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
CASSIE PLEASE DON”T BE DISCOURAGED BY ALL THE NEGATIVE COMMENTS!!!! you are such a beautiful person and you work so hard. This article is great, I didn’t feel in anyway like you were being disrespectful to anyone. you are just raising a very good point. I love that you shared your true opinion… it makes you real and genuine. You can just see how much you care about EVERYONES health and fitness!
keep going girl! you have so much courage and you are my inspiration!!
What’s with the hate? What she said.. is true.
I’ve suffered through one episode of that show and I don’t want to watch it again.
They way they eat is beyond horrifying. Frankly, if someone talks about diet in America it equals to normal-everyday food where I live. Because we have much less of those processed foods. We hate McDonalds and other fast-food joints. Frankly fast-food tastes bad. When Cassey says, eat clean, this is what I always do. This is how I regularly prepare food. Take fresh veggies and meat= DINNER.
When I watched that Honey-Boo-Boo show… I finally understood WHY is DIABETES such a huge problem in the US.
I’m so disappointed at how people are reacting to the truth you said about this show. What you said about her mom going on the biggest loser show was trying to emphasize the fact that she must be proud of how she looks? Thats what it seemed like to me. I use to be over-weight, and it took me a lot to get where I am, and I’m so happy to be healthy now. Most of that has a lot of thanks to you Cassey. And also, in the news letter, it’s a disturbing .gif of HBB because she should be taught to be a lady. Not shaking her belly on national television. That IS disgusting. And they know this. You where right to say every single thing you did in your blog. I love you so much, and I thank you for making that post before I would have said it myself.
MWAH <3
Guys, come on-the idea that Mr. and Mrs. Boo Boo are still “low income” is laughable. They make $15,000-$20,000 per episode and little Boo Boo must have other money coming in from side ventures. They know we’re fascinated by their totally bizarre lifestyle (especially what they eat) so of course they’re not going to start eating organic and locally-grown (or whatever) any time soon-we wouldn’t watch them if they did. I think the show’s hilarious (or was, until they started trying so hard to live up to the first few episodes), but I also think their eating habits are disgusting and they’re setting their kids up for a life full of health problems. That’s not to say that Mrs. Boo Boo doesn’t love her kids-of course she does. They seem like a very loving family and the kids seems well-adjusted, confident, etc.. But there’s nothing wrong with Cassey pointing out the fact that the mom is seriously jeopardizing her kids’ health, even if her way of doing so wasn’t “sensitive enough” for some people.
FYI: her mom doesn’t take any of the money for herself, she has put it all in a savings account for the girls for when they go to university. So while they are making a lot of money per episode, she is not being greedy about it. There wouldn’t be a huge change in their lifestyle choices that would be based on income since she’s not paying herself with the money.
What really bothers me is that you’re more concerned about how a seven year old looks and not the sexualization of seven year olds that this show helps promote.
Her area of expertise is nutrition – not the sexualization of children. And the pageants have very little part in this spin off… you are thinking of Toddlers and Tiaras.
Dear Cassey,
I LOVE the new video. Thank you so much! Just got my period today and was feeling really weak and moody, but decided to move my ass out of bed and did just about 30 minutes cardio with you, but it really helped me feeling better.
Best wishes!!!!
To me, this post was inspirering.And I feel lucky, because my mom always have made healthy food for scratch. We live in Norway, and the obisity isn’t so much of a problem over here, even though it’s starting to increase. But, seriously this just made me realise the importance of eating clean. And I do not think you’ve said anything wrong. Recently, a nowegian “celeb” said that anorexia is beautiful, and that he always makes his kids starv a little bit, because no one wants fat children. NOT THAT’S NOT OKAY NOR TRUE. This is bouth true and okay – this is HEALTHY. I love you, Cassey and I think this is a great post.
I haven’t tried the HIITILATES yet ( :( ), because I’m sick (I prefer not to talk), but I am sure that I will love it! And OMG when the DVD comes, I’ll be all starstruck (I guess the skipping time is a little longer to Norway – but I haven’t gotten an email about that it’s skipped or anything – did no one do that?)!! :D
What I don’t understand is all of the “followers who followed Cassey because she was that one person who understands and that you can look up to” just as badly judge her over something that is considered her opinion. If any of you know what point Cassey is trying to get across, you’ll know that this post about her feelings over Honey Boo Boo is her concern for masses of people who might be/is getting the wrong idea about a ‘healthy vs. okay lifestyle’ shown on the media. You’re being JUST as judgmental, if at all, extremely judgmental over every single word, action, and choice she makes. She deals and tolerates all of us when we feel something is wrong and she’ll go out of her way to try to change it to make us understand and help us. Why isn’t any of us considerate of her feelings and opinions?
Cassey has never changed, she looks out for people like us, trying to motivate us even if she can’t see our faces, our struggles, and our lives. She’s literally the person who sudden appears with a helping hand NOT judging you just trying to help you. So for all the ones that say that she’s “over the line” about how she simply stated what she thought was wrong and how she things it could be solved. I’m sorry, she’s doing her job to motivate. This topic has nothing to do about her motivating us through our weight-loss struggles. At the end of the day, the only person you can blame is yourself for not being able to push through it even if she’s here on the website, facebook, instagram, twitter to be positive and stay positive.
I hate that some of you are going out of your way to say that she should’ve handled this/that topic with grace, etc. That she shouldn’t have approached it in “such such” way. You do realize that it wouldn’t be Cassey anymore right? She’ll be a robotic feeder to everyone without her own thoughts/opinions. She wouldn’t be Cassey. And you know what, Cassey isn’t perfect. Neither are any of us. Or me for a fact.
