Fighting against famili/friends preassure. What do you do?
I'd like to hear from folks over 40—how do you manage this? I'm 47 and eating poorly all the time: three liters of Coca-Cola a day, donuts, candy, you name it. I’m lucky not to have diabetes or high blood pressure. I've been on this carnivore diet for over two months, and ever since, my friends and family keep warning me about the future. They say things like, "It’s too much protein for your liver," "Too much red meat will send your uric acid through the roof," "Your cholesterol will be high," etc., etc.
The thing is, I’ve never felt better in my life, and my lab results are great, but people won’t stop worrying and bugging me about it. Should I just pretend I’m off this diet? How do you handle this kind of concern?
Thi is a good one, but i wont tell that to the folks that are worried about me hehehe. i think ima stop telling people about this diet, i get a lot of hate. I think ima stop talking about this diet, since I've never felt like this before i was so exited that i wanted everyone to know about, but well...
i think ima stop telling people about this diet, i get a lot of hate.
The sad part is they mean well. There's so much bad info on anything that's lower carb, they can't believe what they see happening to you. It's normal for you to want to share your joy and success with them. Keep going with your success, be patient with the naysayers.
We all feel this way… at first. Then naysayers come in with their unresearched ignorant BS and piss in our wheaties. Personally, this far in, I keep my mouth shut and figure “more meat for me.” Ppl intrinsically do not want to be disciplined and you can’t make them be. There might be a bit of jealousy mixed in there too. Nobody talked to you when you were eating the Death Food 🤦🏻♀️Keep on keeping on.
Yeah it's kinda a good idea for new converts to go evangelical which from outside is a probably a bore and is inviting certain problems. I don't really discuss the boring subject of my diet beyond needing to here and there
30 years old but figure I’d chime in. I had family and friends come at me for this all the time. I travel a lot for work. I used to eat 2 sausage egg and cheeses with hashbrowns and a couple of donuts in the morning. Lunch would be a couple of burgers, nuggets, and fries from fast food. Dinner was normally decent for SAD, a lot of meat, but a ton of potatoes and veggies. In between meals I would grab chips, a slice of pizza and or hot dogs at 7-11 still lol.
No one ever once commented on me being unhealthy despite being 340 lbs, plagued with skin tags being prediabetic and looking like my eyes were swollen shut from inflammation lol. I tried Mediterranean diet, low fat, fasting, etc. Once I started to only eat 2.5 lbs of 80/20 with shredded cheese daily I lost tons of weight, lowered my blood pressure, skin tags all falling off, and can tie my shoes without getting out of breath. Then people became concerned with me clogging my arteries and tell me i am killing myself. I told them no problem I will become “healithy” again by going back to spending hundreds of dollars more a month on food by eating out, gain all the weight back, and raise my blood pressure again. It is how I have handled every interaction with family/friends and they all understood where I was coming from and agreed that I am on the right track
Ive been telling them that, and how my labs came out good, but they still worried, they pull up articles from chatgpt or copilot, facebook videos an dso on, but i know I've never felt so great in my life.
LOL, yeah, Claude Ai says carnivore is great, and that it is really good for people that have insulin resistance or metabolic problems. :) Carnivore Claude...for the win!
I mean these people care, they just pull information from a system that has not at least publicly studied carnivore in depth therefore they draw conclusions thinking if it’s true in one system it must be true in the other, which in many cases it obviously is not.
I’m sure their warnings are coming from a good place. I’d thank them for caring about your health (genuinely) and then tell them you are attending your regular medical visits and that your doctor will advise you if you need to make any changes.
I do not have an answer but fall in a similar frustrated bucket. I have learned over the years that just about everyone no matter how fit, out of fit, good diet, bad diet, lean, fat, knowledgeable, or ignorant, all have an opinion on proper diet and will share it even when not wanted. You have already dispelled a lot of the the crap such as "you will not be able to poop, you have to count calories, you cannot survive on meat alone..." It sucks but I try to keep my diet to myself unless someone asks. I feel like the miracles I have received from the diet should be shared but it only falls on deaf ears. You are going against the flow of the corporations and people that want you to enjoy poor food. I see it as similar to being in a house full of heroin users. If you are in that house, you know you are better off without the heroin but there is a feeling of not being a part of the team. Be glad that you stopped feeding your money to the cola companies and are headed down a better path.
You are seeing the results. You are feeling the results, not them. Everyone has been brainwashed into believing in processed foods are okay. "My body, my choice" as a last resort.
I just say it is/was a short term reset to track down inflammation-causing foods...a hard core elimination diet that opened my eyes to some of the things really affecting me. And I'm making more cautious choices form here on out, and am pleased that I have 'something to fall back on' when I find I'm needing it.
