Are You on a Diet?
This post might be a little scattered, so please bear with me.
As I enter this completely life-changing stage of my existence, I’ve been questioning the focus of this blog.
It started out as an outlet for me to talk about nutrition and fitness through the lens of an entertainment reporter, i.e. someone who —by way of celebrities and the Hollywood culture—has been introduced to the most cutting edge and also the most bizarre/dangerous diet trends out there. It was a place to debunk diet/fitness/nutrition myths and provide helpful tips for the average person.
However, as I became more and more passionate about this field, I found that healthy cooking (and recipes that have nothing to do with celebrities) became a big focus of the blog.
Now, as I leave the entertainment reporting world —not completely (I’m still freelancing) and maybe not for good — I’ve been questioning what the main focus of the blog should be.
Should I continue to incorporate news and commentary about celebrities’ health, and feature interviews with them when I have time/access?
I mean, I do still live in L.A. and occasionally attend tinseltown events, like last night’s pre-Golden Globes party hosted by Audi where I saw Naomi Watts and Liev Schreiber (shameless name drop to prove I’m still hip).
If you’re curious, Naomi was drinking Brancott Estate wine while Liev snacked on pizza (celebs, they’re just like us!).
OR, should I drop the celebrity aspect and focus solely on healthy living?
My celebrity-related posts do seem to generate the most traffic.
A quick glance at my top posts reveals that people seem to care most about:
How Awkward’s Molly Tarlov’ lost a ton of weight…
…if Kim Kardashian is dropping her baby weight too fast …
…did cortisone really cause Anna Gunn from Breaking Bad’s dramatic weight gain/loss…
…how Parks and Rec’s Aubrey Plaza keeps her smoking hot bod…
…and what’s Eliza Coupe’s secret to looking so sexy.
But I’m guessing most of these are from one-time visitors.
I want to know what my loyal readers care about and be able to provide the information that they find interesting and useful. If it turns out that celebrities is not part of that, so be it.
Which brings me to a a question about this blog and myself that I frequently hear, and a misconception I’d like to clear up.
This year my friend Gigi and I will be hosting a bi-weekly LIVE cooking show titled Fit & Funny Foodies, for Fit Approach (starting Wednesday, Jan 22nd at 5 pm — link to come). Each episode will be sponsored by a healthy food or lifestyle brand (the first is Lorna Jane, yay!).
Anyway, it was brought to my attention that a potential sponsor was “concerned” about working with us because they didn’t like the fact that “Diet” is in the title of my blog.
If it’s not already obvious to you, I am NOT on a diet. I do not condone “diets.” I don’t think “dieting” works.
So why is my blog called “To Live & Diet in L.A.?”
Are you an old school rap fan? Maybe you’ve heard of a sorta famous guy named Tupac, who thugged it out on the rough streets of L.A.?
It’s a play on the song “To Live & Die in L.A,” cuz I’m from Tucson, AZ and I’m a little bit gangster at heart. That’s the first part.
The second layer of this is commentary on the fact that it seems like many people who live in L.A. are on diets. It’s a humorous way of pointing out the absurdity of the eating trends out here.
And finally, “diet” does not mean the same thing as being “on a diet.”
Everyone has a diet. It’s what you eat. Whether you recently changed to a healthy “diet” — or as I like to call it, “a healthy life plan” — or it’s the same way you’ve always eaten, it’s still your “diet.” It’s simply the term for what you eat everyday. It’s not the same thing as trying an unsustainable, short-lived eating plan to try to lose weight, and then going back to a different way of eating when you’re done.
Whew. Does that all make sense?
For anyone who already understood it, I’m sorry to have bored you with that.
I just want to make it clear to everyone what this blog is and isn’t about, as I go forward, and make this platform the best it can be.
With that, I’ll leave you with another little diddy from my man T:
“Life’s a wheel of fortune, and it’s my chance to spin it.”
Holla.
CrisGib says:
Keep the celeb stuff! Reminds me of our glory days together in the mean streets of LA! #PartyGirlsForever
Whitney English says:
#ShortyWannaBeAStar Miss you CrisGib :)
Suzanne Gibson says:
I;ve tried quite a few of your recipes, so I hope you keep up with that part. And ditto to what Cris said!!
Whitney English says:
So glad to hear!! I will definitely keep them coming. Let me know if you ever have any suggestions for recipe ideas!
Davida @ The Healthy Maven says:
Girlllll my blog has changed infinitely since I started it! That’s the thing about blogging, it’s someone’s personal message not a philosophy. I’m not at all thrown off by the word diet. It’s how you choose to eat everyday and each day that might change.
