My Trendy Friend

[Pegleg84]

Holy s$#&e this chick is going to turn into a waif and blow away in the wind if she looses any more weight. I'm about 115(ish. Haven't weighed myself in forever) but I'm 5'1"! and if I lost any more I'd start worrying that gluten was sneaking into my diet (I lost a lot of weight dangerously fast before going gluten-free)

 

I'm also of the idea that if you're going to go gluten-free, whether to see if it will help your health or what have you, then you'd better go full-out. If you're just going to cut back on bread/pasta/etc (which people should do anyway to have a healthy diet), then don't claim to be eating gluten-free. I tell people thinking of trying gluten-free to only do so if they think their health might benefit. Otherwise, a balanced approach is best.

 

Kareng, I hope your friend comes to her senses, not just about the gluten-free thing, but that she's endangering her health by eating so little!

[GFinDC]

Ya know, once you get up on one of these soap boxes it's really too high to come down quickly.

 

I don't agree with the argument that other people are making restraunt workers screw up gluten free orders.  If the restraunt staff does something wrong, that is their responsibility.  It;s not the responsibility of a third party, who probably isn't even there at the time.  I'm pretty sure you couldn't sue that restraunt customer and win in a court.  They just aren't responsible for what the restraunt staff does.  The restraunt staff is responsible for their own actions. Blaming somebody else for the restraunt screwing up isn't fair.  That's letting the restraunt staff off the hook for their actions.  They are the ones making the food, so they are responsible if it is made wrong.

 

[nvsmom]

I'm another that has no problem with trying to go gluten-free. Sure, we can educate people as to what truely going gluten-free is, but if they want to try it - great.

 

I think that letting your friend know that most processed/baked gluten-free goods are usually higher in sugar and fat than wheat flours might help her realize that all gluten-free foods aren't created equal, and aren't designed for weight loss... then again, maybe don't tell her that because she sounds quite thin already. 

 

I just think that there are a lot of special diets out there and I think we should just model tolerance and try to help people meet those dietary goals. I have a friend who is a raw vegan, another who can't eat gelatin or pork for religious reasons, another who eats kosher, and a family member who avoids nightshades dues to RA; if I told my cousin that I'm cutting back on potatoes for my health, I don't think he would judge me because I don't have an official medical reason to do it, or because I'm not eliminating all nightshades. KWIM?

 

And then there is me and my kids who eat gluten-free (even though only I am the celiac in the house), eat nut free (one son with an allergy), and avoid dairy (due to my lactose intolerance and a suspected casein intolerance in one son). We are very hard to feed when you throw in the fact that a couple of my kids are embarassingly picky eaters. I do think it is getting easier to feed them (when we are out) though because knowledge of the gluten-free diet is growing as more people get interested in trying it and dabbling in it (gluten light).

 

In my opinion, we celiacs are a minority so we can't expect the majority to know how to deal with our food. It's all up to us to make sure our food is safe.... All just my own personal opinion though. 

[GottaSki]

I also have no problem with folks other than celiac going gluten-free -- I do however strongly dislike when people who "try" to go gluten-free don't really understand removing gluten -- many a teenaged girl has explained to my celiac son that he doesn't understand the gluten free diet -- lol -- he just smiles and waits for them to see that he actually does know quite a bit about it.

 

I also dislike waitstaff dismissing the need to be completely gluten-free, but when that happens we simply educate them -- I have much more time to chat with my server since I bring all my own food

 

Is it fair that we all have to be ambassadors for Celiac Disease - hell no - maybe one day we will no longer be the "Rodney Dangerfield" of medical disorders -- until then I'll keep taking every opportunity to educate anyone who indicates interest or whom is serving my kids food that may harm them.

[StephanieL]

I have both intolerance and allergies.  Do I have to have my asthma attack within a certain time frame of ingesting the wrong item to make my semantics legitimate in your eyes, StephanieL ? 

 

I'm sorry, I don't at all understand your question. 

[EmiPark210]

I think what gets people up in arms is the people who say they are "gluten-free" and then go and eat fried rice with regular soy sauce for example. The people who claim bread and pasta free is gluten free. And as with everything in life, we as the quote-unquote experts of what is and isn't gluten free, should take it as a learning/teaching opportunity. There are a lot of people who don't understand what the words "gluten free" mean (I gave one of them an earful today when he put normal bread in the dining hall's designated, labeled gluten free toaster) let alone just how serious those of us with celiac's have to be about things like cross contamination. 

I'm not saying get on your high horse and preach but maybe offer to show people exploring the diet the ropes and correct those who just don't know any better. 

 

But back to the original topic, that girl has more issues than just going gluten free. The more worrying thing in that post was "1000 cal diet." Hopefully her body reacts as quickly as mine does to calorie deficit (I pass out continuously after just 2 days...yay flu) and she'll realize that's not enough. 

[notme]

why don't they just say, "carb free" or something like that.  because if you're getting cc'd, you're not gluten free.  and if you're still getting gluten, what's the point of the whole thing?  

 

sounds like she is a "LOOK AT ME!  LOOK AT ME!" type - my daughter has a friend like that, but to the opposite.  she weighs, probably, at least 250 lbs - always "so excited to start my new diet today!"  until the next morning when she is posting a giant pancake breakfast at IHOP "my wonderful husband took me out for breakfast!  i have the best husband in the world"  evidently her diet was so secret, she didn't even tell him lolz.  or my personal favorite "my new dancersize class starts next tuesday - i can't wait!!!!"  followed by the countdown to tuesday.  the next day she is posting why she is quitting it.....  "i think i BROKE MY LEG in dance class last night"  you can set your clock by it.  (it's a self diagnosed broken leg.  it miraculously heals...)  she has stomach issues, supposedly, all the time and i have suggested that maybe she wants to try gluten free but she is *absolutely certain* that is not it.  translated to me:  she really doesn't want to help herself, she just wants to b%$@# about it to get attention.  POOR MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

 

here's her latest:  "i think i'm going to try 'insanity' i'm so excited!!!"  HAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!!!!  now, i have fitness instructor friends who struggle with this program.  my son does it and it kills him.  my eyes can not roll back in my head far enough.

 

no offense to anyone who has weight issues.  this chick just blows my mind....  sorry....