A fitness influencer was left devastated in November when almost none of her friends turned up to her ‘healthy’ birthday party.
Graciella Carvalho, a Brazilian bodybuilding champion, tells Daily Mail she decided her recent 39th celebration dinner would be completely aligned with her lifestyle.
The WBFF Diva Fitness world champion provided guests with light recipes and protein shakes, but was stunned when most attendees decided not to turn up.
‘In past years the house was full. This time, because everything was fitness and alcohol-free, very few showed up,’ she says.
Graciella adds that she used to serve traditional, calorie-dense dishes at her birthday soirees, but decided this year she would focus on healthier treats.
She says she pulled out all the stops for a fitness-focused evening, serving light meals, ‘functional’ desserts and protein shakes instead of alcohol and sugary treats.
Graciella Carvalho, 39, was left devastated in November when almost none of her friends turned up to her ‘healthy’ birthday party
The bodybuilder wanted to share her healthy lifestyle with her friends, showing them the kind of food and drinks she enjoys on a daily basis.
‘I thought everyone would go along with it because they’re always talking about eating better,’ she admits.
‘But the truth is that almost no one confirmed their attendance.’
In the invitation sent in advance, Graciella explained the gathering would include only healthy options and the celebration would not include alcohol.
The athlete believed her friends would welcome the idea, especially because many of them often talk about wanting to improve their habits and cut back on excesses.
However, the reaction was very different from what she expected, as only five of the 20 guests she invited actually turned up to the party.
The turnout was far lower than in previous years, when celebrations included traditional dishes, richer desserts, and a variety of drinks.
Most of the excuses were along the lines of, ‘It won’t feel like a real party without drinks,’ and ‘I’d rather celebrate properly another time.’
The fitness influencer, who is a Brazilian bodybuilding champion, tells Daily Mail she decided her recent 39th celebration dinner would be completely aligned with her lifestyle
Other people said they were tired and wanted something more relaxed, which Graciella says she found quite telling.
For Graciella, the difference showed how people still associate social events with heavy food and alcohol consumption.
‘It wasn’t sad, it was eye-opening. When there’s alcohol and indulgence, people rearrange their lives to come,’ Graciella says.
‘When it’s healthy, suddenly everyone has an excuse.’
Graciella says she over-prepared food for the occasion, believing all her friends would attend, leaving her with plates of leftovers.
However, instead of throwing the uneaten food away, Graciella shared the leftovers with the guests and froze the remainder for later.
Despite the low attendance, the athlete says she does not regret the decision.
For her, celebrating her birthday in a way that aligns with the lifestyle she has chosen is more important than holding onto old expectations.
The WBFF Diva Fitness world champion provided guests with light recipes and protein shakes, but was stunned when most attendees decided not to turn up
Graciella believes the episode illustrates the challenge of proposing more balanced alternatives in social settings, but says she will continue doing so.
‘Even if only a few come, I prefer to celebrate in a way that makes sense to me,’ she adds.
She admits she will still throw healthy birthday parties in the future, but make one important change – she would cut down her guest list.
‘I’d rather have a small table with people who respect my lifestyle than a full house that only shows up for drinks,’ she says.
