Fit mother attacked on Facebook

[Bunnahabhain]

http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/17/opinion/navarrette-maria-kang/index.html?hpt=hp_c3

[quote]Maria Kang likes a good workout. And she is getting one after a bunch of angry women turned her into a punching bag.

The 32-year-old Californian fitness enthusiast is under attack for posing for a cheeky photo and posting it on Facebook. The picture shows Kang -- who works out for 30 to 60 minutes per day, six days a week -- dressed in a workout bra and shorts that reveal an extremely toned body. She's surrounded by her three young sons -- now 1, 3 and 4. Plastered overhead is a simple but loaded question: "What's your excuse?"

snip

But a lot of women out there were absolutely furious with Kang.

"You, as a woman, should be ashamed that you are furthering the downward spiral of how society views women, and how we women view ourselves," scolded one blogger.

Some call her obnoxious, a showoff, a bully shaming other women and worse.

What's worse? How about getting accused of being a "bad mother"? That's right. Some women had the nerve to insist that no one gets into this kind of shape without neglecting their children.[/quote]

[Aristus]

1. I think that was a little short-sighted of her.

What if she hadn't done very well in school, and then saw a Facebook page from someone posting a straight A report card and asking: "What's your excuse?" - She would probably feel hurt, shamed, and attacked. But she didn't think about it very hard coming at it from the other direction.

[Decaffeinated]

14. Who cares?

Why should other people feel bad about excelling? It isn't even at the expense of anyone else other than hurt feelings.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

26. And yet, you would be amazed how many here supported Bloomberg's soda ban.

"Shaming" is frowned upon (shame on the shamers!) yet there is this persistent belief we can legislate both morality and physical fitness. Both require personal exertion often contrary to our natural inclinations but any effort by others exhort people to be better is shouted down in favor of having bribe-taking, bickering politicians write laws to demand we do something not very useful under penalty of law.

[Trajan]

132. Ridiculous analogy

typical of a Gungeonite ...

[Nuclear Unicorn]

142. Soda ban ---> ??? ---> zomguragungeoneer! Makes perfect sense -- to someone.

[Warren DeMontague]

276. Personally I prefer the 2nd set to start with a Help-->Slip-->Franks

But a Soda ban--->???--->zomguragungeoneer! jam works, too.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

321. A.K.A. The Corresponding Jubilante

That was my very high friend's post-show description of a Help>Slip>Frank

It kinda stuck with me. People just look at me and say "WTF?"

[Warren DeMontague]

328. NICE! It has a real nice ring to it. Whenever they knocked a show really out of the park

I used to call it "The Vista Cruiser". I think it was a Hunter S. Thompson reference, but that stuck too.



I remember being on a very muddy hillside during Morning Dew and deciding that it was a giant avalanche of chocolate fudge, and all the colorful people around me were little dancing M&M's.

[MicaelS]

225. Great analogy.

There are lots of Authoritarians here who want to be able to tell people what they can eat, drink, or smoke. Many cheered Bloomberg's soda ban. Plus whether or not they can own guns, or certain types of large trucks and SUVs. All in the name of the Greater Good, Society, the Commons, the environment or whatever phrase that connotes the group is always more important than the individual.

[Trajan]

237. Guns guns guns guns guns

Guns guns guns guns guns guns guns guns guns guns ...

Talk about dragging Gungeonite nonsense into the rest of this crazy ' liberal' website .... frankly, I couldnt give one shit what you think about guns, but I can see ; it is always ALWAYS on your mind ...

I guess I won't be grabbing YOUR gun ... Damnit ...

btw: I don't give a fuck about your fucking guns ... what I care about are right wing numbskulls invading and infecting this forum ...

[rrneck]

306. Pull up Trajan! Pull up! nt

[DragonBorn]

258. You have excellent debate skills

Excellent point!! You do sound a little angry, maybe you should relax.

[Aristus]

28. No one's saying she shouldn't feel proud of her accomplishment.

What she is doing is being arrogant about it, and equating a similar lack of fitness in others with a lack of accomplishment. One can celebrate one's own success without putting others down...

[deurbano]

75. Yes. Celebrate your success... share strategies that have worked for you...

share your personal experience of the benefits of exercise... but spare everyone else the "holier than than thou" crap.

[Decaffeinated]

89. Maybe admitting that there is no reason not to be fit other than choice...

... is what worked for her.

[deurbano]

228. I don't agree it's only about choice.

Some people are in a better position to make the "right" choices than others. And some (most?) women, after giving birth to three children, will not be able to achieve abs that flat without surgery (no matter how much they work out), so genetics also plays a role. (And it looks like she was lucky to have been spared obvious stretch marks...)

I would also say that to me, what she has accomplished (8 months after giving birth) is a bit beyond "fit." She looks like a model..... and her level of beauty and body sculpting is beyond the reach of most mortal women (no matter how hard they might try). Her looks are obviously a big focus for her... a source of pride... a high priority. Other people have other priorities... other time commitments... other resources. (And other genes to work with.) The proud sharing of what she has accomplished is fine. It's the "What's your excuse?" that seems grating to me.

But, I have such a deep-seated aversion to what seems (IMHO) to be a "holier than thou" approach that maybe I am not the right person to assess its efficacy. I was raised by a mother who heavily relied on that approach… and I have always had to fight the strong impulse to do the exact opposite of whatever she is espousing. (My mother is not at all fit, though, so at least she didn’t turn me off to fitness!)

[pnwmom]

343. And yet it's not true even for her.

She acknowledged that she had gone through a period of several years (in her twenties) of not being able to lose weight, due to "damaged metabolism."

[Decaffeinated]

351. I will admit that not everyone can get to model level fitness...

... and frankly most people shouldn't.

However, everyone has a personal upper limit of what they can accomplish and most people choose not to top out or even approach the top. That limit can change over time as it did for this woman as well.

[pnwmom]

105. No one's asking her to feel bad about excelling. People are

calling her out for putting other women down ("what's your excuse&quot and acting like a narcissistic show-off.

[treestar]

143. But she made that comment

Excelling and being proud of it doesn't mean taunting those who haven't. And BTW that sounds like Ayn Rand and her followers. No one made her feel bad until after she tried to make them feel bad with her comment. Your comment only applies had she put up the photo alone with some neutral comment or none at all and then got the reaction she did.

[theHandpuppet]

335. You can feel good about "excelling" without insulting other people

It's making yourself look good by making others look bad that's galling.

[Decaffeinated]

337. It doesn't make other "look bad"

It just acknowledges the decisions that were made.

Lady A made the decision to focus on her looks, health and fitness.

Lady B made the decision to skip the gym and focus on Doritos.

[Lint Head]

2. Our society is still uptight about showing the human body.

[Arugula Latte]

6. I gather that most people objected to the sort of "in your face" phrase

of "What's your excuse?" more than the display of her body.

I don't know ... I can sort of see both sides.

[pnwmom]

109. Yes. n/t

[tridim]

148. I hear the excuses all the time.

Staying in shape is EASY if you implement a little bit of discipline into your life. 30 minutes every-other-day is all it takes. Things like switching from soda to water take no time at all.

Good for the FB poster!

[sabrina 1]

308. And some women are disabled, some are poor and are more worried

about feeding their children than in how they look. And some are single parents, trying to raise children while holding down a job.

And some people don't put such a high priority on how THEY look and worry more about how their children are doing.

But we live in a self-absorbed society.

Few working mothers today have five minutes to devote to their looks, let alone a committed thirty minutes each day. Children get sick, which is likely to interrupt the average mother's day eg. Making such a commitment, unless there is a nanny in the picture, impossible.

Maybe she is one of the few lucky ones who has help, a nanny maybe, and a husband who supports her. Good for her. It would be great if all women had such circumstances, but they don't, not in the real world.

Otoh, maybe her comment should not have been taken so literally. It may simply have been an attempt to be flippant.

I just heard from a single, disabled parent of two young kids today. They got a notice that their food stamps will be cut by $50.00 from now on. It may as well be $1,000.00 in this case.

I don't think that parent is worrying about body image right now. Some people just can't afford to devote that much time to their own 'desires'.

If you are one of the lucky ones who can, it's not advisable to rub it in the faces of those who are not. It shows a lack of sensitivity to other people at the very least.

[Silent3]

310. I work out a lot more than you suggest, but I still wouldn't fling that nasty attitude toward...

...other people just because they didn't work out even a quarter as much as I do.

If you're thinking this "What's your excuse?" kind of snark is helpful motivational material, you're mistaken and terribly tone deaf.

[pnwmom]

347. There's a huge difference between body building -- which is how

this woman got her "sculpted" body -- and staying in shape, which, as you say, can be accomplished without a great deal of effort.

But this woman is a body builder, and her "what's your excuse" line is implying that it's easy or important to have a body like hers.

[mindfulNJ]

8. The controversy is not about "showing the human body"

It's her "shaming" other moms for not being in perfect shape like she is.

[anneboleyn]

190. Exactly. One could hold up his/her MD or PhD diploma and say "What's your excuse?"

And I think many people would find that obnoxious. Obviously, for many reasons, other women with three young children may not be able to devote an hour each day to lifting weights, etc. This woman is implying that they are making"excuses" for not achieving her "success" (no it does not do women any favors by hinting to them that it is not enough to be a hard-working mother, career woman, whatever -- one must not have an "excuse&quot

[pnwmom]

107. Our society doesn't like people who brag and put other's down.

"what's your excuse" is a put-down.

[Bunnahabhain]

112. So then our society would not like a majority of threads on DU?

I mean, most of them are about putting people down.

Also, there is a difference between a "challenge" and a "put down." I would class her statement as a challenge.

[pnwmom]

117. I dislike it when people on DU put each other down personally, yes.

And that's what this woman was doing -- putting other FB friends down.

[Bunnahabhain]

120. That's one way of viewing it

but I do not view it as a put down. I view it as a direct challenge. Maybe I am reacting differently because I enjoy rising to challenges?

[treestar]

147. No one would view it that way

Why would that be a challenge? It could be put much more clearly as one, but why is it her place to challenge people on that - if she had a photo of someone else and a more gentler phrase than "what's your excuse" you might have a point. I think her intent was clear.

And your hinting others don't want challenges is wrong, too, for the same reasons. You're trying to set yourself up as superior just like she is.

[SharkLasers]

182. Agreed

He's reading into it what he wants to read into it. Not really very sensitive to how the post could affect other irregardless of their body type.

[FreakinDJ]

135. Being Healthy is a GOOD thing

I don't see the problem

[pnwmom]

152. For all we know, this woman's need to display her personal fitness

is the latest expression of the eating disorders she's acknowledged.

Being healthy is a good thing, but putting other people down -- "what's your excuse" -- is not.

[FreakinDJ]

160. Its not a put down - its incentive

If she can do it - so can anyone else

[pnwmom]

169. Most women will recognize that as a put-down.

"Excuse" implies that a person without her body is doing something wrong, but healthy women with babies don't have to have a six-pack.

[kcr]

194. It is a putdown

I bet you 99 percent of those defending her don't go around to their friends and family every time they're successful at something and puff up their chests and bellow "What's your excuse!" like a giant asshole to everyone. Because they know better, and they know it would make them look like an ass. But what better chance then this OP to bash fatties!

[tridim]

214. But they are doing something wrong, they are choosing to remain unhealthy.

There is nothing right about treating your body like crap, especially the bad example it sets for your kids.

Saying "that is a put-down" is just another excuse. Good health is worth 30 minutes a day.

[pnwmom]

215. Not true. A woman doesn't have to have a six pack to be healthy.

That's nonsense.

[tridim]

221. Agreed, but you can be healthy without a 6-pack.

[pnwmom]

232. That's what I just said. n/t

[kcr]

218. No.

Not having a perfectly ripped six pack does not mean unhealthy. Bullshit. There are women who, no matter how much they work out, could never ever look like that. Having three children can separate the adominal muscles, and nothing short of surgical repair can make your stomach flat again. That could one "excuse"

[tridim]

223. Again, agreed. IMO six-pack abs miss the point of "health".

If you start exercising just for a flat belly, you are likely interested in vanity, not health.