I love recipe posts but truth-be-told I rarely actually make other recipes because I enjoy experimenting in the kitchen but for me my recipes definitely generate the most hits. I’m not into a specific type of blog and more the person. If I like their voice I follow and they could talk about dirt and i’d still read it! Keep on being you even if that you changes daily ;)
Whitney English says:
Thanks Davida! I’m going to hold you to this when I start writing about the mud samples I’m working with in Chem lab :)
Claudia Rosenbaum says:
There can never be too much Mr. Chow!
Whitney English says:
Yay! Obviously I feel the same.
Gillian @ That's G says:
First, I LOVE the name of your blog. I think it’d be a shame to change it.
My favorite posts of yours (and all bloggers, really) are the ones that show me a glimpse into their lives. So I like the combination of the healthy living content, as well as the Hollywood/celeb stuff. To me, the posts about what are going on in your life are more interesting than recipes, but I like the variety!
Whitney English says:
Thanks Gillian! That was one of the main things I was worried about if I decided to change the focus of the blog: the name. I love the name. I just want to make sure it accurately represents what I’m talking about here. From all the wonderful reader responses, I think it gets to stay :) The subtitle on the other hand, that’s a work in progress!
Sheila says:
I love all your posts & new ways of making new dishes. You keep the excitement in the kitchen going..
I just wish you could make & send me the dishes as well.
Whitney English says:
The next time I come to Sac Town (or you come to LA) I promise you a lovely home-cooked meal!
Kristina @ Damn Ten Pounds says:
Historically, the word “Diet” has been used exactly as you intended. Think about it. Your elementary school textbooks said “… they migrated from xxx and their diet consisted of xxx…” It’s clear by your writing that you are not advocating fads and restriction.This is honestly one of my favorite blogs. I wouldn’t change anything. Actually that’s not true. More Mr. Chow, please. And I like the celebrity aspect because what they do is sometimes unrealistic and people need to see that. Plus, I like the scoop (how dare Liev eat carbs!)!
I picked up the Tupac reference immediately, which sealed the deal on you being added to my reader ;)
Whitney English says:
Thanks Kristina! Your blog is a favorite of mine as well. Fellow old school rap fans must stick together :) #WestCoastIsTheBestCoast (My condolences to those freezing in the East right now).
Ellen says:
I like your blog more for the cooking aspects, but that is coming from me-an actress living in LA whose life is already over-saturated with industry stuff. I ‘d say don’t limit yourself! If you want the focus to be the food-health stuff, go for it but if you want to throw in some fun celebrity stuff, why not?
Whitney English says:
Thanks Ellen!
Tatum says:
AHH! I’m so happy I stumbled across your blog today, browsed a couple of posts and I love your writing style.
I’m super jealous you’re going into the RD program. I am currently studying Natural Nutrition to become a registered holistic nutritionist.
I think a good mix of celebrities and nutrition would be great! sets you apart from the typical healthy living blog.
xx tatum
Whitney English says:
Thanks Tatum! And good luck with your program. I considered that as well and it looks very interesting!
GiGi Eats Celebrities says:
You know I love you blog. I love it because I relate to you on so many levels. Even before I knew you, I loved your blog. I love how you write. I love how you tell it like it is. I love how you make me laugh… Mr. Chow straight up just made me laugh like a hyena, lmfao – he looks like a porn star.
As our blogs age, then tend to change, just like we as people do! The other day someone straight up said to me, “you know what I just realized GiGi… You don’t eat celebrities anymore.” It was kind of weird to hear… And I mean, I still mention them in almost every blog post, but they’re not at the forefront because they’re not my main passion anymore, just like you! I find it pretty funny/interesting/cool/creepy(? lol) that you and I are both going through this transition at the same time!
I am so so so so excited about your newest venture! We should spend the day at Whole Foods exploring some interesting ingredients so we can come up with some rock star recipes :D
GiGi Eats Celebrities says:
PS: so many grammar mistakes in that response! And I meant to say OUR newest venture – LMFAO!! Clearly I am tired… However, probably not as tired as you are!
Whitney English says:
Haha they’re going to have to change the title to Fit & Funny & Falling Asleep on the Job, Foodies :)
Whitney English says:
Mr. Chow a porn star?! Not my son!! Although I did find a copy of Chows Gone Wild in his kennel the other day. Perhaps I should be considered?
anne says:
I love your blog for being exactly what it is. LA life & fitness spots, healthy fast easy recipes (good for girls on the go vs. for a family), personal anecdotes & yes the celebrity stuff! The title is awesome, never change it :). If I changed anything it would be to establish a regular posting sched. -otherwise it’s awesome as it is!
