So I’ve been doing some thinking. Uh oh, here we go again. Yes, here we go again. Buckle up, friends. And maybe grab something tasty to snack on.
Plain Greek yogurt, banana, Weetabix, applesauce mess.
A few days ago, I brought up the issue of a reader’s responsibility to a blogger, and whether or not a reader should comment and bring to attention potentially disordered behaviours if a blogger is displaying them. Well, today we’re going to flip the coin and talk about what kind of responsibility a blogger has to a reader.
If you recall, yesterday I briefly mentioned the increase in heart rate monitor pictures that seems to be sweeping the blog world. These pictures include things like duration of workout, average heart rate, maximum heart rate, and what likely catches most peoples’ eye, the amount of calories burned – it’s like society has trained our brains to automatically hone in and pay attention whenever the word “calorie” flashes across our field of vision.
But I digress – back to HRMs.
When I asked you guys what you thought the motivation behind posting these pictures was, a few different answers popped up. One was to track personal progress. Another was to motivate. But the most common? “I have no idea, but it’s not useful and needs to stop.” Yeah. I’m going to have to go with the latter on this one.
If someone wants to use a HRM, then that’s their prerogative. I can see how they can be useful training tools, but I choose to avoid them simply because I try and keep my life as number-free as I possibly can when it comes to diet and exercise. No calories eaten. No calories burned. No miles walked. No minutes spent exercising. No measuring. No weighing. None of that. Do I feel good? Yes? Then that’s good enough for me.
But there I go digressing again. Back to the point…
How many calories a person burns is not only an extremely individual matter, but it seems to me like it should be a private one as well. Most people aren’t quick to share how much they weigh or how many calories they eat in a day, so why the extreme willingness to show how many calories they burn? Not only is it not helpful to anyone else, but it provides a perfect breeding ground for unhealthy comparison; and in extreme cases, it even acts as a trigger for those who struggle with disordered thoughts.
When a blogger projects a certain image in the public sphere, there’s always the potential that someone is going to want to emulate it. That’s something that I don’t think a lot of bloggers realize – how big of an influence they have on their readers, especially en mass. When a lot of bloggers jump onto a particular trend, readers begin to see it as the new normal and feel like it’s something that they should be partaking in as well; and if they can’t? That’s when the feelings of guilt and inferiority start to set in.
Personally, the HRM pictures don’t really affect me either way. I’m not interested enough to like them, and not insecure enough to dislike them. But I do dislike the effect that I know they have on certain people. I’m thankful to be comfortable enough in my own routines to be able to roll my eyes and move on, but this certainly wasn’t always the case. There was a time when seeing pictures like that would have triggered me into either trying to match those efforts in the gym myself, or restricting my intake if I couldn’t – justifying that with the fact that if I wasn’t exercising as much, then I didn’t need to eat as much.
See the problem? Because I don’t think a lot of people do.
Maybe I’m just extra sensitive because of my own past struggles with an eating disorder, but I think more bloggers need to become aware of exactly who their audience is and start acting a little more responsibly. There are a lot of readers out there who are struggling with either disordered eating or full blown eating disorders, and what they see on the pages of a blog has the potential to do a lot of harm. It’s all well and good to want to motivate others, but there are less triggering ways to do it.
Now, I’m not trying to step on anyone’s toes, and I’m definitely not pointing any fingers. Not at all. Like I said, I honestly don’t believe that most bloggers are even aware of the issue. It’s just that I’ve been on the other side, as it were, so I know first-hand the negative effect that triggering images like that can have on someone that’s struggling. Sure, one can argue that a blogger shouldn’t have to feel like they need to walk on eggshells when it comes to what they post, and that readers should be the ones to take responsibility and avoid the things that trigger them, but it’s not quite as simple as that. An eating disorder is a hungry illness, both literally and figuratively. It demands to be fed by seeking out the triggers that it knows will help keep it alive, so even though the person suffering knows they need to avoid certain things, sometimes it’s impossible to look away.
So once again, I’d love to hear your thoughts on the subject. Do you think bloggers have a responsibility to their readers? Is motivating one person worth potentially triggering another?
i am loving these posts lately.. the HRM, it bothers me but doesn’t.. i think its more of an “idc” kind of thing.. it has def bothered me in the past with the comparison trap and when i was obsessed with numbers but like you i have been staying away from them more and more. Calories burned is def one i have kept away from for awhile. I started running and fell in love with it and not because it was the best calorie burning cardio etc I just really love the zoning out clearing my head feeling I get. I like you dont get the point, motivation is definately one but I see it more as motivation for yourself, so why show everyone? I think it makes people fall right into a comparison trap burning 400 calories in your kickboxing class. I am glad I got away from those numbers and hope to one day get all those stupid calorie counting for foods (on the not so good days i start to calculate in my head still UGH!) then I will be good !
I think this is a really great point here! I have never had an ED, so I never really thought about the HRM pictures as being troublesome. When I see those types of pictures, I always just think “wow, great for them, they got a really good workout in today” However, I know exactly what you mean about how people have the tendency to compare themselves to others. The thing is, everyone is different.. heights, weights, and doing different exercises are all different, so the calories burn is truly insignificant. No one will have the same burns, and honestly, who cares?! I personally use my HRM as a means to gauge how much I burn so that I can eat back those calories post workout to ensure muscle growth. That being said, I know everyone may not think of it that way, so it’s definitely something bloggers should keep in mind and be careful about. Thanks for writing this – I always love your posts, Amanda!
I remember you saying that you weren’t keen on sharing numbers, but I actually really enjoyed it when you showed a pic of you 24 hour burn to show people that they probably need to eat more than they think.
