Fad Diets

[Rowena]

So recently all my facebook statuses have been relating to my progress on the gluten free diet. (Amazing progress by the way.) And my life, sad to say is work. Since I have a number of coworkers on my facebook page, they all see my progress. Yesterday, one of my coworkers said to me, "So on your facebook you mentioned you are doing a gluten free diet. Why?" So I explained that I was doing it for medical reasons, and she was extremely disappointed. "I was just wondering because you are looking so skinny. I was thinking maybe it would help me."

Yes I've lost a great deal of weight lately, but only some of it because of the gluten free diet. (Thank heavens, because my doctor said I need to lose a total of 40 pounds. Its all weight I gained while being horrendously sick the past year. A little weird as I haven't been able to eat much and still gained 45 pounds.) Yes the gluten free diet helps me lose weight, but that's not why I did it. I did it because it makes me feel better. Intolerance isn't somethin' to be messed with.

So for all you celiacs and gluten intolerants, am I the only one bothered by the fact that people come up to me and ask about it, because they are considering some fad diet?

[Skylark]

We had a thread on this just last month. You are not alone.

Here's an older one too, if you want to see more people's thoughts.

[DougE]

I for one am happy to have people take up the gluten-free diet as a fad. The more demand for gluten free food, the greater the variety will appear at the grocery store.

[Wheatfreedude]

So for all you celiacs and gluten intolerants, am I the only one bothered by the fact that people come up to me and ask about it, because they are considering some fad diet?

I always answer the question with a bit of humor

Q: "So you're on a gluten free diet now"?

A: "LOL.... It's not like I have a choice! But, I also can't complain about my results"

~Wheatfreedude~

[Skylark]

The really funny thing is that I figured out my gluten intolerance with the Atkins fad. I knew I couldn't eat wheat, but when I dropped the rye crackers I thought I could eat in favor of salad, all of a sudden some nagging GI symptoms vanished.

[Rowena]

I figured out my gluten intolerance when my doctor did the blood test for Celiac disease. I, being the ever curious, did some research on celiac/gluten, and discovered all the foods that made me sickest (and then some) had gluten in them. So I decided then, I would go gluten free, and this was before I even heard that I tested negative for celiac. When I found out the results, I vowed I'd still do it. Been feeling amazing since.

Anyway, lately, the above mentioned coworker keeps mentioning my dietary choices to me, and I am going crazy. I don't know how to respond. So I just remain silent, or try and walk by without her noticing... (not always the easiest thing) But anyway, it bothers me how often she says, "You are losing so much weight. You're getting really skinny. That diet is really working for you." How many times do I have to say it ain't because I am gluten free necessarily that I am losing weight, and I am not doing this diet to lose weight. Admittedly it is helping me get back down to my normal body weight (I gained 40 pounds for some unexplained reason in the past year and been unable to lose it until recently). But that's because I stopped eating the foods that make it respond with unexplained weight gain!

Meanwhile, my mom calls me up today to tell me that we are going out to lunch tomorrow. Because I am so strict and am highly worried about cc, (after being glutened twice...) she thinks I am going overboard. "It is not like you have Celiac." But my dear mother, gluten intolerance is serious too. It is like an allergy, just manifests itself differently! And whatever happened to her being so proud of me for keeping to my diet, and the beneficial outcome of that strictness? I think my mom thinks I am doing it because it is some fad... No way. I did my research, I talked to my doctor, and it makes me feel a million and one times better? How is any of that a reasoning to support me doing it because of some fad diet?

Another incident with my mom, this one a little less recent. Last friday I was discussing my diet and the benefits it has had for me. She goes, "Hmmm maybe I should tell *Sally," Sally being a replacement name for my sister for anonyminity sake, "about this. She could probably benefit from it." Keep in mind, my mom and sister are pretty up to date on all the fad diets having tried nearly all of them, so this is kind of more of a fad type pass along, not a "I recommend you go see your doctor and get tested for celiac." And as far as I know, this sister of mine has few to no symptoms of the intolerance/disease. My mom is basing this referral on my results, and not my symptoms.

Argh... and here I thought she was supportive of me doing this because I am gluten intolerant, not because of the resulting weight loss... (A frequent phrase of hers of late being, "You're beginning to look like my Karen again.") But whatever. I don't care, as long as I have some support, even if it be because of the resulting weight loss, I am fine. Any support is better than none... I guess...

Ooops, I'm rambling again... *shuts up*

[WestCoastGirl]

It really doesn't bother me so much because a lot of people are gluten intolerant and don't know it; therefore, even non-DXd celiacs or gluten intolerants -- people who'd never have entertained such an idea -- are getting better, too (as long as they stick to the diet).

Also, as a few others have mentioned, it raised awareness...*and* it makes stores start stocking more gluten-free items (though I don't eat a lot of Frankenfoods).

[Lawrence]

It really doesn't bother me so much because a lot of people are gluten intolerant and don't know it; therefore, even non-DXd celiacs or gluten intolerants -- people who'd never have entertained such an idea -- are getting better, too (as long as they stick to the diet).

Also, as a few others have mentioned, it raised awareness...*and* it makes stores start stocking more gluten-free items (though I don't eat a lot of Frankenfoods).

I like the fact that it will create a greater demand for gluten-free foods but I don't like people thinking its some "fad". It is not a choice for the majority of people on it and I would probably now eat as much and not need to diet if I were eating regular food. I hope people can realize that this is a serious diet and not some silly fad diet like bananas or grapefruits only.