[kcr]

224. Okay. Then what's with all the worry over the health of all the losers

who are coming up with all the excuses?

[JI7]

362. one doesn't need a six pack to be healthy, and i personally wouldn't want one anyways

[Silent3]

318. That's pretty crude, tone-deaf "incentive"

I can easily phrase things better than that to encourage fitness without being snide. What's her excuse?

[Hippo_Tron]

319. Two things...

1) Being healthy and having physique comparable to this woman are two completely different things.

2) The best way to encourage people to be healthy is positive re-enforcement, not negative re-enforcement.

"You're a fat slob, put down the junk food and go exercise" doesn't help anyone. "I know it can be challenging, but if you WANT to be healthier you can develop better eating habits and find time to exercise more" is a much better way to encourage people.

[Bluenorthwest]

3. As I read it she's not being criticized for posting a 'cheeky photo' but for making

snotty comments toward others, as if other people need an excuse to not be obsessive work out addicts.

[Xithras]

13. As a health nut, I took it a bit differently.

Society has this weird notion that a woman's fitness and health should take a backseat once she has a child, and that loss of cardiovascular fitness is something that should just be accepted. Many people (myself included) argue that maintaining ones own health is one of the most important things a parent can do, because it helps to ensure that the parent will be around longer to participate in their childrens and grandchildrens lives. It can mean the difference between dying of a coronary when you're 65 and your grandchildren are toddlers, or living long enough to watch your grandchildren graduate college, marry, and start families of their own. Most people want their elders around as long as possible, and the only way to accomplish that is to keep some focus on your own health and fitness.

I couldn't tell you the number of times I've heard, and ALWAYS from women, that they were "in great shape when I was younger, but I had kids"...as if "having kids" is really a reason to neglect your own health.

All the gold in the world won't buy you more time on this life. Working out a few times a week WILL. I took her comment as a shot at the societal assumption that women are "expected" to be unfit after having children.

[treestar]

163. Not to reject "their own health"

Having kids makes it much harder to get the time. Does this lady have a full time job, too?

And having kids does affect your body - some bounce back, others struggle more. It's not liberal to be judgmental.

[Xithras]

197. Sure.

Of course having kids impacts your body. I've made three of them, and have seen the damage pregnancy causes.

I'm not talking about having well defined abs or a perfectly toned butt. Cardiovascular health is more about keeping your heart and lungs healthy, keeping your weight down, and keeping your blood pressure and cholesterol under control. People get too hung up on the visual aspect of health, but fitness has little to do with appearance.

And I know all about kids making it harder to find the time to exercise. Still, we're talking 30 minutes. The average person wastes more time than that in front of a TV every day. I personally keep my gym bag in my trunk and just stop off at my cheap $10 a month gym for 30 minutes on my way home from work. It's built into my daily schedule.

If you aren't getting at least 30 minutes of exercise a minimum of three times a week, with your heartrate at least 70% of its maximum level, you are undermining your own health and shortening your lifespan. That's not a matter of opinion, but is a simple medical fact. It may be hard to find the time, but the alternative is an early death. And how does that benefit your kids?

[kcr]

220. "I'm not talking about having well defined abs or a perfectly toned butt."

Maybe you weren't. But she was. And gee, what's everyone else's excuse for not looking like that! And to top it off are all the defenders trying to make it about health. I guess if you don't have toned abs and a butt, you have one foot in the grave.

[treestar]

242. It's so variable

My father and his siblings never exercise (they only exercise the larynx, lol), but they are still cranking around energetically. To church, the movies, dinner, shows, etc. Up into their 90s if you look at Grandpa's generation. Nobody in those generations "worked out."

I do work out and generally always have since I started working. Never occurred to me to tell others they should though.

[Xithras]

265. No, because those generations generally WORKED

The need for exercise is largely a byproduct of our modern sedentary society, and one that has primarily arisen during the past 30 years. There have always been unfit people, and they have always died early, but never in history have unfit people been such a large percentage of the population. You don't have to work out when you walk miles to work every day, or your job involves manual labor in a factory, or your life includes any of the myriad of other things that naturally work your body anyway. My grandmother lived to be 103 years old and never "worked out" a day in her life. Instead, she ran a farm until she was almost 70, hoed and weeded her gardens daily until she was in her 90's, and walked to and from the store almost every day until she died...at nearly two miles each way. Earlier generations didn't have these problems in large numbers because earlier generations lived lives that required them to move.

The obesity and fitness problems in this country are new to the current generations of young people, and primarily stem from the fact that our jobs and lives are far more sedentary that they were even just a few decades ago. And I'm fully aware that there were plenty of people with sedentary jobs back then. They were generally less fit, and died younger, than most of their peers.

[treestar]

294. That makes it harder for us

and therefore, less necessary to be judgmental.

[pnwmom]

345. And those women who worked didn't have ripped abs.

They were very fit, yes -- I had a mother-in-law who lived till 95 and she walked everywhere. Everywhere! But she never had the sculpted body of a body builder, which this woman is. She didn't work on every muscle group every week, as this woman systematically does.

You need to move -- yes! And a lot. But you don't need a sculpted body to be very healthy.

[pnwmom]

344. She says she has more than a full time job.

She runs two adult family homes, maintains a blog, and more. AND she does it all without a nanny.

Except she let it slip in another interview that she tries not to feel guilty when she leaves her children. So, yes, she does leave them. If she doesn't have a nanny, she has some other kind of childcare help; but for some reason she wants to portray herself as Super-Mom.

Kind of in keeping with everything else she does.

[arikara]

168. Easily said

but when a new mother is looking after a new baby as well as a home, possibly other children, often a (low paying) job on top of it, there is little time and energy left over for a workout program. So no, having kids isn't a reason to neglect your health, its just that everything else you HAVE to do takes priority. Speaking from past experience, when a person is so exhausted from all the running around for everyone else, all you want is to put your feet up for a few minutes not pump weights as good as it may be for you.

I could be wrong but my guess is that this buff woman doesn't work outside the home, possibly even has help to run the home at that. Or if she works, she has lots of help with the housework and the kids because she ain't doing it all by herself.

[Xithras]

200. 30 minutes a day.

That's all it takes.

On edit, I'll concede, of course, that a NEW MOTHER is a different story. Not only is her body still recovering from the trauma of childbirth and often carrying around milk-laden breasts that would make exercise difficult, but the first six months of a childs life can be a pretty traumatic and sleep deprived period anyway.

My bigger issue is with people who blame pregnancy for their lack of fitness right before they introduce you to their six year old. If you don't consider your health a priority, then just admit it. Don't blame your kids for it.

[pnwmom]

346. This woman is doing cardio every day AND she's working on every

muscle group in rotation every week.

She's doing more than 30 minutes a day and the results show it. She's working, as she says elsewhere, to "sculpt" her body. That's what body builders do.

You don't have to be a body builder to get a healthy amount of exercise. And a woman doesn't need ripped abs to be attractive.

[madrchsod]

201. i like the part about being around for your grandkids

i`m 66 and recovered from a cardiac arrest several months ago. our granddaughter lives with us and everyday i hope i get another day to be with her. i never gave it a thought that something like this could happen but it did. now i have to impress on my wife that she needs to improve her health!

[gollygee]

280. She could have said that

She could have said, "Don't ignore your health once you have kids!" or "Make your health a priority!' or any of a number of positive things. But instead she used something that sounds like an accusation: "What's your excuse?" As if someone had given her an excuse.

[Bunnahabhain]

22. She says she works out for no more than an hour

six days a week. Are you seriously characterizing that as "obsessive work out" addiction?

[Ikonoklast]

72. That's hardly an 'addiction'. I used to work out four hours a DAY, six days a week.

And there were people at my gym who considered me a 'tourist'.

[Bunnahabhain]

73. Exactly my point

Only a couch potato would think a max of six hours a week = "obsessive workout addict."

Heck, in the nice weather, I'll take off with my cycling club at 7am on a Saturday morning and we won't get back in until 3pm. Lunch and breaks of course.

[Ikonoklast]

86. I would do laps in the pool or run, every other day, before work.

Lift weights after work, alternate three muscle groups, twice weekly. 1200 crunches every day. I had abs you could strike sparks off of.

And I worked two jobs, seven days a week while raising my three kids by myself all that time.

[Bunnahabhain]

88. That run was uphill both ways, right?

[Ikonoklast]

106. Only on Saturdays, when the local football stadium and track was open to the public.

I would run the steps for an hour.

[pnwmom]

196. That's what she says. But she might be minimizing what she does

in order to make her achievement that much more remarkable.

[JI7]

305. like those celebs who claim to stay thin by doing yoga

and eating anything they want

[pnwmom]

309. She started being a competitive body builder in her early 20's.

She's not a "typical mom" if there is such a thing.

[Bluenorthwest]

281. She sounds like a person with body and food issues. A bullemic or recovering one.

My guess is that she weighs all of her food and does lots of eating oriented rituals and countings and such. Being physically fit and being mentally sound are not the same thing. Her need for attention, approval and body image based status systems indicate that she has a big, giant relationship with food and a hard time with her own body image. I assume she's had professional intervention for some of these issues in the past. She is acting out. It is not what she does, but how she talks about it that is both rude and indicative of her personal body/food battles.
Sorry if you don't like it.

[dawg]

4. Don't blame me ...

[taught_me_patience]

5. Hard to believe she only works out 30-60 min a day

But the hate for her is really over the top. I guess there are lots of jealous moms out there...

[mindfulNJ]

9. If she had left off the "What's your excuse?"

Maybe it would have been recieved a little better.

[HappyMe]

11. I agree with the jealousy thing.

I think the 'what's your excuse' is a bit of tough love. It's weird to me that in these days of rampant obesity, and in the light of Michelle Obama's move campaign, a woman that is taking care of herself deserves a boat load of shit flung at her.

[anneboleyn]

195. Not fair. I think others find ANYONE bragging about a degree, body size, bank accounts, etc

to be obnoxious, not providing "incentive" to others who are just "jealous" of not having an MD, JD, PhD, size two body, millionaire status, whatever. The woman posted a picture of herself, not just some random fit person, suggesting she considers herself the representative of an ideal. That is not "tough love." It is narcissistic arrogance.

[HappyMe]

203. That's your opinion.

[kcr]

249. A friendly tip

If you go around saying things like "What's your excuse?" to people? It's more than likely a lot of people find you a jerk. If you don't, there's a reason for that and your opinion makes no sense.

[pnwmom]

348. "I got a Ph.D. in Computer Science while having three kids. What's your excuse?"

This implies that anyone should be able to do it, and that it's something everyone should want to do. Both are wrong.

Not everyone can or should want to be a body builder -- which she is -- or a computer scientist.

[fitman]

97. 30-60 minute sper day is really all you need

Getting in shape is 90% diet anyway...not working out.

I have seen people work out 1.5-2hrs a day but pig out and remain fat/out of shape.

Most studies show if you work out with weights for more than 1 hour your body actually starts to burn muscle..

Most of the famous weight lifters only work out an hour per day..

Again diet is the key.

[Bunnahabhain]

100. Agreed, diet is key

Which is another reason this topic gets so much hate.

[fitman]

111. My wife is very fit 5-5 125 lbs, works out every day, watches what she eats every day

we went to a wedding sat night..buffet style. My wife had one reasonable plate and one small piece of wedding cake..the fat woman across the table ate 2 large plates and at least 3-4 glasses of pop and then said to my wife..to the affect" you have good genes and don't have to watch what you eat". My wife had to bite her tongue.

[RedCappedBandit]

233. People always say things like "you're so lucky" to exceptionally fit people

They, frankly, don't know what they're talking about.

[fitman]

241. I know..

My wife works out with me every day for one hour, really watches what she eats..does have occasional junk food, not totally compulsive-same with me..

Like real estate location location location..with fitness it's... diet diet diet

As I said I see overweight people in the gym really working out hard..then after leaving I see them in the MCdees line..or at the food store with a shopping cart full of junk..

