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 
Brent says
Hey Katie, don’t know why you would read any comments, but you should especially ignore comments about your looks. I found you looking for oatmilk ice cream for my wife…. You’re value is what you bring to the world… not how the world looks at your figure. Even the protagonist from The Scarlett Letter was redeemed through her good work…. Ha – and your story is far from that one.
Danielle says
This a great post! Candid and brave of you. Very well said. Keep it up! Thank you.
Rin says
Thank you for helping me, Katie. And so many.
Cathy D says
I want you to know you’re beautiful the way you are. Social media can be cruel. People easily judge and assume. Please can be jealous and show their ugly side. I love what you do. Your website and recipe books are awesome. I always refer back to your site for awesome inspiring recipes. I hope you never feel that you have to explain to the world why you’re the way you are. We are all different colors, shapes, and sizes. That’s what make each of us unique. You just happen to be chocolate covered 🙂
R. Garcia says
I can relate to so much he of what I’ve read, both in your blog and in the comments. Here’s a thought: I think you could discourage a lot of the trolls if you simply change the way you dress. For example, you are obviously large busted. Why do you wear tops that are at least one size too small? Why do you insist on wearing crop tops? If you would appear in a tee shirt that is your size and jeans that aren’t sitting so low on your hips your hour glass shape, whether ‘real’ or ‘enhanced’ isn’t over emphasized, a lot of the criticism would fade away. Yeah, I know you have to KUWTK. That’s the obvious comparison. Jjust wondering, have you in the past or now worn one of the extremely unhealthy corsets that is making an entire generation of women prone to to getting all manner of health problems. Have you had any of your ribs removed to make your waist thinner? I’m truly not a hater nor am I envious. I’m a highly educated older woman who did my PhD at a government institution that ensures the diet of Americans is wholesome and believes a healthy BMI is attainable for most.
Emily says
I know this is an older post, but I’m just now reading it! Although I’ve read your blog, made your recipes, and cooked from your cookbook for years 🙂 I just want to say your a lovely person, and I can’t really fathom the comments people make. It seems I’ve seen nastier comments online that I’ve ever seen before. Completely baffling! It’s awesome that you can brush them off. I don’t know that I could. But if you inadvertently see an ignorant comment like the ones you referenced, just know it’s nonsense! You’re amazing! Keep it up 🙂
CCK Media Team says
Thank you so much 🙂
(Katie)
Evan says
This is extremely well written and I love the kindness and support you show for others.
Ali says
I think the main reason why people thought you had an eating disorder is because not only were you very thin but years and years ago when you first started this blog you would post recipes for things like volumizing oats and say you liked to eat that because it was so filling yet didn’t have extra calories. Why would you eat like that if you were a runner and had a healthy relationship with food? Why not just have extra oats to make it more filling? So I think it is possible you may have struggled with some disordered eating in the past just judged by the way you talked about food and what you liked to eat. I’m pretty sure having an unhealthy relationship with exercise is still an eating disorder too, called exercise bulimia. I could be wrong though. Also being too obsessed with healthy foods is also an eating disorder, called orthorexia. So many girls used to use your site as kind of pro ana to help them lose weight. I know you never intended for that to happen, but I know it did. But I really love how you’ve changed your website and promote more healthier eating and more fats and carbs now etc. I can really see a change/growth in you, so I really commend you for that.
Ali says
Also, I just want to say that just because someone has good lab work does not mean they are fine and completely healthy. They could still be really struggling mentally. Tons of people with eating disorders have good lab work, so that doesn’t really mean anything. I just don’t want your readers to get the wrong impression and think oh I’m fine or my daughters fine or whatever just because their lab work is okay.
Jessica says
Thanks Katie, I have always struggled with my weight [being to thin] runs in my family and I always get asked what diet, exercise ect and have been judged. I don’t, I eat healthy take regular vitamins do yoga, meditate and enjoy cooking. Your beautiful and appreciate the message you want to share.
Deb says
I was thinking today how much I appreciate your blog. It makes me want to eat better, because you don’t complicate things. I have found prep can be fun, and not overwhelming. I’ve food good for me food can taste good.
All because of your blog. Thanks Katie, you are a gift 🎁
Laurie says
Love your website and fabulous recipes! Thank you for sharing!
It is unfortunate we have all had to put up with untrue and unkind words and assumptions from those who have never met us in person!
Banana says
Thank you for your thoughtful post Katie, and for your years of amazing recipes. Although it obviously is not the business of strangers on the internet, I’m glad to hear you’re okay and happier now. I don’t doubt that as a figure on the internet you’ve received random criticisms like that but it doesn’t make them any less stupid. It makes me sad for humanity if anything.😅
I personally have dealt with a long list of some pretty severe health issues including digestive conditions and allergies that have neccesitated a pretty restrictive diet -it’s what brought me to your blog years ago. Though I don’t have an eating disorder, my medical conditions did leave me dangerously underweight at one point in my life.
I’m so appreciative for what you do and to have found your recipes because they’re the only “treats” I can have! It might not sound like a big deal but it has made a difference in my quality of life that you make your recipes so accessible to people with different dietary needs. It actually helped me enjoy food more than I had for years, while continuing my symptom mitigation diet, and put the weight back ON. 🙂
Grace lahr says
Katie,
Your website and recipes are great. It is sad that people leave such rude comments. I am glad you have learned to overlook them. You are beautiful. Thank you for,sharing your love of food with us.
karen says
Hi ! Just found your website. great! I have TYPE2 diabetes. Not on meds . Handling by watching what I eat so nutrition boxes are very important to me. I was interested in trying your Brownie Balls. It calls for 1/3 C sweetener of your choice. You have provided nutrition which says that each ball has the following: Servings: 30 However you havent said how you came up with those figures when people are choosing their own sweetener. So I have your nutrition below and below that what it would be if I used plain old white sugar.
Amount per serving
Calories 50
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 4g 5%
Saturated Fat 0.7g 4%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 2mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 2g 1%
Dietary Fiber 1.6g 4%
Total Sugars 0.4g
Protein 2.5g
Amount per serving from Very Well fit. You are almost spot on. There are even less calories than you showed. BONUS! Will definetly be having DESERT EVERY DAY! Thanks!
Calories 29
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 2g 3%
Saturated Fat 0.5g 3%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 16mg 1%
Total Carbohydrate 3g 1%
Dietary Fiber 0.9g 3%
Total Sugars 1.5g
Protein 1.2g
asdfsadf says
People who comment on other people’s bodies and food choices need to mind their business.
This is a good blog.