I am loving the new HIITilates series and looks like you are too!! I am excited for your enthusiasm as I build out this new format! I always knew you guys liked your cardio so I had to figure out a way to make it fun and exciting and excruciating without counting (boring) or timers (boring). The new moves challenge me just as much as they challenge you – so great job for keeping up!!!
I am between the Bay Area and Palm Springs the next couple days! This Sunday I will be teaching a group of young kids how to have fun while staying active at President Clinton’s Health Matters event. I don’t think I will get to see him though! Boo. But oh well, maybe one of these days I can meet Michelle Obama and work with her on educating our youth on nutrition and exercise. I honestly think that if we get em young and get em thinking about food the right way from the beginning, we can prevent obesity, hospital visits, and all types of illnesses. I GENUINELY believe that food is your medicine. Preventative medicine is the best kind you can be prescribed :)
OMG and speaking of kids and obesity and food and….
Oh
My
Gah
Can I just say I was stuck watching “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo” at the gym yesterday??!!!! (Ok fine, I wasn’t stuck, it was completely my choice, but I had to see what all the rave was about!)
I mean.
I can’t.
I can’t even.
WHAT IS THIS!!!????
I don’t even know where to start. I was lucky enough to tune into the Thanksgiving episode where I got to watch them make food and eat it. Now when I say lucky, I actually mean it. I think it was a good starter episode for me because seeing the family’s nutrition made me understand where they were coming from…even though it nearly made me gag and die as I was on the stairmaster.
Here’s my takeaway…
So I watch the mom who is morbidly obese make a turkey. She says she doesn’t like to cook but she’ll cook a turkey for Thanksgiving. How does she do it? Take a whole TUB of butter and seriously grabs it with her bare hands and rubs it in between the turkey skin and meat. Leaving lumps of butter like 5 inches thick EVERYWHERE!!! Best part is Honey Boo Boo is there to learn that butter is the main ingredient in every meal…
Next mama makes veggies. Oh good. Cept she takes out like legit 50 cans of beans, yams, corn etc. and says that “If it don’t come in a can, we don’t eat it.”
Sigh.
Next she makes cranberry sauce. As she pours like 30 jelly-fied things of cranberry sauce into a pan and lathers it with a pound of sugar and 2 pounds of butter, she says “This is how the kids get fruit. And cranberry is good for urinary tract infection or somethin’ so it’s healthy.”
OMG, I could go on and on but you get the point.
What upsets me about the show has nothing to do about how unfit the family is or what their income level is and what they have access to but their sheer DENIAL of the truth and obvious DEFIANCE of doing anything about it!!!! The show glorifies this disgusting, careless, and EXTREMELY unhealthy lifestyle for millions of people to see every day. For those of us lucky enough to understand, we see the show as entertainment. But for others who don’t know better, they may see this as okay to do since TV is showing it.
Seeing the morbidly obese mom continually feeding herself and her children toxic food kills my soul so badly. Look, I don’t care if she doesn’t have a degree in nutrition or whatever – she doesn’t have to to know what the right thing is to do. If she wakes up every morning feeling lethargic and unmotivated to do anything to change her life – why doesn’t she at least try to spark a change in her kids?? Feeding them butter and sugar every day and letting them fart and burp all over the place during dinner while throwing food around…I can tell they do not appreciate the beauty of nourishing your body.
They see food as fun. Food as a thing. A thing you simply buy and put in your mouth because you’re supposed to eat a few times a day. The faster the better. The sweeter the better. The butter. The better.
The fact that a majority of the family is overweight is not the problem. Fat is just a result of what you haven’t done to take care of your body. Fat will be gone when you begin to eat your veggies, drink your water, and get active! I don’t look at body weight as a measure of someone’s sucess, education, or worth – but just as an indicator of healthiness. In this case, I am worried. I am very very worried for Honey Boo Boo.
A most of you know, living with your family makes it hard to eat what you want if you’re trying to eat clean and no one else gets it. Well how about this. Honey Boo Boo will never ever ever know about eating clean for years until her mom or dad begin cooking differently. She can’t buy food. She’s not tall enough to reach the stove. She is literally forced to eat the way her family cooks. That is why she is getting that tummy as little kid. It’s not her fault. And I am glad she doesn’t have any body image issues (yet) but something needs to change soon because her parents are slowly killing her health and well-being with the food they eat daily.
It’s sad because I don’t wanna blame her mom for their way of life because she too was probably brought up on “butter, sketti, and ketchup,” but it has to stop somewhere. And where that starts from is from education and the will to make a change.
Yea. It’s hard. It VERY hard if you have over 200 pounds to lose and you don’t even know where to start. Mama is at this point probably addicted to butter and sugar and it will take support from friends and family and a burning desire inside herself to begin a new life. She needs to do it though. Not just for her. But for her kids and their kids.
It’d be cool if the mom could get on Biggest Loser. I bet they asked her before but she said no. And that’s the problem. She has to be the one to decide for herself to make the change. No one else can do that for her.
I just hope someone steps in soon to cook for them. I don’t even care about the exercise right now. The diet is killing me. And physically killing them. The show disgusts me to the bone but I am glad I got to watch it yesterday because I know there are many many more families out there who are living a similar lifestyle. I truly believe the change begins with education. I need to think about this.
