Mother of 3, Maria Kang, changed her Facebook profile to include this photo and it has exploded online! She has received every reaction from those who are inspired to those who feel bullied by the image and caption. You can read about Maria and the backlash in this article in the NY Daily News.
It's Feedback Friday...
What is your reaction to Maria's photo and caption?
In my opinion it is bullying because if its hers priority is to look like a teenager it may not be to others. Maybe it's my priority to be a loving mother and volunteering in my community, rather than spending time in the gym. It's not excuse it's about what style of life one choose. If I choose to watch TV all my free time it's my life and no one should deprecate it.All of us should have freedom to choose what will do with it's life without judgment until it does not do harm to another living being
ReplyDeleteIt's so strange, I never would have used the word bullying to describe this. It's a picture on the internet, not in my inbox. I can choose to look or not to look.
DeleteI say I support you for watching TV in all your free time if you choose and I support her for looking all muscle-ish. Moms need to support moms :)
Maybe not bullying, but I can't find better word because English is not my native language. Her choice of words isn't supporting for people to choose her style of life, it's offending for ones who does not. Why should I justify to anyone for that I'm not thin and muscular.
DeletePS it's not about picture, it's about line "What's your excuse?" She could write "You can do it too" or something affirmative.
DeleteMy excuse is that I love fat and carbs and hate exercise and that it isn't it my DNA to ever look like her. I think it's a genius good marketing strategy and I don't feel at all bullied.
ReplyDeleteMy excuse is I was too busy reading Secrets of a Domestic Diva's compilation of excuses :) http://www.divinesecretsofadomesticdiva.com/2013/10/17/heres-my-excuse-and-a-bunch-of-others-too-since-you-asked-maria-kang/
ReplyDeleteI don't really care about her photo. If she wants to achieve & maintain a body like that, good on her, I've got other things I care about that I'm sure others would criticise if I put them out publicly. Haters gonna hate, no matter what the topic. If you put yourself out there, no matter what it is, someone's going to have an opinion.
I loved the comment from someone saying what if you take a photo of someone holding a Nobel prize saying, what's your excuse?
My excuse for that one is similar to the one before...Too busy wasting time reading blogs ;)
I just wrote about about this yesterday in my first open letter. http://www.myloveforwords.com/open-letter-to-maria-kang/
ReplyDelete-Emily @ My Love for Words
Everyone read this! So awesome!
DeleteI don't know, for some reason it doesn't cause any reaction for me to see that photo. I guess i'm so bombarded by this message every day, I can't even muster up any animosity toward her. Go on with your hot self!
ReplyDeleteI feel vaguely threatened, jealous, and a little guilty but I see that as something I'm putting on myself, nothing she is putting on me.
I could give a rip either way. I'm sure Maria Kang isn't interested in my excuse at all - but why should I have an excuse for her anyway? It none o her bidness if I choose not to be a body building calorie watcher. I am happy as I am, and I'm sure she isn't any any more interested in my life than I am in hers. With that said, I'm gonna go eat at Whataburger and watch my kid march in tonight's football halftime show - get those football players off the marching field! (:
ReplyDeleteGo girl! I don't think she cares either :)
DeleteI look at it and think " oh wow!" She is justifiably proud of her achievement and at the same time is making a judgement statement. I can appreciate the amount of time and effort it takes to achieve what she has. It is her priority and good on her. She is making a statement about her values and beliefs; it says more about her than it does about me. For the record, it is not my priority and I am ok either way.
ReplyDeleteI think it is awesome... she is taking care of her body and wants others to take care of theirs. I think so many people have had a negative reaction to it because they are insecure about their own bodies and feel the need to be defensive (most, not all). I don't think she is being mean or harsh to anyone at all.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you-when I saw this, I thought, "What's the controversy?" It didn't spark a reaction in me other than, "It must be easier for her." Some people just have thinner bodies and an easier time losing weight due to genetics. BUT, I also have been back in the gym 18 months after having a baby (took me long enough :-)) so I feel no guilt. I am overweight, but I am trying to be healthy and change that, so I feel good about myself. I will never look like this woman and I am ok with that! I can see how some people were rubbed wrong by the "What's your excuse?" It does seem a bit attacking, but we live in a world full of whiners, so it makes sense! Also, if you read her story-about her husband's health issues and the fact that she used to struggle with an eating disorder and reached her goals in a healthy way, it makes it much easier to cheer for her.
ReplyDeleteWhen I first saw it I immediately went to her blog to read her story. I mean with a picture like that there must be a story. I was really inspired by here. I by no way want to look like her or be in such good shape, but when she said that she works out 5 days a week and only 30 to 60 minutes a day, I thought that hey if she can accomplish a goal like that with three under 4 then I too can accomplish something like that too. Reading how her days go, I realized that she just prioritizes in a way that makes it possible for her to be a good mom and still have time for herself. And honestly, how many of us moms have a hobby that would take up just as much time. I definitely love to sew and craft and if I was to change that to exercising then I could be like Maria without ignoring my kids. TO me, she is definitely an inspiration. And I like her "what's your excuse" I think sometimes we need a good reality check. Also, how come some with only one leg can use that slogan but a mom with 3 kids can't?
ReplyDelete