Telling the family about keto...
kimbo8435
Posts: 129 Member
I've been doing Keto for 10 days now and I'm noticing big things. My hubster is doing a version of it alongside me and even my son has noticed that I have more energy. But this weekend I'll be seeing my parents... My father is a retired dietician so he knows all about the keto diet. But how to tell him. How have you all broken the news to family who may or may not be so supportive of the idea? What have your experiences been with family and peers?
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Have met lots of resistance from family (who are all morbidly obese) with regard to the high fat portion of keto. The fat phobia is real and until our physicians start telling their patients it's okay to eat it, it's not going to change (we have a serious problem with the God complex and people believing everything their doctors say!)! I've let my results speak for themselves now, and don't worry about the rest!0
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I am 6 months in and haven't. They know I'm grain free and low carb, they do not know I'm high fat. Some people I've said "I don't need to watch the fat", but no need to start the arguements with the others yet. I had planned to initially, but then my Dad's reaction to low carb was "good, carbs will kill you, are you still eating dairy? You'll eventually need to cut that too, the fat is horrible for you". He has a very aggressive personality, I wasn't going to go there at the time. I'll wait until I'm closer to my goal weight.0
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The "Fat Phobia" has been ingrained into the thinking of so many people, heck, I was one of them! Until our doctors educate themselves and begin telling their patients the truth about fat, the fear is going to remain! I understand not wanting to create tension with discussions over food! Just do your thing, and KCKO!0
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If I decide I want to explain myself, I just tell them my endocrinologist ordered this to deal with my multiple medical conditions. Most of them have seen me lose several inches already in my abdominal area and drop 3 sizes last year (from afar anyway), so they don't really question it. I just tell them I'm working towards a more balanced approach since my body does not process carbs/grains/sugars like a normal person. Considering my grandfather died from complications of diabetes, and my mom is also adult onset, and I've been at over 320 pounds and have gotten down to the 250's over the last 5+ years, they just don't ask. I'd let them assume I'm Celiac or allergic or diabetic. Whatever makes them get over their hesitation.
Most of the times, just telling them than my endocrinologist has ordered this diet (not ordered, IRL, but suggested it) and is monitoring my all my blood work (true), they usually leave it alone. I kind of let the "high fat" part sit by the wayside unless someone notices or asks specifically.
My PCP had been at me for years to drop my carbs to improve my cholesterol...so obviously the science is out there...somewhere. LOL0 -
Had a super pleasant conversation with both my parents about keto yesterday at breakfast. Dad had all sorts of wonderful suggestions (he's apparently studied the therapeutic ketogenic diet quite a bit). He even looked over my MFP log with me! Mom said she can see the difference in how I carry myself, that I'm not in pain so she said she's 100% behind keto and me. I didn't give my parents enough credit. It was a good reminder that they are open-minded and caring. I love my family!4
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Thats awesome!0
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Wow, that is really terrific! So happy for you.!I'm so used to hearing / reading about family members who react negatively, who don't understand Keto, or worse, try to sabotage the efforts of the person doing Keto, that this was nice to read!0
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That is really awesome they responded in that way. It always amazes me that when I was a cheeseburger away from 300 lbs no one said ANYTHING but when you are on a structured plan to lose weight then opinions come out.1
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My family was more concerned about the initial expense. Almond flour, coconut products, cream, oil, cheeses, butter, meat - it adds up when you're first starting. Every so often I'll be asked, "When are you going to start eating normal again?" Spaghetti night was an event in my house and they miss it. I'll need to figure that one out.0
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Can't you just skip the noodles or replace them with spaghetti squash or some other alternative for yourself?0
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Had a super pleasant conversation with both my parents about keto yesterday at breakfast. Dad had all sorts of wonderful suggestions (he's apparently studied the therapeutic ketogenic diet quite a bit). He even looked over my MFP log with me! Mom said she can see the difference in how I carry myself, that I'm not in pain so she said she's 100% behind keto and me. I didn't give my parents enough credit. It was a good reminder that they are open-minded and caring. I love my family!
