Skip to content

Top Navigation

InStyle InStyle InStyle InStyle
  • News
  • Fashion
    • Clothing
    • Accessories
    • Street Style
    • Look of the Day
    • Fashion Week
  • Celebrity
    • Awards and Events
    • Celebrity Transformations
    • TV Shows
    • Movies
    • Music
  • Beauty
    • Makeup
    • Best Beauty Buys
    • Health & Fitness
    • Skincare
  • Hair
    • Celeb Hairstyles
    • Color Ideas
    • Long Hairstyles
    • Medium Hairstyles
    • Short Hairstyles
    • All Natural
  • Lifestyle
    • Travel
    • Weddings
    • Books
    • Food and Drink
    • Home and Decorating
  • Politics & Social Issues
    • Women in Politics
    • Women's Movements
    • Equal Pay
    • Badass Women
    • Motherhood & Parenting
    • Charity
    • Career
    • Choose 2020
  • Pop Culture
    • TV Shows
    • Movies
    • Books
    • Music
    • Social Media
    • Ladies First Podcast With Laura Brown
  • How To
  • Shopping
    • Celebrity Looks
    • Clothing
    • Accessories
    • Beauty
    • Home and Decor
    • Holiday Gift Guides
  • Video
  • In The Mag

Profile Menu

Your Account

Account

  • Join Now / Your Account
  • Newsletter
  • Email Preferences this link opens in a new tab
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
Login
Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore InStyle

InStyle InStyle InStyle InStyle
  • Explore

    Explore

    • The 8 Breakout Hair Color Trends of Winter 2021

      Expect to see these shades all over Instagram. Read More Next
    • What Is a Capsule Wardrobe? 10 Tips to Help You De-Clutter Your Closet

      Fashion designer Misha Nonoo weighs in on the essential items that'll make your 'nothing to wear' days a thing of the past. Read More Next
    • "Maskne" Is a Thing — Here's How to Fight Face Mask Breakouts

      As if stress breakouts weren't bad enough. Read More Next
  • News
  • Fashion

    Fashion

    See All Fashion

    How to Find the Best Color to Wear For Your Skin Tone

    It's not as tricky as you think.
    • Clothing
    • Accessories
    • Street Style
    • Look of the Day
    • Fashion Week
  • Celebrity

    Celebrity

    See All Celebrity

    The 35 Most Naked Dresses of All Time

    Naked dresses are perhaps the most impressive of all red carpet feats. While they may not always make the best-dressed list, they do require a certain breed of celebrity to pull off. Not only do you have to have the balls to risk a wardrobe malfunction, but you have to do it with enough confidence that you look fierce — not terrified — in the photographs. Take Naomi Campbell's appearance in Valentino's couture show during the spring/summer 2019 presentation. The legendary model gracefully strutted down the runway in a see-through gown with a ruffle skirt. (Click through the gallery for the NSFW photo).  Get the inside scoop on all your favorite celebrities with our FREE daily newsletter, InStyle Celebrity. Breaking news, relationship updates, hairstyle inspo, fashion trends, and more direct to your inbox! Let's not forget Rihanna’s infamous CFDA dress either. The girl rocked a completely sheer dress without a bra — and later remarked that her only regret was not wearing a bedazzled thong to match. That, my friends, is dedication. Then, there was the year 2015, when the Met Gala saw not one nor two but three naked dresses on the red carpet, all worn by Hollywood’s hottest A-listers. Jennifer Lopez, above, bared her famous curves in a custom Atelier Versace illusion gown. Beyoncé was nearly naked in Givenchy. And Kim Kardashian West almost looked modest in comparison in her sheer Roberto Cavalli dress, because no one’s getting naked without KKW joining in. Click through to see the best naked dresses of all time.
    • Awards and Events
    • Celebrity Transformations
    • TV Shows
    • Movies
    • Music
  • Beauty

    Beauty

    See All Beauty

    13 Steps You Can Take to Stop Stubborn Cystic Acne, According to Experts

    If you're struggling with breakouts on your chin and jaw area, read this. 
    • Makeup
    • Best Beauty Buys
    • Health & Fitness
    • Skincare
  • Hair