So if you know anyone who is not treating their body right, try to help them. Don’t go over and say “Do you know what you’re eating is gonna give you a heart attack?” That doesn’t work. What you do is you bake a healthy apple pie or yummy oatmeal muffin for them and say “Hey, I made this for you.” Smile. If they like it, they will ask for the recipe. It starts there and it starts small.
What do you think about Honey Boo Boo? Do you watch that show? And how do you think we can get more people educated about nutrition who aren’t actively seeking it and living it like we are?
<3 Cassey
Wow, I was doing a Google search on health and fitness and came across this article. I read it and quite a few of the comments.
I have to shake my head at those who chose to be offended by what Cassey said. I was amazed by the person who posted this: “And weight never determines a persons health.”
Are you kidding me? Talk about a ‘denial ain’t a river in Egypt’ moment.
Yes, weight DOES have a lot to do with overall health. Now, people do have different body types and will carry weight differently. 140 lbs on one person will look and feel different depending on the person. Being aware of what your weight range should be and staying within that range and maintaining a healthy lifestyle is extremely important. To deny this is just the height of ignorance.
As far as Cassey’s assertions regarding weight and health; she is 100% correct. She is not ‘pushing’ her lifestyle on anybody…she is stating the obvious.
People’s poor health choices DO affect us all. Thanks to poor education and follow through in this area, our medical and insurance costs skyrocket. Obesity is a huge contributing factor to health problems and we all pay the price when people choose not to take care of themselves.
Cassey was very compassionate in her statements about the Honey Boo-Boo family. I wouldn’t have been nearly as kind. She is absolutely right when she says that the way this family eats is killing them and that this child has no choice but to eat this way. By the time she can make informed decisions for herself, this way of living will be ingrained and the damage will have been done.
This show isn’t cute or funny…it’s disgusting. It portrays the reason we are viewed in the international community with scorn because many people see this AS the American standard. That’s embarrassing. This obese, backwoods, goofball family is NOT my American experience and I don’t wish to be lumped in with them.
As far as eating goes, I was so lucky to have been brought up by parents who made fresh fruit and vegetables available and encouraged us to eat them. Did we eat perfectly? No, but we had a good, solid basis that has served me well throughout my life.
I can’t claim to always be fit and at my ideal weight, but at least, thanks to my parents, I know how to take care of myself and when I feel that I am becoming a less healthy version of myself I can stem the tide.
Education about our bodies, our health, and how our choices affect them is vastly important. I thought Cassey’s suggestion of offering healthy treats was really nice. She wasn’t being judgmental or mean, she was expressing concern for the well being of others.
Being fit and healthy is a gift. If you’ve never had the opportunity to feel this way, it is a shame…and many people have absolutely no idea how to take care of their bodies.
Yes, it is everybody’s choice as to how, or if, they eat, exercise, etc. but to encourage people to care for their bodies, and therefore their long term health, is the right thing to do.
To speak cruelly of someone for doing so is just plain ignorant.
This is my first time go to see at here and i am truly impressed to read all at alone place.
I just started reading Cassey’s tumblr and I came to the post “I want you to read this, because I’ve been reading your posts too.” I saw the hurtful things people said and her explanations, and thought Cassey must’ve said something really offensive or awful, but it’s so not the case.
EVERYTHING she said is true. I was raised by obese parents and they taught me the same things Mama June is teaching Alana. I have had such an unhealthy relationship with food and myself as a result, not only because you have to work hard to be fit, but also because you have to work SO HARD to undo what has been forced on you as a child. I wish my parents would’ve never fed me cheese puffs or soda, and would’ve fed me at least a few salads growing up… but I was raised on the same processed, sugar and fat bullshit, that they are showing on this show.
Maybe the gif was too much, but it illustrates a point too – why are they showing that poor child on TV doing that? It was On. National. TV. That image is never going away. When Alana is an adult, it will still be there. When she has diabetes, high blood pressure, or some other obesity related disease – it will still be there. More people should feel there needs to be an intervention. She is a child, being fed sugar and fat, and she won’t realize how much damage it has done to her until it starts affecting her in a really negative way.
Our children deserve better than that. No one is trying to “force” a healthy lifestyle on anyone, and I don’t even see how it is looked at like that. It’s a message about access to healthy foods, education about what you should be eating, generational poverty, and the obesity epidemic. I hope that even if the message doesn’t get to Honey Boo Boo or Mama June, some parent, somewhere, saw this blog or the TV show and realized they are killing their innocent children with their choices.
I’m not sure why everyone is freaking the hell out on Cassey. Honestly, she is 100% right. If this family does not start at least changing their eating habits, someone will die very young from disease. Mama June could quite possibly be the first person to die from complications due to eating such horrible foods. Health is such a serious topic. Cassey is only looking out for the health of this family. It’s okay.
Alana probably doesn’t even know what “healthy and unhealthy” is at this point in time in her life because no one in her family is teaching it to her. Cassey isn’t trying to get this family to become stick thin or anything. She just wants to make sure they are healthy and full of energy to live long lives without complications. Cassey, people are going nuts because it’s a sensitive topic to them. Not everyone will agree with you on everything you say or do. Calling you names is horrible. Keep your head held high :) So glad you are looking out for the well-being of others. Never anything wrong with that!
I couldn’t agree with you more, honestly. Truly disgusting. I will tell you I’ll for sure be trying my hardest to help anyone I see living like that or living similarly. Thanks for acknowledging this!