If anyone wants to check that post out (I highly recommend it!), you can read it here: http://www.gothextramileblog.com/2013/01/24/you-may-need-more-calories-than-you-think/
Very true, and this is because everyone is just SO different. People need to realize that comparing themselves to others will never work because of how different everyone is. Thanks girl! <3
I agree. I thought the ONE caveat to HRM pictures as triggering was Brittany’s post. Brittany, you did something really clever by using your numbers to get people to reevaluate their own caloric needs. As a person recovering from anorexia and constantly being told to eat more, I appreciated your message and saw the HRM shot as the evidence you were building your argument on.
Wow – this was definitely a thought-provoking post!!! I must say that I agree with your views 100%. I remember when i was suffering from my eating disorder i thrived off reading blogs that were so called Healthy Living blogs. I actually would read them and then tell myself that it was ok if I only ate this much because this blogger was eating less than I was. Thankfully i realized how harmful they were and I just had to step away for a while. Now that I am recovered I am able to see how actually disordered many of these blogs truly are. I feel that honesty truly is the best when it comes to blogging – that’s why i think so many readers love your blog!!!!!!!!!! 🙂
While I do think your past struggles may effect how you look the issue, I don’t at all think you are being extra sensitive, and completely agree with the negative effect it is most likely having on readers. I personally have been striving toward living more numbers free, so to speak, and just don’t think that social media is that right place to share images of anything calorie-related. I totally understand how helpful heart rate monitors and similar electronics can be for some people (I personally love the running watch I own and app on my phone that allows me to keep track of my distance progress) but just think it is not anything that needs to be put out there for impressionable readers to see. I love that you took the time to write about the other side of reader responsibility. Keep your thinking going, we all appreciate it. 🙂
Not only do I think it’s insensitive, I just think it’s really pointless to show those sorts of pictures. It’s a fairly lazy way to motivate people, if that’s the intention. People can motivate more effectively with the overall image the present and (even more importantly) their words. Most bloggers love writing, so they should use their blogs as an opportunity to motivate in that way!
On a more personal note, one of my best friends started posting every workout on her Facebook. I wrote to her (because she lives far away), and told her that I appreciate that she’s started to exercise, but that I wasn’t going to be able to visit her page anymore because I found it very triggering. She went from hardly exercising in her life to running 10-15 miles EVERY DAY, so I was also concerned about her, but I left that to the side because she struggles a lot with severe depression. Anyway, the point of the story is that she got really angry at me, even though I didn’t even ask her to stop posting, and she wouldn’t speak to me for months! I won’t get into all the details, but it’s still a bit of a wedge between us because I really don’t see the point in doing it, and she doesn’t see why it would upset me.
Sorry to hear about what happened between you and your friend, Sarah 😕 That kind of goes back to what I wrote about in my last rant… people don’t like having their habits questioned, although you would think that a close friend would be more open to discussing that kind of thing. I hope that your friend is doing okay.
Good subject you bring up. I saw one blogger with almost 800 calories burned after her workout. I thought wow good for her, but then felt insecure wondering how many calories I burned. To me the pictures seem more competitive than motivating.
I completely agree with you! Personally, I used to be the same as you used to be. I would see how many calories someone burned in one workout and think that I needed to burn that many or even more if they said it was a “light” workout day. I was causing havoc in my body by upping the calorie burn AND downing the calorie intake dramatically. It’s all because I saw so many bloggers do it…so I should do the same, right? I did not realize that my needs as a teenager are much different from an adult’s, or from any other individual person for that matter. This is such a great, honest post that readers and bloggers alike need! You’re awesome, Amanda! 🙂
Ok, so I’ve spent the last two hours thinking about this post and trying to get my thoughts together on it. I’m not sure if this will make any sense now, but I don’t think waiting any longer will make it better haha. On the one hand, I definitely think that bloggers have a responsibility to think about what they choose to post and show on their blog, regardless of whether they’re advocating their actions as “healthy living” but probably a little more especially if they are. And I know that I’m also more sensitive to things like numbers because of my perfectionist side and ED past, but I’ve also learned to just ignore/skip/skim those parts of posts (most of the time). Having said that, I think it’s also really hard to ask a blogger to think about every little thing they’re posting and how it might affect someone. I completely understand that EDs lead people to keep feeding themselves less than positive influences and they can easily find that in the blogging world, but I don’t think that’s necessarily the blogger’s fault. I could be completely wrong, but I like to think that a lot of the time, many bloggers don’t mean/intend to hurt others with their posts/ideas/recipes/workouts. They’re simply sharing things that work for them and pieces of their life. Then again, there are plenty that are sharing/advocating disordered behaviors and ways of thinking. In the end, I think the blogger should make a point to say (more than once) this is what works for me, I’m sharing this with you, I’m not a doctor/professional/etc (if you aren’t), consult such and such if you have questions regarding this for yourself. I think just for me personally I use blogging as an outlet to show some (ok a lot) of my life, random thoughts, things I’m up to, recipes I’m trying out, etc. I never intend to hurt someone and never want to come across as saying my way is best and clearly the only way to go…what I do hopefully works for me…if it doesn’t, I say so and why (if I even talked about it at all)…when I start to second guess everything I’m saying/posting because it might hurt/offend someone, I’m not being me and that’s not why I write my blog. I think that’s where reader responsibility comes into play, too, but this comment is long and confusing enough, so I’m not going there haha. Sorry if this is just a long ramble…you definitely made me think with this love…just not sure if I’m clearly expressing where my head’s at right now!