Cassey, I appreciate every single video you have ever brought to me to realize from nutritional facts, recipes, and workouts that I do/WANT to change my lifestyle. Its so nice being able to get to know you through the videos even though you have no idea who I am just to give me a helping hand with the knowledge, power, and tools that you have. I have really tried to motivate myself over the past year to lose weight but I really wasn’t losing it for me. So I didn’t have that drive and every time I would watch a new video I end up feeling like a failure because I didn’t do what I should have done. But you’re right, it takes me to be ready and make that change. So I am, 2013 middle of January I have started my journey towards a better and healthier life. Instead of watching life pass by, I’m living in it and becoming a apart of it. And you have been a great deal part of it so far. I hope to see many videos from you and waiting for the day that Blogilates comes out with an app on Android (: Rock on Cassey! <3 You know that most of us are right behind you!! Thank you for being a motivator, teacher, and trainer.
Do you know what i find sad? That her parents are quite happy to air their unhealthy living habits on the tv.
I agree that it is not Hbb’s fault as she doesn’t know any different and she may be happy NOW, but how will she feel when she is older?? Not just about body image but with health problems too??? I’m sure her parents love her dearly but in my honest opinion i find it irresponsible to feed her this way.
I totally agree with Cassey and their behavior towards food.
If you’re going to be on reality tv, you have to expect scrutiny and criticism.
Ok, so the picture was a little unnecessary but it’s nothing that’s not been aired across America already.
I’ll be educating my children to eat healthily because I don’t want to see them become poorly later in life. I want them to have energy and to be happy.
As Cassey has said it’s not about weight, it’s about nutrition. You can still eat healthily on a budget. Frozen veg is far better than canned and still cheap. Make it fun for the children and grow your own veggies…
Everyone needs to just sit down.
Honestly, its positively ridiculous.
I don’t want to write an essay, or rant about the idiocy in these comments, so I’m going to try and make it as short as I can.
I used to be bulimic so I know what eating disorders are like. I ate badly prior to it, and so naturally I was overweight, and Cassey picked me up out of that hole and I’m confident and fit and happy.
Now, while calling Honey-BooBoo’s family “fat” is her personal opinion. The rest of you don’t need to comment on that and criticise her, and besides she’s criticising their EATING HABITS, which are UNHEALTHY. She’s not wrong. She’s not being unreasonable. She’s saying they lead unhealthy lives which is TRUE and even if it weren’t, you guys don’t need to attack her and give her grief for no good reason. Calm down, take a deep breath, and take care of your own life.
Amen sista.
Couldn’t have said it better, must have something to do with our name? I dunno but your comment is actually perfect.
I agree with Casey. Yes, it’s bad for them to eat that way and yes it’s not great to showcase it on TV for people who don’t know better. Yes, it’s up to the family to change and yes, the post was on the negative side but I also agree with where she is coming from. Casey does this, POPilates, because she LOVES helping other people and she’s PASSIONATE about what she does. It’s a burning desire in her heart that is deep rooted and it kills her to hear negativity and see lifestyles that are actually harming their lifestyle, whether it’s comfortable or not. This post, probably wasn’t what most of you expected, but I’m new to this community, and Casey is human like the rest of us. What she posted was about what she’s passionate about, and if anyone is going to talk about shame, it’s those of you who are so negative on her post. If you’re so let down by her, why did you have her on a pedestal in the first place. I lived Honey Boo Boo’s lifestyle for years and I’m just now making the change, which is why I’m in this community. I did my first workout two days ago and I’m still aching from it. We all have passions, we all have desires that motivate us to do something. Casey has the gusto and the confidence to take a step out and make YouTube videos for all of us to change our lifestyle. She’s not God, she’s not indestructible, she’s human and this post is what she’s passionate about. It literally breaks her heart to see someone not have a healthy lifestyle when they’re making TONS of money and can easily change it. Granted, the mom is putting the money in a trust fund and they live off of her husbands salary alone, but still. They have the opportunity with that money, if they wanted to. Yes, it all does come down to choice. Just like it’s Casey’s choice to make the videos for us.
While some of the comments did shock me, I do know where she’s coming from as I am vocal about my passions and what I love. She’s human, she has passions, and she’s going to voice them. Be grateful that she’s comfortable enough with us to even voice them and be real.
Instead of taking her for granted, why don’t you appreciate her honesty? She’s not always going to say something that you like. Jillian Michaels doesn’t and she’s hugely successful and popular. She says the truth because that’s what people need to hear. Casey did the same thing. So get over it.
In summary: I agree with Casey. But I also agree with most of you in that it’s a choice, and not everyone can be fit. Actually, everyone CAN be fit, they just need to stop sitting around and do something about it.
I can’t believe some people think this is offensive. It is such an important message! What do you want, a euphemism for fat/obese/morbidly obese. You can not sweet-talk this problem. Just not. And the first step is to realize this!
