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 
Hi Katie,
I must admit, I have often wondered if you might be a bit anorexic, but never bothered to google the subject any further. Now it appears you are just one of those lucky buggers who are naturally slender, despite your penchant for chocolate-covered goodies. So long as you are healthy and happy, I don’t really care what you look like!
Best wishes.
Hi Katie, I only came across your website about 2 weeks ago and I have read nearly every post! And implemented your recipes into my lifestyle.
Anyone who ‘reads’ instead of ‘just looking’ through you blog comments would understand that there is no way you have an unhealthy relationship with food. It dissapoints me that the world is full of mindless idiots who judge by only what they see. These people are green with envy, because you look gorgeous and your a role model to eating tasty food which is good for you, unlike many who cannot find the will power to even entertain the idea. This blog post is brilliant, I decided to comment, because I suffered with over exercising too and was always mistaken for being anorexic (until people sat down to a meal with me lol). This was such a strong post and I really hope people read it and get a reality check. Keep up the tasty food recipes !!! 🙂 Lou x
Wow, thank you for reading! And sorry for the very old posts with a million links and formatting issues! 😉
The health coach assigned to me by my insurance company is the person who recommended your blog to me. Keep being you! We would all be wise to disregard the hate spewed across the internet by people who hide behind cat avatars.
Thank you Katie for that wonderful post! People in no right should ever judge you: you are providing amazing advice to people around the world!!!
Thank you for your lovely blog. You’re openness is a gift. Thank you.
If you’re working in a public place in this case the big Internet, people tend to think they can say anything they think about you. It’s harsh and useless, but that’s (unfortunately) life. I think this post should be your only reply on all that rubbish, it’s probably a waste of time and time you can use better on writing those great blog entries with delicious recipes. I love your blog and your recipes! And yes I think you’re skinny, but no way anorexic skinny, definitely healthy and beautiful slim (that sounds better). And yes I would die (no not of starvation and not really of course, just in matter of speaking :P) to have you’re figure, but that’s not me and I’m happy with that. Enough with my bla-bla. Keep up your superb blog work!!!
Exactly! This! Just because people may have a legal right to freedom of speech doesn’t mean it’s morally right to bully someone by hiding behind a screen.
I’ve been reading your blog for quite some time now, and it never occured to me that people could think you are anorexic. Your blog promotes healthy eating, and your recipes are not too sugary nor too fat, and even though some ingredients still sound weird to me (like kale in brownies…) I have loved all those I have made.
Your blog promotes healthy eating and anyone who reads it for real can understand that. I think it is sad that you were obliged to address all those criticism and that people spread those fake rumors on the internet. I think you are a really beautiful woman and I am happy for you that you achieve not letting those horrible comments let you down. 🙂
great post! I can totally relate. I am in the process of recovery from an ED. I recently relapsed and quite honestly, things are REALLY different this time……I know what i need to do, i know the reasons for abusing myself, i know i need to change my thinking. I absolutely LOVE your blog and find it inspirational. Keep up the good work and know that your true supporters will do just that………support you. Just like we ignore the ugly ED voices, ignore the negativity and keep doing what makes you happy and brings others happiness as well!! (YOUR recipes!! 🙂 )
Thank you… and good luck! Keeping you in my thoughts! 🙂
Katie, I think it’s great that you addressed the elephant in the room. It’s unfortunate how often women are verbally attacked for being “too thin” or “too fat” (comments that can come from two photos taken on the same day at a different angle, or even worse, the same picture). If I pick up any magazine there would be a large number of critiques on various women’s figures (too fat/too thin) and few if any on men. For women, 5 lbs can mean the difference of being called anorexic, or pregnant (depending where those 5 lbs land).
Your post was extremely well written, and appreciated by many of your readers. 🙂
Love this comment. It’s so true that we place far too much emphasis on women’s appearances while we place so much less on men’s! I’ve never seen a fat actress in a large movie role (unless, of course, other characters are constantly cracking jokes about her weight–why is that even funny?), but hefty men have no problem making it in show business, or any other business. Why? Because we don’t judge men solely based on their appearances. Unfortunately, we tend to judge women first on how they look–everything else becomes secondary. I hope people begin to realize that so we can start applauding women for their talents, not for their thighs!
Heya Katie,
I just wanted to thank you so much for this post, as it made me realise what’s really important. I did actually struggle with an eating disorder, and I did use your recipes a lot. However I didn’t use them to cut down on what I was eating, nor did I use you to aspire to be thinner. Your recipes and posts made me realise I could enjoy nice food without fearing major weight gain, and once I accepted this fact I also started eating unhealthy’ unhealthy’ foods again, as in, not the ones with only healthy ingredients.
So I just wanted to thank you, because you’re one of the reasons I got through my rough times. I’m glad you don’t take all the rumours to heart, because you shouldn’t. I’m sure there are many more out there who considered as a healthy inspiration rather than thinspiration.
All the best x
Same here! In fact when I was struggling I would think to myself “well CCK eats peanut butter and fats and still looks thin (and more importantly happy and healthy) so I can feel comfortable challenging myself.” Your blog more than any other was instrumental in helping me start seeing food as fuel instead of poison. I was restricting so much before and am so much better after reading your blog!
THANK YOU! I have been attacked by those internet hater sites, and if anyone even dares to defend me they attack her as well! I don’t even have a big blog! I can’t imagine how much worse it must be when your blog is popular as yours. I really appreciate you writing this, as I’ve thought about giving up before. It can be overwhelming to see so much hate about you being said.
It horrifies me to hear such critical statements made about you and I commend you for your response to them. It’s very difficult to tell ourselves that people making such hurtful, ridiculous statements are the ones with the problems, not us. I appreciate your blog and make many of your recipes. I’m sorry that by sharing this part of yourself with your readers you have had to endure such hatefulness.
People are jealous of your creation and this lifestyle. Those who say hurtful things are just insecure and want to put down others. Keep doing your thing! For every hurtful comment there’s about 10 more women out there who love and appreciate your work! Most people only post when they have a complaint or something negative to say! We really need to encourage others to post more when they see something they really love! Keep at it Katie! I’ve been following your blog since the early stages and I can’t wait to see what else you have to show us!
Thank you for following so long and bearing with me as I figured (and still am figuring) this whole blogging thing out!
Stuff using you as thinspiration, I’m using you as stylepsiration – that first outfit is totally my style. Love it!
Haha, love this! Very often I am terribly unstylish (is that a word?). But I will tell my sister your comment, as she’s always making fun of my style… especially scrunchies. And one very cold year, I tried to wear sweatpants on Thanksgiving.
That did not go over well.
Katie, I have made many of your recipes and have only thought of you as a genius, recipe goddess! The internet can provide so many great things to us, but sadly, can also bring out the worst in people. You are a beautiful woman, but your personal appearance should have nothing to do with the blog! People are so shallow and ridiculous, so I’m glad to hear you’re paying them no mind. And you certainly are not a fat slug, although I also got a good chuckle out of that. Keep the recipes coming and I hope that any girls that see you as thinspiration will keep in mind that a physically fit, well-fed body is much more beautiful than a starved body. Even more importantly, true beauty comes from the inside.
Katie always remember that people that are being cruel and hateful are actually giving you a look into how they feel about themselves, it’s their problem not yours. I really enjoy many of your recipes (I would love some more breakfast smoothies like the PB&Banana :)) because I like that they are made with real food! Keep your head high and the awesome recipes coming! (and get that puppy!!!)
Yes. Puppy. I want a puppy!