    Hair

    See All Hair

    The 5 Haircut Trends That Will Dominate 2020

    The beginning of the new year comes with the irresistible urge to start over fresh, which means it's a great time to get a haircut.  This decade's first big hair trends include looks at every length that can be tailored to your hair texture and personal style. For anyone with a blunt bob — the most popular haircut of the past few years — you probably already guessed that the cut will still be going strong into the next decade. But there will be a few tweaks. As seen on Kerry Washington, 2020's bob has textured, softer edges, and looks amazing whether you part it down the middle or off to the side.  RELATED: The 10 Hairstyles You'll See Everywhere This Winter But if you swear that 2020 is going to be the year you finally grow out your hair, let Jennifer Lopez and Kim Kardashian's extra-long lengths be your inspiration. Or, you can get the look instantly with the help of some clip in extensions.  To help you figure out how to wear your hair in the new year, we've rounded up the five biggest haircut trends of 2020, so you'll be sure of what you want before you head to the salon in January.  VIDEO: The Five Biggest Haircut Trends of 2020
    • Celeb Hairstyles
    • Color Ideas
    • Long Hairstyles
    • Medium Hairstyles
    • Short Hairstyles
    • All Natural
  • Lifestyle

    Lifestyle

    See All Lifestyle

    Your Essential Keto Grocery List

    If you're embarking on the keto diet, here are the must-have items to add to your cart.
    • Travel
    • Weddings
    • Books
    • Food and Drink
    • Home and Decorating
  • Politics & Social Issues

    Politics & Social Issues

    See All Politics & Social Issues

    Of Course Kamala Harris Is Ready to Be President

    The senator has been criticized for seeming too ambitious — but that's kind of the point.
    • Women in Politics
    • Women's Movements
    • Equal Pay
    • Badass Women
    • Motherhood & Parenting
    • Charity
    • Career
    • Choose 2020
  • Pop Culture

    Pop Culture

    See All Pop Culture

    Introducing InStyle's First Podcast: Ladies First with Laura Brown

    Join editor in chief Laura Brown as she talks to trailblazers like Emily Ratajkowski, Michelle Pfeiffer and Storm Reid about their historic "firsts" in the industry.
    • TV Shows
    • Movies
    • Books
    • Music
    • Social Media
    • Ladies First Podcast With Laura Brown
  • How To
  • Shopping

    Shopping

    See All Shopping

    The 13 Best Shapewear Pieces to Shop, According to Thousands of Customer Reviews

    Upgrade your lingerie drawer with these top-rated body shapers.
    • Celebrity Looks
    • Clothing
    • Accessories
    • Beauty
    • Home and Decor
    • Holiday Gift Guides
  • Video
  • In The Mag

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now / Your Account
  • Newsletter
  • Email Preferences this link opens in a new tab
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Home Chevron Right
  2. Lifestyle Chevron Right
  3. Instagram Is Making Me Gain Weight—and These Famous Foodstagrammers Agree

Instagram Is Making Me Gain Weight—and These Famous Foodstagrammers Agree

By Olivia Bahou
Updated Apr 21, 2017 @ 3:15 pm
Skip gallery slides
Save Pin
Credit: nycdining/Instagram

Choosing a restaurant often has nothing to do with what I feel like eating. When my body could really use a salad, I find myself eating a veggie burger and fries. When I’m craving Thai food, I wind up at Pizza Beach. After eating a completely satisfying dinner, I still find myself ordering a double-decker ice cream cone with the works. And I’m doing it all for the ‘gram.

It’s not like I have a particularly active account or a ton of Instagram followers. But something about getting the perfect food photo in the right lighting gives me a thrill that posting a sunset never will. (Not to mention plenty more likes.)

While my foodstagram is great for my followers, my body is taking the hit. I definitely didn’t need that Nutella-filled doughnut after brunch, and I should have been eating my veggies instead of a bowl of noodles. But I rationalize my habits the way any millennial would: My feed looks great, and I can totally work off those extra calories at the gym tomorrow. But tomorrow turned into next week, and before I knew it, my go-to jeans were suddenly feeling pretty snug.

I tried to reform my ways–subbing in homemade Buddha bowls for Drunken Noodles–but when I devote myself to eating healthy, my Instagram becomes inactive and my followers start to dwindle. I could either be proud of my flourishing account, or of my healthy diet, but I've found it impossible to do both. I couldn't help but wonder: How do you reconcile healthy eating with a craving for a decadent feed?

To find out, I contacted the women behind six popular food Instagram accounts to learn how they stay healthy while eating for the Insta. 

Start Slideshow

1 of 6

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Skyler Bouchard, @nycdining

Credit: nycdining/Instagram

Yes, Bouchard really is eating that amazing pizza and that massive ice cream you see on her page, @nycdining, but there’s a lot you’re not seeing. “I’m eating everything I post but not posting everything I eat,” she told InStyle. Her Instagram followers would never know about that green juice she had with breakfast or her macrobiotic vegetarian lunch from Souen (one of her favorite restaurants that “no one would guess”).

