Food Shaming Needs To STOP…

I know we don’t always agree on everything, or every way of “doing keto,” but our little community here on the world wide web is very accepting and open minded compared to what you might experience elsewhere on the internet.

Case in point: Twitter.

It tends to be the extremist of extremes when it comes to food shaming and food purists, and negativity in general.

I had an exchange with a woman on Twitter yesterday actually, which wasn’t pretty – but it brought up some points I think we should discuss.

Several points actually.

To give you some history, this woman has harassed me incessantly.

She’s “an ingredient snob on a mission” that apparently makes it her life’s work to “food shame” people on Twitter.

I admit she caught me on a crap day this time, so my response was a little more crude than usual. I generally reply with a smiley and just go on about my day.

I could easily block her of course, and ultimately I may, but it’s really just the whole state of Twitter.

That’s been my experience there, and also what I hear from pretty much everyone else – most of which gave up and closed their Twitter accounts altogether.

It’s turned into a network of food bullies and ingredient snobs with a serious superiority complex. And half the time they’re spewing misinformation, and even contradicting themselves left and right (if you play close enough attention).

If there’s anyone that agrees with or likes what I share on Twitter, they don’t respond. I assume out of fear of the wrath of the hateful food tribe, since pretty much the ONLY feedback I get there is negative.

Which is sad. Truly, Sad.

It frustrates me to no end to see people shamed and bullied, especially when I remember all too well what it feels like to JUST start out trying to lose weight and get healthier – and how EASY it is to give up and just throw in the towel when you keep getting put down left and right for TRYING to improve your life.

Which begs the question: Why do I post or share anything on Twitter?

First, because I’m not going to be bullied off Twitter. I’ve been posting there since 2011. While I don’t share everything there, or near as much there as I do on Facebook or Instagram, I share whatever I please.

Second because I feel like there are others reading along (quietly) that need some relief and validation – and another point of view.

There are people there that need to feel safe, that need to feel like they’re doing okay even if they’re not PERFECT, or that need encouragement and options – outside of being told they’re doing it ALL WRONG every time they post or reply.

This guy was replying to a woman that uses a pump of sugar free syrup in her coffee for example:

It’s ridiculous to tell ANYONE how “your body” will react, or what your body does and doesn’t know. 🙄 You can only speak for YOUR OWN body, period.

EXAMPLE: Keto Myths, Starbucks Syrups & Maltodextrin: HYPE vs TRUTH

We all probably DO agree you should never “feed the trolls”.

It does NO good.

But at the same time, someone DOES need to stand up to them – or stand up for what they believe in strongly, and stand up for everyone else that may or may not know what to believe (yet).

That woman deserves to enjoy her sugar free coffee, guilt free in my personal opinion.

If I didn’t say anything, who would?!

Some people drink their coffee black, or only drink water. Not everyone wants or needs a keto brownie, or a keto brownie recipe, or white chocolate peppermint at the holidays – that won’t knock them out of ketosis.

If you choose not to ever eat anything other than grass fed beef, that’s totally fine. It’s your choice! I actually applaud the discipline and strictness that some people maintain long term. (As long as it doesn’t turn you into a Twitter jerk 🙂 lol)

I eat so simple 99% of the time that it literally bores people to tears.

I had cheesy eggs on Thanksgiving even, and I had scrambled eggs for lunch today. Sometimes I just eat 60 grams of raw pecans for breakfast, or nuts & cheese for a meal.

But if I want something sweet, I’m definitely going to grab one of those Russel Stover sugar free peanut butter cups that’s stashed away in my cabinet – before I let that craving throw me off track and into an all-out bingefest.

We’re all different, just like I mentioned in my last post about my keto story. We all have different motivations for losing weight or for eating low carb. And we all have different issues or hurdles to overcome.

For me, one of those hurdles was a binge eating disorder.

Another person might find “keto sweets” to be a trigger for their binge eating problems. I personally don’t (and can’t) “binge” on keto friendly foods. I’m totally satisfied with a single serving (or less) of something sugar free… and it stops me from going off the rails.

I can eat a single serving of keto ice cream and be totally satisfied. I can eat an entire half gallon of “real” ice cream and want a cheeseburger afterward. Go figure. 🤷‍♀️

Like I said, we’re all different.

(And that’s okay!)

What I’m doing is obviously working for me. I’ve lost around 70 pounds, gotten out of chronic pain, and am consistently working toward being my happiest healthiest self.

This twitter conversation I referred to all started because I shared my excitement over the new ChocZero White Chocolate Peppermint Baking Chips that were just released for the holidays (not for long!).

My discount code is TravelingLowCarb at ChocoZero, btw.

