Anyway, dinner last night was delicious. Monday is sweet tater night and I look forward to it every week!
I prepared a black bean burger topped with Laughing Cow and ketchup and steamed some broccoli to go with my sweet potato. YUM!
I've seen the term orthorexia a lot in the news lately. Orthorexia is an obsession with eating only "pure" or "healthy" foods. I was researching the disease earlier today and everything I read kept leading me back to this February article from Time Magazine.
The article focuses on a young woman named Kristie who would only eat raw, 100% organic foods. She went into treatment after reaching a low weight of 68lbs. The article really got me thinking about the blog world. We take pride in our healthy habits, but are some of us taking it to the extreme? It seems like every month there's a new trend. Vegan month, juice cleanse, raw food week, etc...is this really a way to try a new lifestyle or is taking on a new challenge every month or week just another way of restricting food? I'm conflicted on the matter because I know I'm doing a gluten free challenge to see if it affects my fibromyalgia pains. I wouldn't be doing it otherwise, but it's not like I do these sort of "challenges" all the time. I'm wondering what your thoughts are on orthorexia and the blog world...
35 comments:
Just picturing you doing that is making me LOL, but I can imagine how pissed you'd be! I hate when I'm working out at the gym and these old people try to 'talk' and carry on a convo with me when I'm sweating to death and have headphones in my ears!!!
Oh my GOD. People are so f'ing clueless...that would have scared the CRAP out of me! Ugh...now I'M pissed about it too!!! :-)
That's a really great article...how scary! I think trying to eat healthy is good, but every once in awhile it's okay to splurge.
I think doing a challenge once in awhile is okay, especially in the case where you're trying to see if it helps your fibromyalgia...since not a lot else seems to be helping. I think constantly doing restrictive challenges could be detrimental to someone's health. I can see trying to cut out things that are bad, but if you become obsessed that can't be a good thing! But to each his own, that's merely my opinion. :)
And you should've punched that guy in the face instead of just telling him you would. What an asshat. It is kinda funny, though. ;)
People can be such jerks to runners. I really don't understand it!
I agree that the blog world can introduce some pretty awesome, but also sometimes pretty scary, new habits. Being part of the blog world has it's perks, but above all, you have to be true to yourself FIRST!
You should've punched him in the face ha-ha I can't believe someone would do that. What an ass.
I agree with you that I think there are two sides to the blog world. I think veganism, raw foodists, etc could be wonderful if the correct principles are there and they are doing it for the right reason. But I think for some it can become unhealthy and all the right reasons just don't exist.
When I did no dairy for 30 days it felt incredibly restrictive and I didn't like it. Though I don't each it much at all anymore, if I want it I do and that freedom to do so is nice. So it's all a matter of the individual.
Great article!
Bahahahhahaha I totally played this out in my head!! YES!!! I'm so proud of you!
I have thought a lot about orthorexia too, after hearing about it for the first time. I am also currently reading Michael Pollan's In Defense of Food, so really I've been thinking about it a lot. I think reading "health blogs" is a great way to learn about new things, and for people to see that it is possible to eat healthy, whole foods, as opposed to microwave dinners and fast food. Its when things are taken to the extremes that things so wrong. There is nothing wrong with a challenge (especially when it is for a specific health reason, such as what you are doing) but if people are doing it just to be restrictive or lose weight, then we have a problem! I have read a lot of posts and comments where people feel that healthy living blogs upset readers who are suffering from eating disorders, because they can't eat as healthy as the bloggers are (or at least they feel like they can't). It seems like a Catch 22 (giving good info, but exacerbating problems?). I would definitely like to look more into this, and see if you have more thoughts on it too!
Haha, great story. "I will smash your face into a jelly!"
That's an interesting article from TIME, and an important connection you're making. I'm both proud and impressed with all of you blogging folks, but I do agree that it's good to check in on yourself sometimes, to reflect on what you're doing, why, and to what extent. Almost any behavior can become a dangerous addiction if taken to the most extreme level.
@JG: Especially drinking Bailey's from a shoe. Just ask Old Gregg!
WHAAAAT?!! Punch that guy!
Hahahaha! I'd react the same way. Good for you! That guy is a dumbass!
What the heck was he thinking!!! He's lucky you didn't take him down!
Sorry, the title to this post had me laughing out loud.
When I ran my first 5k, a stupid woman in a mini van accidentally TURNED ON TO THE COURSE right in front of me and I almost ran into her car. I was so mad I almost exploded.
LOL at the punching in the face... you sure you arent a new Yorker?? My BMF and I say that to each other...its an inside joke. This lady got on the train and was wearing more makeup that MAC girls... but it looked horrid and my BMF was staring at her and when i broke his trance he said in a serious tone "I want to punch her in the face" and now we say that to each other. LOL
Melissa, I want to punch you in the face.
Orthorexia... wow. It hurts me that there are so many things out there that keep us from living normal and healthy lives. I really wish there was a switch in our brains and bodies that just allowed us to keep some level of normalcy. Myheart goes out to those that are suffering.