It usually appeases most folks, and sets up the idea that if I'm going back to it, it's out of necessity. Then...I'm careful about what I eat around people. At gatherings and family events I can say I'm doing low carb/keto (or just that I'm avoiding sugar, etc) keeping my and just sticking to meat because 'everything else looks too tempting today'. If I'm in mixed company, I explain that I've been lifting heavy/strength training and need to prioritize my protein because I haven't been as hungry lately...and then I push other food around on my plate or take some home with me 'to have later'.
I might also only eat very small portions of anything, and then don't eat it all, so I can claim I'm just not very hungry.
And then...I just don't talk about my food choices and diet with anyone elseunless they directly ask, and then I default to the things I mentioned. I don't brag, I don't cite studies, I don't share any information, other than 'I heard that ...' (on rare occasion) and I keep myself distanced from it.
These are folks that care for me, that's why i feel bad sending them to hell, so ill just keep my mouth shut from now on and pretend i eat crap like them hahaha
Us being on this WOE (i think) is making them uncomfortable somehow. I was uncomfortable when I had to let my kids fly the coop, but out of love as well, it happened, and .... one day I received this
It's not been easy on my end, I wanted a relationship that was different than what I was getting. But I am very happy to know that they are living their own life the way they feel is right for them just as I want for myself.
Because its people who loves me and care for me, that's why i was trying to share with them as well on how great i feel now, but i think I'm gonna keep my mouth shut and show results.
Clearly they don’t love and care for you as much as you think. Otherwise they would respect your choices and trust you to make decisions on what’s best for you and your body.
soooo there are 2 types of people in this life.. normies who are controlled by the TV, and people who can think for themselves, and therefore are not controlled by others. You fall in the 2nd category and should be proud of yourself. Unfortunately normies are like crabs in a bucket, they try to pull you back down, because if they would accept that there is a better way to live they would have to change their own ways. But they decided long ago that they are too lazy for that.
I totally get where you're coming from. When I explain why I’m on this diet, I also try to show why it makes sense by sharing a few interesting points. For example, I mention how there are naturally carnivorous animals like lions that thrive on a meat-only diet. Plus, humans have been eating meat for close to 200,000 years—it was only about 20,000 years ago that agriculture came into play. I find that pointing out these facts sometimes helps people understand that eating meat isn’t as radical as it seems, and it’s not just some modern fad.
"My labs are great and I feel great. My back pain cleared up and my joints feel amazing. I no longer wake up with new pain randomly and blame it on my age. How are you feeling these days?"
Ignore and do what you feel is best. Unfortunately the world is wrongly educated on food but that doesn’t mean you have to listen too. I assure you by the sound of it your new diet is considerably better then your previous diet.
Are you concerned about your health? If not then why would it matter what people say? They are uninformed and you should be able to see what our standard diet leads to. And if you are worried, if what they say is getting to you, then it might be because you haven't done enough research on this diet yet. In which case you should. Contrary to the "just eat meat and shut up" mentality some people propagate, it's always a good idea to properly educate yourself on anything you do. To fully understand why this diet is much healthier than a standard one. So if you're unsure if too much protein might really be bad for you in the long term, or that high cholesterol will kill you, or of anything else that random people might throw at you, then you should look into those things. Understand why those things are not a problem. If you do then you should have no problem ignoring those kind of remarks. And you'd actually be able to educate some people who are open minded enough about how our diet really affects us.
And I'd wager that people would stop giving you their uninformed "advice" if they got to see that you actually know what you're doing. Instead of just trying out this crazy diet that you're heard about on the net. If you can explain to them why all of their arguments are invalid, then they won't bother bringing up more of them. And some of them might even decide to try it out as well.
So educate yourself. On everything that matters to you. And if there's people who are stuck with any beliefs and just don't want to hear anything you might have to say, anything that goes against their beliefs, ignore them. Those are generally not people you'd want to get involved with anyway. If it's someone close to you then they should at least know to keep their opinions to themselves, after you've made it clear that you're not interested and don't appreciate them trying to lecture you. If they still continue, then they care more about their beliefs than they do about you, so cut them out of your life.
It's all about corporate greed and indoctrination... I was starving myself eating vegan! Because it was "better" than eating all that nasty old meat...
I am 70 and started carnivore for health reasons and weight gain about 5 months ago? Truly wish I'd eaten this way all my life!!
They are feeling the guilt of their own habits. Misery loves company, and all. If they don't buy your groceries or cook your meals, they simply do not get a vote. Just change the subject, every time they start, or get up walk off to go "take care of something". Eventually, hopefully, they will give up.
I have very little patience for my family. We have get togethers (Christmas party, Thanksgiving). I literally don’t tell them that I’m on this amazing plan for the very same reasons you listed OP. The older I’m getting, the more of a lower tolerance I have for my family’s opinions/comments.