Oh I definitely agree that bloggers don’t mean any harm when they choose to post things like that – I think it mainly comes down to not realizing how it might affect their readers, or if they never suffered from an ED, not realizing that it could be a serious trigger for someone.
I definitely think we bloggers have a responsibility to our readers! I think that what a person posts and blogs about shows what is most important to them. Honestly, for those who live, eat, breathe, and die by food, exercise, and number I feel sorry for them. I know..from experience… that it can be bondage. I don’t like to tell someone that they should or shouldn’t post something, but I do wish people were more cognizant of how people are affected by what they post.
For the record — when you said get a snack, I went to grab my can of whipped cream. Heck yes.
Alright. It’s INSANE that you posted this today. Because as I was on the bus to the gym in a snowstorm, I realized how caught I still am by all of this. I only wanted to go to the gym to use the treadmill. I only wanted to use the treadmill so I didn’t have to run in the blizzard to log my miles on dailymile (yes. log my miles on dailymile. Otherwise, I would have been more than happy with the elliptical). Then, when the connection to the gym didn’t come, I debated running in the snow so I could post my mileage. HOW SCREWED UP IS THAT?! I love training, and I’m proud of what I do, but I do it for me. Therefore, I shouldn’t feel the need to post about it just to be congratulated by others.
I’ve noticed that since I started running, it’s been miles logged and not calories burned that have been triggering for me. Dailymile is gone. I’m following my mentor’s advice and not what I see out there. Because following the advice of amateurs is what is going to lead to injury and burn out. No doubt in my mind. And as much as I like to think that I’m over the obsession with numbers, I’m not. As much as I like to think that I’m too strong for the comparison trap, I’m not. I know I can achieve a healthy mindset .. it’s just going to require a new set of blinders. Oy vey.
A new set of blinders and some time. It’s a hard obsession to break, and it takes a while. Honestly, I think one of the most important things is to step away from what you know triggers you until you’re strong enough to not let it get to you – at least from my experience. When you’re constantly being influenced by others, it becomes a lot harder to figure out what works for you. Once you remove that influence though, it gets a little bit easier.
Ohhh Amanda. I’ve been reading fewer and fewer blogs lately, but yours is one that I continue to return to!
I never even took the time to think about HR monitor pictures on blogs, but now that you mention it– I don’t get why people post them either! I guess motivation would be an option, but I think it screams a little bit more towards the “numbers game” scheme. Great post!
I have a BIG opinion on this topic, and on those blogs that flirt with the border between “recovered/disordered.” But since school has me totally worn down, and anxiety has left me just a little too sleep deprived, I’ll put it in a nutshell.
If you’re writing strictly an athletic blog, targeted to an athletic, competitive audience (think marathon, triathalon, etc) then a heart rate monitor is a great tool, and arguably essential to reaching a high level of personal success. If you’re writing ANY other type of healthy-living-healthy-eating-“i’m recovered”-life balance type of blog, forget it, you don’t need it. Nor do your readers/target audience.
That’s all! … I just think a lot of people in the blog world can kid themselves/ aren’t totally honest 🙂
(not you… haha… that’s why I was SO glad when you came back to blogging! Realism and honesty are where its at)
Love the emphasis on it depending on what type of blog a blogger is writing. Great point, Erin!
It never occurred to me that photos like that could be triggering for some people. I’ve always assumed they were bragging or simply self-absorbed. How about ab shots? Have those been popping up in your feed? I was super disappointed to see someone last week post a photo of their already-awesome stomach complaining about how they were posting it as ‘accountability’ and ‘motivation’ go regain their six pack.
Another photo I saw today was a user (with a huge following) posting about how they were ‘bloated’; ‘had a cheat meal’, blah blah blah but they were getting back on track. All I could see was a six pack. Heh… These photos definitely don’t make me feel bad about myself, but I think they’re unintentionally causing harm in some instances. I can’t help but wonder why they don’t channel that dedication & motivation into something more meaningful than obtaining chiseled abs.
Ab shots have been popping up in my feed less and less because I unfollow people who post them 🙂
I feel like one would have to live under a rock to not know that a large (no I am not exaggerating) LARGE majority of the HLB community have experienced some disorder and obsession at least regarding food, weight and exercise. I think most bloggers know that.
Can we just admit that? Good.
So then….blogger responsibility…..who cares.
I mean, technically and officially do they have an obligation to be mindful of what they write and exhibit? Yes. No. Maybe. Who cares?
To me it’s just like…
Have a freaking heart! You know?
I need to clarify this….
What I mean by “have a heart” is that bloggers should care about their readership and avoid posting possibly triggering content like that just because….
whether its their responsibility or not.
(It sounded like I might be saying Amanda should have a heart and not care…doh! )
Haha. Awwr Missy, I didn’t think you were referring to me… but thanks for the clarification 🙂
Interesting post. I personally don’t see the point in posting HRM results. It’s so personally to that person’s body that it shouldn’t be used to compare. However it obviously does and that’s not the point here. You could argue on that line of thought that saying how many miles you ran, or how long you spent on the elliptical , or how many weights you lifted are all trigger-inducing. Then what about not posting the meals you make and eat? How far do we go to edit things? It is a bit of bragging I think to show you burnt x amount of calories in a workout, and the blogger is proud of themselves I guess. As a blogger shouldn’t we be allowed to do this? How sensitive do we need to be? I’m rambling here a bit as I don’t know the answer. I think freedom of speech is very important and why shouldn’t a blogger be proud of working out hard? However, I think the context of posts is what’s important here. In a healthy context it should be reasonable to have a little brag – a blogger who eats well (not crazily focused on ‘clean’ eating) and doesn’t restrict or have unhealthy attitudes to food and exercise.