Cassey, this is a great post and the message needs to get out there! Call Jamie Oliver, you’d be the perfect team!
hey cassey!
firstly I want to say I love you, your blog, your attitude, your personality and your workout! Yes some of the comments on here are ridiculously hurtful but alot of them are written by people who have been hurt in the past due to these issues. I certainly don’t agree with some peoples’, equally as hurtful, comments on facebook that they are all “fat ugly b***hs”. I come here everyday as I love your posts on eating working out etc. I feel that this is the same for most of the people posting here. I did find some of your comments a little harsh. When I was alannas age I was super pudgy even though I swam loads, went for walks and ate my veggies. I was bullied and although I’m a stronger person now these types of posts which , in my opinion were written too rashly,are unhelpful. I’m not going to start picking at the post the only point which again is my opinion so you can take it or leave it is that you have mentioned in other posts(and I know cause I read them all!) that you still struggle with healthy eating even though you are well educated, independent, strong minded, intellegent woman. So perhaps you could show a little more compassion for this family who are clearly not so well informed on healthy eating! I’m sure you didn’t mean to come aceoss this way but it did a little. Also I think debate is always a good thing if everyone liked what you said all the time the
would be a strange place! You are an amazingly strong, inspirational woman and this is the first time I have disagreed with your opinions. At times like this remember there is no such thing as bad publicity! Head up and heart strong! Maybe an idea wold be to have someone proof read your text or leave it a few hours and re read it afresh before publishing it! Anyway much love and I’m obsessed with the DVD esp the fancy printable, no more black and white pages for me :-D
“It’d be cool if the mom could get on Biggest Loser. I bet they asked her before but she said no.”
I just want you to let that sink in. How many of your followers think that someone has said something along those lines behind their backs? I’ve been really excited about how popular you’ve been getting Cassey, but after this, I think I’m going to have to unsubscribe. You could have used this as a really interesting talking point on how to eat clean on a very low income, but instead you turned this into a body shaming, classist, and all around disappointing blog post.
Don’t let the door hit you on your way out.
Low income?? You think they get paid in canned food?! Body shaming and classist? For merely stating the obvious, and being concerned for ‘little’ Honey Boo Boo’s health? The only ‘shaming’ i could read into this was that its a shame that they’re not looking after their health! Goodness gracious!
Classist? Do you seriously think after honey boo boo those parents are still low income? But they keep there lifestyle up for the cameras. Body Shaming? This was not body shaming, it wasn’t even so much that the woman is obese which happens to be a HORRIBLE eating disorder that can lead to diabetes, heart disease, death etc…. its not even that she isn’t trying to change but that she is letting her children go down the same dangerous path. How do you think that little girl will like diabetes at 15? or heart disease at 25(OR YOUNGER)? God forbid, no child deserves that, but if it happens, who’s fault is it? From what i’ve seen, you weren’t a true popster anyway. So leave, because Its probably better off you do.
Seriously, have none of you negative nancys ever seen The Biggest Loser? They basically make the same comments like this about every single contestant because it is the truth. In the last episode they had a trivia question about how many parents think that their obese child is a normal weight. The answer was that 80% of parents who have obese children think that their child is a normal weight. 80%!!!! Wake up people!! Obesity is not just having a few extra pounds. It is detrimental to your health and will eventually kill you!! Cassey isn’t saying that this little girl is disgusting. She is saying that what her mom is doing to her daughter’s health and her own health is disgusting.
Totally agree with this post, people need to wake up and stop being SO defensive. I don’t necessarily agree with the methods on the biggest loser but I do agree with the way they stop telling people that it is OKAY to be at that weight. It’s not. Call it shaming, but I think it is a little tough love. Like many have said, criticism is helpful and sometimes truly necessary. Many obese people really need a wake up call because they become too comfortable with the cycle of habits they are living in and they just let themselves go more and more until health becomes a REAL issue. They get offended when someone tells them maybe they ought to do things differently, even when people are just trying to help. They seek positive reinforcement to validate their lifestyle often from other overweight people who live the same way. I know because THAT IS HOW I WAS (so don’t say I must be some skinny chick who doesn’t understand). I hated skinny people looking at me and judging me. I used this hate as an excuse to maintain my unhealthy lifestyle, because it was my right to eat what i wanted, damnit! Did it almost out of spite. And I was just never going to be like those people so it wasn’t worth it!!
I finally had a doctor tell me that I was obese and that if I didn’t stop overeating and make a change I would die young. He was harsh and direct about it, but that’s what I needed. I’ve made drastic changes to my lifestyle since and am down 80 pounds. It took a LONG time but I did it. I don’t pay more for food either, I just make smarter choices, like NOT slathering butter over everything. And I don’t have a gym membership. I go outside and workout at home with videos. What a concept!
Obesity kills and the epidemic is growing in this country because eating horrible food and getting no physical activity each day is becoming more and more the norm and more okay. A TV show that makes these things seem good acceptable or even desirable is like a show that shows parents teaching their kids to smoke. Bad modeling is responsible for a lot of childhood obesity in this country which unfortunately becomes adult obesity, diabetes, heart attacks, etc. Again, that’s how it was in my house. What I wouldn’t give for someone to have intervened with me at a young age.
lf you are significantly overweight you may need to get your feelings hurt just a little if it means getting your butt in gear to get yourself healthy enough that you will not die of heart problems or diabetes related complications. And you know what got rid of my shame over being fat? GETTING HEALTHY! Am I stick thin like Cassey? NO. But I’m at a healthy weight for my height and age, I get a balanced diet and at least the recommended amount of exercise (30 min a day). Do I think I’m better than other overweight people? Of COURSE not. But I would not be where I was today if someone hadn’t been a little blunt and pointed out to me that what I was doing was NOT okay and hadn’t made me realize there was a better way to live. For me and for any future family I might have. Thanks Cassey, and don’t let the haters get you down. Rant over.
