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 
Katie,
I have been following your blog on and off for some years, and I remember being a little concerned that you appeared too thin. At the time, some (majorly rude) people were challenging you in the comment section about your weight, and you kept insisting that you were healthy. I remember writing in just to say that you did appear very thin in your photos, but that I trusted you knew for yourself whether you were healthy or not. I haven’t been on your site in a while, and was surprised to read this. Never gave a thought to over-exercise! Too much of a good thing, I guess.
Your blog is very inspirational. Like others, I enjoy reading your words. You seem like a lovely person, inside and out. You have shown a lot of growth since I ‘ve been reading the blog. Keep doing what you’re doing, as long as you’re enjoying it. Perhaps (like running) you’ll get tired of this blog one day, but know that you have encouraged many people – including me. Merry Christmas!
Hi! So let me first just say that I LOVE your blog and that you are such an inspiration. I am 12 (almost 13) years old and I love baking so much. Recently, my parents have decided that I need to put on some weight (I am a bit too thin for my age), but they want to make sure I do it in the healthy way. Although many of these recipes are low in some things (like calories and sugar), I love using them all, and it’s great that you still include all of the healthy fats and stuff. Let me just say that there is no way that you are trying to promote anything bad, and these recipes are just HEALTHY. Also, considering most recipes are desserts, isn’t good that you’re lightening them? Even if I don’t know you in person, I’m sure that’s you are awesome, and I love everything on your blog. Whoever says all those bad things needs to just stop beating up other people for their own problems. Someday, I hope that I can start a food blog like this one, and make it just as awesome as yours. Also, it’s amazing that you could realize that you had a problem, and have a strong enough will to fix it. Currently, that’s what I’m trying to do, and you are such a great inspiration. You are awesome, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
Oh Katie! I am so sorry you have had to put up with all this online abuse. It is not fair. People can truly be so thoughtless rude (especially online). I mean “fatslug”, really? Whoever put this probably wrote this because they are unhappy with their own body and jealous of people, especially ones that are fit themselves. It’s crazy! How can they treat someone this way and still feel satisfied with themselves as a person? You don’t deserve to be prey of gossip on weight and eating habits. Don’t listen to them, Katie, you are a sweet and amazing person with so much value.
Add me to the list of satisfied customers. Made this for dinner Wednesday and my fiancé and I agreed it was an excellent meal. The only minor change I made was to up the cider vinegar to 3 TBS since I thought the sauce was a bit too sweet with just the one TBS. I used less than the 3/4 tsp of red pepper flakes also. This is a fairly healthy dish, certainly low in fat, and one we’ll enjoy often. I did have to simmer it longer than the 20 minutes, since we had a delay that came up, so I just added a bit of water periodically and it turned out fine.
Well said Katie. I once read that ‘You could be the ripest juiciest peach in the world and there’s always going to be someone who hates peaches’. Keep your head held high and don’t worry about the haters.
Thank you for the post!! I recently had the same unhealthy experience with overexercising. I weighed 93 pounds and was constantly cold and tired. Your post was a big inspiration!!
I love you Katie! You are my favorite food blogger! All my favorite breakfasts are your recipes (peanut butter breakfast pudding, five-minute chocolate oatmeal, and possibly the new avocado-vanilla smoothie, so you know!) I just got your cookbook and can’t wait to use the recipes. You are a beautiful person!
Katie, you are completely awesome.
Katie – Thanks for posting this. I LOVE your blog, and I love that you advocate eating healthy and rewarding foods. It’s so sad that women and men feel the need to dis-empower women by trying to equate their identities with their bodies. Please keep the healthy dessert recipes coming, and I’m glad to hear that you’re not letting ridiculous internet comments bother you!
Anyone who thinks you are anorexic clearly has no idea what anorexia looks like! You look perfectly healthy. Your graceful, slender build is obviously natural. You know what I think? I think the people who are criticizing you are likely motivated by jealousy. Here’s hoping they grow out of those painful and destructive feelings very soon!
I love your recipies and share them will all my friends looking for healthy alternatives for deserts. I think you are a beautiful, brave, and giving person. That fact that you are willing to share your recipes and your story proves how brave you are. It very easy for people to criticize, rather than self reflect and change. Thank you for being so open. It has inspired me on journey to live a healthier and happier life.
I hate that you have to deal with this! The internet can be a harsh place when people hide behind their computers to say harmful things. I think you addressed this with create courage and tact. And it is a great example to be so open about yourself. Thanks for throwing your out there! I certainly appreciate all your delicious recipes. They give great balance of having a treat and enjoying food while still trying to use healthy ingredients.
Thanks for your example and your honesty!
You express yourself so well Katie – one of the many reasons I enjoy your blog. To confront such rumours without being defensive or offensive deserves much respect I do say. Thank you for sharing your skills and many good wishes to you!
Now, let’s do keep the chocolate coming!
Katie,
Thank you SO MUCH for taking the time to write all of this! I am so thankful and inspired by your healthy message. I visit your page so much because of the ‘good vibes’ and now I know why! You are such a champion of hope and courage, I love it! Thank you! 🙂
Dear Katie:
Good for you for ignoring the ugly-talking folks out there! You are gorgeous, Sweetie!
I am 52 & have been on Weight Watchers for a couple of weeks which has helped me get back on track. I came across your website while looking for healthy but tasty versions of caramel corn & am very excited to try it.
For about a year, in my early 20’s, I went through a bit of anorexia after some hard charges in my life. I felt if was the only thing I could control. I got too skinny & I didn’t look good. I was fine after some couseling & time to grieve over my losses.
Girls, it is NOT the way to go! I agree with Katie that it’s about balance, joy, & health! Don’t mess up your bodies, spirit and mind with eating disorders because like any addiction, they can be hard to get over. Be good to yourselves!
Kerrie in California
Hi Katie,
I came across one of your pics (very thin) as I was googling your blog. I follow you on Instagram. I am now forced to lose weight (wanted to shed a few anyway) due to pre-hypertension. I was concerned to see that photo and went straight to read what you had to say. So glad that you’re healthy!! Why anyone would choose to be hateful to someone, especially if they WERE struggling with an eating disorder is beyond me. Glad you aren’t . Thanks so much for your wonderful recipes and beautiful inspiration!!!