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 
Love your blog! I use many of your recipes. Please dont quit. I also eat healthy fats and have a healthy body, which my family thinks is too skinny. Maybe it is because we have gotten used to either unhealthy fat or unhealthy eating habits. People dont think you can be healthy and skinny. :O I love eating healthy and feeling good.
As a personal who has struggled with anorexia and a healthy body image, I am confident in following you as a positive role model, not someone promoting being skinny at any cost. I believe people should look to you for “Thinspiration” as you are thin while eating a healthy diet. Keep your head up and know that you are inspiring people every day.
I can’t believe anyone would call you names!
Hi Katie,
I’ve followed your blog on and off for several years. Throughout this time, I’ve struggled with eating disorders ranging from anorexia, binge eating disorder, bulimia, and exercise addiction. While I still have difficult days, I feel confident saying I am in full recovery.
No one should be making such derogatory comments on your weight. That’s rude and disrespectful. I also appreciate that you have taken the time to stand up dispel the rumors. Internet trolls are terrible.
I’ve read a great deal of comments on this post and I have to say I disagree with a lot of comments people have made. I don’t know you, your history or your family. I was also vegan for a significant amount of time during my eating disorder. I want to be careful to not associate all vegans with eating disorders, I speak for myself alone. Recovery for me meant giving up on all food restrictions – even those based on meat and dairy. I still eat a mostly vegetarian but have found that decadent desserts and the occasional hamburger are a part of my recovery. I have made and enjoyed several of your recipes however your low calorie and fat free versions were another way for me to restrict early in my eating disorder recovery (I know that situations for everyone are different and that for many, healthy weight loss is necessary.) However in making these substituted versions of recipes often make me feel like I am missing out on something. They don’t give the same satisfaction as occasionally enjoying their full fat and non-vegan counterparts.
I’m personally afraid that some of the individuals who claim to have reached recovery using your recipes have not reached full recovery, which I believe is completely possible. I encourage everyone to examine their motivation and reasoning for pursuing a vegan lifestyle – is it an easy way to cut out calories or genuine care for the environment and animals? Even if you are genuinely interested in improving your health and the environment by living a vegan life (as I was), there is an extreme. Orthorexia is a real and devastating disorder as well. These individuals maybe within a normal weight range but are so bound by their rules of healthy eating that they cannot enjoy restaurants or gatherings with friends if their safe and healthy foods are not available (been there).
Additionally, exercise addiction is an eating disorder – if getting in your daily workout interferes with your ability to live your life or if missing even a minute or a rep of a workout causes you anxiety, please find someone to talk to and get help.
Katie, I don’t mean this at all to be an attack on you. I’m just as horrified and shocked by the rude and hurtful comments of some of those slug haters on your blog. I just want to bring some additional awareness to some of these issues. I don’t often speak up but I am passionate about eating disorder recovery and prevention. I’m happy to hear anyone’s comments on my post as well.
Thanks,
Anne
Katie, myself, and many others on here are vegan for ethical reasons. It has nothing to do with restricting that we choose to eat your so called “substitutes” in stead of a burger. That does not mean we have an eating disorder. Many people eat substitutes or choose to not eat certain foods for certain reasons, and it’s not a sign of disordered eating.
There is nothing more impressive than a strong women standing up for herself. Our world is always quick to judge, never truly seeing somebody as a person first, never recognizing the ramifications of that judgement. I have enjoyed your recipes for a while now and love your healthy twist on sweets. Thank you .
I would like to just speak my mind for a moment.
I think you are beautiful, that your food recipies are brilliant, and that the haters will hate. You must remember that it’s their problem-not yours. I read this-ironically enough- after doing my daily two mile run. I can understand the thoughts and accusations, although I myself have never experienced them. Katie, continue to love yourself and do what you love. I admire the strength behind this post.
Katie, I think you addressed the issue well. Whether or not you have an eating disorder is really no one’s business. Your blog promotes healthy desserts and a healthy relationship with food. People should not jump to conclusions based on pictures without knowing the “real” you. You have helped many people find healthy and delicious desserts. My children and I love your recipes. Keep your chin up, focus on all the people who love the recipes you create, and keep those fabulous recipes coming!
Seriously? You are beautiful and inspirational. I did not think these people existed but finally, I have found someone who has brains, beauty, humour and a large appetite. You are so amazing and I am glad you don’t listen to those ridiculous posts about your weight. You look so healthy your skin glows! If sunbeams radiated from people you would burn holes in the ground where you stepped. 🙂
I am sorry to hear that people are giving you a hard time. It is sad they are judging you by your appearance.
However…I would like to comment again on your advice to ‘not giving up food groups’. First, as a vegan, you have obviously given up food groups.
Second… everyone is different, and some people do need to give up foods or food groups for good health. Just because people commonly say something is healthy or necessary doesn’t mean it is. You appear to be in good health, but not everyone is the same as you. So, please have empathy for the fact that other people are in different situations and avoid judging their choices or giving one-size-fits-all advice. ‘Giving up food groups’ is not an eating disorder, and it doesn’t help people who feel they thrive better when they give up food groups to have these common myths perpetuated.
Food groups, as in carbs, fat, and protein. It is not healthy for anyone to give up one of the food groups.
Great post…never have I thought any of the above and was surprised to read about it….. Having a blog really puts you out there and those unhappy and judgmental will find someone or something to criticize. Keep up the good work and what you are doing. 🙂