Six months before my wedding, I started Carrots ‘N’ Cake as a way to keep myself on track with health eating and exercise in preparation for the big day. It was a personal journal about what worked best for me.
My wedding day came and went, but my love for sharing my life on my blog continued.
Over the years, I’ve shared tasty treats.
Workouts and training schedules.
Major and not-so-major life events.
And plenty of stories about my family.
In the 2,681 blog posts that I’ve written to date, I’ve never once claimed to be a perfect eater or “health living” blogger. I write about what works for me, which I’ve noted time and time again on my blog. I’m not an expert on anything, except my own life.
If you haven’t heard already, the November issue Marie Claire magazine features an article entitled, “The Hunger Diaries,” where five other bloggers and I are highlighted. At first, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to respond to this article because reading it once was more than enough for me. I really just wanted it to go away, but ignoring it wouldn’t do any good either.
In general, I see the article as completely one-sided. Many (if not all) of the quotes are taken out of content to fit the story’s argument. (Caitlin, Heather, and Meghann all give examples of this truth-stretching in their responses on their blogs this morning.) I’m not going to go through the article and point out everything that is untrue because if you read my blog, you know the truth. On the flip side, getting totally defensive about this article would be a wasted opportunity to discuss some important issues in the “healthy living” community. I’m happy to see that there are already some interesting discussions going on around the blog world. In particular, I encourage you to check out Rachel’s post and weigh in.
I’m the first to admit that Carrots ‘N’ Cake is not the perfect “healthy living” blog. I do what works for me and, hopefully, it inspires others. I also realize that CNC may not have a totally positive affect on everyone who reads, and I never want to make anyone feel badly about themselves after reading my blog. I understand the responsibility that comes with blogging, but I hope readers will take responsibility for their own well-being when they decide to read my blog or other “healthy living” blogs. “Healthy living” means different things to different people and each of us needs to figure that out for ourselves.
For those of you who read CNC everyday, thank you for all of the comments, emails, tweets, and support in the past 2 days. It means so much to me.
If you’re upset about this article, you can contact the editor via e-mail at joannacoles@hearst.com. You can also comment on their Facebook wall.
315 Comments
Tina I think you are wonderful and I thouroughly enjoy reading your blog. You are so real and that is your appeal. You are down to earth and honest, and I’ll take that any day of the week. Keep up the good work.
I received my issue of Marie Claire and read your article. I honestly had envisioned the Big Six as a group of hungry waifs but you are all nothing MC sought out you guys to be. I can’t take a magazine who features and publishes “I was a mail-order bride” seriously anyway. My entire 5 seconds of judging you girls was a complete mistake and I’m glad I’ve witnessed your blog with my very own eyes. Your blog inspires me to eat what I want, be creative with food and to be physically fit while I’m at it.
Btw, you girls all have muscle! And that’s something to be proud of. Um… where’s all the skin and bones MC mentioned?? I’ll end this with a “You go girl!”
(This will be my last year’s subscription with MC also — horrible magazine).
First off I just wanted to say that that article is ridiculous and with all of your hard work you do not deserve this. I have been following your blog for about a year now and I look forward to it each day. As a recovering anorexic (and yes I was truly anorexic) I would look at your blog to see what a normal, healthy woman was eating. Seeing your beer and treats helped me realize that I can treat myself, not feel guilty, and still be healthy.
So I just wanted to say thank you for blogging, especially when Murphy is included : )
I’m a longtime follower of your blog and I really enjoy your blog (and Murphy). I find inspiration and ideas and am thankful that people choose to share their lives with people like me that like having “virtual friends” to turn to. I am so sad and disgusted by this article. Some good may come from it though in the way of more readers – I know I for one have checked out the other blogs and am glad to have some new blogs to subscribe to!
I been reading your blog on a regular basis. I was really surprised at the article as usualy like you say its one sided but we all know better!
Well, the Marie Claire article had one advantage in my mind — it brought me to this very inspiring blog, to find out what the truth was. And believe me – I’m staying!
I’m similar to Susan. I would have never found your blog had it not been for the publicity from Marie Claire. I was curious, and now I am SO happy to have found it! It is very clear how offbase the article was. You have nothing to worry about or defend. I’m honestly surprised the article was not edited better prior to being nationally published… next on to comment on the Facebook page. =)
This article was poorly researched, irresponsible shock “journalism.” Don’t let it get to you, and know that the more attention you get for your shared wisdom, kind personality, and continued success, the more people will try to slander you and pull you down.
