Addressing the elephant in the room.
It’s not something I ever wanted to address; the subject of eating disorders has nothing to do with my website nor what I stand for, which is why I’ve let the rumors go unchallenged for so long.
But readers have recently been leaving an even higher number of weight-related comments than usual, now calling me both too thin and too fat. (I’ve even been called pregnant and anorexic in the same post.)
As I know girls are using photos of me for “thinspiration” and citing my blog as a reason it’s okay to eat 100 calories a day and starve down to 70 pounds…
I feel addressing it at this point is the right thing to do.
If you’ve ever googled “chocolate covered katie,” you’ve probably seen the search engine’s lovely (I say this facetiously) list of related searches, which includes “chocolate covered katie anorexic” and “chocolate covered katie eating disorder.”
It’s self-perpetuating: curiosity will cause people to click on the terms, and therefore the suggested searches will most likely never disappear.
Although I don’t have an eating disorder and have always eaten well, I did have an unhealthy relationship with exercise in the past that took a toll on both my appearance and mental health.
While I’d thought I was happy during those years and was technically healthy—with normal lab work and a good relationship with food—the over-exercising was sabotaging my efforts to gain the curves I desired. I wouldn’t allow myself to entertain the possibility my running routine could be partially responsible for my inability to gain weight.
When I finally did make the choice to give up running (that story is linked above), I gained about 10-15 pounds quickly, easily, and happily. Imagine discovering, almost overnight, that you suddenly have the body you’d always wanted.
Looking back, I wonder why I didn’t realize sooner the extreme exercise was not the healthiest thing for me: it had become a source of stress in my life and was draining me of energy, which was manifest in my appearance.
I am a million and a half times happier now, and it shows.
It’s difficult to make guesses about a person’s life simply by looking at a photograph or by judging his or her online persona.
No, my life is not all about food; and yes, I occasionally do indulge in “unhealthy” meals and desserts. I just don’t post about these occasions because it isn’t relevant to the theme of my website.
Hateful things are written on the internet under a cloak of anonymity, and it’s unfortunately women putting down other women all too often, writing words they would never feel comfortable saying in real life.
In my years of blogging, I’ve been called everything from “skeleton” to “fat slug” to “anorexic with a boob job” (neither of which is true; but even if they were, would it mean someone had any less worth as a human being?). The comments eventually forced me to realize my self worth needs to come from something other than the opinion of a stranger on the internet.
The routineness with which I receive these acrimonious messages has at least given me the ability to shrug them off.
Although… when I saw the “fat slug” comment, I could not stop laughing.
I completely stopped reading the internet rumors and conspiracy theories about myself a long time ago, even if that means letting some false claims about my life go unchallenged. While I could defend myself against the rumors, doing so would become a full-time job, and I’d rather focus my time elsewhere.
The people who know me in real life are easily able to tell the truth, which is all that matters.
However, the one thing I feel I do need to clear up is that anyone who tells you my blog promotes eating disorders is grossly mistaken. Nothing could be further from the truth.
The Chocolate Covered Recipes have healthy fats, whole grains, and real-food (non-artificial) ingredients, and you’ll never find me promoting dangerous cleanses, calorie restriction, or touting any one food as a “miracle” cure.
I’ve turned down so many high-paying offers from companies to promote such things on the blog.
In consideration of the readers with a medical need, lower-calorie and sugar-free options are included in my posts when available. But the recipes are not specifically “diet” choices; just healthier choices, and you can choose the ingredient options that suit your own personal needs.
I go further into detail on this topic in my Chocolate Covered Katie FAQ Page.
Please, the next time you read any kind of gossip online, take a moment to consider the source before believing it as fact. And if you ever come across something written about me that you don’t understand, please always feel free to ask.
I’m one of the most candid and open people you could ever meet, and I don’t get embarrassed easily. If a stranger really wanted to know everything about my life, I’d have no problem leaving in every detail.
At the risk of sounding clichéd… all of the stupid mistakes I’ve made in my life have made me who I am today, and I’m not embarrassed about a single one.