I don’t think there’s a clear cut answer here. I think it’s just something readers and bloggers need to be aware of when reading and writing posts.
You’re right – there’s definitely no clear cut answer and it depends a lot on what else is going on in addition to things like HRM pictures. If the blogger is portraying a truly healthy lifestyle then I don’t see it as THAT big of a deal, but if they’re working out like crazy and barely eating, then it’s definitely a problem. Ultimately, though, it’s pretty much a shared responsibility.
Wellllll, I wouldn’t call it a “responsibility.” It’s a blogger’s space to write what they want. It just becomes a little unfair (but really just ridiculous) when the blogger labels their blog as part of the “Healthy Living” community or whatever, but spews a bunch of disordered stuff… THAT is not cool. But, it’s still their space on the internet. I know people are impressionable and many who already read these kinds of blogs are easily triggered, but… that’s kind of their responsibility as well. It’s not the blogger’s responsibility to look after others. We all know that when it comes to recovery, the sick person is the ultimate decider on whether they will get healthy or not no matter what anyone around them says or thinks.
You’re right, it’s ultimately up to the person suffering to decide that they want to get better, but certain things make it a lot more difficult and I just think a little more consideration wouldn’t hurt.
You have such a way with words, I LOVE reading your blog. I agree with you in that blogger’s need to be sure that they are portraying themselves in a way that is realistic for them, but also making note that their lifestyle may not be appropriate for everyone. I try and serve as a role model in my healthy lifestyle (besides drinking too much) in my everyday life, so I want to portray that to my readers. I don’t expect everyone to be a vegetarian, I don’t expect everyone to be a runner, and I don’t expect everyone to appreciate my love of beer and a good time. But this is what works for me, and I make note of that.
I want to thank you for this post! I am someone who has come from a disordered eating past and i am still struggling with it today but the blogging world has actually helped me realize how healthy I need to be. However, with crossfit and muscle building workouts becoming more popular I’ve seen a lot more heart rate pictures posted. As someone who is still recovering, when I see people burning 500 plus and me only burning around 300 I think to myself “how the heck are they burning that and should I push more?” However I’ve been interning with college athletes at The univeristy of Florida and its helped me realize food is FUEL and its not about the calories burned but how strong you can be and wither your pushing yourself. As bloggers I look up to you guys and posting heart rate pics every day isn’t really necessary in my opinion. Sorry for the long post but I love your blog!
Excellent post!!! I think as bloggers we do have a certain amount of responsibility to our readers and should be careful not to include triggering content in our posts. However our blogs are also our own personal space and an expression of our individuality. I think there is a very fine line here and it’s very difficult to get right. In any sense you cannot please everyone.
I am all for HRM while training with running. I think it can be a great tool to determine which level and capacity of the run you are at for bettering endurance. THAT’s it though, and I have never actually used one, I’ve only read about the benefits. I don’t get the pictures online, or the calorie posts. I have NO idea how many calories I burn or eat, and that works for me!! I can def see the points you are making, I really try to keep my blog very neutral and if I do get controversial it’s about something like judging what people run in haha. I shouldn’t laugh I think I actually offended one person and she left a comment expressing that. I think I lost a reader, but owell.
Absolutely I think bloggers have a responsibility to their readers, especially us bloggers who post about the touchy subjects of health, fitness and food. And especially given the audience of these types of blogs, which is often people struggling with EDs.
It can be hard to know where to draw the line though. I think Sam makes a really good point that for people struggling with EDs, anything can be a trigger. But I agree that certain things are more obviously triggering and shouldn’t be on blogs (pictures of HRMs, calorie counts of meals, “fitpsiration” pictures, etc).
My real problem is dishonesty. If you are a blogger you should be honest. Period. If you’re still struggling with disordered eating, don’t pretend you’re not. Don’t pretend to eat food you don’t actually eat. Don’t pretend you don’t like sweet things and then load up all your food with stevia. Don’t act like a role model for health when your BMI isn’t even in the healthy range. And so on.
Couldn’t agree more about the honesty. But it’s usually those people that have trouble being honest with themselves, so expecting them to be honest with their audience is just unrealistic.
I think HRM pics are totally pointless. I wear a HRM and have never posted a pic of my calorie burn…because frankly why would anyone else care. To me it seems like a way for bloggers to brag…like wow look at all the calories and fat I burned! But in the same post they will be quick to say that they only workout because it makes them feel good, not for calorie burn! Then why are you posting pics all over the web of your “oh so intense” calorie burn!? It just doesn’t make sense to me and had no positive effect in my mind. I would love to hear from one of the bloggers that frequently posts these types of pics to find out their motivation for doing so!
I don’t track calories at all (not in, not out, not burned) so I don’t have a HRM much less post pictures of them. But, I have discussed my weight and published the actual number, and I have also mentioned the number of push ups I completed in a workout. I wrote about my weight because for the first time in 15 plus years, I was finally comfortable with it and no longer trying to lose any lbs (for the record, I’m at a healthy weight; not uber thin or skeletal). As far as the push ups go, I knocked off one of my new years resolutions so again it was something I was proud of, and I feel like my blog is a place where I should be able to express that and celebrate my accomplishments. I’ve certainly never posted anything with the intention of making anyone feel less.
I have seen pictures of HRM and they don’t bother me at all (as long as the blogger isn’t exhibiting disordered behavior; in those cases I just stop reading the blog). Sometimes when I see them, I even think “You rock on with your bad self,” and I have actually found them motivating too, in a good way. I don’t really compare myself to them either (I figure we are all different and know what’s best for our own bodies) so maybe that’s why they don’t bother me.