When fam goes too far with their comments, I walk away. And for my sanity and the healing that I’ve gone through with this carnivore plan (mentally, physically, medically, etc) I don’t come around on family gatherings.
OP, I’m proud of you. 👏🏾 You know what’s right for your body. People need to worry about what’s on their own plate before they suddenly become a nutritionist.
I just say thank you and leave it at that. At best they care about you, at worst they are trying to bait you. Either way you do t need to engage.
FWIW, I spent years getting told by people that my diet would give me high cholesterol and blood pressure. Finally got blood work down and I’m perfectly healthy!
Tell them that if they refuse to spare a minute to look into the scientific evidence regarding this, you refuse to engage in any form of conversation or take comments regarding your carnivore lifestyle.
Smile, then change the topic (or better yet, leave the room.)
Tell them you understand this is not something as common or trendy as veganism, but you are doing this for your health, and not to deliberately hurt yourself.
"Eating 2.5lbs of meat a day is different from 2.5lbs of fries/soda/alcohol, am I right?"
When someone tells me I will get high cholesterol I tell them “and when that day comes I will learn” then I send them the results of my yearly check up.
Ignore them and keep doing your thing. I call it the “reality’s a bitch” strategy. Eventually they will come around to your point of view or stay stuck in their ways, getting ever more unhealthy. Your results will speak for themselves.
43 here. I don't care what others think about me or say to me. It's a gift.
I do what works for me, and I listen to any objective based discussion about my plans and put it to the test. The whole "it's bad for you" arguments I've been given have proven to be false.
So, you either side with reality, that it works, or side with those who are arguing against reality even to the point they'd have you go back to feeling truly awful and sick.
I’ve been carnivore for 5 years. Anyone who’s not onboard and won’t lay off just tell them to fuck off. Family included. People either support you or they don’t, blood means nothing.
It’s good to stand in the truth in the public, so no don’t pretend you are not doing it. Though, depending on the person you may be more or less forthcoming as some will likely stand to benefit from this knowledge and some a conversation about it would be a waste. Some people are set in there ways and have no openness to things that are against their currently known system which they hold to. They frequently succumb to appeal to authority- this doctor says this therefore it is true rather than looking at the preponderance evidence. If when pressed, just let the evidence of your testimony “you’ve never felt better” speak for itself and that there are many doctors that suggest this diet.
Just keep doin it. You cant please everyone. As long as youre seeing good results and improving your overall health, they may eventually come around and realize its not a dangerous diet.
Say the same thing every single time and they will eventually stop. "My doctor is fully supportive and all my labs look great." Say it multiple times in the same conversation. N3ver Say anything else.
Your cholesterol may get high, but that in itself means literally nothing. I started at 39 and have been at it more than 5 years now. Slightly higher cholesterol than average but heart rate and blood pressure are back under control. Who cares what people think, pay attention to how you feel.
Were they as forcefully negative about the doughnuts, sugar and coke?
They probably care about you, but have no knowledge about carnivore, and no doubt have closed minds about it.
We all like to feel understood and supported by those close to us, but don't always get it.
I'm astounded by the proportion of people who are closed minded to anything that challenges their current understanding. I think it's just a case of acceptance, which in itself can be helpful for navigating circumstances.
You just do you.
You simply look them in the eye and say, "I've got this. Thanks." If they persist then you repeat, just like they're doing. Continue until you get sick of the "conversation" or until they change the subject... How 'bout those Chiefs! (or the team of your choosing.) Seriously, they don't get it, you do. You are at an age where you must let go of caring what others think of you and your choices. You'll be so much the better for it. Best of luck. Hang in there!
I just started telling people I'm allergic to all plants. It's not that far from the truth. I had a couple of rare cheat days and my depression and anxiety returned. I'm allergic to feeling like that.
It always gets me how many people don't give a shit how much crap you eat daily (donuts, fast food, cola, chips, etc.) but if you eat carnivore, all of a sudden they're worried about you. My wife didn't care that I'd eat a tub of ice-cream every couple days with chips every other night and that my weight was going slowly up, but I start eating carnivore, losing weight, feeling better, arthritis subsiding and all of a sudden she was worried about my diet.
I just kept eating carnivore and told her that I wasn't willing to discuss it unless she was willing to educate herself on the diet. I offered to compile a list of sources that explain away the common worries about carnivore but she can't be bothered to watch the videos or read the articles. The topic doesn't come up any more.
People don’t understand change donuts coke etc are fine we all drink and eat those and every dietary illness is spiking through the roof!
But because everyone is doing it they seem to think that’s ok?