If you want to use me as thinspiration, keep in mind that the thinspiration you are using is a healthy woman who eats a balanced diet heavy in calories, healthy fats, and carbs.
I’d hope that what people can get out of my blog is the message it’s important to treat your body kindly; to nourish it with real-food ingredients; to truly enjoy the foods you are eating; and to take in enough calories for the strength and energy to live your best life possible.
No crash dieting. No cutting out food groups. No starving. Please take good care of yourselves. ♥
I also wanted to write this post because I know there are many other girls out there (and guys too) who receive similar online comments. To anyone who might need to hear it, please do not take any of the messages you receive to heart.
Most often, people just like to write things online because they can (especially if it’s anonymous), and it has nothing to do with your worth, no matter whether you are underweight, overweight, or have anything else about your physical appearance that makes you feel insecure or less than.
Now, can we put this subject to rest and get back to the food?
I’m going to hashtag this photo #fatslug 
I have followed your blog for a while. I’m a Holistic Health Coach and I often share your recipes with my clients. (giving you full credit, along with the links to your website). I love that they have healthy fats and a variety of ways to prep (gluten free, lower fat, etc). My clients love that they taste delicious and can make single servings of treats.
Thank you for sharing and for coming up with new delicious recipes. (I especially appreciate that I commented on a recipe, wanting to see if I could turn into a humming bird cupcake. A few days later you sent out the recipe revised into healthy hummingbird cupcake. It’s one of my favorites especially since the original is such a calorie bomb!)
I’m glad you made that suggestion. I love those cupcakes!
Great post!! I’ve always been thin too and yes, part of it is definitely genetics, but a larger part is my very balanced diet of whole, nutritious foods and daily exercise. Some people just refuse that there is no magical diet equation that will work for everyone. We will each find comfort and balance at our own unique body size. Don’t let the negative comments get you down. Keep your blog about what YOU want. Those of us who love it (and you!) will always keep reading and cooking with you 🙂
I would have NEVER thought that about you. I don’t play into rumors and I ENJOY your blog and the recipes you provide.
Thank you for sharing that Katie. I have loved all of your recipes. I see them as healthier options to all my favorite foods. I can’t even pick a favorite of yours because I love them all. I am sure you had a tough journey to get where you are at. I am an avid marathon runner and probably over exercise and definitely over eat or compulsively eat. Something I am working on but I cannot give up running yet. But stopping seemed to help you. I hope I can figure it out. But I am sorry for the haters. I think you look great and glad you don’t give up food groups. They all play an important role in our bodies. Keep it up and look forward to more posts and recipes!
It’s very sad that you’ve found yourself in a position to have to justify yourself. Such a shame!
Personally, I love your blog and wish you the best.
I say, ‘you go, girl’. You look vibrant, healthy, and lovely. Women SHOULD stick together, trashing each other is a sign of a jealous, insecure person. As for your blog, you have opened me up to an entire world of treat options packed with food value that kick off any craving that may come my way 😉 Any day of the week you can open my freezer and find one of your delicious creations inside. You have helped me lose 78lbs and become a fit, healthy person, who is now a Zumba instructor! You keep on inspiring with your bad self and know that there are countless people who appreciate you!!!
Thank you for this post! As a naturally thin woman, I’ve spent a huge portion of my life defending my weight. I applaud you for making this brave post and addressing this issue. There are a lot of other women out there that struggle with the same thing and you are very inspirational. Thank you for being a wonderful role model!
Well said and written! For what it’s worth, it never crossed my mind that you might have an eating disorder. In fact, I would tease my son, telling him he should meet you and that you would make a cute couple. Not to worry, I’m not trying to be a matchmaker.
I love your blog and many of your recipes are my favorites. Keep up the good work. You look great.
Haha too funny!