Whitney English says:
Thanks Anne! Nice you hear you like it as is :)
When you say regular posting schedule, do you mean a specific time of day?
Arman @ thebigmansworld says:
Although I am relatively new to your blog, I must admit the celebrity aspect provided little interest to me (not saying it was bad or anything) but what drew me to it was YOU- your evident personality, humour, writing style and recipes- made this blog a quick favourite. Whatever direction you take, whether it be to continue including celebrity information or even just a day recap of yourself- do it because it’s what interests YOU. Your readers will appreciate whatever you write, as long as it is not forced. :)
Cannot wait for this web series- you two are a hoot together.
Whitney English says:
Thanks Arman! Writing about what I care about is an important aspect that I didn’t even consider. Thankfully I’ve got readers like you with a similar quirky personalities and interests.
Btw, I think you should come to LA and make a guest appearance on our show. Just a thought ;)
Arman @ thebigmansworld says:
Roll out the red carpet, get E news to cover it, and I’ll be there. :)
Whitney English says:
Not even here yet and the diva demands have begun :)
Julie says:
I’ve been by your blog a few times, and after reading this, I added you to my reader. I like how you write and layout everything. I like the idea of using celebrity news to launch a post about healthy living.
I also realized quickly you weren’t on a diet pretty quickly.
Whitney English says:
Thanks Julie! Happy to have made the cut :) And from the consensus, I’ll be keeping the celebrity content coming.
Pam S says:
Like others have said as people change throughout their lives, their blogs change with them. I love your blog because I completely relate with you which is why I chose to make a career change to the nutrition field too! It has so many fun different aspects to it, your funny and a great writer!
Working with celebrities and getting the insider scoop on their exercise/eating plans and life seems so fun! I enjoy the posts you share that with us, keep em comin! and there is never too much Mr Chow :)
Whitney English says:
Thanks Pam!!
Sammy @ Peace Love and Ice Cream says:
Love your blog!! So glad I found you!! You can blog about whatever you want and I’ll still be reading and enjoying!! And I was MIA the last few weeks – congrats and good luck on your new adventure girl!!!! :)
Whitney English says:
Aw thanks Sammy! Glad you’re back :)
Jana @ Happy Wife Healthy Life says:
What a great post! I truly love your honesty girl. I initially started reading thanks to a ‘celebrity’ inspired post, but I have been a loyal reader ever since! I love how your personality shines through your writing, and honestly my favorite post you’ve ever written was about your dog’s birthday party lol! I think that perhaps some of the big name celebrities you write about bring people here, but no one is staying because of those stories. We like Whitney and reading about Whitney and her life, not the celebrities! :)
Whitney English says:
You’re so sweet Jana! Thank you for your kind response. More Chow to come in 2014!
Tonya@Healthy, Fit, and Frugal says:
So funny because the last think I thought of was the song To Live and die…but I’m so older so I thought it was because of the MOVIE To LIve and Die in LA. Still the best car chase scene ever. Or at least the founder of awesome movie car chase scenes. I digress. From what I’ve read so far, I like a mixture of blog post entries. I’m not much of a cook, so I tend to glaze over a lot of recipe only focused blogs. I like “life” stories if you will. Hope this helps! And BTW I live in LA of course and I hate…and haven’t been on a diet since I was a teenager in Michigan. :)
Whitney English says:
I can’t believe I haven’t seen that movie!! AND it was made the year I was born…fate. I’m totally renting it this weekend :)
Paula Porter says:
Whitney,
Change is good. This is a great time for you. A New Year, a new partner in Gigi, a great sponsor. You and Gigi are on your way. I like that you have partnered with Gigi. The two of you will bring your skills and energy together to create a great business venture. Your recipes are good. Content in your blog will be key to your success. I welcome Mr. Chow in your blog. Dog retail sales are sky rocketing. People love their dogs. It personalizes your blog to read about Mr. Chow’s great adventures. Does Gigi have a dog? If so, maybe partner the dogs into your blog in pictures. You have a great comment from Jana that she likes reading about you and your dog. My advice? Continue maintaining a fresh blog to keep viewers interest. Holidays are great opportunities for new recipes and dog stories. You do a great job with this. Valentine’s Day is said to be one of the most revenue generating holidays. Can’t wait to see what you have in store. Writing with great content, sharing your personal life, continuing your education in nutrition and blog skills are the things you do well. I view your blog often and over time your blog has truly developed and continues to advance in quality because you have worked hard at putting in the time it takes to maintain your blog for it to peak viewers interest. Nothing outways your hard work – values you obtained through your parents great work ethics. I wish you both the very best.