Just a flip side.
Thanks for the thoughtful reply! I feel the same way about seeing HRM readouts on disordered blogs…thats what really bothers me. And I guess that is the most frequent place I see them though. But even for a blogger that doesn’t exhibit disordered behaviors (aren’t too many out there anymore!), I still don’t get why posting the amount of calories you burned really matters. Their weight, metabolism, and body makeup make their burn different from anyone else and their workout is really only effecting THEIR body so why should I need to know how much energy they’ve used? I just don’t really see a positive. Its not that its that detrimental to a typical reader but for people that are easily influenced it seems counterproductive and potentially harmful. Just my two cents I guess. I just think it all feeds into unhealthy competition and fixation on numbers. When I work out, calorie burn is the last thing I think of.
Thanks for responding. I agree with a lot of what you said, especially the part about tracking calories. I don’t do it and everyone’s calorie burn is going to be different so that information is really only beneficial to them. My guess is they publish it as a source of pride, much like I did with my weight and my push up count.
For those showing pictures of ridiculously high calorie burn with no calories eaten, yeah that’s a problem, but it’s the internet so it’s always going to be there. The only way to counteract that is not read the blog, tell them something is off in the comment section or with an email or put it out there much like Amanda did (Amanda – this really is a great post and I appreciate the opportunity to discuss this in a healthy, open forum).
I do agree with you, there is some very disturbing behavior in the HLB community when it comes to ED’s, but I think it’s my responsibility not to read them.
Let me put it in a different context. I did a post about Beet Juice Mimosa’s (they were awesome by the way) not too long ago. So that begs the question, should I have not written about a cocktail because their are people battling alcohol abuse? Or should I not write posts about religion (I actually don’t) for concern over offending somebody with differing beliefs?
Those are extreme examples, and I would obviously never tell people to jump off a ledge or do something ridiculous like cut out fat and carbs (mmm carbs) but I wouldn’t censor people either.
With all that being said, the disordered blogs really are bothersome, and I think it’s a good thing somebody is calling them out on it, but it’s also my responsibility at the end of the day to walk away from them.
Thank you for expressing yourself and your opinions; it’s always good to hear a different perspective.
You know that I adore this post!
For me, it’s a difficult balance between reader responsibility and blogger responsibility. Bloggers are responsible for what we put out into the world, and readers need to be responsible for what they choose to read. I do, however understand what you mean about eating disorders seeking out triggers – the ED looks for whatever will keep feeding it, even the person behind it knows how terrible of an idea that is.
I do believe things have gone too far though. There’s so many bloggers out there promoting an idea of ‘healthy living’ that is absolutely anything but. While many readers can recognize it for what it is…there’s a lot who can’t. I’ve been trolling ‘that website’ lately, and yea…some of the responses to certain bloggers makes me so, so angry at them (the blogger). Trying to ‘eat clean’ is one thing, but masking clearly disordered behaviour and eating patterns as healthy, normal and attainable just pisses me off to no end.
But as far as completely avoiding ED triggers…I don’t know how possible that is in a healthy living blog forum. Really, anytime I post about anything food-related could be seen as triggering to someone. So while I can avoid talking about how I should be eating clean all the time and working out like its my job (because we all know I don’t have the attitude), just mentioning ‘healthy’ food in general has the potential to effect someone in a certain mindset.
So I think as bloggers, we need to be weary about our content and do our best to avoid triggers (and select individuals should not be blogging at all, really) but the reader needs to take some form of responsibility as well – I think it’s the same in any kind of media format.
(P.S. I love your ability to provoke me into writing novel-esque comments :-p)
And I love reading your novel-esque comments 😛 I think that you’re right about it being a shared responsibility, but I think that a little more consideration wouldn’t hurt, especially since some things that bloggers post (HRM just being one example) don’t help anyone, but they DO have the potential to harm. It’s pointless stuff like that that I think needs to be avoided.
I do agree that bloggers need to take more consideration of their content and capabilities to trigger people. It’s hard to completely avoid it, but bloggers should be more conscious of their influence on readers.
The more I think about the HRM thing, the more I think that it’s almost like a bragging point for some people. “I burned so many calories!” And then you get the people who “fuel up” with some veggies and call it a day…huge problem. So yes, things like that are unnecessary and shouldn’t be as popular as they are.
sooooo….i can totally get how a calories burned number can be motivating to the actual person burning the calories but the argument that it is motivating for others i simply do not get. everybody (every body) is different – if you are 5’6” 140 you burn a totally different number of calories than someone who is 5’2” and 105 so these numbers are (essentially) completely arbitrary. i don’t see how someone else who is likely not your same height and weight burning a random number of calories is going to motivate you? i just don’t see the positives but i DO see the negatives. for me, it’s like my mom always said – if you don’t have anything nice to say don’t say anything at all. if you don’t have anything motivational to post, don’t post anything triggering at all. ya know?
Yeah that’s kind of how I see it as well. It doesn’t help anyone, but it does have the potential to do harm so it’s probably better kept private.
Here are my thoughts on heart rate monitors after taking time to digest (which they are similar to yours I guess). I love reading about peoples mileage, hours they work out (granted they are healthy hours) and how people work out. I hate reading about calories, food eaten (calories in food/burned) because well it is different for everyone. What I need is different from what you need and everyone else needs or wants to do. I’d rather see a selfie photo drenched in sweat honestly, they see a watch with a number of calories burned.