Hey cassie,
I just wanted to say, screw the haters!
You are entitled to your own opinion, this is your blog after all.
Even at times when I don’t agree with your opinion, I still listen to what you have to say and respect it and I think that’s what everyone commenting here should do too..
But I won’t spend too much time telling you how amazing, motivational and inspiring you are to me, a 14 year old girl who you mean the world to, right now. i Just wanted to tell you that I still love you!!
You are too amazing for words. If I wasn’t all the way in Australia I would give you the BIGGEST hug and make you a huge plate of your favourite comfort food (totally healthy and clean, of course).
Again, I love you Cassie!! You’re like the awesome big sister that i never had.
xxx
I couldn’t agree with you more, Cassey!! I think everything you said came from a kind heart! I’m actually REALLY surprised anyone disagreed with you in any manner. I found your caring and honesty so refreshing and admirable. Just as admirable as you living your purpose and inspiring so many people. Keep up the great work!!!
Hey, I think that Cassey is right, a healthier livestyle is not as expensive as some people think. Just leave out out a little sugar and butter from your meal…so you spend less money on these things.
i feel ashamed for hte people who judge Cassey in their comments, she just wrote down what she thought about this television show. Where is the problem? It´s her opinion (which I agree with) and that´s it she´s living in a free country and can tell everyone anything she wants.
So pleeease people, let it be.
You can´t deny that this livestyle isn´t healthy at all and especially for children it´ssad not to learn alternatives to that. Like I said before you don´t need a high education or better income to live healthy. Even if you just leave out some things from your diet is better, than eating all this butter-sugar-stuff….eww!
Cassey, don´t be sad about the mean comments you have done nothing wrong! I think you´re a nice person who is concerned about the health of other people. That is great!There should be more people like you!
For anyone who said that the family is happy: Do you personally know them? This is reality television. We do not have a clue about this family’s actual happiness or lack of happiness. SCIENCE and EXPERIENCE as human beings tells us that an unhealthy diet causes disease, earlier death, and certainly NOT happiness. Sure, they experience joy. Sure, they may donate or put the kids through school or whatever, but that does NOT change the fact that at some point these kids may be faced with losing their mother a LOT earlier than any child should have to. If the cycle continues, their own children may face the same sad crisis. Children do not think about or know that, and many of us as adults know it, but if it is not an immediate threat, we do not take action to stop it. Doing drugs makes a lot of people happy. Should those people continue to do drugs as long as they are saving money for their kids? No. Why? Because they have kids, and when they die because of their self-inflicted harm to their own bodies, guess who they leave behind.. A more extreme case.. but it is the same concept. Coming from a small Georgia town where everyone had a low income (including myself) as well, I know families a lot like what I have heard about the family on the show! Let me tell you all, the lack of knowledge about nutrition is INCREDIBLE. So many people just don’t know, including the majority of my friends and family. Yes, some are more privileged than others, but people can make much better choices on a budget. I know this because I do it! Not everything has to be pure organic, local straight from Whole Foods or whatever else! It’s about the knowledge and doing whatever you can for your health so that you can LIVE. As far as anyone being judged .. so what. Honestly, I don’t know one single American female that doesn’t have body image issues of some sort. I certainly do, and I definitely don’t know about anyone else, but if I’ve got an issue with my body than CAN be changed, I’d like to know how to change it, which is all I really got from the post.. that a lot of people need to be educated, A LOT. Most people are going to judge most other people. A lot of times, it ends up hurting them, sometimes quite a bit, but that is something that is going to happen when you put yourself on television. If the mom is worried about people judging her daughter and it causing damage to her self-esteem, then the logical solutions are to change or take her off TV. You can’t prevent judgement. In my opinion, the post was fine.
Wow. Cassey, I love you, but this clearly topped it of. I can’t believe how bodyshaming this post was. Criticism is one thing, but this is beyond ANY line.
Having an Eating Disorder makes it really hard for me to work out, and you were like my anchor because of all your positivity and because I thought you were embracing bodies in all sizes.
This is just hurtful body snark and I really get what you’re trying to say, but seriously: The newsletter where you used the gif of a LITTLE KID and stated “Sorry for the disturbing image”, it nearly made me cry.
:(
denocte
She wasn’t hating on body image, only the fact that they encourage the little girl to destroy her body at such a young age.
Agreed^. She’s not harping on people being overweight. Just if their obesity is a reflection of their unhealthy lifestyle.
What’s funny is that you’re accusing Cassey of of being judgemental and then you turn around and judge her. Ridiculous.
Just a note to say I agree with you Denocte. Stay your compassionate self. X
Cassey, I don’t think you’re being offensive or negative at all. All you’re trying to do is put awareness out into the interwebs and get people thinking about what they’re eating! Also, in response to some random person’s comment, you don’t have to spend boat loads of money to eat clean. It’s actually pretty cheap to buy fruits and veggies, and they don’t have to be organic. And chips and frozen food and all that shit is actually really costly, in both health and money.
Keep up your positive attitude, Cassey. You’re awesome. :)
Dearest Cassey,
You always come from a place of love and compassion. Your work helps me so very much, and I see so many others, too. Keep it up!
Thank you,
Sab
Cassey, hold yourself up and stand for what you believe in! You are not going to please everyone but what you said is the truth. A lil straight-forward than what others would say it but it is the truth. America is fat and people need to realize this! Either people are too ignorant or denying to themselves. You are addressing the problem and it is up to the individual if they are gonna do something about it. Im Native American so I know that our natural food and herbs that grows are healthy, but once we buy from the grocery store…yikes! Blood pressure, Diabetes, High Cholesterol… :( So thank you for your belief in health and fitness…think positive and focus on those who need your help, never on those trying to bring you down!