[backscatter712]

352. I think a lot of the obesity problem is that people are self-deceived about their food intake.

You're supposed to take in about 2,000 calories a day, give or take a few.

And people think that's what they're taking in.

But I found when I was a little bit overweight (I never was more than slightly into the a-little-overweight category), that when I really watched how I ate, counted all the calories, and was completely honest with myself about my snacking, and my portion sizes, that I was going waaaay over.

And I think that's part of America's eating culture. When you go out to eat, the restaurant gives you a mountain of food, and people think that's a normal meal. No.

So when people say "Yeah, I watch what I eat, but everything I eat goes straight to my ass.", I wonder if they're really looking, or if they're assuming.

Because I've been there. I let myself go for a while, then I took a strict look at what I was eating, cut my calories, kept strict track of my calories, and then hit the gym, and the weight came off. Now I'm well in the green zone of the BMI.

Also, exercise must be done with dieting. If you diet, but don't exercise, you'll have a very hard time sticking to the diet. And once you stop dieting, you'll start overeating again. Your body has a weight set point, that if you're overweight, is set too high. And it WILL drive you to overeat.

There is one, and only one, scientifically documented and proven way to lower your body's set point, and make it easier for you to stick to a diet and keep your weight down. HIT THE GYM. An hour a day, 3-5 days a week. Exercise lowers your set point. Nothing else does.

Diet + exercise = healthy weight and making yourself look good. You don't have to look like the snoot in the OP. I certainly don't - my genes aren't nearly that good, but you can turn the health knob and the looking-good knob up a few notches.

[taught_me_patience]

227. True to a degree

One can be in great shape on 30-60min/ day, but to get to her level tone an definition takes a real dedication to diet that most don't have. It starts to border on obsessive... I would bet that she's doing more than an hour of cardio at least a few times per week.

[RedCappedBandit]

230. Yeah, it takes dedication. That's why she's proud.

More than an hour of cardio is a silly waste of time and could very well be counter productive. The other posters are correct, it is mostly about diet.

[fitman]

240. see my reply below

about her diet

[fitman]

239. She was featured in Max Fitness recently

She only does about an hour of weights/cardio each day..she said in the article she is obsessive with her diet and that is where she get's all her gains. Zero pop,or junkfood or processed food and is anal compulsive what she puts into her mouth..she weighs every piece of food she puts in her mouth and tracks calories and content

[tridim]

180. That's really all it takes!

If more people knew then she wouldn't have to post it on FB.

That's about the time I put in daily, 30 minutes of which is just walking the dog. Doing it 4-7 days a week is the key to success. Lack of consistency and motivation is probably why many people fail. The FB poster gets it.

[redgreenandblue]

231. 30 to 60 minutes a day, six days a week, is a huge amount.

15 to 20 minutes a day, five days a week is already very decent.

[JI7]

363. Diet Matters more so i can easily see it

[L0oniX]

7. 2/3 rds of US people are over wieght. Someone who is not over wieght is subject to attack.

I'm not surprised. Not everyone has to work out to be a normal weight for ones height.

[lumberjack_jeff]

10. how to be insufferable on facebook.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/wait-but-why/annoying-facebook-behavior_b_4081038.html

A Facebook status is annoying if it primarily serves the author and does nothing positive for anyone reading it.


To examine this a bit, let's start by discussing the defining characteristics of statuses that are not annoying.

To be unannoying, a Facebook status typically has to be one of two things:

1) Interesting/Informative

2) Funny/Amusing/Entertaining

You know why these are unannoying? Because things in those two categories do something for me, the reader. They make my day a little better.

[PasadenaTrudy]

19. Exactly

I just read this the other day...so true!

[Jazzgirl]

68. You can always hide the posts of those that annoy you.

That's what I do.

I have a friend who is a bodybuilder and trainer. She is almost 51 and just won her pro card and looks awesome. These women are definitely jealous but if they don't like what she says they can hide all her posts and not have to see them anymore.

[treestar]

171. That's good

Annoying FB posts are look at me, I'm doing something cool!

[lumberjack_jeff]

174. the "check in" function is the worst

"here I am! In London! Unlike you!"

[Scuba]

12. "Isn't it time?" or "Join me" or How about you?" would have been better choices.

But the shaming is over the top.

[HappyMe]

15. Nobody would have noticed if she had said those things.

So 'shaming' her and spewing hate towards her makes it right?

[pnwmom]

110. She was shaming others with her "what's your excuse."

People are nailing her as a smug, self-satisfied, narcissist in love with her own body.

[Bunnahabhain]

115. I was not shamed by her line

Maybe if one feels shame from her challenge they might need to take a look in the mirror? I mean, she might not have stated things in the most diplomatic way, but that doesn't make her wrong.

[pnwmom]

122. Yeah, it does make her wrong. You don't have to be out of shape

to recognize an obvious put-down. You just need a functioning brain.

[Bunnahabhain]

125. Whatever you say

And I will admit my brain is non-functioning. All the doctors are amazed I can type so well and effortlessly point out the logical fallacies I see here so regularly given the fact my brain is non-functioning.

[SharkLasers]

187. Fat shaming

should not be tolerated.

[Silent3]

323. I wasn't shamed by the line either, but I can see how others might be

The world is a bit bigger than how thing affect you.

[HappyMe]

126. Oh ffs!

Any criticism of people has become 'shaming'.

I still think those women blasting her about her being a bad mom is bullshit. I happen to think that maybe they are smug and snotty, and that that woman cut a little too close to the bone. God forbid somebody should point out that sitting on your ass isn't the healthiest thing to do.

Narcissism? Please. Maybe she should wear a burka.

[Bunnahabhain]

131. Well put!

[pnwmom]

145. I wouldn't criticize her for being a bad mom, since we know nothing

about the kind of mother she is.

But we do know she's the kind of 32 year old who displays her body on FB along with put-downs of other women who aren't as sculpted as she is.

"I've got 3 little kids and LOOK AT ME!" is the implicit message. "How come you don't look like ME! What's YOUR excuse!"

How obnoxious!

[HappyMe]

156. Oh bullshit.

If that's what you and other women choose to take away from that, then that is on you. If childish attacks on her make those women feel better about themselves, well I guess her FB did do some good then.

[pnwmom]

172. Men who enjoy looking at her body miss the meta-message

that's obvious to almost any woman, no matter how fit she is.

[HappyMe]

175. Who said anything about men?

Obviously the snarling women bashing her missed the message too.

[Bunnahabhain]

176. Do women that enjoy looking at her body miss the meta-message too?

[polly7]

211. Agree! nt.

[treestar]

151. Yeah if she can dish it out, she should be prepared to take it

Defending her on this is silly - does it indicate the defender is just as judgmental? I don't know, but it sure is a hopeless argument.

[kcr]

170. It's weird. I notice that some of people defending her

usually don't tend to act like narcissistic assholes so it seems that at least on some level they know not to act like that. So I don't get the defense of her.

[Bunnahabhain]

184. You have to disambiguate

There are a few things going on here. There is how she said what she said. At best, any "defense" of that is tepid. Then there is the message of what she said. Some (me included) are vigorously defending that and others are as vigorously attacking it and listing those excuses she is dismissing. There are a few more layers but those are the two major ones.

[kcr]

188. I don't find the defense tepid at all.

I find it some of it at best dismissive, and that isn't tepid in my book. Much of it is just as aggressive. "All the fatties are just jealous!" I see no tepid anywhere. All of it worthy of "attack".

[fitman]

99. Sometimes people need a verbal 2x4 to the head

to change their ways..a verbal kick in the ass so to speak..

[enlightenment]

141. And she was hired to do this?

All she did was alienate a lot of people, so I'd say she was wielding a verbal boomerang, not a 2x4.

[fitman]

146. It was her own Facebook page

no one is forced to view it.

[Hippo_Tron]

307. I don't much care for negative re-enforcement, but that's just me...

I think "If you want it bad enough, you can find the time" is a good message that would actually inspire me to take up a fitness regimen because I want to do it. "Stop making excuses" implies me that I'm a lesser person if I don't take up a fitness regimen. I suspect I'd be less likely to stick to the regimen with that kind of motivation.

[Orrex]

16. The shutdown would never have happened if women were in charge

Wait. Wrong thread.

[Egnever]

101. LOL

I see what you did there.

[HappyMe]

222. LOL!

Well played.

[PowerToThePeople]

17. sometimes a good jolt is needed.

I am male, and yet I feel shamed by this. I need to do some situps now.

Good for that mom.

[stevenleser]

98. That was my take too. I have no excuse to not exercise more. nt

[PasadenaTrudy]

18. Vanity Culture

This is her currency, her body. Kind of sad...

[dairydog91]

20. Maybe she prefers to look fit.

I think she should be able to work out without insinuations that the only reason she could have to work out is a subconscious desire to peddle her body.

[pnwmom]

113. Of course she should. No one would have thought she likes to work out

because she wants to peddle her body.

But she decided to display her body ALONG with an insult to other women -- "what's your excuse" -- and that's when she crossed the line into bragging and obnoxiousness.

[HappyMe]

21. What?

Staying in shape and taking care of yourself is sad? Encouraging others to eat right and exercise is sad?

[PasadenaTrudy]

44. The statement

along with the picture is what I'm referring to...duh...Reeks of narcissism IMO!

[HappyMe]

62. I don't agree.

Because she takes care of herself by eating right and exercising, she's a narcissist?

She has a non-profit organization she is trying to promote. I think her 'what's your excuse' is a little tough love. If people don't like the way she delivered her message, that's their right. But it doesn't give them the right to launch a childish, shit flinging rant about her being a bad mother etc. If you don't want to exercise, fine. But don't crap on those that want to, and happen to like the way they look and feel because of it. Society does not force anyone to exercise, nor does it force anyone to sit on their asses. That decision is up to each individual.

[madrchsod]

204. she`s selling her body?

the only amount of currency she`s asking for is that others follow her example for their and their kids sake.

[RedCappedBandit]

234. It's sad that you devalue her worth as a person over such petty nonsense .nt

[spanone]

23. facebook...turn it off.

anonymous shit stirring

[Geoff R. Casavant]

24. Of course, she runs a nonprofit dedicated to fitness.

So part of her job is necessarily working out. Most of us do not have jobs that require or allow us to work out 60 minutes a day.

[Bunnahabhain]

27. Not "allow" us to work out?

I've not put in less than 50 hours in a week in the last 20 years and usually work around 60-65 hours a week. I manage to get in 45-90 minutes of exercise everyday.

I was on the fence about her saying, "What's your excuse" but this post of yours shows me why she said that.

[Gormy Cuss]

25. I wonder if she says the same things to fellow bulimics.

"What's your excuse for purging? I stopped, why can't you?"

[HappyMe]

31. Where the hell did you get that idea?

Nowhere does it mention that she was/is bulemic.

[Bunnahabhain]

32. Everyone knows fit hot women are purgers

Duh!

[Gormy Cuss]

36. This one was.

Last edited Thu Oct 17, 2013, 02:20 PM - Edit history (1)

She blogged about it on her own site. mariakang.com

eta: more properly in her own words, is a recovering bulimic which means she still self-identifies as bulimic.

[Bunnahabhain]

47. Good find.

Says it lasted for a couple of years, so if she's being truthful, she's built like this without purging.

Her statement is "in your face." Then again I read in your face thread titles here all day long.

[Gormy Cuss]

51. I don't question her truthfulness on how she became fit

but I find it a bit weird given her history that she has no understanding or sympathy with the people who reacted badly to her post.
She issued a nonapology apology, wasting an opportunity to convert the message to encouragement.

[Bunnahabhain]

54. What she said stood little chance of making friends

but I read all kinds of things from fat people demanding acceptance in even more "in your face" terms. Somehow that never seems to generate the shit storm this has. I do think part of the vehemence of the attacks are the fact she's so fit and putting it out there in a fashion that compares herself to others...and some come up lacking.