Today, she knows how to strike a balance between her posts and her diet, but it was a different story when she first stepped on the scene at 20 years old. “When I first started the food blog a while ago and I was trying to build the brand, I did feel pressure to go to at least like two crazy-indulgent places a week,” she said, adding that she gained about three pounds during her months of #foodporn. “I noticed that I had low iron when I was not eating correctly and I was just eating things for Instagram.”

“I kind of got lost in that whole industry a little bit,” she said. Bouchard she took a step back and assessed her diet, which is exactly what she advised me to do, too. “Put the blog to the side for a second, chill for a minute and really think, okay, what do you think I was eating that was setting this off? Do you think it’s really worth it?”

1 of 6

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 6

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Jackie Gebel, @noleftovers

Credit: noleftovers/Instagram

True to her Instagram handle, @noleftovers, Gebel always cleans her plate. “I’m such a good eater, and often eat more than I post, which is kind of bad. I love food so much and I’d rather workout then not be able to eat something,” she told InStyle. And while she does workout about five times a week, she admits to having gained weight since she started her popular Instagram account.

“I’ve definitely gained weight from it. But I’m happy, so it’s okay,” she says. “I’m definitely mindful about trying to work out a little bit more. I’m definitely trying to be aware of it. I know I’ve gained weight from it. But you know, then maybe I take a Citi Bike somewhere. I don’t take the subway. Just little things like that, making smart choices.”

And like the other ‘grammers I interviewed, Gebel reminded me that Instagram isn’t a live feed. She’ll stock up on photos while she’s eating out, and post one of, say, that other pizza she ordered last night, while in real time, she’s home at having a salad. She’ll even stop posting altogether if she’s on a health kick. “I’ve gone like radio silence for a few days where I was really trying to be healthy,” she adds.

“I don’t let it control my life ever. I don’t let it run what I’m doing.”

2 of 6

3 of 6

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Gillie Houston, @gilliehouston

Credit: gilliehouston/Instagram

Houston is also big on finishing her dishes. “I'm extremely conscious about food waste and have a big appetite (so food rarely goes to waste anyways around me),” she told InStyle when asked whether she eats everything she posts on her account, @gilliehouston.

But chowing down comes at a cost: a ton of gym time. When she’s home in New York, she’s working out five times a week (or more), and walking everywhere—including the two-hour trek from Brooklyn into Manhattan on the daily. “I don't have a very fast metabolism, so it's important for me to stay active if I want to eat all of the things I want to eat (which are ALL of the things). I've found other food writers and Instagrammers to be some of the biggest fitness enthusiasts I know because they sort of have to be!”

“In my first year out of school I definitely packed on some pounds, as I was going to events pretty much every night for work and/or Instagram, and spending all day in an office where delicious food was constantly flowing,” she said. “I work out a lot to counterbalance the eating, but can definitely feel it when I've been slacking off at the gym and not paying much mind to what I'm putting in my body.”

While her account keeps growing, now she’s focusing more on the balance. “I try my hardest not to think about how things will look on I.G. while ordering because I think that takes a lot of the joy out of dining out,” she told us. “There was definitely a point when I felt like I needed to take pictures of every meal, but after a while, I realized Instagram is supposed to be fun, and not something worth stressing over.”

3 of 6

Advertisement

4 of 6

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Jennie Snyder and Olivia McCurdy McGee, @hungrygrls

Credit: hungrygrls/Instagram

Snyder and McGee of @hungrygrls are quite unique when it comes to the world of foodstagrammers. The two best friends work on their account together, and they both hold full-time jobs in the food industry as well.

Since both women are contributing to the account and busy with their jobs on the weekdays, there’s less pressure to be constantly photographing what they eat. Instead, they rely on the weekends to stock up on photos and strategize their posts. “We’ll go to brunch together and then maybe go somewhere else later to have a snack or a treat,” Snyder told InStyle. “I get ice cream every Sunday. There are more opportunities on the weekends.”

They dip into their shared photo stream during the week and choose from a stockpile of photos. “It’s not like we’re a live feed,” she said. And it’s even possible to keep up with a diet. “I eat everything but very healthy and we both workout a lot of days of the week. Do I keep a certain diet? For sure, but I also will go out to dinner, have a slice of pizza for lunch. It’s possible.”

Snyder explained that it's taken them time, but they've become wiser with age. “The more years we do this, the more we learn about food and how to eat right and how our bodies react to all of these things,” she said. “We both love to eat, so we’re just trying to figure the best way to do that and be healthy but still indulge, which is everyone’s ultimate goal.”