Here’s the thing that gets me:
You write a blog–a public diary of your opinion that chronicles your life. You have limited ethical responsibility in this endeavor, and yet CHOOSE to write uplifting, helpful, and esteem-building words. Despite the fact that you do not have a degree in nutrition or dietetics (as you state clearly on your website), your blog has personally inspired me to eat more considerately, try a few foods that I had previously given up on, and take a chance on types of exercise that I’d never thought about. Additionally, I have vicariously enjoyed stories about your pug and your travels. You are having a positive impact with women, so kudos.
But, on the other hand:
This author writes for a magazine–a publication that while privately owned and managed, owes a certain degree of ethical responsibility to represent things truthfully if they want to call any of their fluffy rubbish “journalism.” Despite the digs she has taken at you and the rest of the “healthy living” blogging community, she is the one sensationalizing a story about how blogs may be dangerous to your health in the context of a magazine rife with get-thin-quick tips and photos of size-0 supermodels. If she really cared about the health and self-esteem of women, she would quit writing fear-mongering filler for that antifeminist 200-page advertisement of a magazine and cultivate her writing into something positive in a different forum.
I believe that, overall, magazines like Marie Claire are far more dangerous to women’s health and self-esteem than your blog.
When it comes down to it, they’re grubbing for readership because their magazine is part of a dying business. There are people doing what they do smarter, faster, and cheaper on the internet. Soon their re-hashed shenanigans (ever notice the beauty tips are the same, just the photos change?) will be obsolete, and they can feel the future of recreational reading breathing down their necks.
I’m pleased to see this article hasn’t slowed you down. Keep doing what you do with grace and vivacity.
im not surprised that marie claire took such a negative view of you ladies. because from their point of view, YOU’RE the competition. ladies like myself would rather spend time reading your blogs than spending money on their overrated, overpriced magazine. that’s why they focused so much on the $$ you guys may (or may not ) make while blogging and sensationalized the entire situation. to create buzz! because that’s $$ that THEIR writers and staff AREN’T getting from ADVERTISERS. in the entertainment world, there is only so much pie to go around. and you ladies distract a huge chunk of THEIR TARGET AUDIENCE from shelling out $$ at the magazine stand (who pays for the print when you can get those topics/entertainment for free on the net? not me!). it’s not about you, your character, or your responsibility as a blogger (or whatever mumbo-jumbo they implied you were responsible for”¦) its about the benjamins. always. hang in there. keep at it. you got ”˜em nervous. good job!
Im glad that the Marie Claire article came out as it helped me to find you 🙂 I read it, thought they were probably over reacting and decided to see for myself it these ‘big six’ were actually hunger diaries type blogs….your is def. NOT! I love all your recipes, tips for heatlh and cute writing style 🙂 So thanks Marie Claire!
First off, I love Murphy! He is so cute and knows his “good side”.
Second, I read the Marie Claire article. My goodness…I always wondered how you, or anyone else for that matter would handle that sort of criticism. When writing a blog you open yourself up to those types of responses, but to take things that out of context has to be frustrating. I love your blog, and the “Big 6”.
Happy Thursday 🙂
When I got to know your blog better through FitFluential, I didn’t connect you with the article. I was featured in the article directly before. My response was a ten minute vlog. MC failed to change facts that I corrected with their fact checker. When I was venting with Kelly O about it and sharing how upset I was (one of the things that they changed was the timing of my grandmother’s death), she mentioned the health blogger article. That’s when I realized that I was done doing press for a while. As a newer reader, I love your blog.
I recently stumbled upon your blog. instantly loved it. I love your recipes, your stories and your fitness tips – i also signed up for my FIRST half marathon that i will be running with my mom – reading your blog and the recaps of all your running events PUMPED ME UP!! it made me feel that much more ready – reading yours lead me to all others linked by your site (still, loving every single one!) – and so i finally read the Marie Claire’s “The Hunger Diaries” – I can’t agree with a single word this author says! So i want you to know, YOU (and Kath, Caitlin, Meghann, Heather, Jenna…i could go on for hours!) have inspired me to start my own blog. As you say, it will be for me..it will be my outlet for release of my own thoughts/likes/dislikes of foods, exercise and just keeping track of my daily life and experiences – if people want to read and take what they want from it that is THEIR choice. I appreciate all the hard work you have put into creating such an amazing blog. Keep it up Tina…and i’ll keep reading 🙂
@Kaitlyn: Thanks so much, Kaitlyn! 🙂
I as well was let to your blog via the Marie Claire article. I LOVE your recipes. It is so hard to find a good blog about healthy eating and I’m so grateful to have found your blog!