I’m obese and I didn’t find this post offensive. A lot of people are arguing that “Oh you shouldn’t criticize them, just as long as their happy”,”You shouldn’t enforce your lifestyle”, but since the show is public for everyone to see, the family chose to have EVERYTHING documented. So you weren’t out of line at all.
People need to hear this harsh truth. If we don’t take the responsibility of being healthier and sensible, someone else will always end up doing for us, and even in major cases, may have a lot of things taken away from us; I sure as hell don’t want the government controlling every little thing I eat.
“What you do is you bake a healthy apple pie or yummy oatmeal muffin for them and say “Hey, I made this for you.” Smile. If they like it, they will ask for the recipe. It starts there and it starts small.”
I love this method you suggested!
Hey, Cassey,
I think the moving giff of a child and saying her family is disgusting and that the mom could get on the Biggest Looser is a tad overboard. It’s clear you mean well but Im more concerned about the fact that the kid is being ridiculed on tv and she really might have a problem with that later on let alone being the subject of posts like this. I just think if It’s a child the less bad things you have to say, the better for her later on even though I agree, its not nice watching people being ignorant about their health.
Hey Cassie,
I love what you do and stand for. People who slate you for being honest about the way not only this family lives but others as well, are in denial of the problem that people have with regards to heir attitudes towards a healthy lifestyle. Don’t get me wrong, I love pizza and stuff but I am aware of the benefits of eating well as are many others. What you said was correct and honest. People need to hear the truth rather than have it sugar coated. Watching programs like this ISN’T funny. What is funny about a small child grabbing her gut or asking for a meal made with butter? Butter. Maybe it was said in a harsh way but why sugar coat it, people call people for being underweight all the time, in far nastier ways my I add. Why can’t people who are morbidly obese be subject to the same truth ?
People need more advocates of health in their lives rather than watching people eat themselves to oblivion.
Keep going Cassie :)
Why is everyone having a cry here? She’s completely right. If you’re offended, you’re in denial. Weight DOES reflect health. Sure, some people do actually have legit problems that prevent them from losing weight, but the majority of people use this idea to make excuses. Also, she’s completely right in that people who don’t know better see things on tv and think that it’s normal or ok. I mean, it’s not morally wrong to eat like a pig, but it’s not normal and definitely not healthy. It’s the same as all tv, I hate to think of young kids watching Jersey Shore and thinking it’s ok to get ridiculously drunk and scream and get in a physical fight with people meant to be your friends. It’s funny to my friends, but they do know better than to accept the cast’s terrible behaviour as ‘normal’.
Cassey- long time reader, first time poster. I just wanted to tell you to keep your chin up. You’re a huge inspiration to many, many people to live a healthier lifestyle, and you’re not the only one who is outraged by the poor nutrition exhibited by the mother on this show. I don’t think you were harsh or offensive- I think that this is YOUR site and you should feel free to post anything you darn well please! For all of Casset’s fans who were offended by this- you follow her for a reason. Whether it’s lifestyle or exercise tips, you have found an appreciation for Cassey’s knowledge. So when SHE is flabbergasted at the absolute lack of nutritional care exhibited by this show (and preparation for juvenile diabetes, more likely than not) then maybe instead of getting offended, you should remember why you trust Cassey’s opinion and start wondering if you shouldn’t find this family’s eating habits insane as well!!! This is her site, can she get her message across or does she have to be ultra PC and sugar coat everything for anyone to be happy?
I love this post, You are just right in everything you said and you are never going to please everybody, so don´t get sad with stupid people, I love you and thanks for how you encourage me to be a better and healthier person.
While they are definitely unhealthy, I don’t think it is your place to push a healthy lifestyle upon other people. You can be here to educate the ones who want to know. But not bash every one that does not follow such a lifestyle. There are people out there that enjoy their food, and it may not be healthy but it’s not your place to judge. I just don’t think this was a very smart post from you. And could offend many people. Also in other episodes they do try and lose weight, be healthier, and their mother teaches their daughters to love themselves. So in my opinion you are too quick to judge. And weight never determines a persons health.
Sorry , but what’s wrong with you girl ?!
They enjoy their food ? Aren’t we too ? It’s not like we don’t eat anything ! We actually eat everything – as long as its healthy . This is not a very smart post from YOU and NOT from Cassey …
Guess you want to be healthy , but your mother fed you with the wrong food right away so now you feel like you can’t change , but you can ! Try it . You’ll see difference soon . I don’t think you want to die the next few years , so don’t eat toxic . You cann guess how this honey boo boo will look in 10 years … Like a big fat teenager ! And now you can choose – do you want to be bullied or do you want to be fit and healthy . It’s you’re choice .
She isn’t bashing anyone. She is just saying that she is scared for Honey Boo Boo because of the food quality and quantity her mother is giving her. She is not the first person to voice her concerns about their eating habits and I dont think that you should be criticizing her for trying to do this.
weight never determines a persons health….? You serious?
As an overweight adult myself, I agree with this post on most respects. I have made a change in my diet and exercise because of blogs like this and their encouraging posts and also in hopes that my children will be raised in a different nutritional lifestyle. I think that you are right, Cassey, in regards to the health of the family. But maybe you could have done more research on the family before posting about them. I mean, they are real people with real feelings.
