How To Deal With Keto Critics
I’ve been keto a few years. Here’s how I handle negative responses
Here are a few ways to deal with people who criticize/question my lifestyle changes.
Q: How can I deal with negative comments about my new lifestyle?
Over the years, I’ve had people say things to me like:
“I don’t know how you do it, I could never give up [bread, pasta, etc.]”
“I don’t think I could stick to it, I only like to eat delicious/good food”
“You’re a food Nazi.”
Yep, that last one is true…said to me by people who nosed their way into online conversations they were not part of, where I’ve offered advice to friends who ask me how they can feel better with certain foods.
I have experienced enough different kinds of negative responses to my lifestyle changes to tell you that my way isn’t the only way, but there are a few ways I handled them.
If someone is trying to offer you something to eat which you don’t allow on your new lifestyle, you can decline without hurting feelings by saying, “Thank you for offering, but I no longer eat [any starch or sugar or whatever] for health reasons…” instead of voluntarily blurting out the fact you’re on a low carb or keto diet.
The two terms “low carb” and “keto” have been so horribly maligned by mainstream media and online articles in the past few years, that it’s just not worth the bother.
How to deal with keto critics who mention foods they think you should eat
This is my most-frequent type of critic. You know, the people who say “I would rather eat things that taste good.” My response to them (mostly in my head) is…
“So do I! With keto, I eat THE MOST delicious food that exists on the planet!”
This is my life now, my medicine…so of course I’ve found multitudes of foods I can eat that are tasty, to boot.
Once you fine-tune your taste buds to enjoying satisfying, REAL, whole foods full of nutrients like protein and healthy fats, you may find the things you used to eat to be very either very bland, or terribly sweet and no longer enjoyable.
Years after going keto, I had a bun with my bratwurst at a summer cookout, and it tasted like stale nothingness, and my reward for it was a headache later. I don’t miss things like that at all.
When someone figures out that you’re low carb—based on interactions or what they see—and decides to ask you how it’s going, tell them, “It’s been great, thanks for asking!” Someone who’s genuinely interested in your new lifestyle will not say something negative about it.
If it’s someone who you haven’t seen in awhile, they’ll likely be able to detect the positive in change in you and may want to know more.
Encourage them to check out your fave keto/low carb website (hi!) or YouTube channel about it.
Who knows? You may turn them on to keto, and you’ll have someone else on your side you can talk to about it.
Or maybe they asked you about it because they want more info for a friend or relative. Either way, who doesn’t want to help people feel better?
They may be sincerely appreciative of your resources. If you get that feeling, invite them to get in touch later so you both can have a chat about the website or videos you suggested, and ask them what they thought about them.
When it comes to the nay-sayers and folks who truly do not want you to succeed, screw ’em. If they start to bring up stuff like, “So and so article online said coconut oil is bad.” or “I saw on XYZ channel that keto gave this lady kidney disease,” etc., you can try this:
“Good point(s). I’d encourage you to check out [insert name of previously given resource] out, where you can find out the truth about that. Would you excuse me? I see someone I have been meaning to say ‘hi’ to. Nice to see you again!” Then smile, wave, and walk away.
Sometimes keto critics are just nosy or bored with their own lives, and may want to start a debate.
If you sense this kind of interaction coming on and don’t have the energy to offer explanations or links, here’s what I do…
I say, “I’m happy to answer questions if you’re genuinely interested in trying it out.”
Then I excuse myself and go talk to someone else before I start ranting about how awesome it is, to someone who’s probably just trying to argue or thinks I’m a freak.
If they really want to know more, they’ll come find me. Many usually do.
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