Tips for Dealing with Keto Critics

The idea of fat-fueled living may be hard for people to grasp.

Feeling unsupported by family, friends, and coworkers can be very discouraging. However, it’s important to keep in mind that the root of the criticism likely stems from years of being fed the wrong information about dietary fat. To this day, our dietary guidelines are outdated, claiming in order to lose weight and be healthy, we need to “limit fat”, and ya know… just “move more and eat less!”

As you approach your ketogenic journey, you’ll likely come across a keto critic or two — but don’t worry, we’ve got your back! Below are some tips to help you deal with keto critics.

Be vague.

• Don’t mention “keto” specifically but simply state you’re eating whole foods and limiting processed carbs and refined sugars. This pretty much is keto, by the way!

Give them homework.

• All too often I find that those who criticize know very little about nutritional ketosis, let alone can even tell me the definition of a ketone! There are multiple best-selling books and published research articles written about the science behind low-carbohydrate, high-fat living. Encourage critics to do the research and invite them to chat with you afterward… don’t worry, they rarely do.

Let Hip2Keto do the talking.

• Share links with them to the informative posts on Hip2Keto, such as Is the Keto Diet Healthy and Safe, Common Keto Myths, or our “Ask a Nutritionist” series. Who knows, maybe it will convince them to give keto a try for themselves!

Remind them that keto is recommended by many doctors and dietitians.

• If you’ve received the support of a healthcare professional (which you have… me!), then state you’re following professional recommendations. Many doctors and dietitians are slowly coming around and starting to recommend low-carb, high-fat diets like keto – especially those who specialize in obesity medicine, which includes metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and heart disease. These professionals get it because they study it, and actually know the science!

Find confidence in knowledge.

• One of the best things you can do to combat a critic is being confident in yourself! How do you do this? Read, study, learn, and immerse yourself in the science of keto! Knowledge is power and will help you push forward, and the Hip2Keto community is always here to support you.

Wait to share your lifestyle with others.

• In the early stages of starting keto, you may want to avoid sharing your fat-fueled enthusiasm until the energizing benefits start to kick in, around 1-2 weeks. Otherwise, if encountered by a critic, you may easily become discouraged and lack confidence in your new way of eating (especially if you’re struggling with the keto-flu and dealing with temporary withdrawals of removing carbs). Once you start rockin’ your fat-fueled life, you’ll have the confidence to just walk away and shrug it off.

Remember, keto is NOT a fad diet! It can be a healthier way of eating and used to prevent and treat many chronic health conditions. Living fat-fueled simply means tapping into a better, cleaner, and more efficient fuel source for our hungry bodies. Think high-octane fuel!

Shrug off the critics living with their carb-laden fog brain and keep rockin’ it. You’re doing great!