Cassey, don’t even listen to the people posting all this hate on your blog – YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. obesity shouldn’t be celebrated, her life is at risk. thank you for helping me see health in a different light as well xox
Actually, to the person blaming them not having money to buy healthy foods, you’re ignorant because they make thousands from the show. I agree with this post Cassey, 150%!
very sad indeed. now i know where the american stereotype of uneducated obese hill billys comes from that is so prevalent in europe. that girl really got sick from eating a bunch of greens!i can’t believe it. only seeing their canned food made me feel sick. thank god there are people like you in the US too, cassey. of course there are smart healthy people there, it’s just that the “dumb” ones scream the loudest. after seeing this clip i genuinely have pity for the country you live in.
Cassey, Please don’t let all these comments get you down! The majority of us think you are amazing, inspirational, smart, passionate, and SOO motivating, and your honestly is truly refreshing for a blogger. Shake off the controversy and move on, you are entitled to your opinion as is every else but you will never lose support over speaking your mind so please continue to do so. You are one of the people that actually CHANGES things rather that talking or wishing, Don’t lose that ! <333
That said, It's January 18th in Australia so I'm entering the #POPsterPresents challenge! Sorry if it's bad timing but I would LOVEEEEEEEE to win a DVD! I ordered one online already but sent it to my sister in the U.S. as a gift. I am living in Australia, kind of the opposite of you and your sis :) (I'm from the US but living here temporarily). OKAY fingers crossed xoxo
I think the problem is that for a health blog people look to for motivation and ideas, seeing a post exploiting another family because of their lifestyle isn’t really productive. I came here today to find a cool new recipe. Instead I find a post judging people and saying they’re all wrong. The problem people are having with this post is because it is about shaming a family. Shaming a lifestyle. Shaming America. Shameshameshame. Maybe there is just another way to go about it. Like educating. Knowing that protein is actually a last resort source of energy for your body, as it provides very little. That these high protein, low carb diets are terrible for your health in the long term because you are overworking your organs. That the “inner thigh gap” is actually generally unatainable for most people because of genetics. Not their fat content. I’m new to this blog and I have to say that this post has officially put the icing on the cake. Casey is trying to do a good thing. However, when she preaches to other people, I think she should know fully the cause and effect. That posting “THANK YOU!” on posts supporting her but ignoring all the others is actually a way of her trying to avoid conflict and not lose followers. I find this blog artificial and follower based as she needs the money because this is her new job. But for those it helps, I wish you the best.
Her entire website and videos are about “educating” people to be healthier.
Zoey, this is a personal blog. And the owner can express her opinion. And this opinion not necessarily be the same as your. If you feel uncomfortable here, simply don’t come here. I appreciate Cassey for what she does. She films tons of workout videos which can be used for free. She gives lots of healthy advises and healthy recipes without making you buy her book or anything. She truly has a right to say what she thinks on a topic she is good at! As you’ve said, you are new here. And what you’ve just done I can only compare with someone coming to a new acquaintance’s house with muddy boots and starting judging everything in it. Would you invite such a person one more time? I seriously doubt that.
A blog is no longer personal when you make money off of it. She does have a right to her opinion, but so do her customers.
So your answer to Cassey’s “shame” blog is to post a comment where you do the same? How absolutely helpful of you.
Go away. You don’t have to be on here so if you don’t like it then just exit the blog!
This is a personal blog. I’m sad that you’re not really a popster but just an intruder but whatever. Anyway, this was not judging, this family makes thousands so don’t tell me they can’t affor healthy living. Its not even so much that the mom is obese but that she is leading her children down the same dangerous path, that could very well end in diabetes, heart disease etc… Do you think obesity is just a few extra pounds?? Well its not. There is a difference between being fat and being obese. A big one.
I know! I feel like everyone is yelling at Cassey for saying that Mama is obese. Um being morbidly obese is a lot more than being fat, and having a some weight to lose. Like Elle said it can certainly lead to heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and coronary artery disease. Let me say again it is a lot more than being fat. Saying someone is morbidly obese when in fact they are is not body shaming. It is stating a fact!
I read her post for exactly what it is, a fitness guru showing her concern for the families health. That’s it.
I LOVE Cassey!! I appreciate everything she does for our benefit. She introduced me to a whole new lifestyle that I never knew. She even makes us freakin calenders so that we have some guidance! I think she’s entitled to her own opinion just like we all are. I love her videos, the new ones and the old ones (after this post people even started hating on her new videos! How dare they!)
Oh my goodness, so many people have posted horrible comments towards Cassey and her OPINION. Cassey has always been a big supporter of eating healthy and exercising regularly, so I do not think her post is out of line at all. In fact, I find it to be straight to the point, comprehensive, and critical of a phenomenon sweeping across our country. That being said, I am so saddened by the negative comments fellow blogilates people have written towards Cassey. In EVERY video, Cassey has always encouraged us, asked us to love ourselves, and work hard towards becoming more healthy and happy. Has she ever said anything wrong in that regard? Absolutely not! For those who are passing judgement on her “negativity,” I really suggest reading over your posts, and looking into your own hurtful comments.
I love you Cassey!!! And thanks for the new HIITILATES video! I love them!