[Union Scribe]

121. "I read all kinds of things from fat people demanding acceptance"

Oh no! The fuckers, how dare they want to be accepted. Thank goodness you started this thread to make clear that they "come up lacking."

[Bunnahabhain]

129. Yawn

Of course I was not speaking of the desire of fat people to be accepted but rather the topic was the tone and modality of the messages they send out all over the Internet. Tones that exceed the one used by this hot fit woman. My point would have been, of course, the differential treatment they receive.

But hey, great shot at attempting to put words in my mouth and derail things. What's your excuse?

[Union Scribe]

292. I notice you keep saying "hot"

I thought the point was fitness? Just kidding, I know the point was flame bait, since you admitted you knew what would happen by posting this here.

[treestar]

161. Why shouldn't fat people be accepted?

that goes for granted for any open minded liberal person.

[Bunnahabhain]

164. Straw man

Good god, you're just full of logical fallacies. And no, I'm not going to explain to you why your post was a straw man. Figure it out yourself.

[HappyMe]

55. Okay, then. I stand corrected.

I didn't go to her website.

Bulemia, like alcoholism is a life-long battle. This woman seems to have a good message. Eat healthy, exercise, recovery is possible. It's not an easy road and I think whatever helps a person to recover is great.

I don't think she even comes close to deserving all the garbage those women flung at her.

[Gormy Cuss]

34. mariakang.com

She talks about it herself.

[pnwmom]

311. It says in the video that she struggled with eating disorders. n/t

[barbiegeek]

213. That made me laugh

[Throd]

29. "I make more money than you, what's your excuse?" Would that be OK?

Her question presumes that everyone has the same circumstances and motivations as her. I'm not sure what her true motivations are, but she comes off sounding like a real dick.

[Bunnahabhain]

30. Yes, because income and exercise are highly comparable n/t

[Throd]

33. Tell that to the single mom working two jobs.

Then duck.

[Bunnahabhain]

37. I was raised in a single parent, female headed house

and my mother used to be active with my sister and I. Try again?

[Throd]

45. So your experience = other people's reality?

[Bunnahabhain]

48. My experience proves what you have said is not a law of nature

That what you said is not sufficient condition for the conclusion. Get it? You tried to make a universal statement and not me. My statement was to demonstrate your statement is not universal.

[Throd]

52. No, I really don't understand the point you are trying to make.

[Bunnahabhain]

56. Not a problem.

I find many people have problems constructing accurate analogies and understanding basic rhetoric so do not feel bad.

[Throd]

57. Or maybe you're just full of shit.

[Bunnahabhain]

59. I can be full of shit

and you can still have problems constructing accurate analogies or grasping basic conversational logic skills. See, what you've just constructed is a false dilemma, yet another logical fallacy.

[Throd]

63. I'll use myself as an example...

In my 20's I used to have a very athletic physique because my life was relatively simple and I could spend time at the gym or jogging.

Now I'm 46, with two young kids and a mortgage, working a shitload of hours as a freelance designer in a crappy economy. I don't get to the gym so often anymore.

I just used the "how much money do you make" comment to illustrate how dickish she is to assume that anybody who doesn't look like her must have some kind of shortcoming. Similar to rich people who assume that if you're poor, you must be lazy.

[Bunnahabhain]

64. LOL, really?

So you accused me of using a personal example to make a general conclusion (I in fact did not but rather used it to counter your general conclusion) and are now trying to ad hoc rescue yourself into some type of reply with...a personal example? Seriously? You have to be pulling my leg at this point.

Also, as I said up thread, I've not worked less than 50 hours in a week for 20 years and usually work 60-65 hours in a week. I still manage to exercise 45-90 minutes a day. One of the false assumptions in your reply to me is the part about a gym. Exercise can happen outside of a gym!

[Throd]

66. You assume other people have that 45-90 minutes a day that you do.

And if they did, they would do as you do.

A lot of people are using that 90 minutes to commute to another job on the bus. But then again, maybe they can workout on the bus, because exercise isn't confined to a gym.

[Bunnahabhain]

70. There's a difference between choice and ability to chose

You need to pick a position here. First you gave me why you cannot exercise. I gave you that I manage to do it working, on average, 60 or more hours a week. Now you're tossing more bullshit at the wall and hoping some will stick.

Also, I stated I exercise at a minimum of 45 minutes and a maximum of 90. Of course you use the upper end as the sole data point. Lame.

Push ups, sit ups, stretching (a highly important part of fitness), yoga, doing kata....so many choices.

People make their own choices, and I find those choices valid for them, but choice =! an excuse why someone cannot stay moderately fit.

[Throd]

77. Once again, you assume people have choices.

I do have the luxury of being able to choose to go to the gym for 90 minutes a day if I want. Some days I choose not to because I'd rather do something else. Other people are not as fortunate as me.

[Bunnahabhain]

83. That's not what you just said

You said:

[quote]In my 20's I used to have a very athletic physique because my life was relatively simple and I could spend time at the gym or jogging.

Now I'm 46, with two young kids and a mortgage, working a shitload of hours as a freelance designer in a crappy economy. I don't get to the gym so often anymore. [/quote]

Seems to me you were saying you no longer have the luxury. Or were you just making excuses?

And let's remove the outliers from our discussion here. There are still huge cohorts that could exercise and just chose not to. Fine by me but don't tell me it's because they cannot. The vast majority of Americans have down time. It's there choice on how to use it but use it for some moderate exercise they could.

[Throd]

93. True, but this lady doesn't have to be a judgmental prick about it.

She comes off as the head cheerleader making fun of the not-so-pretty girls. People are going to react to that.

[Bunnahabhain]

96. I've said multiple times in the thread she was less than diplomatic

At least now we're down to the fact it was not what she said but how she said it...

[fitman]

103. I own two separate co's

help my wife with her business, take care of my 82 year old dad-cut his grass do maintenace around his house, put in 50-60 hrs per week on the job but still find time to work out every day.

I go in at 5:30 every morning..

[Scout]

67. based on this thread and others, i tend to agree with you! n/t

[Logical]

81. LOL, I don't think this thread went like you wanted! nt

[Bunnahabhain]

85. Went exactly as I thought it would

She was being a bit of a dick but that does not make her position incorrect. Sadly, my expectations were largely confirmed and many folks here making excuses without owning their own fitness level and that of the nation at large.

[Logical]

91. Nothing to do with fitness, has to do with being an arrogant show off! Nt

[Bunnahabhain]

94. That's one opinion

There are others. I keep forgetting exploring differing opinions is also something many folks have a problem with.

[pnwmom]

114. They're both things you can work on.

And some people make money more easily and some people get fit more easily.

I think it's a good analogy.

[Bunnahabhain]

118. You're allowed to be incorrect

That's one of the great things about this country.

[JVS]

137. Don't like your job? Get a better one. Don't like your pay? Work harder.

I suppose you have some kind of excuse

[Bunnahabhain]

140. Don't like being fat?

Stop stuffing your face.

Holy fuck! No excuse.

[JVS]

150. You're moving the goalposts. Did you see the pic she posted? It's beyond not being fat.

There are plenty of people who aren't stuffing their faces who will never look like she does.

[Bunnahabhain]

153. When people use a faulty analogy

I feel free to move the goal posts. At some point I stop just pointing out the shoddy rhetoric and decide to join the fun myself.

[JVS]

158. How is income a faulty analogy?

Does working more hours not offer more pay? Does learning new skills not open up better job opportunities?

[Bunnahabhain]

167. *sigh*

Exercise is free and does not require one to obtain skill sets desired by the market place of employers or customers. Doing push ups and crunches is not analogous to earning an MBA.

[JVS]

183. Shitty excuse. Learning is free. You can learn more, get a better job, and re-invest in a degree.

[Bunnahabhain]

185. Not all free things are comparable

I have to...and laughably this is the truth...go work out so I'm done teaching basic logic for a bit.

Cheers

[JVS]

186. You're not teaching logic. You're just indulging in excuse making for one aspect of life while...

denouncing it in another.

[treestar]

155. Yes that was a perfect analogy

Don't see how you are getting that it's not.

In fact higher income means better chances at time to work out, places to work out, coaching, etc. It's even part of her claim.

[Bunnahabhain]

157. I'm done explaining why it's faulty

Please carry on and just declare victory.

[LanternWaste]

87. No more and no less than "I voted for a Democrat, what's your excuse?"

No more and no less than "I voted for a Democrat, what's your excuse?" or "I've cut down on families CO2 Emissions by 35% in the past year, what's your excuse?"

[MelungeonWoman]

35. Have you ever checked out Yeah, She Squats on FB?

The comments are insufferable, full of jealousy, accusations and extremely rude lust. OTOH, I find the pics very motivational personally. I just ignore the comments and remember what I'm working towards. Haters gonna hate - oh, well.

[Arcanetrance]

38. If you want to encourage people to work out being snarky isn't the way to do it

I do think people need to take care of their health better than they do. I know there's lots of reasons out there that people don't. I know I need to work on getting back in shape after I tore my Achilles earlier this year i got used to not doing much and even with the physical therapy I know I've been kinda lazy. But if someone got snarky with me about my weight I'd immediately tune them out as being overly self righteous

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

39. I think her message was a little snarky...

And a little accusatory. And if she's a One-Percenter with a nanny and a personal trainer and a Health Club Membership, then my response is that she can improve her cardiovascular health by going and fucking herself. A lot of moms don't have those resources.

But...

If she's just an otherwise fit person who can find the time to be both an engaged parent AND make time for exercise, then good on her.

[bobclark86]

123. From the article...

"That isn't easy with Kang's schedule. She said she cares for her three boys without a nanny in addition to creating and running a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people get fit."

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

159. In that case...

She has my complete admiration.

[pnwmom]

300. She says in another article that she tries not to feel guilty

when she leaves them.

If she's leaving them all alone, she should be arrested. No wonder she feels guilty!

(If she has no nanny, maybe she has daycare. Or maybe Grandma or Daddy is watching them.)

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

341. My YMCA has an on site daycare (nt)

[pnwmom]

342. Whatever she does, she's not some miracle mom

who keeps a baby and two preschoolers with her 24/7 while still attending to her non-profit, her for-profits, her blog, her exercise routine, etc.

She says she tries not to feel guilty when she leaves them.

So, if she doesn't have a nanny, that's because another person or persons assist her with childcare.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

353. You're making some assumptions there...

She runs a non-profit fitness organization, so she has a full or half-time job.

Let's be careful before we start attacking working mothers.

[pnwmom]

355. You missed the fact that she runs two for-profit adult care homes.

I'm not attacking her for being a working mother. I'm saying she's misrepresenting herself as not using child care -- in another interview she states that she does leave her kids.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

357. Still not getting the animosity here...

Look, I'll grant you that her message is somewhat "in your face" about fitness. But she has a fulltime job (and being self-employed, she probably has a degree of schedule flexibility), three kids, and makes the time to exercise.

You sound as though she should be tethered to her kids 24/7.

[pnwmom]

358. If she hadn't had the snide "what's your excuse" line I wouldn't have cared.

That's what I'm objecting to, along with her portrayal of herself as a Super Woman.

I object to this as much as if she'd been pictured in front of her lovely car and house, saying, "what's your excuse?"

P.S. She is a person with a history of eating disorders who practices body building --which is associated with a higher risk of eating disorders. As someone who lost a niece to bulimia, I have concerns about people who push other people to have excessive concerns about "sculpting" their bodies -- rather than simply being healthy.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

359. That's a valid point...

I think the post was intended to rile people up. I think her point is that there's no excuse for not taking care of yourself. Was it an effective way to do it? I don't know. But it sure as hell got people talking.

[pnwmom]

360. I think Michelle's "let's move" campaign is far more effective.

I hope Maria Kang's little campaign can put some light on the risks of bulimia (which she herself has struggled with) and eating disorders. Obsessing on how a person's body looks rather than on how healthy a person is leads to bad outcomes.

[pnwmom]

299. And that's a pile of crap.

She says in another interview that she works not to feel guilty when she has to leave them. So is she leaving them by themselves? Does she have a house-husband? How is she managing more than one full-time job with a baby and two small boys with no child-care help?

