." and they drop the subject or I get an, "I could never do that." I rarely have anyone argue with me and the fact it's working is proof enough for me. I don't carry on arguments. I just keep answering with, "It's working for my body." People tire of that pretty quickly and drop it.

AngInCanada wrote: »

I have such a hard time when someone asks me this. I work with a few vegan nurses so when in their presence I like to go on and on about how I eat lots of fat and very little carbs just to prove its NOT their way or the highway but when I get asked any other time I struggle with my answer. I usually end up saying "Oh I lowered my carbs and I am exercising" and most of the time that's the end of the conversation but if someone prods more I'll explain keto but I dont like to. I think its because of the whole saturated fat thing but i hate confrontation so I feel like my lower carbs answer is playing it safe.

So my question, when someone asks you, do you explain keto/low carb to them or do you stick to a generic answer ?

I just say I don't eat carbs and leave it to that. Most time they aren't looking for a real answer, just making conversation.

If it does get deep first I talk about all the benefits I've had (off blood pressure meds, off diabetes meds, lost x amount of weight), and then I tell them it's LCHF and point them to google for the new diet of Sweden. I'll also tell them I cut the SAD RDA of carbs (300) to around 30. I don't freak them out about my macros cause it freaked me out for a long time! Like a year! I gradually had to add fat and get over my ingrained worldview. Lulz. But I do encourage them to go to YouTube and watch "Fathead". Sometimes I tell them it's like Atkins but with Atkins now synonymous with junky bars and shakes and the new plan of forty carbs a meal, I'm staying away from confusing them unless I think they know what "old school Atkins" is.

FIT_Goat wrote: »

I've recently told people that I just gave up all fruits and vegetables. The last person I told this to thought she heard it wrong. When I explained that she hadn't, she thought it was a joke. Another coworker was there and told her it was no joke. The conversation stopped there. She had nothing to say. LOL

lol. "...then I ate a bar of butter in front of them".

Sajyana wrote: »

"I cut out sugar and grains and it's been working for me." I either get an, "Oh." and they drop the subject or I get an, "I could never do that." I rarely have anyone argue with me and the fact it's working is proof enough for me. I don't carry on arguments. I just keep answering with, "It's working for my body." People tire of that pretty quickly and drop it.

This is pretty much what I say. "I don't eat bread, pasta, rice, potatoes, tortillas, or sugar." And what I get is, "Oh, I could never do that," while they tell me how awesome I look. If they ask follow-up questions, it's usually because they are truly interested. I'm pretty dismissive about it too, because I'm not trying to convert people--I'm just doing what I do. If they want to know more it's because they want the same success, and then I'm happy to share. Interestingly, my father-in-law and his wife are just starting low-carb, spurred by the successes of FIL's brother and his wife (who have each lost 10-15 lbs). When I told him, "Oh yeah, that's what I do--and I've lost 44 pounds," his jaw almost hit the floor. He knew I'd lost weight but not how much. That made my day.

I just tell them I eat low carb. So far, no one has given me a lecture or funny looks. Most of my coworkers are pretty fly..... I have two that scoff. One thinks low carb ='s all you can eat meat and nothing else (she was shocked when I said I eat salads) and the other is still on the low fat bandwagon. While the latter doesn't preach at me, she's actually pretty supportive, she just can't stop going around pushing people on low fat everything LOL. The former is actually my workplace nemesis (sad that I have one of those) and she has to disagree with me on everything on principal. I don't force my opinions or WOE on any of them though. If they ask a question I answer truthfully.

Family on the other hand...... Sigh. My grandmother has quit inviting me over to eat because she's afraid she can't fix ANYTHING for me to eat. I'm like, memal, I can eat meat and veggies, I just can't have your dumplings, taters, or starches. "Oh, I cooked pork chops and turnip greens today, but I put bacon grease in the greens and I know your dieting, so I didn't want to bother you."

/faceplam

I love her so much LOL.

lol @chaoticdreams , your story made me smile. Family are the best even if their trying is way off base. I am having surgery and ladies at church bring suppers for five days following. I DID give dietary guidelines (many ppl have them) but we will see how they are interpreted! Should be interesting.

This is what I put, "Fred and I are sugar free and low carb. With his fatty liver he cannot have carbs or starches like potatoes, rice, pasta, or wheat. A rotisserie chicken, a large green salad, or a plate of bunless hotdogs are great. We can have chili if it is made with no honey, sugar, molasses or sweetener. We can't eat dessert or fruit except for raw berries."

As most meals are usually rice or pasta based for this sort of thing I realize I'm really stretching them. I appreciate their kindness either way, tho.

GaleHawkins wrote: »

My son stopped me from saying low carb and just say no sugar and grains when talking with others. He (17) said most people do not even know what carbohydrates are or what foods contain them.

Great point, I usually get a blank stare when I say carbohydrate. Or on the other hand I'll get told I'm going to die as my body attacks its muscles...... Ugh. I've mostly just shut up about it, which tells me it's now my woe because I don't need groupies to continue.

JessicaLCHF wrote: »

A rotisserie chicken, a large green salad, or a plate of bunless hotdogs are great. We can have chili if it is made with no honey, sugar, molasses or sweetener.

What the *?! I've never heard of putting sweeteners of ANY kind in chili! No one I know here does that. A U.S. thing?? No wonder you'd be a bit worried about the 'kindliness' of your fellow parishioners.

I go from a vague answer to a full tilt answer, depending on who is asking and why. Since I've lost over 70 pounds overall since I starting losing weight, I do get the question fairly frequently. My body recomp in the 7+ months since I went low carb is more shocking to most folks than the overall 70 pounds. I love getting the whole "I could never do that" excuse. I proceed to explain to them how much of a carb junkie I was. Most of them already knew...but it is still fun to shock and awe. I don't really try to convert anyone (except my mom and aunt who really need to convert, and even that is gently, more by example, filled with love), but I love getting the info out there!

When I explain that every single one of my health markers have improved, that this "diet" or WOE was recommended to me by multiple doctors - and is lightly medically monitored, has allowed me to stop some medications, that I have energy, (anyone who has known me the last decade knows I am so NOT a morning person) that i can get out of bed without a crow bar or crane, etc., etc., etc - when I explain those things, people are really interested. I can tell when people have taken me seriously when I get a follow up question later....

canadjineh wrote: »

JessicaLCHF wrote: »

A rotisserie chicken, a large green salad, or a plate of bunless hotdogs are great. We can have chili if it is made with no honey, sugar, molasses or sweetener.

What the *?! I've never heard of putting sweeteners of ANY kind in chili! No one I know here does that. A U.S. thing?? No wonder you'd be a bit worried about the 'kindliness' of your fellow parishioners.

Um, not in my neck of the US. I've never had chili with sweeteners...... I'll have to ask this of the cooks at the next chili cook off.

110challenge wrote: »

yup I'm super cautious. I started with saying I cut out all grains and meal plan well in advance and don't deviate from it at all, and that I massively upped my water. In time I started testing the waters with coworkers who seemed curious, and found out that one of them lost 80! lbs on keto 2 years ago. It's been awesome having her because she doesnt look at me like I have 3 heads. A few know I'm very low carb, and ONE knows I'm intermittent fasting. Even my extended family doesnt know that.

Of course at our pot luck on Wednesday I'll be bringing a lunch, I dont need that drama haha

lol, awesome support!

If asked, I say, "I eat meat, butter, and cheese." They usually don't ask anything more thinking it's a fad. People are going to think what they want to think. The proof is in what they can see!