Two things need to be clarified about what she said and what I said…

First, “liquid vegetable fiber” is not listed in the ingredients for the White Chocolate Peppermint Baking Chips at ChocZero. You can go there and see the ingredients for yourself. I think that might be an ingredient in the ChocZero syrups maybe. 🤔

The reason I said, “I don’t care that much about ingredients. I think we’ve already established that.” – is because she responds with something similar REPEATEDLY, so that was sarcasm on my part.

Also because of the fact that I’m not overly concerned with a little of this or a little of that here and there, whether it be a seed oil or an artificial sweetener or whatever, considering what a SMALL percentage that is in my overall diet of mostly eggs & pecans & plain meat. 😜

And because, for my body, in MY situation, ANY ingredient is better than sugar – considering how harshly sugar (and being out of ketosis) affects my health & quality of life.

I am actually much more ingredient conscious and particular about what I eat than I used to be, but I’m also realistic – and know that feeling deprived, or going off on a carb/sugar binge, are both worse for me than indulging in a single serving of low carb chocolate (that keeps me in ketosis and on track, both physically and mentally).

And then…

This ^ brings up a good point we should discuss too.

She is constantly accusing me of “hawking products” because I am VERY specific about what I eat and where I got it.

The Carbmaster yogurt I bought at Kroger, for example – she had a fit over that share. She was SURE they were paying me to eat it. (NOT the case, I got the only low carb yogurt I could find in my town per my doctor’s suggestion for my gut health issues.)

The reason I’m so specific is because, if I’m not, I have to answer the question over and over (and over) again for days: what brand is it, how much did you use, where did you get it? etc. So I try to include all the details I can on everything I post – to make it easy.

I do work with some companies, and some I don’t. If you EVER have any questions about that, don’t hesitate at all to ask. I’m very open about it.

I’m also VERY selective and turn down A LOT of money because they aren’t products I would use myself OR recommend to anyone else.

But just because there isn’t money involved, doesn’t mean I’m not going to tell you about a great find, or about something I personally use.

I’ve never worked with Coffee-Mate (the sugar free hazelnut powdered creamer I’ve turned TONS of people on to), or Green Giant (the cauliflower rice combos I cook with all the time), or Kroger, or Logan’s Roadhouse (but I share their printable 20% off coupons anytime I catch them because it’s a great discount).

I’ve never worked with the Palmetto / Pimento Cheese company either, but you see me eating that and posting about it all the time. They actually emailed me last week and said THANK YOU for spreading the word, and asked if they could gift me with some of their pimento cheese – which I otherwise have always bought myself at Kroger.

I graciously accepted their gift, of course – it was very nice of them!

Those posts and managing ALL of my social profiles, and running my challenge and writing the posts here on the blog, answering messages and emails, etc take A LOT of time. I enjoy it though, and I love helping others make this lifestyle easier any way I can. (And I don’t charge for ANY of that.)

I’m going to tell you how great the ribeye is at Chili’s (seriously, I was surprised too!) even when there is ZERO money involved.

I’m going to tell you how to order at IHOP (in great detail) – for free.

I’m going to make sure you know when Sherry has a sale on her Lolli’s cookie clusters so you can make sure you’re getting the best deal (even though I work on commission with her), etc.

I do work with ChocZero, I do work with Perfect Keto too, as just two obvious examples. I’ve also placed orders with them and paid for their products myself in the last month, because I love them and use them.

One of the PERKS to what I do is that I can negotiate special deals and deeper discounts for you. The deal to get a free box of FBOMB oils is one example, that’s an exclusive offer I negotiated just for us.

I recently got us an exclusive weekend special on Perfect Keto products (that was awhile back, before Black Friday) so people could stock upon collagen and/or bars cheaper. It was a special offer I negotiated with them, for you, that you couldn’t get anywhere else.

I have never forced you to order anything, or tell you that you MUST use mct oil or collagen. But if you do, I tell you which ones NOT to buy, and I get you a better deal on the things you DO want to order anyway.

Most people who have messaged me about using MCT Oil, I tell them it’s not necessary, and am honest about the reason I started using it after NOT using it my first 8 years of eating keto. It has it’s place and it’s perks, but I don’t push it.

If anything, I tell more people NOT to buy it!

All of this is just to make sure that YOU AND I are clear on all of that, and that you’re comfortable with the way I do things, and know that I always have you in mind – first and foremost.

And finally, this response ^ from me was rude, but true. 🙂

I was annoyed, lol.

But if you look at my Twitter profile you’ll see that it’s different than my Facebook Page or our Challenge Group or even Instagram. I simply share my meals & finds as it says in my profile description there.

It’s the one place I do NOT offer any type of service or help or advice – at all.

Food Shaming Needs To Stop

I’m sure we’ve all experienced condescending remarks, straight up food shaming, holier than thou food purists, etc.

I cannot EVER imagine putting someone down for trying to improve their life… when I was eating poptarts and frozen mac & cheese 9 years ago myself.