That's great!0 -
I do make pasta for my 18 year old son and spagetti squash "noodles" for hubby and I. Pizza on the other hand has been replaced with a big disk of hamburger dressed with tons of veggie pizza toppings and cheese. My son had no issues with that!I had been gluten free for years and so was used to cooking two alternatives. LC is new.0
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Every so often I'll be asked, "When are you going to start eating normal again?" Spaghetti night was an event in my house and they miss it. I'll need to figure that one out.
Sigh. This IS the new normal. I've decided that when its time to broach the subject with my family I'll tell them I recently learned I have a problem with insulin and carbs. (Which we ALL do but I won't go there with them...yet) and as such I've reordered my WOE to work with my body so i feel better and don't get diabetes.0 -
I dont say anything until someone asks. I went to brunch today and no-one asked why i declined the tortilla chips or fried potatoes. Most of the time people wont even notice. If offered sweets I just say perhaps later and move on. Really its no-ones business what I choose to pit in my mouth (ahem...food wise). They all ask once they see the weight fall off and then I say Im on the butter and steak diet and watch their little brains explode.2
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Update: my dad now wants to team up with my neurologist to write a case study on keto and dystonia! He's a bit biased with me being his kiddo and all, but his scientific curiosity has been triggered. Can't wait to see if it becomes a reality! I'll keep y'all posted.2
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I just don't talk about it lol. My sister is a body builder and does competitions, etc. so she knows what I'm up to but her diet is just as unusual so she doesn't really get to pass judgement. I don't tell my parents. They are not very open minded.1
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Update: my dad now wants to team up with my neurologist to write a case study on keto and dystonia! He's a bit biased with me being his kiddo and all, but his scientific curiosity has been triggered. Can't wait to see if it becomes a reality! I'll keep y'all posted.
Me too! When you say dystonia, I know a woman who has cervical dystonia. It causes the muscles in her neck to constantly be contracted on one side stretching and pulling the muscles on the other. It's awful and she's been told there is no cure.0 -
My mom is surprisingly supportive. She does disagree with me on some of my food choices. Such as not eating fruits and honey and homemade granola... She firmly believes these are "good for you" foods.
My sister in law, on the other hand, is super unsupportive. "But your BRAIN needs carbs to function. Carbs give you energy!!" I give up explaining.1 -
LolaDeeDaisy23 wrote: »My sister in law, on the other hand, is super unsupportive. "But your BRAIN needs carbs to function. Carbs give you energy!!" I give up explaining.
Your sister has been brainwashed by the American food industry. It's not her fault. It's quite a hurdle to change your thinking from fat is bad to fat is good. AND that stupid food pyramid telling us the majority of our food should be whole grains. It gives me stomach discomfort just thinking about that! Maybe you can share Sara Hallberg's Ted Talk with her. Google it if you haven't seen it. Short and VERY informative.
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@carsonheim I just watched it. Concise and easy to understand. It's scary and sad how the government can manipulate the population in order to profit from the sick. So sad.2
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My family was more concerned about the initial expense. Almond flour, coconut products, cream, oil, cheeses, butter, meat - it adds up when you're first starting. Every so often I'll be asked, "When are you going to start eating normal again?" Spaghetti night was an event in my house and they miss it. I'll need to figure that one out.
Have you tried miracle noodles? The are made from organic shirataki and have virtually no carbs. I use them to make keto versons of "pasta" dishes and even Pad Thai. My wife likes them better than traditional noodles.
Miracle noodle1 -
LolaDeeDaisy23 wrote: »@carsonheim I just watched it. Concise and easy to understand. It's scary and sad how the government can manipulate the population in order to profit from the sick. So sad.
I liked her talk but the part I could t wrap my head around was the CICO don't matter.
She says calories don't matter, yet breaks down the macro ratio and protein grams. Which essentially comes back to a calorie limit.
So I found that a bit hypocritical/inconsistent.
