A few days ago, Gracie, wrote a post about being “healthyfully correct,” which I thought was really interesting and got me thinking about the “healthy living” blog world. Then a few days later, Katie wrote a post about her frustration with women complaining about their bodies.
Let me start by saying that I love healthy living blogs. For the most part, I find them interesting and inspiring. I’ve read them for years now.
I have one issue: I feel like I can’t talk about weight.
It’s a taboo topic. But why?
I was looking at the big, popular blogs (you know the ones…) most of them started as weight loss blogs AND most of them started with calorie counting. However, now they’re maintaining their weight and seem to be against calorie counting. But what if you need to lose weight?
I was looking around, and I weigh as much now as most of those blogger weighed when they thought they were overweight (I checked we’re about the same height) and needed to (and started to) lose weight. Really, go look at some weight loss/about pages…
I’m not trying to compare myself to others, and I don’t think I’m fat, but I’m technically overweight (by about 4 lbs… not a big deal in my opinion). To some extent though, it’s a question of health. Yes, you can be healthy but overweight if you exercise and eat right… BMI isn’t everything… Muscle weighs more than fat…, but to another extent I wonder if it’s an excuse to stay slightly overweight?
I’m not saying I want to start complaining about my weight or telling you all everything that’s wrong with my body. That’s not what I’m saying. I actually like myself, and I think that’s particularly unbecoming of someone to fat talk themselves and so I avoid it in real life as well.
I guess this is an issue for me because I’ve been overweight the majority of my life. I’m taking large… As in, I probably weighed as much in the 6th grade as I do now… I would love to say that my weight doesn’t matter to me now, but it does. In the back of my mind, there’s always the fear that if I don’t watch what I eat I’ll be severely overweight again and that’s pretty scary.
Sometimes I want to express my frustration about weight (since it is my blog after all) but I feel like I can’t because someone will get angry/offended.
Should I even be worried about this?
What’s your take on the situation?
What are some other blog taboo topics?
Foodologie 
Karla, this is your blog and you can talk about whatever you want! Weight def. seems to be an “uncomfortable” topic in the food blog world…but I don’t really see why? If someone is really, truly comfortable with themselves and doesn’t care about a number…then why would they be so against the topic of weight? I think another blog taboo topic would be calorie-counting…and sex. <–haha it's true.
Thanks Danielle! That’s a great point! Haha! Sex is definitely a taboo… probably be our moms read this stuff…
Karla, I totally understand what you are saying. My blog started out mainly about weight loss and then evolved to be more about balanced living, even though I’m still on the weight loss journey. I haven’t completely abandoned calorie counting and tracking–all the things I have always done since I started this lifestyle change, I just haven’t updated my blog with all the new changes that I wanted to make LOL. I’m still very much about portion control, calorie counting, etc., but I’m not as strict as I once was and my lifestyle has changed to reflect that. When you see all the updates and new tools I’ll have on my blog soon, you’ll see what I’m yammering on about. 😀 I’ve always been overweight, and I’ll probably always be overweight by BMI chart standards, but I’m fine with that. Weight does not dictate good health in either direction, there’s many factors. I’m in the camp that believe you can be overweight AND healthy. It’s all about what fuel you give your body and how active you can stay. I’m way more physically fit than my husband who is in a normal weight range, yet I’m obese! lol
This is YOUR blog, YOUR way of healthy living. Please talk about everything in your world. It’s what makes your blog so interesting. I know it sounds cliche, but be yourself. I know in our community there is pressure to be like the others, but as you can see, I still do my own thing for the most part. Very soon I’m going to have my weight loss section back and so much more. And yes, eventually (probably in the very distant future lol) I’ll be maintaining at a weight that some people would consider to be HUGE. Yet, I don’t care. I’m happy and at peace with myself and LOVE my lifestyle. Honestly, I feel like if people don’t like the way I’m doing things, the way I eat or view life, then they don’t have to visit my blog. There’s lots of other blogs in the sea for them to settle for mine if I am not what they enjoy reading, ya know? 🙂
Other taboo blog topics seem to be politics, not being 100% “green,” and foods that have questionable ingredients. Yes, it’s important to eat wholesome foods as often as possible, but really, everyone should stop being apologetic for having a root beer or white bread every now and then LOL.
Jenn
Thanks for addressing this – I often think about taboo topics of the blog world, especially the weight. I can see why no one really wants to talk about it though as it might be a “trigger” for people who are recovering from an ED. I also sometimes wonder to which degree we are responsible for our readers. On the other hand we often don’t know who reads the blog and how big the effect of what we’ve written is. It’s all very tricky.
I agree with Danielle and Jenn – sex, calorie-counting, politics, being green and unhealthy food are kind of taboos indeed. I also think it’s silly when people apologize for eating white bread or other “unhealthy” food (though I must say that I sometimes unconciously do that too…).
I think it’s great that you write about things that bother you even though it might be “unusual”. I should do that more often too 😉
That’s definitely a good point! I want to be sensitive to readers but most of the time I don’t know who reads since a lot of people don’t comment. So to some extent how can I really know? Totally agree with the apologies for white bread or unhealthy food!