Maybe grandma is watching them for her . . ..

[cyberswede]

40. Well, her "what's your excuse" bit is also a form of shaming, isn't it?

That said, the attacks on her are ridiculous.

[bunnies]

41. "Whats your excuse" was a total douchebag thing to say.

You cant act like a condescending ass then be surprised at the backlash. Im not even overweight and Im put-off by her attitude. Am I really expected to believe that she sought to inspire others with that drivel?

I wonder what the reaction would be if a super fit 50 year old woman did the same thing. Hey... look at me! Rock hard at 50. Whats your excuse? hmm.

[My Good Babushka]

42. Good for her, it's her page

I promote myself all the time on my page. If someone doesn't like it they can hide it or "unfriend" me.
People who are unhealthy should get healthy, why wouldn't they want to?

[mnhtnbb]

43. You can do it, too!

would have been a much more appropriate encouragement for others.

She might be buff, slim, and fit, but she definitely lacks the know-how
to market the concept of getting fit and healthy.

[PasadenaTrudy]

46. Great response

from a commenter on Jezebel:

Can I say how much my blood boils when people pull the whole, "Oh, women hate other women/are jealous of other women" thing?

When a man thinks another man is annoying, they don't get accused of being man-haters. Incidentally, that's another term used exclusively for women.

I don't hate this woman for being a woman. I hate her for being smug and shame-y. I hate her for perpetuating an idea that a woman ought to look flawless, even if they've harvested and extracted three humans from their bodies.

I hate the idea that there's a different standard. But I don't hate her. She looks good — good for her. But I wish she wouldn't play into this idea of "wymminn be hatin!!!!" and/or in denial. Or that a reaction to something provocative isn't her responsibility.

[Bunnahabhain]

49. I find it puzzling that one statement can induce hate from these random strangers.

But then again I'm not a natural hater so I guess I lack the frame of reference for this to make sense.

[LittleBlue]

50. Good. Maybe this country will finally feel shame for our eating habits

Nothing wrong with what she said.

[wickerwoman]

199. Why should I feel shame for something that isn't anyone else's fucking business?

What I eat, how many hours I exercise a week, how fat I look - hurts nobody else, effects nobody else (except shallow judgmental busybodies with nothing better to talk about), nobody else's fucking business. End of.

Would she really be surprised if there was a shitstorm about a post saying "I haven't eaten an animal product for ten years, what's your excuse?" Or "I'm wrinkle-free at 70, what's your excuse?" How about "I get laid all the time, what's your excuse?" or "I've never had an unwanted pregnancy, what's your excuse?"

Physical fitness is a choice. It's not something people should be "shamed" about either choosing or not choosing.

When did the standard become "If you're not training for an iron man competition, you must be a lazy slob who needs to be shamed into conforming with societal standards of "fitness""? Some people have other priorities and that's fucking fine. It's their life.

[mythology]

301. Actually it does impact others

First there's the cost of health care which rises because more and more Americans need treatment for type 2 diabetes, or weight based illnesses. So those people who aren't overweight have to pay more to balance out the increased costs for those who are overweight. Overall obesity is estimated to cost about $190 billion in the U.S. annually and is rising.

Secondly, if you don't think a higher risk of dying young has an impact on your family and friends, you're simply wrong. The average kid whose dad dies of cardiac arrest at 40 is over average going to be worse off than the same kid if his dad lives to be 80 on a host of levels.

Thirdly recent studies have found that being around people who are overweight makes other people more likely to become overweight. So the child of an obese person is more likely to become obese, thus passing on all the economic and physical burdens thereof to the child.

But you're right. Physical fitness is a choice. People can choose to drive drunk, that doesn't mean it's a good choice for themselves or for others. If a cop pulls you over for drunk driving, even if you haven't hit anybody, you still get a ticket. Why? Because that choice has a consequence.

[kcr]

303. No. There is absolutely no impact on others whatosever

to not looking like Maria Kang. Because that's what it was about. Looking hot in a skimpy little workout outfit, like Maria Kang. Look how hot she look after three kids, isn't it amazing? How come you can't, what's your excuse? Plenty of people are perfectly healthy without looking like that. In fact, plenty of people could workout to a ridiculous degree and still not look like that due to genetics.

[wickerwoman]

324. Actually,

they've found overweight people cost the health care system less because they die younger. If you factored in all of the social security checks they won't live to cash, then society comes out ahead. And how much does society pay for knee replacement surgeries and torn ligaments and other sports related injuries? I haven't had a single sick day this year but my fitness-crazed coworkers are constantly breaking and tearing things. The woman I sit next to is down for five months of physical therapy after tearing a tendon playing volleyball. And extreme exercise breaks down your immune system so you're actually more vulnerable to colds and flus.

I don't have any kids and don't plan to have any so no worries there.

Calling bullshit on second-hand fatness, sorry. With the exception of parents teaching bad eating habits to their kids (and again, not an issue for many people who don't have kids), people make their own food choices. My eating a brownie doesn't compel anyone else to do the same. And even kids who grow up in appalling food environments can teach themselves better eating habits. When I was growing up I ate Lucky Charms for breakfast, hamburgers for lunch and takeout pizza or fried chicken for dinner literally every day for twelve years. I had maybe one serving of vegetables a week, if that. After college, I developed serious allergies so I taught myself how to cook to manage them without medication and now I'd put what I eat, nutrition-wise, against any gym bunny you name. I'm overweight because I enjoy eating and don't work out beyond normal daily activities (walking everywhere and gardening). And I have completely normal results at my annual physical.

The impact of driving drunk versus being fat on others is a ridiculous comparison which is obviously why drunk driving is illegal and being overweight isn't (yet). Drunk drivers kill about 10,000 people a year. Fat people make a lifestyle choice for themselves, potentially trading off years at the end of their life for pleasure today. It is their choice to make and anyone who feels compelled to shame them into make a different one needs to get a life and learn how to mind their own business.

[Prism]

53. I disagree with the headline

It should be "Woman Knowingly Kicks Hornet's Nest, Gets Stung."

We don't know other people's schedules, finances, or time constraints. Sometimes people don't have the time or energy or money to hang out at the gym an hour a day. A working mom with three kids might find that kind of time investment impossible. Why be a dick about it?

I spend two hours a day at gym 4-5 days a week, and I had to give up a lot to make that happen (I'm never home, gave up some hobbies, am usually always crunched for free time). If I had kids? Forget it. It wouldn't happen.

She's getting slapped around because she sat there and judged everyone that wasn't her.

[Throd]

58. Thank you!

[deurbano]

78. Exactly: "She's getting slapped around because she sat there and judged everyone that wasn't her."

[kcr]

271. And the people who don't like being judged are just jealous

She's not being an asshole. They're just jealous. Gotta love those twisting themselves in pretzels to defend her behavior.

[Warren DeMontague]

273. Are we prepared to make a blanket statement against people judging other people, now?

If so, that's fucking wonderful, but it's going to come as a crushing blow to the self-appointed internet social justice warrior squad.

[historylovr]

119. Yes.

It's not the fact that she's fit; it's the fact that she's smug and condescending about it. Did she really think shaming others was going to get her high-fives?

[Blue Diadem]

61. Controversy brings attention

She has it. Good for her for getting her bulimia under control and for working out. I see she is a former fitness competitor so she is really into this. She sounds like an ambitious woman, owns 2 residential care facilities for seniors, is a freelance writer and runs a non-profit for fitness and she takes care of her 3 kids with no nanny! WOW!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/16/maria-kang-fat-shaming_n_4108246.html

[hatrack]

65. Teapot tempest, defined

Next up - eighth-grader mocks fellow eighth-grader's hair style on Facebook!

[Dreamer Tatum]

69. The BEST thing about the end of the shutdown is we can focus on important shit like this nt

[LanternWaste]

90. for those who are unable to focus on more than one concept simultaneously.

I imagine that is the best thing about it... for those who are unable to focus on more than one concept simultaneously.

[ohheckyeah]

71. She's actually right on, IMO.

Most of us, including me, have a bunch of excuses for not taking care of ourselves. We have time to watch tv or read DU but not to work out.

We could all benefit from some physical activity even if it's only 20 minutes a day. Do I do it? No......and I have no excuse.

[Silent3]

325. I do take the time to exercise, I work out a lot, I've gotten in pretty damn good shape...

...and I still think she's being an asshole with her approach.

[ohheckyeah]

327. Each to his or her own. n/t

[hobbit709]

74. No. Supercilious ass gets slapped down on FB for attitude.

[Bunnahabhain]

76. Or both

and more.

[Logical]

79. No one likes people who brag or are arrogant. She is an ass. Nt

[Bunnahabhain]

108. Being an ass doesn't mean you're wrong. n/t

[Logical]

229. No, it means you are an ass. And a horrible way to sell anything. Nt

[madaboutharry]

80. I think the negative reaction may come form the

"What's your excuse?" comment more than anything else. It conveys the attitude that she might think she is superior to others and takes for granted that having an "extremely toned body" is what everyone values.

[pnwmom]

312. YES. n/t

[Cleita]

82. I work out because it's become essential for my well being or I'd be

in a nursing home by now. I find that those most prone to criticizing my efforts are those who can't put down their box of donuts and sugary drinks. She looks fantastic for a mother of three and may she look as good as Jane Fonda when she gets to 75 years of age.

[Marrah_G]

84. She acted obnoxiously in public

and people called her out on it.

[Catherine Vincent]

92. She's probably aching for a reality show. n/a

Last edited Thu Oct 17, 2013, 04:14 PM - Edit history (1)

[Bunnahabhain]

95. LOL, probably true

It seems to be the new American dream. At least her commercials will look better than the ones with Honey Boo-boo and her mother.

[TeeYiYi]

104. Haters gonna' hate...

I see her post as motivational. The people attacking her are just making more excuses for themselves; something they probably do in every other facet of their lives. They want to blame someone else for their own self-perceived shortcomings, rather than take a focused look inside themselves and admit that they could be doing better.

TYY

[ForgoTheConsequence]

116. She could have put it better.

But I see her point. A lot of people do make excuses. The average American watches over 34 hours of TV a week. Surely you could carve out 30 minutes for a walk (I realize this isn't always possible)

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/americans-spend-34-hours-week-watching-tv-nielsen-numbers-article-1.1162285

[Bunnahabhain]

124. Based on replies I have received in this thread

the proper reply to this is something along the lines of, "What if you were a single mother with two kids and no TV? Huh?"

[ForgoTheConsequence]

133. I understand that argument too.

But looking at the statistics in this country in regard to the amount of time spent watching television, eating out, on the computer, etc. a lot of it is laziness.

Unhealthy lifestyles are the norm in this country, cheap fast food is the norm in this country. Not just in the inner cities where healthy food is harder to find but also in the suburbs.

She should have phrased it differently but if we're going to empower people in this country politically, I think an important aspect of that is taking back our own bodies from the likes of McDonalds, NABISCO, frozen pizza's, and sedentary lifestyles (sold to us by cable companies).

[Bunnahabhain]

138. All well put n/t

[kcr]

251. Right, because 30 minutes of walking a week

will make the average American look just like her!

[ForgoTheConsequence]

254. ......

My point.






__________________________




















your head.

[kcr]

257. Maria Kang obviously does more than walk 30 minutes a week

So, explain to me how I missed the point?

[ForgoTheConsequence]

260. What are you flapping your gums about?

1) I never said 30 minutes a week, I said "30 minutes".

2) The goal shouldn't be to look exactly like her.

[kcr]

262. You're right, I misread the part about the week

But my point still stands. I think she does more than walk for 30 minutes regardless.

Point 2. Of course that shouldn't be the goal, but that was her point. THe goal is suppose to be about looking like her. She posts a pic of herself in a skimpy outfit, with nothing more than the comment "What's your excuse". Why don't you look like me? She didn't post fitness goals. Or workout routines. Just herself. The message was clear.

[ForgoTheConsequence]

263. That's why I said she phrased it poorly.

There was a good message hidden in there but she went about it the wrong way.