Whitney English says:
Thank you so much for the thoughtful response Paula! I better get on the Valentine’s Day posts :) Let me know if you have any suggestions!
Bethann says:
I love that you keep it a little gangsta, you know, because you ARE from Tucson and can make all the Tupac reference you want. On that note, I think all of your content is great. I really enjoy reading about celebs and what they eat/don’t eat and drink/don’t drink. I think that content gives you a really good niche! Oh, and PLEASE know that there is NEVER too much Mr. Chow. I love Mr. Chow.
Whitney English says:
Thanks for weighing in Bethann! I knew as a fellow T-Loc you’d understand :)
Dale Janee says:
I definitely don’t think you should take the one sponsor concern as any reason to worry – I say ‘I’m on a diet,’ even though I’m not or do a bad job at it Thurs-Sun. I always thought your blog’s name was really clever so keep it and the celeb stuff too. I think it’s good to be a big mix of topics that all have to do with health/fitness/LA life and your insight into celebrity living is something almost no one actually gets to see first hand so it’s exciting. Plus, for blogging – those posts generate a lot of traffic. My top ones have been about the Kardashians lol. Great post and I’m excited to see what you do in 2014!
xoDale
http://www.savvyspice.com
Whitney English says:
People just love those Kardashians don’t they :) I remember when Kim was just a famous butt in a video…now look at her, haha!
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table says:
I got the reference right away – I’ve always thought it was funny. :) A mix is fun – I love your food, but I’m never going to turn down a little healthy gossip.
Also, I am going to fly to LA and party on video with you a Gigi. Watch out.
Whitney English says:
Yes, you are welcome anytime!!!
Whitney says:
Born and raised in LA, I got your blog title reference right away. As far as I’m concerned, TuPac will never die. :P But I love reading your blog every week and how that living, breathing, and yes, dieting in LA is too close to home for me. I love reading about the new exercise trends, celebrity news, hiking spots, restaurants, recipes, and even Mr. Chow. There is something so personal about your blog that I like and personally, I am curious what you’ll be learning in school to share on your blog. I share your curiosity for anything fitness or nutrition related, definitely a closet health freak, and it’s comforting to know that you don’t have to be a professional bodybuilder or even in the fitness industry to be apart of it. So thank you, and keep blogging!
Whitney English says:
Thank you so much Whitney! It sounds like we have a lot in common…besides the obvious :)
Jody - Fit at 56 says:
I am new here but not to GiGi.. honest, I really don’t care much about the celebs & what they eat or do for exercise cause I don’t believe anything they say or at least most of them in terms of healthy living. It is tough in LA – I live in OC so .. I know they have to do what they have to do & it all may be different behind the scenes so.. to me, it is the non celabs that count & your other focus…
I am jaded from living here so long.. :) If I had money & contacts, I would do my own thing telling people what 30+ years of doing this has taught me & stop following these people that are not telling you the truth about exercise & weight loss.. :)
Whitney English says:
Thanks for weighing in Jody! I completely agree that celebs lie about their diet and fitness A LOT, which is precisely why I want to make sure normal women across the country aren’t buying their bs. It’s wonderful to know that there are strong, inspiring women like yourself here telling people about the right way to do things!
Alex @ Kenzie Life says:
I like the celeb stuff, easy, healthy recipes and celeb interviews the most, though I’m a new reader so I’m not sure how much my input is worth. But I feel like it’s your blog and your platform, so ultimately I think writing about what makes you happy is the most important thing. :)
Whitney English says:
Everyone’s input is important to me, especially new readers :) Thanks for sharing Kenzie and for supporting the blog!
TriGirl says:
It’s my first time here but I got the blog name reference immediately because I’m OG, yo. Or just old. But I’m a fan of GiGi’s so that brought me here and I’m so glad because now I’m going to follow you too! Can’t wait to see the videos!
Whitney English says:
Welcome!! Happy to have another OG in the house…err…http :)
Please let Gigi and I know what you think of the Fit & Funny Foodies after it airs next Wednesday. We’d love the feedback!
zozo says:
I definitely think you should keep the celeb stuff if the content is relevant (like dropping baby weight, diet fads, celeb cookbooks, etc.are genuinely health-related). I’m sure stuff like that will pop up anyway b/c of your work/lifestyle and it’s good for traffic but I think all the loyal readers can agree we just come back for YOU. :) I personally skip over almost all celeb related posts I see on any blog. I love your food and dog posts!
Whitney English says:
Thanks for the input! It’s so nice to hear that Mr. Chow and I are a big draw :)
Kathryn @ Illustrated Nutrition says:
The 13 year old girl inside of me loves reading the celeb posts! But as I get to know you as a blogger more, I really like the personal & recipe posts. It’s ok to change the direction of your blog while keeping the title! I like that your title is a funny reflection of your personality and the environment you live in (and used to work in). But whatever direction you decide to take, I’m sure it will be the best one for you!