I LIKE how you express your opinion. Of course, not everyone will agree what you say and some will hurt you with their words. That’s because you receive that much of attention from viewers. Don’t let those negative comments get to you.
Be strong Cassey! At least you’re bold enough to show your face and speak up! ^^
Hi Cassey.
I appreciate this post and appreciate what you’re trying to do. :) It’s obvious that they aren’t the healthiest people on earth but there’s something else that I’ve noticed watching this show that I wanted to note.
The confidence and spirit that this little girl has is really incredible. She believes she is beautiful. She is a kind, generous and wonderfully opinionated person. Their entire family promotes individuality and being confident in yourself despite what people say or think about you. I wasn’t expecting this when I first heard about this show at all and it was a nice surprise. I hope her confidence stays with her as she grows up.
Of course they need to change their eating habits but I just wanted to point out something positive that people seem to miss when focusing on all their flaws. They are called disgusting a lot but I just wanted to say that I believe some of their habits are disgusting but they are not disgusting PEOPLE.
Anyway, I’m not criticising your post at all! It was all well-said. Just wanted to add something else :)
I totally agree with you, Cassey. I don’t watch the show as I don’t live in the U.S. and because I don’t care about this kind of TV shows. However, I came across Honey Boo Boo on some news/gossip sites so I took a look just to know what it is all about. And frankly, I don’t think you use wrong words. Or hurtful ones. Sometimes it is better to call things their real names because it’s true! We are so concern and sensible about all this discrimination things so everybody is just afraid to say anything because it can be (an probably will be) treated as some kind of discrimination. I think many people just don’t know how to make thing better for themselves. And I seriously think that you can be healthier and eat better food from usual store, not organic ones. Everything is choices not the price. If you choose chicken and veggies over frozen pizza and bake it instead of frying it, you’ll do a favor for your body. And if you don’t drink cola and pour tons of ketchup on your food, you’ll be healthier. And I am totally aware that I can be called rude and unsympathetic or whatever. But I don’t care, because I am scared about the future of my children (I have none but I eventually will). Think of it: I am 174 cm tall (5.7 ft) and my weight is 62 kg (137 pounds) and I always wore clothes size M (38 EU). But now guess what? I wear S (36)! And not because I am very skinny or whatever, I am not. But because of so many obese people even clothes sizes are shifted a bit so normal or regular become small or very small. And it worries me that it is easier to do something with clothes sizes than to educate people. And I am totally aware of all huge businesses and money behind the processed food but in the age of internet nothing is impossible. People like Cassey are really helpful and can really make a change. Even if they change the lives of 10 people a year. But it is important not to tolerate it to the degree when a child with serious eating problems is called “just a child” and “she must enjoy her childhood”. She surely must. But all this beauty contests and reality shows don’t give her real childhood. And neither do her eating habits.
While you have every right to criticize the family for their nutrition. you total lose the professionally positive attitude you’ve been portraying since I started following you. Like, you really come off as crazy judgmental when their diet isn’t that far off from a typical American family in the middle/lower class. Besides, she’s a six year old girl for crying out loud! She’s supposed to have a little belly fat! Alanna is comfortable with herself, which is more than most of the people who follow you can say.
Even though their diet is out of control, this is one of the relatively few functional families on TV right now. Since the show started, Mama June has had every penny that TLC has given straight into a trust fund for her daughters and grand-daughter. The family doesn’t really see a penny. The only thing they’ve really “splurged” on since the show started was a 2005 Ford used truck.
So they might not have the looks of the Kardashians, but they love each other more than any other family that you find on reality TV. I’m really disappointed in the way you posted this and how you’re marketing this to get more attention. I’ll definitely rethink who I subscribe to in the future.
I’m “middle/lower class” and my family does NOT eat like this. I also have a six year old daughter… She has no belly fat, but thanks for all the stereotypes in your comment. Proves how ignorant you are.
Go away. You don’t have to be on here so if you don’t like it then just exit the blog!
I want to send you a bouqet of flowers.
I live in Germany,and they don’t show Honey Booboo in our TV. But as far from what I heard about this show, I totally agree with you Cassey!!!!!!!!
I feel so bad for these kids, because they don’t learn about a healthy lifestyle….
They may don’t care about their bodyshape now… but wait until they be teenagers… maybe they will get bullied in school and will hate themselves…
As said, I agree with you Cassey and I think it is great, that you write about it !!!
I completely agree with what you said. The way her parents let her eat now will affect her so much later on. Heck, as a child, my parents let me have ice cream all the time as dessert and now it’s hard for me to not eat ice cream when it’s in the house. I don’t watch the show but I have seen ads for it online and little snippets of it on tumblr and through friends and personally, I think it’s disgusting and horrible that people let their children live like that.
I don’t watch this type of shows because they are idiotic and disgusting! I completely agree with you about this family. For me this kind of parent should be reported to social services, because they are damaging childs health now and log-term – if starving the child is abuse, making your child obese is abuse too!
Hi Cassey! I really liked your article about Honey Boo Boo, and I think it should be taken as a wake up call for many people . Though some people may find it mean, i think you simply expressed the sad truth about this family.
Now I haven’t actually seen the show on TV because I am from Romania, and the show isn’t broadcasted here, but I’ve seen pictures and short videos, and I was actually shocked when I read some of the comments. I was shocked that in some areas of the USA you can only find processed meat and pre-cooked meals. OMG, and some people said that they can’t find fresh vegetables in the area they live in. This is so bad and serious. In my country the markets are full of fresh vegetables and fresh unprocessed chicken and fish meat, and it is hard for me to believe that in a developed country like USA people give so little importance on healthy living that yoy can’t even find what you need to live healthy.
