Well, I hope you have some time on your hands as there is a longish post ahead, it’s been a while! Actually it’s not so bad, the reason that this post comes to light is that the amount I eat has come in to question. This I’m sure was out of concern but It stirred something inside me and since this is an honest warts and all kind of blog I thought that I should address right here.
Those of you who are long time readers will be my familiar with my story and my healthy living journey. Once restrictive and regimented and massively over exercising to the point of feeling guilt stricken if I missed a workout, I am now in a place where i feel like I can relax. The variety of food in my diet now is a far cry to a couple of years back. For the first time I will admit that I became socially awkward in some respects due to my food choices and eating out was such a pain as I wouldn’t allow myself to eat certain foods. This I regret immensely as my warped ideals of what I thought was healthy made me miss out on having fun. It has been a gradual process for me, but one day I woke up and thought ‘f**k it!’ I’m going to eat what the hell I like and I don’t care what people think or whether it’s socially incorrect.
I personally feel that it’s wrong to judge someone by the amount of food they eat just as its wrong to judge someone because of their size. My eating habits are obviously not going to be the same as the next person. Who is to say what is right or wrong for each individual? What gives any one the right to domineer their allegedly more educated opinion on someone else? We all live on the same planet and breath the same air, but as nature should have it we are all unique individuals and thank God for that!
What I find that people seem to forget is that not everyone’s needs are the same. And personally it annoys the hell out of me! I never regularly document everything that I eat on a daily basis on my blog except for participating in the WIAW round ups. This is because C&C is now more diverse and about more than food, it’s essential a healthy living and lifestyle blog now. I think you would all be bored stiff if I was posting my eats on a daily basis. Just as my diet is so varied now, so are my eating habits. As I’ve mentioned before on the blog, I eat far more at the weekend than during the week as I’m so busy. However, on these days when I do eat less I never feel hungry and I always make sure that my body is nourished and satisfied by eating nutrient dense foods and chocolate when I feel like it. I’ve found that balance is key for me and maintaining this concept throughout my healthy living journey is of upmost importance. Cutting back and restricting is a big no-no for me personally, I’m far more happier knowing that nothing is off limits. The fact is I’m naturally drawn to all things green and love eating this way. Chocolate, cupcakes, gelato, and pastries are an added bonus in my diet, which I never deprive myself of. What is life if you cannot allow yourself to eat the things that you love?
I’m happy with my body and love my curves, shapely behind and wide hips, thankfully Alfie appreciates them too. The end product of my eating is essentially my figure and well being. I’m in a great place at the moment and enjoying life and the way my body looks. I’m not about to change anything about the way I eat as that would be counter-intuitive, considering how happy and settled I am right now.
If was to end writing my blog right this minute (hypothetically speaking!) the one major thing that I have learned is how to love my body again! I must profess that Its not all rosy though. As a woman I think it’s inherent and simply just down to human nature that I experience body hang ups every now and then. I have days where I feel like a blob when I look in the mirror. But as I progress and develop as a person these days are becoming less and less. The underlining theme here is that although I am in a far better place than I was and I love my body I’m still a work in progress and there are still a few niggles to iron out.
Celery and Cupcakes turns the grand old age of 3 later this month. I cannot quite believe that I have been blogging that long or even had something to talk about for 3 years, but I do like a good ramble. Blogging is a major part of my life and I would like to say a big thanks for everyone’s support and Alfie for encouraging me to indulge my love of writing, health and fashion.
Always be yourself and remember to embrace the beauty of being different. We are all beautiful in our own way. This is conveyed through our own very unique ideals, choices and lifestyles, which help us achieve our optimum best.
How do you feel about others judging the way you eat or what you eat?
Does seeing what others eat influence you in anyway?
While I agree that no two people have the same eating habits or calorie needs, I disagree that others are not entitled to express an opinion when someone puts themselves out there as a healthy role model. Blogging about food and exercise (and being sponsored to do so) inherently suggests that the blogger is displaying ‘healthy’ habits that are to be admired and emulated, and if the meals that someone posts (because, after all, they are all readers have to go on – one can’t assume that more food is present on other days if it’s never shown) are a cause for concern, then I believe readers have every right to express that concern. I always take issue with the term ‘judgement’ (not just from you – it’s my pet hate and always crops up when bloggers write defensive posts) because it seems so overly emotive. It sets the blogger up as a victim, and in turn portrays whoever dares to criticise them as being a bully, or, to use a well-worn cliche, a ‘jealous hater.’ Criticism is not judgement, and unless it’s overly aggressive/rude, said criticism is rarely without basis in fact.
