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 
You are so awesome! Never will I understand why people waste time spreading negative energy… hatefulness generates more hatefulness.
I love your blog, and your message! I’ve been reading for a few years now, and I have NEVER come away with the impression of this being anything other than a place to go for healthy, yummy recipes.
Nor have I, or will I, ever read or believe rumors about you. I don’t like gossip, and I hate that, over the past few years, commenting on the internet has become a blood sport. That there are so many people who are so unhappy that the only joy they get is from shooting other people down. And, yes, the anonymity of the ‘net allows it.
You are a beautiful, smart, funny woman, and you have everything to be proud of, and nothing to be ashamed of. Just keep doing what you do, ignore the haters and the ones who would drag you into their own ugliness, and all will be well.
Take care, m’dear, and know you have many, many fans, and we all support you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you for being so honest and open–it’s a difficult subject, I know, and you handled it really well.
Gorgeous pictures, BTW–you look so radiant 🙂
I’m really glad you addressed the bullies and critics head on. I think it’s terrible for people to be evaluating women’s bodies and passing judgment. Furthermore, if someone were anorexic, that person would need love and support – not shaming and criticism.
You do a lot of good in this world, and your recipes keep my family healthy.
I have read your blog for a long time (many years!), and anyone who is a devoted reader knows that you are a healthy, happy, ethical, and sweet person. Whenever you have a new post, it always makes my day 🙂
Huh… I never knew I was into digging mollusks before… 😉
Katie, I admire your maturity and honesty handling these rumors. What many people don’t realize is that some are born with very fast metabolisms. They are the people we see eating anything and not gain an ounce, while others say they just look at food and gain weight. Knowing this, it is easier to see why there are many different body shapes. Even if someone doesn’t have a fast metabolism they can strive for a better metabolism through diet and exercise, not so much for looks, but to be healthier from the inside. Striving to live a longer life and in great health until the end is a much more realistic goal. Someone who is thin can be just as healthy or unhealthy as someone overweight. What needs to be taken into consideration is whether the person is small, medium or large-boned. Sadly, advertising has harmed our culture by creating the “ideal body”, that women believe this is what they have to look like to be admired and respected. I say “created” because every woman we see in those magazines was airbrushed to look flawless. How can we possibly see the best in ourselves when we are looking at these flawless photos?
It’s all been said already but I wanted to chime in anyway. You are amazing, your blog is amazing, your response to the ‘haters’ is amazing! Ignore them and know how much the rest of us love you!! Xx
Katie, you are a total inspiration, a beautiful person, and blessing to so many people!!! Thank you 🙂
Katie,
I know you don’t get your affirmation and self validation from the opinions of random internet comments(which I think is a wise choice;) but I wanted to say well done!! As women it is so easy for us to fall into the trap of sexually objectifying ourselves by judging ourselves and eachothers by physical appearance. We are so much more than the way we look! I’m not saying it’s wrong to take care and pride in our apperance, just that there many other facets of each of us and I think it close to a crime to judge by one thing alone. Any ways thank you for your article, I can imagine that it was not an easy article to write(having struggled in the past with food and exercise myself). Thank you! Well done!
Katie – I am so sorry you felt you had to address this issue, but thank you for doing it so sweetly and with so much grace. Some people make themselves feel better by criticizing others…and they only criticize themselves when they do. This is beautifully well written – Bravo to you! Healthier-than-Ever Katie! Thanks for all you share here…don’t let the ‘naysayers’ affect you in the least little bit. There will always be others who feel the need to put others down to make themselves feel better. Sad but true. What these people have been saying, says much more about them, than it does you. Keep on keeping on Girl!!
Hi Katie! Just wanted you to know I think you’re beautiful – and mainly because I so enjoy reading your posts. You have a lovely written voice and a talent for food blogging and I appreciate your work. Also, thought you might enjoy this article. 🙂 http://www.elephantjournal.com/2014/05/this-ones-for-my-skinny-sisters/
🙂 Blessings!
Thanks, Jill. That’s exactly how I feel! The “real women have curves” movement is baffling to me. It essentially says naturally thin women and women who are thin due to physical or mental illness are not real women. I know it’s well-meaning, but the message still focuses on the idea there should be one ideal way for everyone to look.
Thank you for what you do. I love your healthy recipes. You are beautiful and wonderful, and I am sorry some people are so mean and nasty. I find it hard to imagine why someone would go out of their way to try to insult someone, especially someone they don’t know. I’m glad you can let it roll off of you.
Katie you are amazing and such an inspiration to me. When I first discovered your blog I had been vegan for two weeks and was really struggling with my diet as well as mental pressures. Your blog really helped me stick to a vegan diet for a long period by giving me delicious healthy recipes that I could enjoy. Although I am no longer vegan, but a vegetarian, I just wanted to tell you what a positive impact your blog has made on me since. I am exercising regularly (something I wasn’t doing before
and eating a healthy balanced diet. Your blog introduced me to nutrient- rich foods and has improved my lifestyle greatly! Thank you so much!
Katie — I am so sorry that you have had to endure such opinions so tactlessly shared! I just want you to know that I’ve followed your blog (even if at times from a distance) for a few years and I never thought you were anorexic. I just thought you were blessed with a really high metabolism and were striving on a path to good health like the rest of us. Hope you are able to continue to weed through the muck out there on the internet and just know that so many think you are beautiful and are doing JUST FINE! 🙂
Hugs! — Renee
Hi Katie, long time follower here. I’m not quite sure how I ran across your blog but I’ve been following for quite awhile and think it’s brilliant. Your recipes are genius and you are truly a talented writer. Your intelligence shines through in every post. To top it off, you are beautiful! I don’t even know you except from what I’ve read on our blog and I think you’re quite remarkable. It saddens me to know there are people out there who find it in themselves to be so cruel; quite frankly I think it’s jealously and a deep sadness they have for themselves. Please don’t let the negativity of others discourage your brilliance 🙂