Perhaps posting in this way is not the best answer for making a difference in their lives or in the lives of people like them. In fact, my best friend’s family is just like the Honey Boo Boo family. I mean, practically identical. And this post would not encourage them to change their mindset about food. In fact, it would probably fuel their dislike of healthier living. I do agree that there needs to be a change in our country and with families like these, but making judgments about their thoughts and feelings without even meeting them might just cause controversy and in effect, do the opposite of what is intended with your article.
Please don’t take this the wrong way (as I think many people are doing so with your article) because I do believe in what you do on a daily basis and I DO believe in you as a healthier lifestyle role model. Please continue to encourage us with your videos and blogging. You are an inspiration to many!
I am still a big fan.
Thank you
I believe that you are honestly a kind-hearted person who is disgusted by what could almost be categorized as “self-mutilation”. I agree that their family may be happy for now, but they will severely regret what will happen to them physically, emotionally, and medically from eating without regard to WHAT you’re eating. I am a happy person, because I am healthy and able to move around and participate in many different activities that are important to being social and functional as a human being. I am certainly not perfect and am always open to education on how to be healthy and fit.
It is a travesty that people would come to your site and say hateful things. You did not say hateful things about Honey Boo Boo or her family, but about their lifestyle and how it needs to change for the better. Cassey, you should take solace in the fact that you are helping SO many people who WANT to become healthier. You have to realize that no matter how much you try to help, there are those who don’t want to be helped. Think about all of the anti-smoking ads they put on tv, yet people continue to poison their lungs. It’s just the way the world works, and bless your heart for trying to make the people living in it happier.
You go girl! Love you Cassey!
The worst was when the mother encourages the girls to fart in order to loose weight.. That felt so disturbing and sad and rude at the same time…
That really scares me and I think you are taking a step in the right direction I mean, I’m 12 and I have a little excess fat but the fact that this is their daily lifestyle and they are comfortable with putting that all out there SCARES ME. I think you are right to be concerned for the health of obese kids. I was watching Biggest Loser last night and they sent a nutrition specialist to help 3 kids who are on their way to obesity, and they are helping them improve their lifestyle. THESE KIDS SEEMED PERFECTLY WILLING TO DO THIS which is why that family’s health is a major huge problem because they don’t seem eager to change at all. it’s sad to know that if they don’t change they will probably suffer from diabetes , etc :( D:
This is really a disgusting post. “I bet they asked her [to be on the biggest loser] before but she said no.” What an ignorant thing to say. You didn’t see the episode where they did go on a diet, which isn’t even the point. You sure as hell didn’t see any of the episodes where the mom encourages her kids to be confident in themselves/happy with themselves. You didn’t see the episodes where the mom and all of her kids call themselves beautiful. So who the hell are you to tell them they aren’t? They’re probably happier in their lives than MOST people in the country who are CONSTANTLY worried about what they’re eating and how much their working out. So as far as I’m concerned, I have lost ALL respect for you. Shame on you for pushing your appearance based, shallow views onto a perfectly happy, loving family. Maybe you should reevaluate your own life and your own values. Maybe you should take a few tips from that mother.
There is a big difference between being confident about yourself and simply being proud of a bad habit. Being fat is not a problem. Acknowledging it, having the proper information and resources to make a change and not doing anything against it is bad and shameful, period. There is no such a thing as “bad genetic”. If someone can’t have proper nutrition because of psychological issues it should search psychological help.
Likewise, we should deeply respect alcoholic people, or any person – but under any circumstance should we be accessary to their addiction and behavior. Why tough love is accepted on this case and not for obese people? What is the difference?
The “appearance based” values thing is wrong. But being fit is not about appearance, it is just the “side effect” of having proper nutrition and exercise. If you eat better you won’t be prettier in any way. Your face will be the same and it is fine. You will just get slimmer. Period.
Oh dear ‘Guest’ you’ve clearly written this post as an Internet Troll, your comment is very much out of date so clearly only here for the intention of upsetting Cassey, which we will not take! Your views are ignorant and spiteful! They went on a diet for one show that worked out terribly AND if you were to understand reality TV you would know they only did as part of the story line. Yes they maybe a very happy family, but again this is a reality tv show, we don’t know what happens when the camera’s aren’t there! NO ONE is 100% themselves with a camera in their face! Also they DO eat badly!! I’m sorry but if you knew someone who were on drugs every day you would tell them that it was killing them, so why is it always so taboo to tell an over weight person they are killing themselves?! because ultimately it’s the same thing it’s leading down the same path. Food as we know is highly addictive.
So ‘Guest’ I have one last thing to say to you … I feel sorry for you and I hope one day you find peace in your life because I have found that people like you, who leave and give out horrible messages, lead a really sad lonely life. Good people give out good energy, bad people give out negativity. I hope one day you’ll give yourself some peace and become a nicer person because I promise you’ll have a happier life.
I saw the episode where she went on a diet, and I believe in that episode she went to a BBQ joint…some diet!
I agree that as long as they know that they are beautiful and are comfortable in themselves that way, we have no right to tell them to change. I’m sure they do enjoy their lifestyle, BUT THEY ARE KILLING THEMSELVES. There is a possibility of diabetes which would mean a worse lifestyle than just being healthy. If they get diabetes they will have to constantly keep their insulin and blood sugar under control. I don’t think it’s asking a lot to switch out a donut for some broccoli or some whole grain toast.