Whitney English says:
Thanks Kathryn! I agree, while the 28-year-old version of me is ready to move on, the 13-year-old still reaches for the US Weekly in the grocery store check out line :)
Sharareh Drury says:
Personally, I like a dash of pop culture here and I think you could easily have a section of the site dedicated to that via a tab or page…
I do love the healthy ideas and exercise posts though – I’m always trying to incorporate those more into my life and appreciate your insight on them!
Videos for exercise posts are super helpful – I can’t tell you how many times I go in a gym and try and do some workout or move and feel I may be off balance or not doing it the right way – which could mean I am wasting time or about to injure myself!!
=D looking forward to where you go next!!
Whitney English says:
Thanks so much for all the helpful insight Sharareh. Hopefully they’ll be many more workout videos in 2014!
Mariam says:
I love the direction you are moving to! Your blog will always evolve and so will you! I feel the same with mine. Soon, I’ll be giving my blog a facelift, etc… Great job thus far and I say keep some of the celeb stuff too!
Whitney English says:
Thanks Mariam! Can’t wait to see your blog makeover!!
Rocco says:
Whitney, the main photo above is POWERFUL in many way’s. I projects focus and strength. looking forward to you and your partner in health sharing a new video, arugula is still the best :)
Whitney English says:
Haha thanks Rocco!!
Maria @ The Good Life says:
So I am new to your blog but have been reading some past posts and I think you have a healthy dose of everything. Personally as a dog owner, I can never have too many canine posts :-) But I am liking the videos too! So keep them coming! So glad I found your blog through GiGi’s!
Whitney English says:
Thanks Maria! Mr. Chow is my favorite subject, so I’ll def keep the canine posts coming!
Jennifer King says:
I read your blog for the recipes, tips on workouts, and new product reviews.
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Seana Turner says:
I got the reference for your blog title right away:) I’m an east coaster, so I’m not really that interested in celebrities. Seems like they do a lot of things to look good that the average person either can’t or won’t do. I’d personally be more interested in healthy options that the average reader can embrace.. and please remember that most of the country is still under the polar vortex, so “go outside and walk” isn’t such a great idea:)
Whitney English says:
Haha I’ll try not to rub it in about our great weather!! Thanks for stopping by :)
christy@sweetandsavoring says:
Now I’m even more interested in exploring your blog! I love that you explained that name, and that you are not a fan of being on a diet. Happy SITS Day!
Whitney English says:
Thanks Christy!!
Tiffany says:
I honestly did not get offended or anything by the word diet being in your name but once you explained the Tupac reference it became cool that it was there. I think your Blog should deb a compilation of who you are. You’re fitness, nutrition and whatever part of you desires to remain a part of the entertainment scene. I’m loving everything I’ve seen so far and look forward to getting to know you better. Happy SITSDay :D
Whitney English says:
Thanks so much Tiffany! I appreciate you stopping by :)
Michelle @ A Dish of Daily Life says:
I’ve never been on a diet and never intend to be. I don’t think they work. You’re better off eating healthy. So I am looking forward to checking out your recipes. I’m not a celebrity watcher so I wouldn’t care about those posts anyhow. Visiting from SITS, but headed to peruse some recipes! And I love Gigi too, by the way. So I have a feeling I will like your blog as well!
Whitney English says:
Thanks Michelle! Hope you enjoy the recipes!!
Emily says:
Great post! xoxo
Bonnie @ Love, Marriage and Sex says:
Stopping by from SITS today! Hope your day is going well. I personally don’t know why people get so offended by the word “diet”. As you said, everyone has A diet, and even if you do want to cut back calories to the point of weight loss, it’s your business and everyone should honestly butt out. I’ve been criticized for going on “fad” diets and losing a lot of weight very quickly. The thing is, I do this for a temporary time, then once the weight is off, maintain with a healthy amount of calories/carbs. I don’t know why this offends people so much! Great blog!
Beth @ Goodness Gracious Living says:
So I am here for the first time (Happy SITS Day) and I clicked on the “diet” post because I don’t condone diets and I wanted to see what your take on it was. I think the name of your blog is kitschy and you shouldn’t change it. Everyone is on a diet, but you can change the definition of diet by what you post. Looking forward to reading more!
NailCentric says:
I love your nutrition posts but also your celebrity ones. It is natural that the latter bring the most traffic so don’t finght :)
Whitney English says:
Thank you for the advice. I appreciate you weighing in!
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