Katie…Just want to say that I have never looked or thought of you as someone who was trying to convey anything about eating disorders. I have always enjoyed everything about you and your blog…. You give each of us hope that eating healthy does not mean giving up the things we like. Thanks for all that you do for us out in the world. Keep looking up and know that you are wonderful inside and out. 🙂
Long comment alert…
Well, Katie. I must admit, that took guts. I dont know you personally, but for some reason, im proud of you?I feel like you are one of the ONLY true healthy bloggers out there in the internet world, using fat (actually, promoting it!) and oils in your recipes – healthy fats. You do have a responsibility as a blogger as you unintentionally ARE a role model for kids and even adults, which is difficult. You’ve taken that responsibility and turned it into good. I need to gain weight myself, due to other reasons, and honestly am so afraid of change that it scares me – but i know that for my own health, i do need to. But i can proudly say (please take this as a complement) you are my inspiration. You were always a beautiful girl, always. But now, your are beyond that. You are now my inspiration – and you are safe inspiration. You are healthy, beautiful and very well spoken i must add! You are living proof that beauty does not lie within a certain weight. I am now following your blog religiously, using your recipes to aid in my healthy weight gain. I hope that someday i will be as happy and healthy as you (plus, your recipes kick major ass). Looking at you, you make those who are unhappy with their bodies (well, me anyway) realise that you can be beautiful with a bit more weight. You have never looked happier – you can see it in your eyes. And i want that now. My body needs to be loved – it is about time.
I want to thank you for this, Katie. I am really not a strange stalker psycho or anything either im a normal college student in Ireland – so please take this comment will full sincerity and be proud of yourself, for even helping just one person (but i can nearly promise you that you’ve already helped more).
Best wishes, and take care.
Michelle
oh and by the way – meant to post it earlier but forgot. Anyone ever try mixing Raspberry jam with melted coconut butter, and spreading it on toast? IT TASTES LIKE A MACAROON!! amazing. mmmm…
So true. There are a lot of bloggers out there who are giving nutritional advice like they are professionals. The one time I even asked Katie a nutrition question she was very professional in saying she couldn’t advise on it because it would be irresponsible. And just the fact that she actually took the time to answer me at all. Most bloggers don’t. Love how you still interact with your fans Katie.
I would also like to add that i strongly admire Katie for her strength in actually gaining weight. I dont like to talk about weight on this blog and for a long time have avoided EVER mentioning anything about it – that is Katies life and health – none of our business. Nonetheless, it took courage on Katie’s behalf. It must be difficult, to unintentionally become a role model and grow a name for yourself as “super skinny” – and then to gain weight. That is difficult. But, it shows strength, and confidence that you DO NOT have to live up to what the internet has “made you”. I agree, i have googled chocolate covered katie and seen the pages that pop up as “thinspiration” etc – Katie did not ask for that, and im sure is not happy about it. To gain some weight (only a little, but still – this is hard to do!) and show it to people in the form of photos is something that, i think, deserves admiration. No matter what, change is hard. And changing your body is difficult for anybody, eating-disorder or not (ever hear of puberty? similar concept!).
I congratulate Katie for her amazingly healthy recipes, lifestyle choices (also envious of your job!!!), and most importantly – attitude to life.
Best wishes again
Michelle
Thank you so much! I did figure I’d lose a lot of the pro anorexia followers by posting but hoped others might be inspired to take better care of their health. It is heartbreaking to know something like that exists.
Well, unfortunately it does. A few years ago i wrote an article for the newspaper (and was on TV too! my little 15 minutes of fame!!) about how these pro anorexia websites should be banned etc – but will never happen. Right to free speech etc but all we can do is stay away i suppose. I have unfortunately been a sufferer myself for many years and i dont like to say this publicly but sure feck it – i want to say as a sufferer, you are true, real INSPIRATION. I said it to my father, even – that i’ve started to do better in the last few months due to your recipes and i am not lying. I use coconut butter now and everything – i thank you for this. You should be proud of yourself. You make me believe sometime that maybe, just maybe i CAN be happy with extra weight on me – and to maybe be good to myself. Please be proud of yourself. And keep up the fantastic work 🙂
That means the world to me, Michelle 🙂