Im sorry, but you have absolutely no idea what you;re talking about.
That TV show is promoting so many bad habits and ways of life!! No one should be watching Honey Boo Boo and thinking it is a normal way of living and eating. It doesnt matter if the mum is telling the kids to call themselves beautiful etc. They are great things. but you cant ignore that the general gist of the TV show is about a loud mouthed, over weight little girl, with no manners, and her morbidly obese mother and family.
Cassey is COMPLETELY right in everything she said. If you can’t see that Tv shows like this are so harmful to kids and other familys that watch them and thing this is normal, then it is you being ignorant.
Honestly, she’s looking towards their health, not necessarily the family. The example the mother is setting to her children is killing them. And she has nothing to reevaluate. She was in the right to say what she felt. She is a health expert. She knows what she’s talking about and that mother of the show tries to make up for her mistakes by saying she wants her kids to be confident. She just wants pity. She wants to be seen as a good mother. Well a good mother knows her child’s health is the most serious thing in the world. A good mother would never want to see her child in the hospital because of high cholesterol, diabetes, and a possible heart attack because her only ingredients are butter and anything from a can. While I’m not the healthiest person alive, I know boundaries. Which that mother does not. It’s confidence and the easy road over health. You think Cassey wrote a disgusting post, but in reality , she was just saying what everyone else is too much of a coward to say.
Cassey! don’t let these haters bother you! I watched the thanksgiving episode and you’re right they are slowly killing themselves. Anyone who knows you knows that all your intentions are good and you’re just concerned for “Honey Boo Boo”. Don’t worry Cassey all of the POPsters are right behind ya! We got your back!<3
I was shown a clip of that show and it is so sad. Her go juice is mountain dew really, to me the way they are raising their kids is horrible. If they are the new poster family for the United States I’m ASHAMED and it makes me sick that other country’s will base this crap as the NORMAL AMERICAN Family. Just because the obesity level is rising and people don’t seem to mind living a shorter unhealthy life with heart attacks and young children with pre or straight dibeties before they are even a teenager. Having a show promoting this deadly diet is messed up. That show is a joke that needs to be removed.
“I don’t look at body weight as a measure of someone’s sucess, education, or worth – but just as an indicator of healthiness. ”
Not true! An underweight, skinny person can be in much worth health than an overweight, chunky person…
Fact check, spell check & grammar check before you head check people…and while you are at it, maybe a little forethought or disclaimer would be apt and cause less of a stir!
BODY WEIGHT is what she said. Not “weighing less”. No where in that sentence you quoted does it say that being of a low body weight means you’re healthier- it’s being at a HEALTHY weight FOR YOU that indicates healthiness. You basically just put words in her mouth and interpreted Cassey’s post to mean something that it does not.
Hey Cassey, do you know who is Jamie Oliver? you might like his Food revolution :) http://www.jamieoliver.com/us/foundation/jamies-food-revolution/home
I think the bottom line is that Cassy wrote what she did out of love and concern for the health and well-being of that whole family, and many others who may be partaking in similar lifestyle choices. It is an extremely sensitive topic, people are going to have such an array of views on the subject because these issues have impacted, or not impacted people, on many levels. For a person who has never had issues with weight, body image, food addiction, etc these matters may seem simple and clear cut. For someone who has battled these topics personally I can imagine it is very hard to read/hear certain opinions and views. I think we all need to remember that the focus should always be of healthy choices (not saying I am perfect by any means with this…) and the encouragement of this to others. I think we should all remember we only have control of ourselves; we cannot control how others behave, think, eat, exercise, etc. All we can do is support one another. Although some may not agree with the wording Cassy used, I think many can agree that at least on some level Cassy is just stating her views and trying to be a support in trying to educate and also dedicating her time to this website to inform and teach all of us.
To Cassy, I can see where some people had a problem with things you wrote, but I personally commend you for being brave enough (even though at the time you probably never expected such reactions) to tackle such a sensitive topic. It doesn’t matter if people agree or disagree, stay true to yourself and please keep reaching out from a place of caring and concern for the well being of others. You have no doubt helped many people including myself.
I think everyone is over reacting. This is an opinion piece and anyone who reads this and understands your passion for health would take this as you caring not as offensive!
Like you said, it’s easy for some of us to watch the show just as entertainment and not pick up on those horrible eating habits. Unfortunately, not everyone is like that and hopefully Honey Boo Boos eating habits don’t rub off on others :\
Hi Cassey!! First I want to say thank you for your videos and blog. You are a great inspiration to me and I think the world of you!! About your Honey Boo Boo post, I couldn’t agree more. You just said what all of America is thinking but feels too politically correct to say. Child obesity is at an all time high, and anyone that doesn’t see that should open their eyes, our First Lady has started making changes to make sure our children have a healthier lunch ay school and all I have heard is grief and complaining about not getting chocolate milk. Ridiculous… Even kids TV networks see this problem and have “days of play” where they shut down the cartoons for a few hours so the kids can go play outside… Pro football players are involved in the 60 minutes of play a day campaigne… So why shouldn’t we be making everyone more aware. If we a have a voice and the knowledge in this matter then it is our obligation to do our part as well!! Kudos to you for being that voice!