[kcr]

264. And that's why I'm disagreeing with you

Beacuse she didn't just phrase it poorly but had a point. SHe was just flat out being a smug, narcissistic idiot. The fact that some people can choose to be healthy if they want to is irrelevant. Most people know that. And even if they made healthier choices they still couldn't look like her anyway. She just wanted to brag about how hot she was and nothing more, and insult other people on top of it.

[ForgoTheConsequence]

266. agree to disagree.

but fit or not, jealousy looks good on no one. let go of the bitterness.

[kcr]

269. Oh right, jealousy

The rallying cry of those who don't like getting called on their asshole behavior.

[ForgoTheConsequence]

275. No one is being an asshole.

But getting mad over a post that wasn't directed at you and is being over sensationalized by the media (CNN) isn't very flattering. It wasn't a personal attack, no one is out to get you. Accept that this lady is 1) fit 2) said something stupid, and move on.

[kcr]

279. First of all, I'm not mad at the post

Nor do I think anyone's out to get me. I'm mainly just shaking my head and am honestly wondering that anyone who isn't a raging asshole themselves could honestly not see how someone posting a picture of themselves in a skimpy outfit and postig "What's your excuse" isn't acting like a raging asshole. At best, it's shockingly judgmental. I'm honestly wondering and thought I'd join in the frey. I don't know if the poster is normally a raging asshole. But her post surely was an amazingly assholeish thing to do. I honesty do find the defense of her actions puzzling in the extreme. I can't believe those defending her act that way in real life. But maybe they do? Truth be told, I think most are just using it as an excuse to fat shame. As far as CNN goes, well, that's our media for you.

[Trajan]

127. Hypervigilance has a friend in instantaneous social media

Now the jaded haters can attack with immediate satisfaction ...

As if someone cannot be proud how they benefit from their hard work ...

Sorry, but this lazy ass fat boy IS a lazy ass fat boy, and would be nearly as fit as she IF I were to get off my lazy fat ass and work as hard as she did ....

She is amazing, and the attacks on her are unwarranted ... but no surprise, given the mass neuroses that passes itself off as society ...

[JVS]

128. Posting a photo is fine, being proud of her accomplishments is fine, but when she asks...

"What's your excuse?" she's taking a swing at people and they're going to swing right back. So I don't feel bad for her.

[Sheldon Cooper]

136. Yep. When you throw a punch, you'd better be ready to get one back.

And I'll go even further and say fuck her. She's a sanctimonious ass and if people are giving her grief she damn well earned it.

[cuchulain316]

130. people are crazy

people on Fb are really crazy....haters gonna H8

[pnwmom]

134. The woman has suffered with eating disorders, according to the video.

Now she's displaying her mostly bare body on FB, and asking other people "what's your excuse."

Assuming she's overcome her eating disorder, she's still way too obsessed with her body, and comparing it to other people's.

[laundry_queen]

210. It's probably the reason she had an eating disorder to begin with

people who are raised to think their bodies are the only thing others will care about often do.

My own mom is somewhat eating disordered. Growing up, all she cared about was her body. It's kind of funny, because this woman would've gotten along great with my mom, my mom always worked out, sometimes twice a day. She was always lugging us kids to her workouts, putting us on her diets. It sucked as a kid. But my mom's body wouldn't have been up to this woman's standards, because my mom was cursed with wicked stretch marks and loose skin due to pregnancy. Did my mom not 'try hard enough?' LOL, THAT is funny. What a sanctimonious woman this lady is.

I could work out more, but I have in the past and for me, I wouldn't look like she does at 2 hours/day. I actually did the whole 2 hours per day for a good portion of my life and I didn't look like her even before children and with a careful diet. My excuse now is I have 4 kids, I'm in school full time, I actually do have a medical issue that makes losing weight hard, I'm a single parent who is broke. I DO walk every day and I'm very obese and have been since I started having babies, despite working out pretty regularly. I dislike the shaming from her, because she doesn't know other people's lives. She's being judgmental. My mom was exactly the type she thinks other people should be, yet my mom isn't even up to her standards.

BTW, I endured the same kind of shaming from my own mother and it contributed to my issues with my body and through therapy I learned that while I am predisposed to be overweight, I probably didn't work as hard at losing weight as a normal person would've because subconsciously I am punishing my mother. She saw fat people as lazy failures, and she saw kids who were overweight as having horrible parents. I endured a lot of emotional abuse at home, so this is my way of showing her not only can she not control me but that she's a failure as a parent. Anyhow, I wouldn't want to be the wife of one of those little boys when they grew up. They'll probably be like my brother - incredibly judgmental and rude to fat people. Or like my mom - who thinks fat people don't deserve to be loved because they are so 'disgusting'. Yeah, I'm throwing out a lot of assumptions, but I've been around the type and I'm certain I'm not too far off.

[treestar]

139. She shouldn't have made the comment

She could have posted her fit pic and said something positive, rather than crowing over those who haven't done it.

[Bunnahabhain]

144. She could have

but that doesn't make her message wrong.

[treestar]

154. That all the rest of you ought to work out like me?

No, that may not be true.

I do regular work outs and don't need her to tell me I should.

In fact, being obsessed with it is not a goal for most people.

[Bunnahabhain]

162. Ah, so we're back to her being "obsessed."

I still do not see how six hours at the max in a week = obsession.

[treestar]

166. I have days I can't go

due to other commitments. I expect she reserves the right to judge me that I didn't and chose to do something else.

And she probably has a ton to say about the results I get. The funny thing is I do an hour at least four days a week and it's not like I have a real hot bod as a result. Healthy a better than it would be otherwise maybe, but nothing to "show off." So maybe it's her judgment that I should spend like 5 hours per day if that's what it would take?

[Bunnahabhain]

173. None of this answers your characterization

She claims to work out at a max six hours a week. Claiming this is "obsessive" is unreasonable on your part.

[Marrah_G]

205. I wonder if she works outside the home

I wonder what her family income is.

I wonder how her health is.

I wonder how much actual stress there is in her life.

There are alot of reasons people don't put "working out" at the top of their list of important things. Frankly her comments come across in a way that makes me bet she is an upper- middle class, very comfortable stay at home mother.

[pnwmom]

350. Yes, it does. A put-down is wrong. It's not a motivator,

it's a de-motivator.

[LadyHawkAZ]

149. I think her intentions were probably good,

she's into fitness and people who are into fitness tend to think everyone else would just love it if they only tried it! The attitude annoys me personally, but that's just me.

But that being said, her "What's your excuse?" question has a lot of possible answers:
~Some women don't have her body type and aren't going to look like that no matter what they do, kids or not.
~Some women have health problems that either forbid heavy workouts or make them incredibly difficult.
~Some women don't have a husband around to watch the kids six days a week while they go to the gym (some of her photos show a wedding ring, so I presume the father is around).
~Some women are single moms with one or more physically demanding jobs, which do leave little time or energy for extra exercise afterward (and also leaves them unable to afford the kind of healthy diet that goes along with the workouts).
~Some women straight up can't afford a gym at all, nor the pricey workout videos that were designed with already-fit people in mind and are difficult for beginners to do.

Either she didn't take things like that into account or she dismissed them as unimportant, so her message came across as "You could look just like me if you only weren't so lazy!"- basically the same thing that mothers with "imperfect" figures have had hurled at them since fashion began. This isn't a help.

The "bad mother" crap was uncalled for, though. Leaving children with their father while you work out once a day is not an end-of-the-world event.

[stillcool]

165. even bad publicity

Is good plubicity.

[mrsadm]

177. Facebook is like a 24/7 Christmas letter!

Facebook enables so much self-centered behavior.

[Bunnahabhain]

178. LOL, possibly the best post I've ever read on DU

Very well put!

[pnwmom]

179. Body builders as a group are at higher than normal risk for eating disorders.

Last edited Thu Oct 17, 2013, 11:20 PM - Edit history (2)

Her need to display her body along with a "challenge" to other women ("what's your excuse&quot is an indication that her past struggles with eating disorders might not be over.

Here she is in her pre-child days.

http://www.bodybuilders.com/mkang.htm

"What Nutrition Plan Works Best For You"

Breakfast: Egg Whites and Oatmeal
Snack: Protein Shake or Bar
Lunch: Soy Hot Dog with Wheat, low carb tortilla or Chicken Salad
Snack: Nuts
Dinner: Turkey Patty with low carb bread, or Turkey Chili


http://head-heart-health.com/2823/health-body/eating-disorders-in-older-women-part-two/

The highest incidence of eating disorders is in sports that celebrate leanness – gymnastics, figure skating, ballet dancing, distance running and bodybuilding.

After Simone suffered an injury from running six days a week she decided to try bodybuilding as way to control her weight and achieve the physical perfection she always dreamed about. But instead of being a healthy sporting pursuit, it fed her obsession. She says, “Preparing for and competing in a body building competition brought all of its own challenges making my eating disorder worse than ever. In my opinion the industry is certainly harsh and punishing and I fear the longer term consequences of the body building diets that are advocated (no fruit, no dairy, very little whole grains etc.)”

The body building industry, with its emphasis on low body fat, is a rife with disordered eating. Researchers in Canada interviewed a group of female bodybuilders and asked them their thoughts about themselves and their behaviours around food and exercise. They found that 90% of competitive bodybuilders thought that they were fat and were involved in a vigorous exercise regime. 15% met the criteria for bulimia and a percentage had binged, abused laxatives and diuretics, and engaged in vomiting behaviours.

A New Zealand study found that bodybuilding increases the risk of developing eating disorders. “Body-building has the capacity to play into, even amplify [women’s] sensitivities surrounding appearance and body image, their preoccupation with diet and weight control, and a propensity towards eating disorders.” One participant in the study said, “Women who already have a negative relationship with food, bodybuilding can completely screw them mentally forever.”


P.S. As someone who lost a young relative due to bulimia, I know you can't tell who has an eating disorder by looking at them. A person can appear to be very fit and have an E.D.

[polly7]

189. Where did you see her focus is 'body-building' and that she's

struggled with eating disorders? I must have missed it.

She wants Americans to lead a healthier lifestyle. Her crusade is personal. She saw her mother -- whom she describes as a 52-year-old saddled with the body of a 70-year-old -- battle diabetes in her 20s, a stroke in her 30s, and a heart attack and kidney transplant in her 40s. Her mom's health problems got Maria's attention, and the daughter -- who admits to being a chocolate lover and "sugarholic" -- aims to set a different example for her children.

I've been very lucky all my life to fit into the same size I'd have worn at 18 ...... yes, women can be spiteful and jealous - just because they want to. And I don't remember once in my life putting anyone down for their appearance.

I'm not seeing what you are with this.

[pnwmom]

191. The video in the OP says she's struggled with eating disorders.

And now she's obviously into working out as a way to make her body look a certain way -- which is why she's displaying it. That's a form of body building.

http://www.chicagonow.com/get-fit-chicago/2013/10/why-dont-you-look-like-maria-kang/


I like the picture Kang posted, but if we took the words "What's your excuse?" out of it, it would have been far less inflammatory. Knowing a little bit of her backstory, I look at the picture of Kang and see a woman who made a career in fitness after overcoming an eating disorder. Adding the words "What's your excuse?" completely changes the intent and tone of the message.

Without the words "What's your excuse?", it could be interpreted as "Look how healthy I am today." But with those three words, it's a little more like "Look how great my body is. Why don't you look like me?" Granted, this photo was blown way out of proportion, I'm a little surprised Kang wasn't more sensitive to the struggles of eating disorders that she herself once dealt with. She should be proud of herself for overcoming her disease, but she should also know that millions of other women are struggling with eating disorders right now.

[polly7]

198. Sorry, some/many people have bodies that look just that way with even very minimal

exercise, or a completely reasonable exercise program that may not even include weights. And, she says she's displaying her body to motivate people to get healthy. I honestly don't know why anyone would have a problem with that or assume she's got some other motivation for it.

Thanks, I hadn't watched the video, I'll do so now.