HLBs can’t have their cake (or not) and eat it. You can’t build a blog and a brand based on posting meals and workouts and then complain about it when people make comments. I’ve had issues regarding this with lots of other blogs, and it particularly annoys me when sponsors flock to blogs with authors that are poster girls for eating disorders (I don’t mean you personally, but if a blog is going to have SO many sponsors then they’d damn well better be the epitome of fitness and decent nutrition). Think about taking this argument to its logical extension:
‘Who is to say what is right or wrong for each individual? What gives any one the right to domineer their allegedly more educated opinion on someone else?’
Well, on that basis pro-anorexia blogs are okay, no? Who has the right to say that anorexia is wrong, to suggest that these bloggers are killing themselves as opposed to making the lifestyle choice they believe they’re making? I’d say that readers have *every* right to question what a HLB portrays as ‘healthy.’ It might not be what the blogger wants to hear, and it might make whoever does the questioning unpopular, but I’m afraid I’d hope we’re well past the time when it was acceptable to post ridiculously small amounts of food and have every reader nod their head and copy a blogger’s eating habits. Most bloggers just pat each other on the back all day, and I can’t be a part of that. I’d never hold myself up as a ‘healthy’ living blogger and that makes things a lot easier for me – I react to criticism badly but I don’t think I’m being ‘judged,’ nor would I want to set myself up as some kind of martyr against all of the ‘meanies’ out there on the internet.
@Jess Hi Jess. You do make some very interesting points here. I wholly accept that having a blog and putting myself out there I am in the line of fire where criticism is concerned, that’s just a fact of life I guess. Haters are going to hate regardless. I guess the message that I am trying to get across and I wish I had explained in more depth that I everyone is different and that we all have different needs where our eating patterns are concerned. Obviously, I do not condone pro-annorexia sites and didn’t mention them in this post as they are abhorrent and a polar opposite of what healthy, vile things. Of course everyone is entitled to an opinion and by no means am I a martyr. Obviously, there are some blogs out there that are concerning and I personally don’t read them anymore as they are not my idea of healthy. Everyone’s perception of what healthy is whatever shape or size is going to be different and this is perfectly fine as long as they are not going to extremes and harming themselves.
I disagree with the idea that any comment which is not entirely positive is to be seen as “hate”. There is a general consensus as to what a healthy diet is, and considering so many of the healthy living blogs could be potentially triggering to those with Eating disorders as they advocate a very restrictive diet, demonising certain foods etc bloggers should have a responsibility to make sure the image they project is actually healthy.
Your blog is an enjoyable read with lots of inspiring recipes, but as times I am upset about you calling moderate sized salads massive, huge etc when they are just normal portions. To me your diet is sometimes very restrictive, lack of carbohydrates and a very small intake. Most Healthy living bloggers are terribly sycophantic and cliquey with each other and as someone who has been through as E.D it is alarming some of the diet trends and desire to only recieve positive criticism.
Hi! Thanks for taking the time to comment. I also disagree that any negative comment is seen as hate and that wasn’t my point at all. My food is always voluminous as I love to eat that way. I think most bloggers will agree that photographs do give a distorted impression on portion sizes. Everything always looks smaller depending.
I agree that blogs can be triggering for some and some bloggers are quite concerning in regards to their eating habits are concerned. I’ve come a long way over the years and now eat a wholesome diet full of all of the food groups, inuding cake and ice cream. Life would be so boring otherwise 🙂
Love that quote from McKay. The whole post actually; it’s great to point out these things and recognise how far you (or anyone) has come, I know I’ve overcome similar struggles and need to remember to be grateful for my happiness now. Congrats for the upcoming 3yr blogiversary!
Thanks Cat! I love that quote too! I can’t believe that it’s been 3 years already, time flies when you’re having fun!
It’s great to hear that you’re in a happy place with food and body image 🙂
I think the judgement thing is just one of those things about blogging. It allows comparisons which are never a good thing. Like you said, each person is different and has their own needs and preferences. In a blog you never see the full story as well so it’s not a good thing to start passing criticisms on someone’s choices. I always think what you eat looks lovely and varied! It’s just part and parcel of putting yourself out there unfortunately. But don’t let it get you down!
Thanks, Anna! It didn’t get me down as such I just wanted to get my point across. You are right as blogger we are open to a certain amount of criticism and and as you say the full story is never really portrayed on blogs. I definitely don;y post my daily eats readily. mainly just snaps of my favourite foods. It’s just one of those things that unfortunately comes with blogging. 🙂