I’m torn on this one. Personally, I try to ignore my audience when I write because other wards I feel like I’m not being me or I’m just saying things they want to hear. I need to be truthful and I hope it doesn’t offend people, although I’m sure it has. I’ve learned no matter what you do and how good your intentions are, you can’t make everybody happy. I personally have published my actual weight before and the fact that I’m no longer trying to lose weight at all (I’m all about maintenance). I’ve also published the types of workouts I do and even most recently the actual number of boy push I completed. I did it because I was proud of myself, not because I was trying to push numbers on anybody else. I don’t post things like calorie burn or calorie counts though because they aren’t important to me and don’t really go with my food philosophy.
That being said, I don’t think it’s right to project yourself as the mecca of health and wellness and then present disorderd behavior or give unhealthy advice on the same. It’s like coco-cola starting an anti-obesity compaign. When I see it in other blogs, I don’t encourage it at all and usually just stop reading them. So I guess, at the end of the day, I lean more towards reader responsibity, although I do believe bloggers should be aware of the image they are presenting.
On a side note, whether we think it’s right or wrong, the first amendment allows people to say whatever they please, so it almost has to be on the reader to engage or disengage, no matter how hard it can be.
By the way, I really like these thought provoking posts. While the blogging community is incredibly supportive, it’s nice to have an open, honest and healthy dabate. You’re allowing a forum for that. Kudos to you.
I’m not one to ever post pictures of HRM and stuff like that but I have to agree with Meghan. You can’t and won’t make everyone happy and might trigger someone by doing something totally random. People in disorders (no judgment- I’ve been there) are often looking for something to trigger them. So whether you post it or not they will find it. Recovery has to come from within and if they don’t want it they won’t get it no matter what you do/do not say. I have to also agree with her points on freedom of speech and kudos to you for asking the tough questions and being open to responses!
There’s a part of me that really wants to agree with you. Many things done in the name of “healthy living” strike me as blatantly disordered but that is perhaps me projecting my own issues. That aside, I think what is being overlooked is the readers responsibility- if a blog is triggering to them, they have to decide for themselves to just stop reading it. The whole world can’t accommodate everyone’s individual issues and I think it’s unfair for bloggers to even feel they HAVE to write with a special sensitivity to those with eating disorders. Blogs are personal journals and whilst some may over-share information like HRM readings and calories, they is their choice. They are responsible for what they say but not how it is interpreted.
We are all individuals and the healthy living blog community is NOT meant to replace an eating disorders recovery community. They’ve merged, obviously, but I feel like we, as eating disorder sufferers/ex-sufferers are very quick to latch onto things we read about and see that set off our own “red lights” because for us, they wouldn’t be healthy.
If someone wants to just eat a granola bar and skim cappuccino for lunch because they are running late, does that mean they should not mention it because someone else might feel guilty that they went out for pizza? If someone is writing out a recipe for lasagne, would they be expected to write out special directions to make it gluten free or vegan? No. That would be completely unreasonable.
When it comes to calories burned or miles clocked up in the week or classing what some might consider an every day food a “cheat” food….the responsibility, IMO, lies with the reader for how they take that information.
In an ideal world, everyone would be confident and secure enough to do what is best for THEM, regardless of what anyone else is doing. But until then, comparisons will happen. Which then leads to my next thought of why do we put healthy living bloggers on a pedestal and assume that they should be some kind of role model for others?..
oops- didn’t mean to write so much!
I think people put HLB’s on a pedestal because they don’t trust themselves and their own intuition, so they look to others for examples/answers – I know that was definitely the case for me when I was struggling with trying to figure out how the heck I was supposed to eat/live when recovering from my eating disorder. Bloggers are relatable, and they seem legitimate because they’re on the Internet. People don’t really keep in mind that what they’re showing isn’t necessarily right, because no one needs any credentials to start a blog.
That was the case for me too. And it’s a difficult situation because then it becomes “normal” and even harder to step away from a food/fitness focus. For someone with an eating disorder history, it will never be a “healthy” way to live, IMO. Recovery means stepping away from that being what defines you and drives you/gives you a sense of purpose. That’s something I’ve actually noticed more and more of over the last year or so within the HLB community- bloggers have moved away from sharing every meal and every movement and do more topical posts.
I agree 100% with you that they seem legitimate and like they know what they are talking about/promoting- and some do have some form of credentials (fitness instructors, etc- though I would have thought that rule #1 as a personal trainer would be to cover your own back with liability considerations/disclaimers before posting ‘pinnable’ (is that a word yet?) workouts…) but the majority are just like the rest of us. Trying to find a way of living/being that makes them happy.
Your posts are always fantastic on this subject. It’s a tough line because a lot of my friends would have no trouble sharing this type of information for me (without knowing it triggers me), but we also have that comparison element going on and I guess as readers we do have the choice to read those blogs who we know post such things. But, I do feel having a blog you should hold some form of responsibility. I do see lots of people spewing out totally disordered and unhealthy information and just think what on earth are they thinking. They have so many people who “idolize” them from a health perspective, and if they are underweight, clearly denying anything is wrong then I guess it’s a problem. Definitely a superb, fabulous post once again dear friend! Expect an e-mail back today 😀
I’m loving these controversial yet thought-provoking posts, Amanda…especially as they all hit the nail on the head! On one hand I do think bloggers, including myself, have a responsibility to present their posts in a way that may not trigger their readers..eg calories burnt/eaten. However on the other hand, each of our blogs are meant to be an expression of ourselves and our tiny space of the Internet. Therefore should we have to filter our information? Also where do we draw the line? Some could argue that posting miles run or minutes walked could also bring about the social comparison trap…suddenly 5km is not enough when others are running marathons every other weekend.
