Okay, guys… I’m just going to be blunt. Sometimes, the world of “healthy living” blogging can be toxic. There’s a lot of pressure — to be muscular, to be skinny, to be strong, to be tough, to “have some self control.”
It’s especially hard to read these type of blogs on “fat days.” You know what I’m talking about — the days when you feel like you woke up 10 pounds heavier, sometimes for no reason at all. The days when you dread putting on your skinny jeans, when you’d rather hide from the world in your yoga pants and baggy sweatshirt.
On those days, the last thing that I want to see is someone’s six pack.
Don’t get me wrong, I love blogging, and I love reading blogs. Sometimes, I just have to remind myself that most of what I’m reading is not “normal” or “average.” Sure, it’s pretty amazing that someone can run 40 miles in one weekend, or acquire a six pack in six weeks, or eat a diet free of anything processed, but I don’t have to do any of those things in order to be fit and healthy.
Yesterday, I was having one of those fat days. I got through it by relaxing on the couch, eating Chipotle for lunch, and getting in a good 45 minute workout before dinner. I didn’t starve myself. I didn’t workout for hours. I didn’t let those fitness blogs get to my head. Sometimes, I think that certain fitness blogs send the wrong message — that we need to work out for hours and eat perfectly clean to have the “perfect” body. Clearly, that’s not true.
If you’re new to healthy living blogs, or just need a little reminder (like I do sometimes), remember that fit people come in all forms. There is no “perfect” body. Those images on Pinterest?
You don’t need to look like that. You don’t need to run a marathon, or “eat clean” all of the time, or join a gym, or work out every single day of the week, to be healthy.
The next time you’re having your own fat day, remember this. And live your life for you 
.
Do you ever feel pressured by healthy living blogs?
Do you find those Pinterest images inspiring?
Love this post : ) It’s a great reminder.
I really apreciate this post. Some things that others are able to do are unrealistic to me and I honestly don’t have any desire to run 40 miles. I think as long as you are happy with whatever it is you are doing, that is what matters. I do feel it is important to lead a healthy life but the extremity of it just depends on the person.
Great post – so true. Those Pinterest quotes kill me – I love the quote yet they’re always pasted on to the skinniest, buffest women. Totally unrealistic.
great reminder. I don’t think I ever use healthy living blogs as a template for the perfect body, etc. I do use them as motivation though. If I see someone really pushed it one day I feel like I can do the same and do it! (: That is one of the great things about blogs!
Great post! I think often we get wrapped up in the blogging world and forget that most people don’t workout 6 days a week and eat really clean. That by working out 4 days a week and eating well-balanced meals, we’re already being pretty awesome and healthy. Thanks for the reminder!
I have definitely found myself caught in the ‘comparison trap’ and it is not a good place to be! Although those photos may provide some inspiration and motivation, I have to remind myself that being healthy means doing what is best for my body-physically and mentally!
I couldn’t agree more! There are some days when it’s really hard to look at everyone eating organic and healthy and I’m over here feeling like a balloon! Usually, it just lasts a day, but still, I hate feeling that way! I try not to look at Pinterest pictures of people like that, or focus too much if I see one. I know those people are probably not doing it the right way, and their whole lives have to be centered around exercise- which isn’t what I want my life to be centered around!
I wouldnt say I feel pressured by hlb blogs in general, because they usually dont promote this “perfect body” image, or at least I think so since im personal friends with many of them. Its just these pictures all over pinterest. Those are what drive me up the wall and I know could trigger many people, or give a misconception about how we should look.
Emily, I’m so glad that I’m not the only one who feels this way. I definitely have ups and downs and sometimes reading blogs can just push me further down the ‘rabbit hole’ I’m already in. I notice that I can get a bit obsessive and will spend too much time on blogs wondering how I can get as fit as someone or how I can clean up my diet; however, like you said, I don’t have to fit a certain ‘mold’ or ‘type’ to be healthy. I am healthy as I am. I am active, eat my fruits and veggies, drink water and keep my brain active by reading and doing Sudoku puzzles. When I look at what makes me healthy and compare it to ‘healthier’ women (like that picture), my confidence will fly out the window but I think this post is a great reminder that healthiness comes in all forms.
Thanks!
You are welcome!
i couldn’t agree more, sometimes i just have to step away. i will never have that type of body, the work that would need to go into it would deprive me of any life I have. I am glad you are so open about this and know how to handle it in a healthy manner
I just keep in mind that what is healthy for me is healthy for me. I also operate under the idea that “other peoples’ opinions are none of my business”. I focus on being responsible for myself (my thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and other responsibilities in life) and leave it at that.