I also put on 6 pounds in 6 weeks eating till I was full - my off switch was obviously broken and someone should have told me at the start to count calories.
I'm all for Keto. That lady rubs me the wrong way.0 -
I just tell people these days that I watch what I eat, because I'm diabetic, even though I am not. It saves so much headache! Plus if you ever have to go out to eat, the server is less likely to bring you whatever, and call it diet or no sugar, etc...because they're afraid you'd go into a diabetic episode.
I used to tell people about keto willingly when they asked about my diet (mostly food pushers, who would get frustrated when I'd keep saying "no" to a cookie or a cupcake,) but when I informed them that I weighed my food, and logged it, I was deemed "crazy and obsessive."
Even my own mother at the time (about 3-4 years ago) chastised me for my diet, yet now she's a diabetic and always has to put her two cents in about low carb this, and no sugar that (I find it hilarious that all of a sudden my life choices make sense.)
Albeit, eventually I must have caved, and made every excuse in the book to stop logging, and weighing my food but it was a big mistake. The weight crept back on, and well...Here I am again.1 -
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Expatmommy79 wrote: »
I liked her talk but the part I could t wrap my head around was the CICO don't matter.
She says calories don't matter, yet breaks down the macro ratio and protein grams. Which essentially comes back to a calorie limit.
So I found that a bit hypocritical/inconsistent.
I also put on 6 pounds in 6 weeks eating till I was full - my off switch was obviously broken and someone should have told me at the start to count calories.
I'm all for Keto. That lady rubs me the wrong way.
Calories do matter, but it's more complex that CICO. I'm not a scientist but I know some calories (dairy and Keto baked goods) cause me to stall while others (meat and eggs) do not.
I would be frustrated with gaining on this WOE. one thing that struck me from your comment was eating till full and your off switch. I HEAR YA!! Here's the hard part (especially for people like me with BED): don't eat till FULL. Eat until *no longer hungry.* Some say satiety, but for me that doesn't make sense as I have 50 years of only being satisfied when FULL.
It's been an adjustment, and frankly, I do track calories. I'm not super-strict about calories though. I shoot for around 1500 (I'm 5"2 on a good day) but most days end up between 1500-1800. Even had days at 2500 and had good losses those weeks. The body is a mysterious thing.
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4031isaiah wrote: »Update: my dad now wants to team up with my neurologist to write a case study on keto and dystonia! He's a bit biased with me being his kiddo and all, but his scientific curiosity has been triggered. Can't wait to see if it becomes a reality! I'll keep y'all posted.
Me too! When you say dystonia, I know a woman who has cervical dystonia. It causes the muscles in her neck to constantly be contracted on one side stretching and pulling the muscles on the other. It's awful and she's been told there is no cure.
Yep, that's what I have- cervical dystonia. I also have epilepsy which I believe compounded my cervical dystonia. Have your friend give keto a try. I didn't think I'd ever gain control, but here I am! It does twist your shoulders and neck into awful contortions and I didn't even realize how bad it had gotten until I found keto. One side of my neck and shoulders is still more corded than the other- even 5 months after gaining control. I want to shout it to all dystonia and Parkinson's sufferers. This can work!
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The only negative response I have received so far was from a doctor friend of mine, a GP. She said that it was a bad idea to eat a lot of fat. It is a controversial method of eating, for sure. But I will stick with it, despite my doctor friend's opinion. She is of course one of the lucky thin people that can eat carbs without consequence.1
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The only negative response I have received so far was from a doctor friend of mine, a GP. She said that it was a bad idea to eat a lot of fat. It is a controversial method of eating, for sure. But I will stick with it, despite my doctor friend's opinion. She is of course one of the lucky thin people that can eat carbs without consequence.
@juana604 Something to remember, too, is that just because your doctor friend is thin, it doesn't mean her hormones are balanced, that she has good cholesterol, or good blood pressure numbers and all of that. She might, but that might just be youth and timing. People can be "skinny-fat" aka thin and unhealthy, so don't let that stop you... Besides, results speak for themselves!
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