Honestly the only show of honey boo boo I ever watched was the thanksgiving show and it was disgusting! All my friends say its funny but how is an annoying little girl funny? All that butter was nasty and that casserole thing they ate YUCK!!! You can tell they don’t eat right just by mixing all that crap together. That show should be cancelled cuz it’s not of any importance to anyone. They get paid for that show why not buy a gym membership or join weight watchers. If that’s too much join a cooking class. That’s as easy as it gets for good health just try.
I agree with this post! As someone who’s always struggled with weight and as a mom to a 5 year old, I agree that healthy habits should start at a young age. Parents should be helping kids have a taste for fruits and veggies instead of junk food.
I’ve been really heavy before, 225lbs at 5’3 and no way did I find your post offensive. I became obese because I ate unhealthy foods and become inactive. Maybe the people that are offended by your blog are in denial. I agree with another commenter who said that maybe it hit close to home.
Although I’m eating healthier now and being more active, I still have some weight to go to get to my ideal body weight. I am so thankful my cousin told me about your blog. Keep blogging! I think you’re great!
Cassey,
I cannot imagine that a single one of the people who left insulting and negative comments on this post was someone who is fit, healthy and happy with themselves. I know that your mission is to educate people who are unhealthy and try to motivate and inspire them and I respect that you will not give up on that. However, if there are people commenting on here with comments like “you’re the kind of person who makes people commit suicide” then they need to leave the blog. You can lead a horse to water but you cant make it drink! These people are obviously terribly unhealthy and miserable and and so jealous of your discipline and determination that they will lash out aggressively at even the most innocent comments about transparent FACT. It is FACT that Honey Boo Boo and her family are grossly unhealthy and FACT that they will suffer for it later. THE END. You are the author of a HEALTH blog. Of course you are going to make negative comments about people who believe that jelly is fruit! Personally I would have had much worse and more personal comments to make about that TV show and I thought your comments were realistic and handled gracefully. I would be very upset to learn that you let those negative comments get to you. Personally I pity anyone who could not grasp the basic health ideas you were stating and feel deeply sorry for how uneducated they are.
Don’t ever stop telling readers the truth!
Cassey,
My sister in law tuned me into your wonderful videos and I’m a big fan! I’m also in the public eye and I get soooo much hate on the net sometimes! Take it as a mark of your popularity, and nothing more, even though sometimes what people say is incredibly painful (especially as you’re just trying to help!) you’re awesome, and absolutely right, and if people actually have the audacity to hate on people they don’t know on the Internet, it’s quite likely they’re not worth listening to, anyway.
There was actually one episode where they were all trying to lose weight however it didn’t end up well
people don’t like to hear the truth & they rather keep living their lives being unhealthy & unfit. I have never watched that show & never will. Cassey you’re the best thing that has ever happened to Youtube so keep doing a great job. Your friend H.
I REFUSE to watch Honey Boo Boo. Watching a family self slowly kill themselves with butter and ketchup sickens me to be frank. I’ve always been blunt and never cared how people took it and I’m not about to change that because people are okay with some little girl who’s famous because her family is overweight and crude. If anything she is a victim of neglect. Her family is neglecting her health, and not just physically. She’s a child and being on tv and with the way information gets around today. She is never going to out live her image as little Honey Boo Boo, the “fat redneck kid that ate butter as a snack”. It’s bad enough that adults can’t out shine their television past. Do we really need to put a kid through it too?
I approve of this post. I don’t think it was harsh or judgmental on who they are as people. I have never seen the show, save what I see from other media sources and friends. However, I can even tell that these people do not lead a healthy lifestyle and what they are doing to their children is murder.
I don’t agree that people who are low-income or on food stamps or whatever don’t have the resources to eat clean or healthy. They just need to be educated. With so many big box stores out there, you can get fresh produce majorly cheap. Especially if you follow what’s in season.
And okay, they work so much they don’t have time to make from scratch meals everyday. I get that. But there are healthier alternatives, like frozen vegetables…or just not putting a crap ton of butter on them.
It’s really not that hard to eat cheaply and healthy. I have heard it’s actually cheaper if you’re buying non-processed foods. I can’t say if that’s true because I don’t eat processed foods and have never priced it out, but even if it’s not “perfect”, there is always “better than”. The willpower and lifestyle change is a lot harder, but it can be done in baby steps. I recently had to cut out gluten and dairy from my diet…and two of my favorite foods are bread and cheese. It was killer. I spent a month wailing over how “I can’t eat anything!” And I choose not to eat meat, which makes it even harder to find things to eat. But after making the commitment to myself to do it, it’s not so bad after 6-ish months. But it was all about baby steps. “Okay, today I won’t eat bread.” Then, “Okay, I got through today. Tomorrow I won’t eat bread also.” Etc.
It’s tough, I won’t disagree with that. But it is not impossible.
I feel like Cassey is just worried about these people’s health. Heck, I worry about these people’s health and I think it’s disgusting on so many levels that the media would glorify their lifestyle. (And I’m not just talking about their diet anymore.) Something needs to change.