[pnwmom]

202. Given her history of eating disorders, and her "what's your excuse" line,

I think she's too concerned with how her body stacks up to other women's.

[polly7]

207. Her "what's your excuse line" was unnecessary and a bit thoughtless, imo

but I really do think she's genuinely concerned about fitness and health, as she stated she saw her mother go through so many awful medical situations. Personally, people like this inspire me ... and it's got absolutely nothing to do with looking good for anyone else.

[pnwmom]

296. I think that line is what ticked people off.

She could have posted her photo with her three kids and no one would have said anything except "cute family."

[Blue Diadem]

208. She's a former fitness competitor.

http://www.bodybuilders.com/mkang.htm

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/16/maria-kang-fat-shaming_n_4108246.html

[polly7]

209. Thanks very much, I missed that, too! nt.

[flvegan]

295. Thank you, doctor...um, nutritionist...erm...what are your qualifications again?

Such a broad statement, surely you have more than a link.

*looks upthread*

Nevermind.

[bobclark86]

181. I'm a fatass (6', 245 lbs)...

and no, I don't feel bad about her post. Biologically, it's damn hard work for a woman with three kids to look that good. It takes effort and an iron will.

"Ooh, how society views women!!! Ermahgerd!"

People are so shallow -- yes, the ones complaining about how shallow society is. Truth is, obesity is a MAJOR problem in this country, with two of the top three three causes of death in this country (heart disease and heart attacks kill more than 40 percent) being linked to poor lifestyle. Exercise and proper diet are also tied to preventing cancer (12.49 percent of all deaths a year), stroke (9.66 percent) and limiting infections (23 percent). Fat people take more time off from work for illness, and have more joint issues and other conditions.

It's like smoking. I don't want to get lumped in with people like Ayn Rand, who smoked her whole life and then expected everyone else to pay for it.

You don't have to look like a frickin' supermodel, but weighing 200 pounds when you're 5 feet tall is not healthy. Sitting around criticizing someone who looks better than you because you don't have the inclination to get up and do something about yourself might make you feel better right now, but in the end it does NOTHING. Stop putting 300 calories of sugar and cream in your coffee, get off the sofa and go DO something about it. You can't find an hour a week to walk around the block or play with the dog? Really? Let's do some math:

168 hours in a week - 56 hours for 8-hour sleep a night = 112 hours awake a week. 112 - 60 hours of work (that's a big overestimate for the majority of people) = 52 hours a week not working or sleeping, or almost 7.5 hours a day completely free.

You can't squeeze two hours a week out? Wow, remind me never to work in your field...

Preventative care WORKS. Health insurance is fantastic for early screenings, but it starts at home long before you go get that cough looked at by the doctor. THAT is how I view exercise and something resembling a proper diet.

I've been trying to do better myself. I've lost 15 pounds since this summer (mostly because I now ride a bike the 4 mile round trip to work every day). I've been eating better, too -- and not by much. The biggest change was a green salad a day and I stopped going out drinking every weekend. Hell, looking at it, I'm barely trying.

Even what I'm doing is better for me, it's better for my career, it's better for the others in my insurance pool, and better for everyone in general.

[madrchsod]

216. my cardio rehab work out is around 16 miles in an hour ...

on three different machines. you should up your miles by riding a few miles after you get home from work. be sure to check with your doctor about heart rate and that stuff..i`m 66 yrs old non smoker and drinker and i'm still recovering from a cardiac arrest.

[madrchsod]

192. she has a really good point...

there`s no excuse not to exercise at least 30 minutes a day. she`s 32 and has three young children. if she keeps up her exercise routine she`s going to be a lot more healthy in the future and she`ll be able to physically and mentally be able to keep up with three boys into her 40`s and 50`s.

by the way is always applies to fathers too.

[kcr]

193. If she hadn't posted about her weight

If she'd instead just posted posted a pic of herself in a fabulous house with luxury car out front and done the same thing. Or a pic of herself on a fabulous vacay. We'd be having a totally different discussion. Oh, I'm sure we'd still have some defenders. But far fewer. She's just your typical narcissistic idiot. But because it's about weight, it's okay. In fact, she's applauded

[hamsterjill]

206. I don't like someone bragging about themselves.

That's the part that I found mildly annoying about her photo. Her body, her children, her life. But the picture (to me) says "everybody look at me 'cause I'm so toned, etc.".

[okieinpain]

212. to me its pretty obnixous, because their are a lot of

People who don't have the money to get into that type of shape. And thats what it takes to achive that level of fitness, betwee. Equipment, proper food, and time.

[bravenak]

217. I remember when I looked good like that.

I have no excuse. I should be fitter than I am.
That's why people are getting so mad at her. We really have been making up excuses for ourselves for quite a while now. I'm big boned. I have the fat gene. I'm busy. My feet hurt. I don't feel like it.
I sit over here eating coconut cream pie like it's going out of style and wonder why I'm stuck at 155 pounds. Thank R'hllor I'm muscular or I'd look like a ball of dough.
We live good lives in 21 century America. A lot of us go to work and sit down all day long, a break for us is standing up and stretching our legs. We leave there and run to our cars then sit down and drive home. Now we are so tired from all that work. So we flop down into our favored sitting location and watch tv and eat snacks. Then we sit and eat dinner. Then we sit and watch tv. Then off to bed.
I know this is how I got fat. Like 215 pounds after I had my baby. I'm only 5'3". I went to Target to purchase a video starring one of those persnickety fitness enthusiasts.I had to do something, but I hated the toned, glowing women on the boxes smirking at me. I didn't have much time to devote to this 'excercising' thing I was supposed to do to lose weight but I figured half an hour a day ought to be plenty.
Then one of the DVDs was calling out to me, it was 30 day shred by that Jillian lady from the biggest loser. It was half an hour and had three difficulty levels. She guaranteed ' You will lose 30 pounds in 30 days' if you do it every day.
By the time I sweated and flopped my way through the first session I no longer hated her, and her glowing toned abs. I hated her for the pain. But it worked. It was more than the 30 pounds in 30 days. And when I'm ready to lose the last 30,I'll pick up another of those condescending DVDs where fit women trash talk me and I'll love hate her the whole time.
I wonder if this lady makes one. Hmmm. If it's 30 dollars or less I'll buy it. I could love hate her for a month.

[Avalux]

219. She posted the pic because she's a narcissist, not because she wants to help people.

I watched an interview with her and that's my assessment. She has a fitness business - what better way to promote it? If the woman truly wants to help overweight and out of shape moms get fit, insulting them isn't the way to do it. She got the result she wanted though - publicity and an ego boost.

[warrant46]

226. Some call her obnoxious, a showoff, a bully shaming other women and worse.

Quoted from the post

My comment -----

WOW !! a bully shaming other women

I am speechless !!!

[SomethingFishy]

235. She wasn't attacked for being fit she was attacked

for being an asshole. Big difference.

Will she post a picture of a Ferrari next? ANd ask me what my "excuse" is?

Fuck her.

[RedCappedBandit]

236. "What's your excuse" is a pretty common internet meme

All the hatred here reeks of jealousy and contempt.

[Xyzse]

238. There are actually some groups called "What's Your Excuse?" W.Y.E

The idea is that no matter how busy we are, we can make time to do something active. The one in DC, does races and are pretty supportive of each other.

So when I saw the picture, I was mostly impressed at her ability for time management. That is hard...

I mean, I work out daily, anywhere from 60-90 minutes and I am nowhere near as toned as that. Then again, my downfall is lack of sleep and bad eating habits. I love food dangit...

It is no excuse, and I know I have to do better.

Look, "What's your excuse" could be cheeky, but the thing is, it is also a sense of accomplishment after achieving what she has, basically it also means "You can do this too". To be healthy, you have to find every single thing to motivate you. If it motivates others, that is all well and good. That is her target audience.

People that post on her FB to bash on her, to me is hateful. If you don't agree with it, so what? Going off on her is just being judgemental and laced with jealousy. It is easy enough to ignore if you don't agree, I don't particularly need that negativity. Too much of that as is. However, if you decide to do something, commit to the work out, you will have some sort of success.

Me, I have to work out otherwise my Blood Pressure would spike up. I don't have much of a choice, I need to make it a priority or I die. So instead of watching a show, I do a work out. Tony Horton, Shaun T, and Les Mills are my Patron Saints.

I will applaud any one who is doing something active. It is a great thing, and it is something that they could do instead of running their mouths. Time spent doing something active is time away from talking trash...

Unless your someone like Mayweather who talks trash while working out(talks even worse when he's not). I guess that is part of his motivation.

[Bunnahabhain]

246. You hit something on the nail head

Time management. Really, if you regiment yourself, you can get a lot done. It's easy to sit on the couch all evening after a 10 or 12 hour day; I'm not immune to the temptation. However, doing that weeknight cardio means I'm ready to hike in the mountains on the weekend. Moving some iron means I stay strong, toned and keep my basal metabolism up which helps keep weight off. I also make sure I practice my guitar 45 minutes or so a day and I play my practice chanter daily and the full bagpipes an hour a day on Saturday and Sunday.

I think most of us have a choice: sofa turf or be active. I have chosen active. The only lie is in thinking it's not a choice.

[wickerwoman]

326. No,

the lie is in thinking one choice is inherently superior to the other. Playing the bagpipes and hiking on the weekend don't make you a better person that someone who can quote every line of Arrested Development or has a level 300 druid in World of Warcraft. It just means you have different interests.

[seabeyond]

243. MEN... what is YOUR excuse.

[Bunnahabhain]

244. This guy looks great!

I need to drop a few pounds and work on getting my six pack back. He needs to work on his delts though.

[MattBaggins]

247. I don't look good in red?

[seabeyond]

248. wink. and i think his delts are perfectly porportioned to the rest of him. how does green work

for you

tellin' ya, was a tough job to find that body, but someone had to do it.

[MattBaggins]

252. I'm a guy

I will be 90 years old and sagging and still think "damn I look good".

[seabeyond]

253. lol. a favorite cartoon, but was not able to find last tiime i look. lets see.

gotta love a guy to be able to be that. truly.

[Butterbean]

274. So true. n/t

[Warren DeMontague]

268. Life is short

take fun where you can find it, that's my advice.

[seabeyond]

282. i am kinda thinking i am an example of that and is exactly what i am doing....

[Warren DeMontague]

330. Cheers.

[Butterbean]

250. THANK YOU. You read my damned mind.

Why is it always the WOMAN who is expected to look like a goddess after children/aging? Never the dude. Nope. Society LOVES to have a circle jerk over a woman and her failure to maintain her teenage-like physique after she's had children.

[seabeyond]

255. ya. and some are more prone to that then others. gosh... it was work, but you are welcome. nt

[Butterbean]

277. He has fantastic veins, though. /nurse brain n/t

[ForgoTheConsequence]

256. I'm out of Nair.

and rolled up socks.

[seabeyond]

259. hmmmm. sounding a little... catty, there. ya think? surely not? nt

[ForgoTheConsequence]

261. Probably.

Could be a small pear also, hard to tell.

[seabeyond]

283. lol... i waz told i was neva to use the word... small. though. nt

[Warren DeMontague]

267. How'd you find my picture?

[seabeyond]

285. i hunted and searched and searched and hunted and said, you know... that would be the one

[Warren DeMontague]

329. Yep. That's why they call me the UPS man.

[seabeyond]

332. lol. nt

[LittleBlue]

286. You just illustrated the difference between men and women

A picture like that on Facebook wouldn't elicit the force of a wet fart from men.

We don't care.

[seabeyond]

287. i didnt care either. nor did most all the women. that was not the issue as you and others

are aware of and ya... you can pretend you would not be insulted if some pumped young guy rubbed it in your face, but that is pure bullshit and not a single one of you are fooling anyone.

i have seen the way you men, and ya, boys pump yourself up when facing another that is more pumped than you

you are so full of, lmfao...

twice a thread was created on this and twice by men that i am sure was looking for a jab. that to me, was the intent of this Op and the other one. catty. and we like to give that to women. not so much. i see it in a lot of men.