It’s a process of learning and improving, of becoming more aware of nutrition when you actually start reading labels for the first time (ever, for most of us), of gradually craving healthier options and having LESS cravings for other things.

And as I’ve always said, if it takes low carb replacements to help you transition into a sugar free lifestyle, or stay on track long term, by all means – use what you can to make this sustainable for you. ❤️

I would much rather grab an Atkins bar than a Twix bar, any day of the week. I feel good about choices like that, especially in the heat of the moment.

If you can’t feel good about eating ANY bar, that’s okay too!

We are all at a different place in our journey, we all come from different places TO our journey, and we all have our own stuff to deal with – in our own way.

Respecting each other for taking action, making the effort, pushing forward, taking baby steps, for just being human even… that’s what I love about US as a community.

Oh – and back last summer when I was suffering terribly with gut health issues and using super clean but portable collagen, mct oil and all-natural nut butter packets to survive a trip (where I was literally sick if I ate, and sick if I didn’t)…

I posted this – and got nothing but snide and condescending remarks about it (only on Twitter of course).

What are your favorite keto staples on the go? On my last trip I packed single serve packets of collagen, mct oil & nut butter & a few keto bars.⁣ Sometimes I take keto shake packs, almonds, string cheese & meat sticks but this trip I kept it simple. What do you take on the go? pic.twitter.com/cutfogG6pq

— Lynn Terry (@lowcarbtraveler) July 7, 2019

I was literally in my room sick 20 hours out of every day on that trip.

I was in Austin for KetoCon, and made appearances when I could, maybe 4 hours tops out of every day I was there.

I otherwise ate plain meat and avocado when I could stomach food, these four meals (ONLY) in five full days:

All super clean meals of plain meats & avocado. 🤷‍♀️

The comments on that post were ridiculous, all SO superior and purist.

I’ll just say: I hope none of them ever have their hair fall out and break off due to a virus that attacks their gut, or ever have their intestines so inflamed they can’t walk, and have to use mct oil as a natural anti-inflammatory on the digestive system just to be able to show up to work. 🤨

Ironically the lady that commented she would just fast (I couldn’t at the time due to the viral attack on my stomach and intestines) and that “pre-packaged “keto” products are ridiculously overpriced” (in such a matter-of-fact way)… yeah, she’s on her 3rd order of KetoChow Shakes according to a recent tweet. 🙄

I wouldn’t even drink those shakes. But I also wouldn’t comment on her tweet about it (as tempted as I am to reply with a link to her comment on mine, lol).

Anyway, after Deb said I’m “encouraging newbies, telling them they can have their cake and eat it too” – why yes, YES I AM! – that was my next tweet which includes a full body current photo of me if you click on it, proving exactly that point:

You CAN have your cake and eat it too. There's no reason to ever feel deprived or eat off plan. I'm grateful for options bc I've been eating low carb for 9 years & keto friendly options helped me overcome binge eating disorders.❤ #lowcarb #keto #atkins #lchf #ketodiet #ketolife pic.twitter.com/lE5qrLjMvB

— Lynn Terry (@lowcarbtraveler) December 12, 2019

Don’t let anyone bully you, or tell you “that’s not keto” (unless it’s really not, you know, like a Twix bar or a box of donuts, lol – but you know what I mean!).

You don’t owe anyone any explanations about what’s on your plate, or what’s not.

You are only responsible for and accountable to yourself.

I don’t owe any explanations either, except… I’ve taken it upon myself to TAKE A STAND for what I believe in, and to take a stand AGAINST what I feel is WRONG.

Which has a lot less to do with any certain food, and a lot more to do with basic human respect and simple kindness & acceptance.

I would love to see the “food wars” stop, but I doubt that’s going to happen anytime soon.

In the meantime, block the bullies, ignore the haters, and don’t let ANYONE shame you into making changes that don’t make sense for YOU.

Always be learning and improving – on your own terms.

I hope something in this post proved helpful for you today, or made you feel better about your own keto choices.

I’m going to continue to help as many people as I can live the SIMPLE, EASY and sustainable keto lifestyle everywhere around the web, for as long as I can.

Because I want EVERYONE to experience the amazing results I have myself!

Best,
Lynn Terry,
aka @LowCarbTraveler

p.s. I ended up buying 5 bags of those peppermint white chocolate chips. 🤣

Don’t worry, I’m not going to binge out on them, lol. They were just SO cheap, and they’re also only here for a few weeks, so I knew I should stock up while I could and added 4 bags to my cart.

But after my discount, I had two choices: add a 5th bag or pay that same amount in shipping. I opted for adding the extra bag of peppermint white chocolate chips of course! 🥰

Our discount code at ChocZero is TRAVELINGLOWCARB 💕

 

 

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🔎 Shop Low Carb / Keto at Netrition
Discount Code: LOWCARBTRAVELER

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