I come from an East Asian home (Singapore Chinese, to be exact), and even though my family moved around a lot during my childhood, I was exposed to many things. Growing up in S’pore I’d see many elderly Chinese wake up early in the morning to do their morning exercises (usually Tai Chi), and while as kids, we’d laugh at how funny it looked to us, we understood that it was exercise. Both my parents grew up in S’pore and are both runners (still and they are in their 50s). My dad came from a poor family (3 families to one house) was active as boy, and my relatives on his side will always talk about how he was always “dirty and sweaty” from running around outside. I don’t know as much about my mom’s side of the family, or how active she was as a child, but I knew she participated in track when she was younger and then cross country later. They both didn’t have the healthiest of diets, but they were both active. That changed to a more balanced lifestyle after they got married and learned about cholesterol, and wanted to have kids, etc., but they were still surrounded by a culture and people who are more active. I’m not trying to say that one culture is better than another, I’m just trying to say that upbringing plays a huge role. When we moved to Scotland when I was 7, most of my memories there were of running around outside and playing. When we moved back to Singapore, and as I got older, I started having stomach issues (gastritis and bloating), but I was still taking ballet classes (started when I was 2) and swimming…and then eventually my dad introduced running. I could go on and on, but I say all of this in support of what Cassey says, that this is something that definitely starts young. As a young teacher, having spoken with my older colleagues, they always say, “I’m envious that your parents started you off young–I wish mine did the same–but hopefully I’m setting an example for my kids now before they get too old and take it for granted.” My older sister is looking to become a doctor and she always talks about how obesity in America is an epidemic–and these aren’t her words!!! These are the words of her nutrition professors!! I know this post is late, and is long, but Cassey, don’t be discouraged by the negative comments. MORE light needs to be shed on this matter. As a young teacher, I advocate for this all the time and my sister (an aspiring doctor) does the same. It was refreshing to read your honesty on the matter and more people need to be faced with reality. Thank you, Cassey!
You are so right Cassey. Don’t worry about those bad comments, they don’t understand. You’re just explaining that you’re worried for honey boo boo and her health. That’s perfectly fine, we all completely agree.
Cassey, it must hard to speak your mind on the internet, especially since it’s so easy for people to hate, and somehow many people are quick to judge and don’t try to see both sides of the situation. I grew up in a family where the majority of my family members are obese. My older sister was obese since she was a child, and somehow I never really had weight problems. I was never skinny, but I was never obese. I’m not saying that my sister is not smart, or beautiful, or amazing, because she most definitely is and I would beat anybody up who says anything different, but her weight makes me worried. I don’t want her to have serious health issues when she’s 30. I want her to feel happy and confident, because I know she isn’t. And I’m not saying this about every overweight person. I am close to my sister and she tells me she’s not confident about herself, which has gotten in the way of her making friends or being able to talk to boys or even just asking her boss for a raise. Now, to everyone who is hating on Cassey, stop and think about her point of view instead of jumping to conclusions and saying that she doesn’t care or is selfish or mean or anything else. Because what I see in Cassey is a big heart. She goes around trying to give people the motivation to be healthy and happy and she makes it fun! I used to eat junk all the time and working out was discouraging because I hate running and using gym equipment. POP Pilates helped me find exercise fun and I feel so much happier and healthier about myself. I too have had confidence issues when it comes to my body. But if anyone has helped me overcome these issues, it’s Cassey. Now, to all you haters, this is what Cassey is trying to do. She is trying to help people live a healthier, happier lifestyle, and she has definitely accomplished this for me. Instead of people being discouraged by all those unhealthy weight loss pills, and programs that advertise eating certain meal plans, Cassey is providing people with a way to a healthier life with food that is readily available. All it takes is education. If you haters don’t want to be educated by Cassey, then don’t listen to her. Do your own thing, that’s fine. I personally have learned so much from her and my happiness and health is greatly due to her videos and her blog. It’s easy to hate on people when you’re talking to a screen, but remember that words hurt, and it doesn’t take any effort to be nice.
Cassey, I love you and I hope my kind words will show you that you are an inspiration to many of us, even if we don’t all show it :)
Way to go Cassey! I’m sending you big hugs! Don’t let these haters get you down!
Dear Cassey,
Chil obesity is a huge concern, but moreover, in term of health, consequences on her future, but also happiness.
Don’t get me wrong, beeing overweight is not wrong, but the family is quite ridiculous to my mind, and i’m not sure that at the end of the day, they are happy about their life.
I’m supporting you in your message and sending the link to make it read to friends ;)
hugs from france !!!
Solene
Ok! I think there are a lot of people who don’t know what the show is about… TLC did not create the show for people to laugh at their good/bad habits or lifestyle… The show is a spinoff of Toddlers and Tiaras… Alana “Honey Boo Boo” were viewers favorite because of her snazzy attitude and the fact that she is a chubby contestant with no body image issue in the pagent world where that doesn’t happen…. I have watched multiple elisodes and agree that their eating habits are killing them. But I also look at other factors. As a southerner “TX” we like most of food fried and buttered and Georgia aint no different…. And yes I use the words aint and yall…Which is sort of a tradition…. And we all know traditions never die in the south…. Another thing even if her mom wanted to eat right and excercise,it would be hard for her to excercise because of club foot from a fork lifting accident at work… I’m kinda stuck in the middle about this post…. I am not outraged by Casey comments or opinions but I do thin that she doesn’t understand a few things such as how things are in the Deep South, the show itself and what it’s like to be fat…
* Still Love your Blog
Just because that’s the way things are in the Deep South, doesn’t mean that’s how they have to remain. Look at Paula dean. The queen of butter! She enjoyed many years of southern cooking and look at her now, she has lost weight and made huge changes in her diet because her cooking was killing her.