Anyway, Cassey I really love your videos and your joyfull personality and you really managed to motivate me to work out! :)
One of the most important things to remember is that the little girl has a mother who loves her. It would be wonderful to see the family get healthier together especially because they’re in the public eye.
hey cassey,
i would post that on your facebook-wall, but as i don’t have a facebook-account, i will post it right here, hoping that you and most of you guys from the community will watch it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIwrV5e6fMY
WOW! Thanks for this great link!
thanks for that link. i’ve always liked jamie oliver’s recipes and attitude towards food. i hope many more people will watch this.
Thankyou for posting that. Brilliant
Very moving video! Thank you for sharing!
100% in agreement with you. I feel so sorry for Alanna(that’s her real name). Her mother is slowly killing her entire family. I hardly watch TLC these days because of shows like that. They’ve turned into TTWC, which stands for The Train Wreck Channel. All they show now are shows that put disfunctional families/people in the spotlight, like a sideshow for the masses. If they actually ate some fresh veggies with reduced calorie/fat butter on it, that would be SO MUCH better. If they had REAL homemade spaghetti sauce instead of ketchup and butter, that would be a vast improvement. But TLC would never allow that. As long as this family is eating crap and acting like jackasses, it’s entertainment and it will earn them ratings…….
Reality shows are the blight of modern TV.
“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?”
I don’t watch Honey Boo Boo personally, but it is popular where I live and I hear about it occasionally. I’m inclined to agree with you that the family is not a great example – and it’s not a show I’d encourage kids to watch – but I’m not sure that has ever been the role of reality TV. I’m far more frightened by the power of big food corporations in this country than I am by a TV show.
I’m troubled by a lot of comments that equate obesity with laziness. It really is so much more complex than that and a lot of it is down to circumstances. For example, I grew up in the UK, where I walked everywhere, had easy access to local produce and was rarely tempted by fast food. I then moved to Mississippi, where healthy food is substantially more expensive, grocery stores are not accessible by foot (I don’t have a license, so friends drive me and I have to order pizza if I run out of food before the next run), and fast food is everywhere. I am a privileged person who has discipline, an exercise routine and enough money for food, but it is a constant challenge for me not to gain weight here. How much harder must it be for people who do not have the resources and education that I have?
So, yes, we want to make nutrition and education more accessible. But it won’t work, at least for a place like Mississippi, unless there are better grocery stores, options for those without a car, and fewer fast food joints. Obesity makes me very, very sad, because I feel like public debates more popularly focus on “willpower”, eating organic produce, joining a gym, and other things that ignore the issue of poverty.
Agreed.
I can’t believe people are upset over this post, lol. So much worse has been said about Honey Boo Boo, that show is a train wreck. The family would probably laugh about the post. One episode, they taught the teenager if she farts more, she will lose weight.
Hi Cassey. You could be the one that ignites the flame. You are amazing and have the power to motivate. You have the knowledge. You could help them. Reach out. You could just be what they need. If not, at least you tried, and didn’t just leave it as a blog.
Yikes. Nice classism. This entire post is problematic. You don’t actually give a hoot about honey boo boo or her family. if you did, you would have bothered to look into why they eat what they eat and maybe you’d read a thing or two about privilege and access to fresh/healthy food, and middle class income– all of which HBB’s family does not have. You should be ashamed for targeting a small child and her family like this. Concern trolling is not cute. Body shaming and fat shaming does nothing to fix obesity. You’re only contributing to body image issues in our society. So congrats for making the issue worse.
I’ve followed your tumblr for a while so I know you are well intentioned, but wow, girl. You are so off with this it hurts.
Yikes. Nice stereotyping. I’m middle class and my kids don’t eat like HBB does. The difference between HBB’s mom and myself is that I actually enjoy cooking so I’ve educated myself on the subject. You don’t actually think that HBB’s family doesn’t have a few dollars in the bank after this show got so popular do you?? Shaming Cassey for “shaming” this family, classic troll behavior. You’re the one that’s not cute. Your attitude only contributes to what the rest of the world perceives Americans to be, RUDE.
Farts
while i dont think you meant to be malicious, most of your comments do come off incredibly offensive, and from a place of privilege. you even body shame a little girl and her tummy, a tummy THAT SHE CLEARLY LOVES. since you found that .gif you used, you probably saw the .gif of boo boo saying “pretty comes in all sizes and my size is CUUUUUUTE”. isnt that important? she is happy. if she is happy with herself and her body, she wont listen to people like you complaining about her size saying you “really care” about her.
you praise eating clean and how you believe body weight is an indicator of health, which is so.not.true. you can go to an elementary school cafeteria and see that the kids who are tiny, are probably eating the unhealthy food. you can go to childrens soccer game and see the kids with tummies out there being active. a number on a scale does not reflect a persons health.
you assume that the biggest loser producers probably asked mama june to be on their show and she said no. i hope you realize how unhealthy and disgusting THAT show is. these contestants sign up to work out 9 hours a day for a few weeks,or until they are sent home for not losing enough weight in those 7 days, eat fewer calories and end up losing 20 pounds a week. then when the show is over, they gain all their weight back because they dont have jillian and bob yelling in their faces while working out 9 hours a day. doctors advise people losing 2 pounds a week. 2 POUNDS.