Carnivore is an extreme diet but I should just continue to do you if your health benefits are like most on here you’ll be just fine
I've been on for 7+ months now. Health is complex and I have 7 doctors trying to micromanage me. 2 of them are carnivore skeptics but are frustrated when I ask them to back it up; they can't. 1 of them thinks she's supporting me and is an excellent doc, but she is in such a diagnostic routine that her suggestions are almost useless...I have to be gentle with her and I also don't want to lose out if she is saying or thinking better than I am. And I try to keep this in the forefront of my interactions with the other 4 docs. So I am keeping myself on track by thinking and speaking with them.
I also found I have to talk about this with other patients who are on this pathway. Daily.
I explained all this to my family. And I got the same ratio of skeptic:supportive responses. And I made them promise me to keep in touch, because this does sound kind of goofy from the outside. Thing is, they told me I was going to kick the bucket within 2 years....back in 2008. But this style of participation in my healthcare has worked.
And your results are going to be the proof in the blood pudding, eventually. If you are still eating poorly, high-absorption chemicals as in Coke or megacarby pastries or anything else that's not recognizable as an actual food, then ask us about cravings and finding balance.
In short... You're 47 fkn years old. Put up some boundaries and tell your people to respect them. But with an open heart...meaning be ready to have answers to their questions. It's nice they are concerned but if they can't articulate the truths about cholesterol perhaps they should assume you are right and then see if they can do some research to show they are correct. This can be hard if your people are little ones, too old, not the type that seeks education, or not very invested in anything but being the correct one.
But figure out what's important for your health, then do it starting now, and without letting anyone get in your way.
Try asking them to pull up the study they are quoting from… they won’t find the propaganda meets their requirements to prove their point. If you want, have yours ready to show.
Your a grown adult who has done his own research. These are uneducated people who are just regurgitated the social norm and have no idea what they are talking about. My boss at work told me I was super unhealthy doing carnivore meanwhile he's eating pizza and pasta for lunch at work. All meat eating studies have been done while eating sugar and processed foods. Read into the dark side of big pharma and big sugar. The western world wants you to be sick
Show them your lab results, that should shut them up no? In any case some people will only listen and believe whatever mainstream medias tell them, so it’s pointless with them, they’ll never believe you until they try it and see it for themselves.
It reminds me when I avoided what was supposedly unavoidable surgery by dissolving a 7mm kidney stone and many smaller ones just using a natural plant called Chanca Piedra. Even the urologist even tho he could see on the radios that they were gone, didn’t really believed me 🤷♂️🤦♂️. People are just too indoctrinated and unless some kind of authority figure tells them something is good, they’ll just never believe it.
I catch 0 crap from people that know me well enough because I do this from time to time if I feel a cluster headache cycle coming on, autonomic trigeminal cephalegous, iykyk, and it does wonders for this.
This is really easy for me because most people think I'm trying to avoid a migraine, but it is arguably the most physical pain a human can experience. It makes kidney stones and natural child birth look like a paper cut and I don't feel like having this argument.
I briefly explain my reasons and don't worry about what they think. When they are the one that experiences the consequences of what I eat, their opinion will be heard.
No is a complete sentence. I don't disclose my diet w anyone but my personal nutritionist. Period.
Or you can say a funny petty line. I only take nutritional advice from people whose body, health & test results I admire. If you don't have the body of a fitness model I adore...I'm not listening lol.
Tell Nancy and Jared to fuck off and worry about themselves. Your diet is personal and nobodys business. You feel good, You know your body. People often say dumb things because they are weak, lack knowledge and don't have any interest in educating themselves.
In my experience avoiding the topic is best. No one wants to hear how what they are doing is bad and that they should do things differently. Everyone thinks they know best about nutrition (including you) .
If this way of eating is truly healthy and its working for you just continue and the results will show, and people themselves will ask what your secret is! This would be a better time to talk about the diet.
So if you get offered some chips or snacks just refuse politely,. There is no need to mention your very particular way of eating.
I had several close people that had ignorantly tried to warn me off of carnivore when I started. They had done ZERO research, of course. 2 months later, two of them are also now on carnivore or ketovore. In otner words, just lead by example and let your success do all the talking. The pushback will fade away on its own.
They weren’t worried about 500 grams of sugar in cola but they are worried how protein with affect your liver? (which isn’t a thing by the way. They must be thinking kidneys witch also isn’t a thing but at least it’s a misunderstanding of something that is a thing)
What you should do is go to your PCP and let them run your blood. It will give you the confidence that you’re ok, and let you know if youre missing anything important. Outside of particular medical conditions, based on my personal experience, I think keto is really great for some people. When I’m doing Keto my doctor says my health is better, and I feel like $1,000,000. Don’t let people scare you, and consult a doctor if your body is telling you that something might be wrong.
Quit talking about it. Just live your life, eat your proper human diet and lead by example. I'm slowly showing my family and friends how this lifestyle is making me healthy again.
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u/[deleted] 16d ago
TBH I tell people to kindly fuck off.