I agree with Nancy. Plus, just because you’re from the Deep South and those things are tradition doesn’t mean you have to eat them EVERY DAY. As my fitness instructor likes to say, “Those things are OK once in awhile.”
Doing something for a long time doesn’t make it right. People stop using “tradition” as an excuse for bad habits.
Slavery existed for a long time. Was it right? Witch hunt, inquisition, forced marriage – wereall of them traditions also?
We humans get smarter, more informed, discover new things and leave bad old habits.
“TLC did not create the show for people to laugh at their good/bad habits or lifestyle.”
Yes, they did. If all of these people leaving negative comments want to be mad at somebody, they need to be angry at TLC for exploiting this family. That is exactly what reality television is about…exploitation.
The bottom line is that this show is the televised equivalent of a side show featuring freaks and TLC and other networks who showcase such things are well aware of it. They do it for the shock value which translates into ratings. The people who sit around and guffaw at Honey Boo-Boo’s family and are convinced that the Kardashians are the pinnacle of KLASS are the sheep these networks bank on to make their billions. It is shameful.
I don’t want to hear about how Mama June can’t exercise because of some work accident. That’s the line that every person who is abusing the disability system uses.
I have two bum hips – stage 4 and awaiting two total hip replacements. Guess what? I do Pilates and strength training every day. It’s not easy, but it’s worth it because I feel better and the less weight my hips have to lug around, the better, not to mention the added core strength and flexibility helps immensely.
People who believe as you do are no better than those who enable drug and alcohol abusers.
The more I look at this, the more I think you should look at this post as a HUGE win Cassey. Even though not everyone agrees with you (and frankly, no one ever does, you can’t please everyone), what you have succeeded brilliantly in doing is starting a conversation and drawing attention to the issue. As of the time I wrote this comment, there were 828 comments on this post. That tells me a LOT of people saw this and took the time to read it. You’re bringing the issues of childhood obesity, inactivity and nutrition to people’s attention, something frankly, given the state of health in America right now, that needed to be done.
It’s hard reading critical comments, but in the grand scheme of things, a controversial topic garners a lot more attention than something everyone agrees with. What you’ve done here is started a conversation on the topic – I’d say that’s a big win.
Well said Jenn! Well said!
Thanks so much for your kind words s6milerun :)
I agree! Nicely said. Generating debate is a fantastic thing.
(But also, Cassey, I completely agree and support your views 100%!)
Hi Cassey, I know I am very late in hearing about this and responding but I do have to say that your comments were warranted. I say this because I come from a household that was not educated in healthy eating while I was growing up, and although I grew up in the 70′s and 80′s where there were no video games and computers, I had the opportunity to go outside EVERYDAY and play so the effects of my improper eating habits were not seen. However, as I got older I went outside less and the fat accumulated. I am now well into my 30′s and have come to realize that nutrition is essential for my health. I learned this on my own…not from my parents; so if good eating habits and nutrition are not learned at an early age, it will have a damaging affect and make it harder to become healthy. I have had to not only show my mother but also my best friend the importance of eating healthy and how their choices will affect their energy, body, skin, and hair. Sometimes our passion came come across and insensitive and maybe even condescending, but your heart is in the right place and THAT I can appreciate.
This wasn’t harsh at all. You just wrote the FACTS of what is happening. I agree with you 100%, and instead of making a show of just following them around and showing how many poor decisions they make, they should get a trainer in there and start teaching them how to change their life! I would probably watch the show then!
Child obesity IS a big issue so no, I don’t think this post is harsh but I understand that it may be a sensitive topic to talk about. The kids in my family have always been obese, kids meaning my baby cousins and myself when I was younger. It was a terrible feeling, to feel self-conscious all the time because kids around me were thinner. I could never run as fast or wear things the same way. Now that I’m older, I am still self-conscious but in the way that everyone else is and when I look back on me being that way as a kid, I feel sad. Kids should not have to feel that way or have to think about how much they weigh because parents are the ones that feed them–the ones that buy them junk food. The kids don’t understand what’s unhealthy or healthy yet but are only eating what is being fed. As an obese kid once myself, i was forced to finish everything given to me so even if I reject a bag of chips, I had to eat it or else it would be wasted. This is why Cassey is right in showing her point of view. Let’s not forget Honey Boo Boo has her own reality show. Shows are meant to be criticized and also, one of the funny factors include her being fat. I’ve never watched the show personally because I find reality shows to be stupid–people humiliating themselves for entertainment…no thanks. Using Honey Boo Boo as an example of child obesity is relevant. Everyone knows her so people would understand what is wrong with child obesity. Being healthy must start young. All I got from this blog post is good nutrition means everything and it isn’t right for a child to be eating such unhealthy foods. And what you people find as harsh but is actually reality, the mother is slathering butter and sugar on food. She is the cause of her daughter’s unfitness and that isn’t right. The little girl can’t stop to think “I’m unhealthy” when her mom looks that way and is feeding her like that so yes, the show is disgusting. Their family’s lifestyle is put on display as comedy and entertainment. Obesity should never be taken as a joke so I believe that Cassey is right to state that opinion.
Why are people getting to butthurt over this post?
Is it because it’s hitting a little too close to home?
Everything Cassey said is correct, she in no way slanders the family or calls them stupid, she’s saying the things a lot of us were already thinking!