I would have cursed that guy off too. I can't believe people. I curse guys off who just whistle so I can't imagine someone blocking me during a workout! I agree that a lof of bloggers can be overly obsessed and it can get to an unhealthy point. It is fine if they are doing it for health reasons but I know some do it just to feel a sense of control.
I would not have known what to do if a guy did that to me! Good for you!
Interesting point about "challenges" in the blog world...I've decided to go Vegetarian for lent and you have made me think of this from another perspective...thank you!
68 lbs? wow that is scary low. I do agree that there are food bloggers that may take things to the next level but at the same time I think there are a lot of bloggers who eat unhealthy food and pass it on as a healthy option.
Hey there! Glad that you're ok and that you told that jerk whats up. I don't think he'll do that again any time soon!
I think that there definitely is a trend towards certain restrictive diet fads throughout the blog world, but I find that I most enjoy the people who eat real food and real diets with a range of foods. I strive to represent balance in my blog and seek it out in others' blogs as well.
I don't tend to read blogs that go to those kind of extremes--I'm just not really that interested in reading those.
hahahha another quality post! i wish i could have seen that story unfold live. :)
Not funny that he did that but I am LMFAO at this blog post title. I hate when people interfere with my run/workout. rude!
Yes, I think some blogs are extreme - crazy (imo) diets and excessive exercise - but I just chose not to read them.
I must say that I can always count on you to make me laugh:) I think I would have said the same thing to that guy if he were in my way!!
I would have lost my mind of that guy. You had every right to yell at him.
I do agree some bloggers are extremist. I do prefer blogger who manage an healthy balance.
The article reminds me of my brother. If the food is not "perfect" he wont eat it... so very often he will pass on dinner and I'll have to take him to the grocery store to get something "perfect"... He wants to be an elite runner, but keeps getting injured... I blame his diet.
I've finally told him his eating is disordered. This didn't make sense to him because his symptoms have very little to do with weight and he doesn't purge... I sent him this article, and hope it will help him out! His real obsession is with "getting faster"... I think (hope) that once he can realize what he's doing is not helping him run faster, he'll smarten up...
Thanks for the great post!
PS: That guy is a jerk... I would have crashed right into him, HAH!
What a JERKY guy...seriously rude!!!
Oh my gosh! I would have yellled at him too. WTF made him do that? I yelled at someone who asked me for money yesterday; now I don't feel so bad.
I definitely think many bloggers have orthorexia!
omg i had someone do that to me on my run the other day! i actually pushed them out of the way i was so mad!
WTF? That's crazy that he jumped in front of you. I probably would have screamed.
I definitely think that orthorexia is present in the food blogging world. I think it's a very fine line between striving to eat healthfully and going overboard.
Hmm...I'm not sure which blogs we're specifically referring to, but for the most part I don't see too much behavior I'm worried about in the blogs that I read.
Of course it is hard for anyone to find a healthy balance and I think the healthy living blog world seems to have many different facets. For example, I am trying to lose weight - to get myself to a healthy weight range. I find my blog helps me stay accountable and find a way to lose weight slowly and learn how to eat in a way that I can keep the weight off.
I know there are also people blogging who are (hopefully) recovered from an eating disorder.
I can see that orthorexia could be yet another outlet for some people to get obsessive about, but in general I think the moderate version seems like a generally good way to eat. I guess with almost everything, moderation is really best.
I think I would have hit him lol...people can be so stupid at times! This morning some dude kept looking at me when I was on the track. I think he helped me though because whenever I came around to where he was, I would go a little faster! he was a great workout buddy ha
I think some blogger DO go to extremes but I usually avoid those certain sites...I don't want to be sucked into their mindset.
hahaha I SO wish I could have sbeen there when you yelled at the guy!!! what did he do? thats too funny! I want to go running with you :)
Thank you so much for your comments. :) It's so nice to get such a warm welcome.
I only recently learned about orthorexia. Really interesting! It's one thing to try to eat healthier and to cut out processed foods. But it seems like it can get out of control, if taken to an extreme. I have a friend who I believe has some serious food issues. Ironically, she is the one who introduced me to the food and fitness bloggers. In her mind, she is being SO healthy, while everyone else is "disgusting". I actually think some of her eating habits are harmful. They also isolate her socially to a very large degree. It's very sad.
Where is the line between being a conscious healthy eater and being obsessive?
Melissa, I can't believe you said that to that guy!! Of course, I'm sure you were startled, I would have been too, but that's just too funny. He was probably just trying to have a little fun, at your expense, what a bummer (and a loser).
I do think there are some people in the blog world who take "healthy eating" to the EXTREME. The other day I was reading a blog where someone said that she received a recipe for a healthy meal that included Splenda, and she thought "HEALTHY?!" HA! Well, that's ridiculous in my opinion. There is nothing wrong with Splenda. Yikes. I think some people do need to get help, and relax a bit...
hahah love the story, you're my new hero! my friend and i were running a 5k on wednesday and they kinda got in my friends way....so my friend moved. then the OTHER guy says "watch out or i'll cut your arms off." WOAH!!
LOL you are AMAZING!!
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