I agree that there’s a taboo about mentioning weight or calories, really anything related to that — when I post a recipe, I usually want to post the calories and fat just so people have an idea, because that’s something I like to know, but never do because it seems like it’s just “not done.”
That said, do what you want to do. Personally I’d like to see more open discussion.
I agree! Knowing nutrition info is super handy! I also don’t post it because it seems like people are so against calories! Thanks for your input!
I know what you mean — my goal weight is the “before” weight of some of the big health bloggers!!
I think you should feel comfortable talking about your weight/any struggles you have; even though it’s hard not to compare ourselves to others, we’re all on different journeys and dealing with different issues. For example, right now I’m focusing on some of my emotional issues with food rather than calorie counting, because that’s what I need right now.
As far as taboo topics go, I think that vegetarianism/veganism can be a touchy subject, as well as anything involving EDs. Some people think that posting every bite consumed over the course of the day is a sign of disordered eating…
I know what you’re talking about and thanks for your honesty (which I like so much about your blog). You’re so right that there seems to be taboo topic nowawayds in the blog world, no calorie counting, no weighting, no this no that…. yes, these are all true once you’re in a stage of happy-weight, not for someone who still wants to lose few pounds. I don’t think anyone is in place to judge what other bloggers write/think/behave because we have different stories and we might be standing in different stages of life/work/love/weight. So, although I don’t talk much about weight issues in my blog because frankly I don’t think about it anymore, but I won’t judge who does, I can related to my early period when I was struggling about it, and if I can help by encouraing others, i would. Obviously we can’t expect all other bloggers do the same, but this blog is for you and for your blog-friends. do what you feel it’s best for you!!!!!!
I know exactly what you mean! To each their own, but there is something vaguely disingenous sometimes about the way that weight is skirted over in many forums of the health blog community. I think there’s such a fear of appearing obsessed with food (as in calorie counting, etc) and appearing imperfect that it makes it very difficult to talk frankly about a lot of different things. It also seems that many bloggers are very concerned about how those recovering from EDs will feel at reading about some issues.
Ultimately, it’s your blog (and a lovely and honest one at that!) and you should be able to talk about what YOU want, without apologies and as long as you are comfortable with it.
As for the befores and afters: yep… I’m really happy with my “after” weight at the moment, having lost about 40 pounds in the last year, but I still weigh more than many bloggers’ befores! That’s the one danger of openly talking about weight–only you (not bmi, not doctors, not anyone) can know when you are at your optimum weight, because your optimum weight has to be how you feel best. But I’m sure that you would handle such matters with honesty and sensitivity, and it would be good to see some open discussion on this taboo.
I felt this way when I revealed that I weigh myself (or used to) every day on my blog. We want to write what we want, but we feel like we have to be so careful because of who reads it and what it may trigger. I say “write what you want” but know that I never feel like I can truly do that!
And, LOL, those big name bloggers totally crack me up.
I think about this topic a lot. I think the blog world (and actually, the real world) can be especially hard on people who aren’t really overweight, but would maybe want to lose 5-10 pounds. That’s where I am, but I”m always reluctant to say so on my blog for fear that I’ll get the “Why are you obsessed with your weight when you don’t have a weight problem??” comments. You don’t have to be fat to want to lose five pounds, but I feel like in the blog world that translates to being vain, weight-obsessed, or overly controlling.
Of course, your blog is your blog, and you should write what you want (and know that plenty of your readers will love you all the more for it, and will relate to what you are saying)…but, that can be really hard, realistically speaking.
Girl, I am behind you 100%! I’m glad helped to give you the courage to post about this because *this* was exactly what I was talking about. Of course you should be able to talk about weight! Weight IS a part of being healthy, to a certain extent. And you know what? Calorie counting is NOT the kiss of death. It all comes down to a personal decision, really, and this is your blog and you have the right to be open and honest about whatever decision you make (whether it’s to lose weight, not lose weight, count calories, etc.).
I agree that weight should not be a taboo subject on blogs. I don’t know one girl who hasn’t wanted to lose a few pounds at least once in her life. *And there is nothing wrong with that.* So we should SUPPORT one another in how to lose weight healthily, amen?!
Best of luck with everything. If you want to begin a weight loss journey (or even if you don’t!), I’m here for ya! ❤
You are totally right Karla!! I’ve often thought about writing about issues such as weight but haven’t because I don’t want to offend anyone or trigger anyone who has an eating disorder. But in reality, I realize that nothing I would say would really do either….. it’s still hard to take the jump though!!
I’m glad you brought this up and I say, feel free to post about whatever you like!! You’ve got great opinions and I’d love to hear them!! It’s also great to post about what’s going on in your life because you can get feedback and advice from other bloggers!!! Go for it!
Of course you can talk about weight! But I feel like you don’t need to because you have an amazing attitude about your body. I read other blogs where the girls are stick thin and they’re saying they need to diet…whatttt.
I think you know the typical topics like politics and sex are kind of taboo subjects but if you want to talk about weight go ahead. And from the pictures I’ve seen of you, you do not look overweight at all. I loved this entry though it really made me think about what we can/cannot write.
LOL. Fat talk themselves. Hilarious. I love you.