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 am sorry people are idiots. They are projecting their misery onto you.I love the joy in your posts, and check your blog regularly.Don’t change a thing!
I don’t typically comment on blogs, but I was very moved by this post. I have the utmost respect for your courage to stand up to the public and let them know your self-efficacy and personal satisfaction are not based on their opinions–whether good or bad or just plain mean-spirited. I love your blog and the creativity you bring to your recipes. I, much like you, like to think outside the box when it comes to food and use some perhaps unorthodox ingredients to achieve a healthier result. It is also such a treasure to find a blogger who posts nutritional info for their recipes along with substitutions or alterations that allow others to personalize the recipe to meet their needs. Keep up the fantastic work and know that no matter how many negative posts you see, you have far more fans and supporters out there cheering you on!
You look beautiful, healthy, and radiant. Good for you for taking the high road. I love your recipes, so please keep them coming!
Dear Katie,
I don’t usually post either, but wanted to add my voice to the chorus of positivity here! I am a huge believer in real, nourishing, whole food (as opposed to the trend for empty “low-cal” type food products), which is why I like your recipes so much. I love that I can always find something delicious here when I cook for myself alone (the single, mug portions), for my vegan hubby, my young growing kids, for my sis-in-law with type 1 diabetes, my old roomie with Celiac’s – and anyone who LOVES chocolate! 🙂 There’s something for everyone here. And I know the results of the recipes will be nourishing AND tasty! I’m puzzled as to how negative posters think you can create such delicious and reliable recipes without 1) tasting them, 2) testing them repeatedly, 3) being passionate about delicious, whole foods. I am sorry that some folks feel that the way to make themselves feel better is to put others down. Good for you for addressing it head on. I hope those folks can figure out a way to share the love instead! I had a fairly extreme drive with exercise (and everything in life) and ended up totally burnt out and ill, physically and emotionally, when I couldn’t keep it all up after having 2 kids, one of whom has cerebral palsy. Learning to nourish myself was a big part of rebuilding and cooking at home is a beautiful way to slow down. Wishing you all the best and continued recipe inspiration – and congratulations on the publishing of your book. xoxo
Thank you!
And yes, there is definitely a lot of tasting involved in the job! Not that I’m complaining 😉
Dear Katie,
I would tell you just to continue to go on with your blog.
The work you do is invaluable, because it teaches to make it clear to your readers how important nutrition for the health of our body.
Other than anorexia or other such things, it is really ridiculous. Your blog is a tribute to real life, to physical and mental wellbeing, a healthy diet to which we must all strive for.
Just look at the statistics and see how many diabetics there are in Western countries. This is not only because of poor diet and sedentary lifestyle, but also for the killer ingredients that the industry uses in its products and that are often not even mentioned on the label. Your bolg is really the most beautiful and is a true masterpiece , it is worthy only of a smart girl who you are. It ‘a ninth of Beethoven ….. an ode to joy!
Thank you for such an honest blog entry on July 14th concerning the “elephant in the room.” I am proud of you for taking the high road. For someone as young as you are I am impressed with your mature attitude in regards to people’s comments. I truly think you are beautiful inside and out and unfortunately some people are hurting and insecure inside so they want to pull you down to make themselves feel better. It is sad.
As Mother Theresa said, “Be Happy anyway.” She has wonderful words on success and how to manage it when you deal with the world. Be HAPPY Katie. Your site is great and I use it all the time, you are a success!!!
I had anorexia betwen the ages of 15-17. I was miserable. I calculated every calorie and weighed myself continuously and exercised obsessively. I was trying to compare my body to those of the supermodels on the cover of all the fashion magazines, never knowing they were photshopped and they never looked like they appeared in those magazines, and it they did, they too were starving themselves. My doctor told me if I didn’t gain weight, I would die. That got my attention and he gave me a healthy food program to follow. In the months to follow I gained some weight back and I felt healthier than I had in a long time. You my dear are NOT anorexic! You are a young lady and have a nice shape! Glad you addressed this issue and hopefully this marks the end of it for you and you can move on with what you do best…food!
Wow! Yes, you’re thin, but I think you hardly look anorexic. There will always be haters.
Katie, I’m so sorry you had to write that email. I’ve also been thin my whole life and have had my share of nasty comments. I’m 33 years old, 5’4″ and weigh 115. I’m vegan, exercise and do not want children. This combo, for some reason, pisses off fellow women. I’m not sure why women try to bring down other women. You are attractive, successful and healthy! Many people are miserable in their own lives and spew negativity, I’ve never been able to tolerate that behavior. Thank you for this lovely website, I make one of your recipes at least once a week. You bring happiness to my day and I’m sure others feel the same. Keep it up Katie, you have a supporter in me.
Well said! You look happy and healthy! 🙂