4 of 6

5 of 6

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Alexa Mehraban, @eatingnyc

Credit: eatingnyc/Instagram

Mehraban of @eatingnyc is the first to admit that she caves under the pressure. “A lot of the time I go to restaurants and I know that their most popular dish or their most Insta-worthy dish is probably not the healthiest. So I definitely feel pressured to order those dishes,” she told InStyle.

And because she won’t post anything that she hasn’t eaten, it leads to some unhealthy choices in her diet. “I always make a point to try everything that I’m posting. If it’s not good, I’m not going to post it.”

So how does she avoid gaining weight? Stopping when she’s full. “I definitely will have some days where I’m stopping by like three places for lunch to try a specific dish. Every day is really different. I try to definitely balance. If I’m going to a lot of places for lunch, I won’t have a big dinner plan or I’ll do something a little more low-key just to try to balance it out.” Moderation, she reminds us, is key.

5 of 6

6 of 6

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Michele Mansoor, @hungrybetches

Credit: hungrybetches/Instagram

While Instagram is making me gain weight, it’s having the opposite effect on Mansoor of @hungrybetches. She revealed to InStyle that she doesn’t eat every indulgent food on her Instagram account.

“I would be sick if I did,” she said. “I give a lot of it away or share it with friends or homeless neighbors.” Beyond feeding other people, Mansoor explains that she finds her feed visually satisfying, which has, in a sense, curbed her cravings. “I do like to photograph outrageous food. That’s kind of the whole point of my Instagram. It’s indulgent and over the top,” she said. “My Instagram account is sort of like a visual diary of things I wish I could eat all the time. That’s not to say that you should be eating these foods all the time. I like to live by the notion that you can treat yourself without going overboard.”

In fact, Mansoor said her #foodporn-filled account has actually helped her manage her weight. “Having the food Instagram actually helped me manage my weight, strangely enough. It satisfied a need I had to be around food all of the time without actually overeating until the point where I felt sick. Taking a photo for Instagram is indulgent in a visual and artistic way that became equally satisfying for me.”

And unlike many of the ‘grammers I spoke to, she thinks it’s totally possible to be on a diet while managing her account. “I think it’s actually easier. You can make events out of your cheat meals or special treats,” she said. “A diet shouldn’t be painful or a sort of punishment. It’s a lifestyle.”

6 of 6

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Olivia Bahou

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook
Trending Videos
Advertisement
Skip slide summaries

Everything in This Slideshow

Advertisement

View All

1 of 6 Skyler Bouchard, @nycdining
2 of 6 Jackie Gebel, @noleftovers
3 of 6 Gillie Houston, @gilliehouston
4 of 6 Jennie Snyder and Olivia McCurdy McGee, @hungrygrls
5 of 6 Alexa Mehraban, @eatingnyc
6 of 6 Michele Mansoor, @hungrybetches

Share options

Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message
InStyle InStyle

Magazines & More

Learn More

  • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Accolades Licensing
  • Content Licensing
  • Sitemap

Connect

Follow Us
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
Other Meredith Sites

Other Meredith Sites

  • 4 Your Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Allrecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • All People Quilt this link opens in a new tab
  • Better Homes & Gardens this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Insights this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Surveys this link opens in a new tab
  • Cooking Light this link opens in a new tab
  • Daily Paws this link opens in a new tab
  • EatingWell this link opens in a new tab
  • Eat This, Not That this link opens in a new tab
  • Entertainment Weekly this link opens in a new tab
  • Food & Wine this link opens in a new tab
  • Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Hello Giggles this link opens in a new tab
  • Martha Stewart this link opens in a new tab
  • Midwest Living this link opens in a new tab
  • More this link opens in a new tab
  • MyRecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • MyWedding this link opens in a new tab
  • My Food and Family this link opens in a new tab
  • MyLife this link opens in a new tab
  • Parenting this link opens in a new tab
  • Parents this link opens in a new tab
  • People this link opens in a new tab
  • People en Español this link opens in a new tab
  • Rachael Ray Magazine this link opens in a new tab
  • Real Simple this link opens in a new tab
  • Ser Padres this link opens in a new tab
  • Shape this link opens in a new tab
  • Siempre Mujer this link opens in a new tab
  • Southern Living this link opens in a new tab
  • SwearBy this link opens in a new tab
  • Travel & Leisure this link opens in a new tab
InStyle is part of the Meredith Beauty Group. © Copyright 2021 Meredith Corporation. All Rights Reserved. InStyle may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
© Copyright . All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.instyle.com

View image

Instagram Is Making Me Gain Weight—and These Famous Foodstagrammers Agree
this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.