Yes, yes and yes! This is exactly why you won’t find me pinning or sharing ‘Fitspiration’ photos. Unattainable for 99% of us and the opposite of inspiring to me!
Great post.
Recently I actually went through my google reader and deleted a bunch of blogs that I read regularly because I realized they were giving me this unrealistic idea of what being “healthy” really is. It was refreshing! It’s so stinkin easy to fall into the comparison trap and/or think that our actions are “good enough” because of the lives we read about each day.
It definitely is!
Omg, it’s like you read my mind. I had to take a few days off of reading ANY type of blog because I was too busy comparing myself to everyone. I started feeling guilty for “not working out enough” and then I snapped out of it and was like what the heck am I thinking?! There are times when I’m consistent with workouts and there are times that I’m not, that’s just life. No one else is going through the exact same things that I’m going through so why am I comparing? Thanks so much for writing this post!
You’re welcome! And you’re right — everyone’s situation is different!
couldn’t agree more! great post! ps..you’re beautiful!
Thank you, Lindsay!
Oh, girl, I am giving you a standing ovation over here on my side of the computer screen. I completely agree with you. I really like the idea of the Healthy Living Blog community–balance, striving to be healthy without striving to be perfect, etc.–but I feel like sooooooooooo many of us get it wrong soooooooooo often, and that’s the opposite of healthy. Pinterest is definitely the worst for me…all of those workouts, perfect bodies, before and after pictures. Guh. Talk about making you feel completely insufficient. It’s so easy to get a warped sense of “normal” when you spend all your time on these sorts of blogs/Pinterest (and by “you” I really mean “me” haha). It’s definitely good for me to take a step back from all of it every now and again and remember that it’s far more important for me to do what’s best for me and live my life rather than obsess over having the “perfect” body.
I LOVE this post! I always feel like I am the only person that has “fat days” (I’m so glad to have a name for them now) but in reality I think a lot of people have them, it’s just the brave and beautiful people like you that have the confidence to open up about them. I have been beating myself up all day about the usual, not working out enough, eating too many treats etc. and this post has literally just turned my day around! Thank you so much
You’re welcome! Thank for you for reading
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Oh my gosh, this is exactly what I needed to hear today, Emily!
I woke up feeling absolutely horrible- the day before I’d found out I had a femoral stress fracture, and needless to say, I’d eaten my feelings, just a little bit.
Today I know I’ll struggle with my confidence and self-esteem, because I know I will inevitably be having a bit of a fat day, as well as feeling pretty damn down about my leg…
But this post made me really put things in perspective.
We don’t need to strive for what’s considered ideal; we just need to be us- healthy, happy us.
Thanks so much, so inspiring and true!
You’re welcome! Sending positive thoughts your way — I hope that you heal quickly!
Oh, I know what fat days feel like! All I’ve eaten since Valentine’s Day is pure chocolate I think…
I get REALLY sick of these images on Pinterest too. I just unfollow those kinds of boards or the people that pin them. I only pin stuff like that about running, and those pins are never as crazy as really sexy six packs or naked butts and stuff. I hate that crap.
Glad you addressed this topic
Haha, I don’t like that either.
If you asked me 10 years how I felt about my body, I would say that I hate it and I am constantly ridiculing it. These days, I adore my body, appreciate every limb, hair, odd feature that I have and know that I need to embrace what I have been given because, it really ain’t that bad!! There is always someone out there that has it worse than you, so you must appreciate what you have!
So true!
I definitely agree!
AMEN! best post I have read in a long time! Thank you for that!
Thank you!
I love this post! It is so important to remember that it is okay to be you. I went through a really unhealthy stage in college where I didn’t eat enough and worked out way too much, and I could never get to where I was just content in who I was. I definitely feel like there is a pressure to be a certain way at times, and have to always reassure myself that my worth isn’t contingent upon my weight.
I’ve been thinking about writing a post similar to this and I definitely think it’s something that needs to be brought up in the blog world.
Yes!
I Find all those pins attractive and more power to those that look like that. But I dont feel pressure to look a certain way or like ‘less’ if I don’t. I’m much more concerned about what my body can do and how healthy I am, since heart disease runs rampant through my family.
I agree, if they are working out/eating in a healthy way, then I think it’s great that they look like that!
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No, I don’t find those Pinterest images inspiring. Mainly I find them depressing, especially when they’re passed around and people make comments like “I’m going to get X body part like that.” We’re all individuals, even if you did the exact same workouts and ate the exact same diet as someone, chances are your body will not end up looking the same!
Yes, I feel pressured by others in the blog world; when it comes to my abilities as a runner, as a mother and being healthy.
And most of all… thank you for this post!
Thank you for reading!