Like you, I’ve reached a point where I am comfortable in my dietary and exercise decisions and just take numbers displayed on other people’s blogs with a pinch of salt. However this is sadly not the case for all. Ultimately bloggers need to display a level of consideration with the content they choose to post but it’s not fair to shift all the responsibility on the blogger…nor is it fair to expect the reader to be fully responsible for their reaction to such images.
Hehe… yeah it’s another one of those issues that isn’t so clear cut, but I think a little bit more consideration on what ends up on the pages of a blog wouldn’t hurt – especially when the blogger labels herself as “healthy living”.
I’ve been seeing HRM pictures allll over instagram and honestly it amazes me that some women can burn so many calories lol I know for me, it’s not triggering, I just wonder how hungry they are after the burn, but yea I can definitely see you’re point that it can affect people. I never used a HRM until I was trying to get my period back and my Dr suggested I watch my heart rate while running to get it down. I didn’t like the whole “numbers” system of running and only used it for prob a month (and during my race). Life is definitely better without numbers lol I think people, especially in the blog world, get so wrapped up in numbers and being what the media considers “healthy” instead of just enjoying life.
Well, I think ‘motivation’ is a non-issue because 99.9% of both bloggers and readers really do not have a problem with motivation when it comes to burning calories.
Blogger responsibility is a tricky one because, honestly, *anything* can be triggering if you are in ‘that’ particular mindset. One could suggest that if we start moderating what people post, where will it all end. Where I draw the line is when dishonesty enters the equation. If a blogger is projecting an image of themselves that is false, for example if they are uber-thin to the point of looking like one of those models with all the skin and fat stripped away and only the muscles showing while proclaiming that they eat a tonne, are happy-clappy-smiley all day long and they have to make no sacrifices at all to their health to be that size…hang on, I’ve gone off on a blogger rant there. Apologies. Anyway, when somebody is deceptive is when the image becomes damaging, in my opinion. Posting HRM readouts may be insensitive and pointless but it’s a genuine projection of how hard a person may have to work to stay either fit, a certain size, or both. On the other hand if they posted that, then went on to say they ‘can’t’ gain weight but they really want to? Nope, that’s bulls*t and it makes anyone heavier than that person feel like a disgusting pig (again, if they’re prone to that kind of self-loathing. Oh, personal experience again). Or if that blogger then features a tiny lunch while insisting they eat LOOOOAAADDZZZ or said lunch is everything-free because some quack excuse for a nutrition consultant told them they were allergic to air but it’s such a terrible allergy guys, not an excuse to restrict, oh no! Those dichotomies, those blatant attempts at deception are where bloggers need to be responsible, to be honest with themselves as well as their readers.
xxx
You’re right… honesty is pretty much the deciding factor, but oftentimes people have a difficult enough time being honest with themselves, nevermind other people. They think that what they’re doing is right, so that’s the image they end up projecting to everyone else.
I think this is when it bothers me as well. If you are going to put it all out there and show us how hard you “work” then I want to know when you screw up too! I feel like the ones who post the HRM pics are the same ones who “eat perfectly” all day, every day and I am sorry, but most everyone has their binge/indulgence moments, too. And no, I am not talking about adding granola to your yogurt, lol. If they are going to post the good stuff, I want to see the bad stuff, too. It shows that they are human and not these perfect fit species.
I agree with this, too!
I am very happy to say that those pictures don’t bother me in particular (at least not anymore thank the Lord Jesus!), but I was thinking something along the same lines Amanda! It’s almost like we all get slowly hypnotized or brainwashed by those kinds of pictures and think that it’s the norm, simply because pictures speak a 1000 words. I know that it can be very triggering to many women out there and we definitely should ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS think twice before speaking, posting, etc. However, it is hard to also monitor all that because sometimes we may just want to show a good example of what a rewarding workout may look like! And although that isn’t meant to be harmful at all, the reader with the disorder is dying from the stress and comparison game.
We should always be careful with what we do, but unfortunately we can’t control the outcome of everything either. I think like many of you ladies said, at LEAST we have to be honest with ourselves and with other people because if we’re trying to look perfect to make ourselves feel better than others, then that’s when the danger comes. Thank you for such a thought provoking post Amanda! 😀
I have to say, i believe I am extra sensitive to all of this but it still doesn’t make it right at all. i really find it hard to escape that comparison trap when daily mile comes streaming through my twitter or a heart rate monitor pops up. My life does not and can’t revolve around exercise. it never will, it never can be. i don’t have that time and don’t want to make that time if that makes sense. two hours a day of working out, totally not me at all. it is hard though to sit with all those thoughts when you are told you should be doing more, or looking at bloggers who eat next to nothing and have these intense calorie burns. but again I digress, maybe it is my own issue and I need to just put on blinders and move on.
The blinders help, but so does becoming comfortable with what you’re doing and simply sticking to what works for you without worrying about the goofy things that others are doing. I did a lot of stupid things once but I learned, so one can only hope that others will as well.
You are frickin amazing you know that? This is actually a subject that has actually recently affected me. A couple of weeks ago I bought a HRM because I saw them on blogs and thought okay, it might be cool to see how fit I am etc like these guys do. And then when I used it I immediately became obsessed by the calorie burn number and compared it to other bloggers. I felt inadequate when I did. I thought my burn rate would be way higher and I felt crap that day. I went to the gym the next day and I felt like I had to push even harder than I already do…WHY?! WHY am I doing this to be myself?! I know that I am bloody fit and healthy and I am bloody happy with no numbers in my life anymore and bringing this device has brought it back, bringing along all those negative thoughts and that compulsion that is dangerous. And so it went back in it’s box where it belongs 🙂 Number free life is x1000000 much happier.