you seemed to focus on how fat and obese this family is and dont even focus on how HAPPY they are. you can be fat and happy, it is possible…this family proves it!!! if you did any research on them you would have learned how kind and caring they are towards others. they often have donation drives to give to people in need. they have yet to take a handout from anyone, theyve been offered a bigger and better home in a nicer neighborhood. mama june uses coupons on everything, even when they go out to eat!!! they put the money they make from the show into savings for the kids. they chose to live like they do. they are happy, loving people in world where people are automatically labled ‘disgusting’, ‘lazy’ and ‘unmotivated’ if they have fat on them. if any of those kids decided they really wanted to get healthy, you bet mama june and sugar bear would do anything and everything they could do help.
besides, this is a tv show that is edited to make them look the way they look.
not everyone wants to be thin and healthy. not everyone can afford to eat clean and shop at whole foods and receive that education on how to be healthy.
food is fun, and should always be fun.
Go away. You don’t have to be on here so if you don’t like it then just exit the blog!
I’m so tired of people like you stereotyping the middle class by saying that if you dont have a ton of money you can’t eat healthy. That is a lie. I’m middle class and my family eats healthy everyday. Your “food is fun” comment is exactly the kind of mentality that’s the issue here. We eat to live, not live to eat.
I am sure that Cassey is not concerned with their outward appearance. I am sure that she is concerned with what they are putting into their bodies is effecting their bodies. Consuming loads and loads of butter and sugar can lead to way deeper problems than just being fat. Do you really think Ella that they’ll be happy when they’re in the hospital after having a stroke as a result of their obesity? Or how about one of them developing diabetes and having to live on medication the rest of their life? Tell me how happy they will be then.
I’ve watched this show and I agree they are happy as can be. I think they are very likeable, which is why I would be really sad if any of them got some kind of disease stemming from their obesity.
Oh and to your last remark “not everyone wants to be thin and healthy. not everyone can afford to eat clean and shop at whole foods and receive that education on how to be healthy.” – I don’t think Cassey’s intentions are for everyone to be thin, I do think her intentions are that everyone be healthy. Being thin and being healthy are two different things! If you ever tried eating clean, it is not expensive. Eating clean refers to eating fruits, vegetables, whole grain, and lean meats. I live in LA and at the market a nice little variety bag of chips cost around $6, now a bunch of bananas cost around $1.16, a bag of apples cost $2.99, a fresh pineapple $2.39. With a pineapple cut it up, put it in a bowl and you have a snack for the rest of the week for only $2.39. It is when you buy specialty items at whole foods where things can get expensive, but to say eating clean is expensive is a lie. I notice when I go to the market and I buy fresh foods my bill remains low, but as soon as the cashier starts ringing up the processed foods my bill goes way up. Also since when is it expensive to learn how to be healthy? As far as I’m concerned the Internet is free. Do you even know the information you can look up on how to be healthy simply by googling “how to be healthy”? I don’t know anyone who has payed for an education to learn how to be healthy, unless they were aspiring to be a nutritionist.
It frustrates me to no end that you keep going back and saying that thin equal healthy, and that a number on a scale equals healthy. When that is not the case what so ever.
Honestly I don’t understand why everyone is attacking you, everything you said is true. And to say “let her enjoy she is only a child” guess where we acquire the eating habits that we are going to have for the rest of our lives? Yep during our childhood. I have two little sisters and they ENJOY food, they go to McDonald’s once a month and eat an ice cream, candies and desserts now and then, don’t confuse enjoying with obsessing. I don’t say she should´t eat those foods, I’m talking about moderation NOT deprivation.
Good for you for actually being honest. This notion of leaving everyone to do whatever they want to, no matter how harmful it may be to themselves or those around them, is absolute nonsense. You aren’t the first person to speak out about how wrong you think their lifestyle is, and you certainly won’t be the last. Entertainment has gone slightly too far this time. It’s a terrible example for children as well as adults, but most people feel too ‘bad’ because they don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings. Nobody will say anything because it’s offensive or unfair. Is it really?
Good for you, Cassey :)
I just heard something terrible, Alana’s mother is making her gain weight. She’s afraid that if her daughter will get skinny and cancel the show! Alana would only be skinny if she exercised and ate right. It’d never happen anyway.
Also, as someone with body image issues, its real disheartening that someone I admired is passing on judgement. I understand the meaning behind this, for their health sake, but in order to change bad habits you need someone who will encourage not critize. Critism will only bring them down and unmotivate them. I do find it shocking someone who’s job is suppose to uplift and motivate people health wise took on such judgement and negativity, Positivity goes a long ways. But like I said I do understand they need to eat better, you just should of handled this with more grace.
Cassey wasn’t criticizing in her post. She was stating the facts, and the fact of the matter was that she was disheartened by what she saw on the show. She was sharing that with the people that she loves and that are supposed to be supportive of her, as well as of one another. Cassey had body image issues at one point, and i don’t feel like she’s forgotten what that felt like. She shared with the POPster community something that she thought was important. She feels bad for HBB, she’s not making fun of or criticizing her. Cassey is insanely positive, and I don’t get that she was being negative in any way in this post.
My heart breaks too every time I hear about Honey Boo Boo’s and her family’s eating habits.. :( and I almost yelled “Omg yes!” when you said it makes it hard to eat clean when your family doesn’t get it. My family eats pretty healthy compared to the average American family, but it KILLS me when my mom fries things that are just as easily baked and will taste just as delicious! At least this works my self-discipline, and it’s always good to have POPster support and encouragement to keep us on the right track! :)