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Beautiful post my love! BEAUTIFUL! Sharing it on twitter and my FB page now
Thank you, Meg!
What a GREAT post. Thank you!! I’ve been reading “healthy living” blogs for awhile but I recently just began one myself as outlet and motivational tool for my recovery from Binge Eating Disorder and Disordered thinking (I was obese most of my life, lost a TON of weight, became obsessed with over-excersing and calorie counting, and spiraled into a depression/binge eating cycle). While my blog is certainly aiding me in my recovery, it can also feel sometimes like I’m not “good enough” because I’m not at my healthiest yet, I’m just working towards it. I also know that I’ll never be as thin as so many of the wonderful bloggers I read about are, but I have to remember, like you said, to focus on what’s healthy for me!
!
thanks for the post and the reminder
Excellent post! I don’t like the term “fat days”, but that aside, I couldn’t agree more with what you’re saying here. I look back at my earlier stages of blogging, and I got so wrapped up in believing that I need to be like “so and so” blogger and got caught in the trap of comparison without even realizing it! I’m so glad I got past that!
P.S. You’re gorgeous! Don’t ever forget that!
Thank you, Ashley!
Amen sister!
This post is spot on! I sometimes get sucked into healthy living blogs that make me feel so inadequate. I often feel like I have to do this and that and be completely “on” all the time which makes me feel even worse when I don’t add up. This is such an important thing to remember!
Katie linked up to this post…great thoughts! I like to call it internet peer pressure. It’s amazing how people you’ve never met or truly know can influence your life. I know a lot of people use myfitnesspal, which I recently starting using and I go back and forth about sharing and seeing other’s eats? Will I find this motivating? probably not…
Pinterest is mixed. I like visualization, but it can be unrealistic. Best advice? Be your best version of you.
Thank you! Good advice!
I love this post. I understand COMPLETELY. I’ll have those days when I’m almost positive that I’ve gained 10lbs in 2 days and my face has become a circle. Its those times that I have to try to step back and remember that the feeling won’t last forever, and the majority of whatever I’m thinking isn’t true. I find that certain blogs can do that to me, but for the most part, I just try to keep to the moderation blogs.
I am totally retweeting this post! As a new healthy living blogger who is battling infertility from striving for the perfect body by eating TOO clean and exercising TOO much, it’s definitely been a struggle reading so many other HLBs and battling the fact that I can’t run right now and I can’t go all in like my heart may want to. So inspirational for you to share this AND I promise so many women feel the same way and need the reminder!
xoxo
Great post.
Yes, I do feel pressure when reading healthy/fitness blogs. Everyone seems so “on” all the time, and I sure as hell am not! I’ve had two weeks of “fat days” in a row, and I’m really struggling. Reading blogs shouldn’t make me feel worse, or more ashamed. In life, you will have all sorts of days, that’s just how it is! You move onto the next day and make the most of everything.
Thanks for sending this little reminder to everyone! Healthy isn’t about perfect!
This is awesome. I want to print this and tuck it away in a place where I will always have access to on those “fat days”. I feel ya girl! Beautiful.
Aw, thank you!
A.M.A.Z.I.N.G post! Came across this through another blog and I am so happy that I did. Please consider sharing this across the “healthy” blogging world…definitely deserves to be shared!
Thank you!!
Definitely a good message. I think the focus needs to be on making a better you – whether that be physical, mental, or emotional – and not on what someone wants to share with the world. I like that most healthy living blogs are positive, but I appreciate when bloggers add a bit of real life in there instead of just including the highlight reel.
I’m perfect
Thank you so much for this post. It lifted me from the fog this week of beating myself up over weight not-yet-lost.
You are welcome! Thank you for reading
!
YES! Definitely relate to this.
The first time I experienced it was when I was running a lot and following running blogs. These runners were faster than me, ran longer distances and did marathons every weekend. It was hard NOT to feel inadequate. Getting injured and taking a break from running gave me some clarity and I realized that I wasn’t them and my abilities are MINE and stop comparing!
Thank you for this!!! I spent my entire late teens and the beginning of my 20′s so far searching for perfection and hating myself for not attaining it. It pushed me away from the people I love, led me to not thoroughly enjoy my life and living out my college career to the fullest and I have FINALLY made the decision to stop trying to attain the perfect body. My new goal is to learn to love and accept myself completely and be happy with what God wants me to be! I’m ready to stop living for other people’s opinions of me and start living life for myself.
That sounds like a great goal! I know you can achieve it!
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Just what I needed to read today – thank you – I feel so much better now. Sometimes I feel so guilty when I fall off my fitness regime, but now I have decided Sunday’s are going to be my lazy day.
You’re welcome! A rest day is always much needed!