[LittleBlue]

288. Test your theory then

Caption it similarly and put it on Facebook. I'll be shocked if you get 3 replies.

[seabeyond]

289. i am off to new orleans tomorrow to visit my son at university..... you play the game. nt

[Warren DeMontague]

331. okay, hang on, hang on, HOLD THE PHONE, CHUCK!

Shit!

That's what Facebook NEEDS! You can "poke" people, you can "like" things...

it needs a wet fart button!

GENIUS!

[Silent3]

320. Even though I work out 12 hours or more per week...

...and I'm in pretty good shape, I'm still a bit off from that!

I'm guess that's because I do "only" 1 1/2 hours of weight training per week, and the rest is all cardio in various forms and intensities, not so much focus on "body sculpting". Oh yeah, and being 51 y/o and not having greek god genes might have something to do with it.

I'll settle for looking a lot more lean and trim than most of my fellow 51 y/o men, and running up mountain trails faster than the 20-somethings I leave behind.

[seabeyond]

334. lol, and that is the reality of it, isnt it.

i, too, am all about the healthy and moving the body. gotta be healthy cause now... is the time for play.

glad you are enjoying life

[flvegan]

322. What is YOUR excuse?

You specifically that you posted this? How is this male v female, backing up your own hatred using...that?

You hate men, we get it. Now back up your post and the meaning behind it. I look forward to the response.

[seabeyond]

333. nasty... tsk tsk.

one might wonder why all the hate coming from you

[Sheldon Cooper]

339. lol!

[Codeine]

338. I'm lazy and satisfied with being a bit too thin.

I admire that dude's dedication. His fitness and obvious pride therein does not anger me, nor will it provoke a backlash from other men.

[seabeyond]

340. genetically, i have been really blessed and it all has been pretty easy for me. i also know that

others are not as lucky as me. others, more so. i am pretty satisfied, too. so the little taunt didnt effect or bother me at all. but, it was a taunt. further, the people that did speak out about it (which i think a couple threads was all about furthering taunting women) were told that they were wrong in seeing it as a taunt and they need to reevaluate why they spoke out. more taunting. all to be ugly. to make others feel bad about themselves.

you know damn well, if we did not have these ops about this woman, and i simply started a thread with the picture of this man and saying... what is your excuse, there would be plenty of men on the thread, riled. and they would have every reason to, because the intent is to be insulting.

[FloridaJudy]

245. She wasn't attacked for being in shape

Last edited Thu Oct 17, 2013, 08:12 PM - Edit history (2)

She was criticized for being a smug braggart about it. Some people really do have excuses; they have arthritis, or severe asthma, or degenerative disc disease, or cerebral palsy. It doesn't mean they shouldn't exercise, just that they should stick to non-weight-bearing stuff like swimming and yoga, that won't give them sculpted abs, even if it makes them healthier.

Shaming people into exercising and dieting has never worked. I had a high school gym teacher like that, and over fifty years later I still cringe when I hear the word "aerobics". I also had one who encouraged her students to find something vigorous they enjoyed doing every day, like dancing or bike riding, because "it can be a lot of fun, and you'll feel better". I suspect that students who only had Audrey "hairy legs" are probably exercising more today than those subjected to the cruel cutting comments of Georgia the former cheerleader.

I have a good Facebook friend who recently suffered a devastating loss. He frequently posts about his diet and exercise program. Getting into shape is his way of dealing with the grief, and one that's a helluva lot healthier than drugs or alcohol or watching TV twenty hours a day. Even complete slugs like me encourage him, because he's kind and funny, and isn't a complete dick about it.

It's not the photo. It's the attitude.

[pnwmom]

298. Even she admitted in one of her interviews that she had a period

of several years in which she couldn't lose any weight. She said she had "metabolic damage."

But it's other people who offer excuses, she's just being honest.

[Warren DeMontague]

270. I think whatever mild obnoxiousness could be inferred into her original post is positively DWARFED

by the 15 minutes hate she's being subjected to from certain corners, now.

People like to look good. Many people find fitness, and fit bodies, attractive.

No amount of hair-pulling tantrums are going to change that. People who want to say "this is how I look, if you don't like it, too fucking bad", I say bully for them.

People who clomp around issuing ludicrous edicts to "society" about how society needs to change "its" standards, are wasting their time IMHO.

[tabasco]

272. Fitness

Frowned upon in America.

[DragonBorn]

278. In this thread

bunch of butthurt people. Really guys? This has you worked up? Some people must not have real problems.... Jesus of all the things to complain about. This woman has a really good body and is flaunting it!! Shes a big meanie poop head!!

[seabeyond]

290. this is all you have to be concerned in life? really? others peoples reaction to a woman that is a

big meanie poop head!!

[JBoy]

284. She's actually got a whole website devoted to her own awesomeness.

http://www.mariakang.com/

Don't miss her (lengthy) list of accomplishments:

2013 Cover Model “Max Sports and Fitness” Magazine
2012 Cover Model “Sacramento Parent” Magazine
2012 Mayors Volunteer Award
2012 Live Interview on Good Day Sacramento
2012 Family featured in Acura Commercial
2012 Guest Mommy Expert on “Bringing up Bebe” live taping on News 10 at 9
2012 Guest Fitness Expert on “Kids and Fitness” taping of News 10 at 9.
2011 Live Interview, “Living a Healthy Life” on Sacramento and Co.
2011 Featured “Mom Next Door” in Parent Magazine
2010 Awarded second grant from First 5 Sacramento
2010 Grand Opening of my first care home business, Comforts of Home
2010 Awarded grant from Youth Service of America
2009 Tri(y!) Falcons program Live Interview on Good Day Sacramento
2009 Tri(y!) Falcons 4 Fitness program featured in Sacramento Bee
2009 Workout Spread in Max Sports and Fitness Magazine, Family Fitness
2009 Interview in the Elk Grove and Laguna Citizen newspapers
2009 Created Mom-ME! Fitness Club in Elk Grove, CA
2008 Awarded grant from First 5 Sacramento
2008 Awarded grant from Nike corporation
2008 Launched first C.O.R.E. club at Valley High School
2008 Exercise Spread in Max Sports and Fitness Magazine, Wedding Workout
2008 Featured Articles in Audrey and Thirtneen Minutes Magazine
2007 Created Non Profit Organization: Fitness without Borders
2007 Online Radio Host of “FitnessCure podcast”
2007 Columnist, “Shape Yourself” in Max Muscle Sports and Fitness Magazine
2007 Website, fitnessure.com, reviewed in Oxygen Magazine.
2007 Physique of the week with Fusion Nutrition.
2006 Feature Interview with “Stunning Fitness”
2006 “Viva la Fitness” co-anchor on weekly podcast show.
2006 Creator and Editor of FitnessCure.com
2006 Monthly Fitness Column, in Philippine Fiesta Newspaper
2006 “Model of the Month” by Liftforlife.com
2005 Contributed Fitness article in Audrey Magazine, Aug/Sept
2004 Feature Cover Model of SF Weekly, October Issue
2004 Feature Cover Model of Florida Fitness, May Issue
2004 Featured Seven Articles as a Writer on Bodybuilding.com.
2004 Fitness Competitor of the Week by Bodybuilding.com, April
2004 “Future of Fitness” in Oxygen Magazine, February Issue
2003/02 “Body For Life” 12 Week Challenge Finisher/Finalist
2002 Honor Student, Beijing Normal University, China
2001 Deans List Recipient at University of California, Davis
1998 Student Speaker Award, scholarship awarded by Golden State Lions Club
1997 2nd Captain during Freshman year at Highschool Cheerleading Squad
1993 Published Award Winning Poem Titled, “OneDay”
1993 Nominated as Student Peer Leader by School Faculty.
1992 Oral Language Fair Regional Finalist for recitation of Martin Luther Kings “I have a Dream” Speech.
1991 Published Award Winning Poem Titled, “Midnight Dove”.
1990 Elected Student Body President at Franklin Elementary

Beauty and Fitness Titles

2003 3rd Place at Miss Bikini America (Redondo Beach, California)
2003 4th Place at Model America (Redondo Beach, California)
2003 Miss Bikini California (Folsom, California)
2003 Miss Charmee Talent Fitness Jazz Routine (Manila,Philippines)
2003 Miss Philippines USA (Los Angeles, California)
2003 Miss San Francisco Chinatown USA (San Francisco,California)
1998 Miss Petite Teen International (Houston, Texas)
1998 Miss Asia Pacific Islander (Sacramento, California)
1998 Miss Philippines Sacramento (Sacramento, California)
1997 Miss Petite Philippines International (Toronto,Canada)
1997 Miss Philippines of Northern California (Sacramento, California)

Fitness Charities and Walks

2013 Walk for Life
2012 Walk for Life
2010 Turkey Trott Thanksgiving Day
2010 Walk for Life
2009 Juvenile Diabetes Walk
2009 Nike 10k Fitness Festival
2009 Walk for Life
2008 Turkey Trott Thanksgiving Day, charity to Feed the Poor
2008 Walk for Life
2007 10k Walk for AIDS in SF
2007 Climb California for Lung Cancer Research
2006 10k walk for AIDS in SF
2006 Turkey Trott Thanksgiving Day, charity to Feed the Poor
2005 Tour de Peninsula: 33-Mile Bik Ride benefiting San Mateo Parks and Recreation
2005 10 K Walk for Aids, Sponsored Walker
2005 Muddy Buddy Race (fourth place) benefiting Challenged Athletes Society
2005 Bay To Breakers Race Finisher
2004 Half Marathon Finisher benefiting Leukemia Society, October
2002 5K Chevy’s Fun Run
2002 5K Run for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation

[pnwmom]

297. But she's not into herself, right? n/t

[aikoaiko]

291. Getting ugly comments is not her worry. Its not getting any comments at all.

Last edited Fri Oct 18, 2013, 04:51 PM - Edit history (1)

She's an asshole who loves herself. Those who seek attention deserve the attention they seek.

[Egalitarian Thug]

354. +1 That's it, right there. n/t

[AgingAmerican]

293. She looks hot

nt

[LeftyMom]

302. She's a smug, privledged asshole trying to criticize less vain women.

for having sane priorities. She should get pushback. And therapy for her bullemia.

[Silent3]

313. I agree she's being an asshole, but presuming she's bulemic...

...is hardly warranted.

[LeftyMom]

316. Her website says she's struggled with bullemia.

[CBHagman]

304. If someone made angry comments, that's about them, not her.

Too many people opt for the Internet equivalent of road rage, possibly because of the freedom and lack of consequences.

[pnwmom]

314. But her display of her body along with the "challenge"

is all about her.

[eissa]

315. I don't have excuses; I have priorities

My husband and I have worked different shifts for years in order to raise our children, effectively making us single parents. The last thing I was going to do after coming home from work was toss the kids over to some sitter so I can go to the gym and work on my abs. I had responsibilities at home that were more important than that.

Now that they're teens, I'm able to leave them home alone and hit the gym, and I've lost a significant amount of weight. While I don't look anything like her (and never will) I'm past the stage where some self-absorbed asshole is going to make me feel like crap for my weight. Been there, done that (thanks mom.) And while I look and feel great now, the LAST thing I would do is smugly accuse others of having an "excuse" for not doing the same. No one knows the struggles others go through, and fuck her for being so god damn condescending.

And yes, I take joy that she has to weigh every, single thing she puts in her mouth. I don't, and of course that's why I don't look like her. But then my entire self-worth is not tied to my figure.

[JI7]

317. some people realize they are more happy being able to eat certain foods

and not be as fit and toned on a more strict diet. but as long as they are still healthy that is what matters.

[pnwmom]

349. Michelle Obama knows how to motivate people to be fit.

And she would NEVER have used a putdown like "what's your excuse" -- even though if anyone is a super achiever with a great body, it is she.

Whether or not she has ripped abs.

[MadrasT]

356. The Facebook post and this OP are both the same thing.

Pure flame bait.

[Warren DeMontague]

361. SEND HER TO THE OLIVE GARDEN!

I know, right?