And you are so right about the fact that bloggers are not so prepared to share how much they eat and how much they weigh. All these numbers are personal, including how much we burn, and should be kept that way. No one needs to know except us because our health affects no one else but us.
I considered getting a HRM on a few occasions in the past because I was curious as well, but ultimately I knew that I’d become obsessed with the number and constantly feel like I had to one-up myself. Not a happy or healthy way to live, so I think I’ll keep avoiding it…
Wow, once again I’m amazed by you precisely hitting the nail on the spot with an incredibly well-written post. Thank you!
At first I was about to answer that it probably was my own fault to read those blogs promoting unhealthy images. But then again you’re right: EDs are an illness that messes with one’s mind actively seeking out triggers. Yes, I’m able to stay away from the most “extreme” (as in: most triggering) blogs. Sometimes, though, I genereally like the bloggers because they seem like very nice persons and it’s just tidbits every now and then – like HRM pictures – that trigger me. Because yes, they do make me feel like I ate way more than the blogger yet didn’t deserve it as I’m never exercising as much.
All in all, I do think bloggers have a responsibilty. Maybe some don’t even mean to trigger others and don’t notice they might when posting certain content? As for myself I hope I’m not triggering anybody. My diet, for example, isn’t “perfect” yet so while I’m eating enough to gain not all of my meals are exemplary for good recovery. Hence why I’m never posting full days on WIAW so far. It’s my goal to be able to show a full day of “proper” meals sometime soon, though – lots of almond butter and chocolate included because that’s nothing I intend on changing :).
I love that you aren’t afraid to bring up real issues. I think this is so important as so many of us have struggled with disorders of some sort. I feel like there is such a gray area that we need to be mindful of in blogging-how to motivate ourselves and others without endorsing an unhealthy or obsessive lifestyle. Thanks for sharing, girl. Definitely something worth considering!
The calorie number of my watch after a workout looks like this: – – but it did not in the past. I am very happy that in this part I am comfortable. I can read WIAW posts and look at these pics and don’t compare. But I know these are triggers. It’s again a hard question. On one hand, if a healthy person posts it to see her progress, then her purpose is definitiely not to trigger others, I think no one intends that. And I do think that readers need to figure what has a dangerous influence on them and what not. For me, I made a step forward by facing all these triggers. I read it all, compared, felt bad and realized it. I read it again and watched myself. Do I compare? How do I feel? It gave me the chance to actually confrontate myself with these influences without being attacked by them. But that’s just me. I am sure there are readers out there who are deeper in an ED and for them it is definitely a bad trigger. Like you, I roll my eyes and skip the pics. Because I still just don’t know what the purpose is.
I think bloggers do have a responsibility to their readers, but this would be with ANYTHING, not just HR monitors. I mean anything we put on our blog could potentially affect someone in a positive or negative way, ya know? I think some HR monitor pictures could thrown some people in a tizzy and it could motivate others. I also just think it depends on how its portrayed, as being snobby and bragging or truly trying to be motivational…I think it all depends 🙂
Oh I definitely agree that it’s about the big picture. I was just using HRM pictures as an example because I noticed a lot of them popping up lately.
This is a very tricky subject because like you brought up in the last paragraph, everyone can post what they wish to post. It is the responsibility of the individual with the eating disorder to stay away from triggers – although – we all know we do NOT stay away from what triggers us to feed the disorder. Every person who has a blog has a right to post anything; however, I believe the bloggers who refer to themselves as “fit-fluential” or “healthy living” blogs are the ones who need to watch their steps. THOSE are the blogs who are saying, “You can emulate me because I am a healthy living blogger”. This – to a person with an eating disorder – says, “I need to burn this many calories and it is okay because this person is healthy and I want to be healthy, too”. I noticed when I took my break from reading blogs – because I didn’t have time during student teaching – is when I made great strides with my eating disorder. Sometimes I think blogs are too much for those really, REALLY in the depths of an ED.
You raise a really good point about the bloggers who label themselves as “healthy living” being the ones who really have to watch out what kind of an image they project. And it’s problematic because anyone out there can start a blog and claim to be doing the right thing 0 they don’t need any credentials, or knowledge, or anything.
I agree with this 110%. It all matters on the TYPE of blog you’re writing. If it’s a personal blog, then honestly you can’t expect someone to monitor what they’re posting in fear of triggering others. However, if it’s a blog that has been created to show people how to eat and exercise healthfully, that’s a whole other ball game.
In the end, I really think it comes down to the reader and their ability to know what they should and should not be reading. If something is triggering to them, it’s their responsibility to know not to read it. Because what triggers one person may help another.
Yes yes yes!!! I love this post Amanda! I think bloggers do have a certain responsibility for their content. I understand that it is our blogs and we are free to post whatever we want on them but knowing that impressionable people are reading them and possibly looking to them for advice needs to be taken seriously! I love that you are bringing light to this because I think it is often swept under the rug on most blogs and the responsibility is placed on those who are reading which I don’t think is always fair! Love this!
I’m so happy you did this post and you brought up a really great point. WHy is it socially acceptable for bloggers to post calories burned but not calories in or the number on the scale? I stopped weighing myself many months ago and it was the best decision I could have made. It became an obsession and my mood would shift accordingly. A number doesn’t define me or anyone else out there and while it doesn’t trigger me to see the HRM, I don’t see the point. Sure, it might be interesting to know once or twice if you’re using is as an educational point (like Britney’s post about how we need more calories than we think), but that’s it. Posting it everyday just seems kind of mundane to me and totally unnecessary. If the point is to rub it in your readers’ faces, then you’re not a very respectful blogger.