This statement and photo have been amongst a debate recently. I thought I'd weigh in on the debate....
This is Maria Kang. She is a business owner, fitness model & mother of 3. She looks unbelievable and when this photo went up on her FACEBOOK page, I thought to myself "Go Girl!" There have been others though, that haven't felt the same. People have called her names, claiming she is "Fat Shaming". 3 years ago, I would have been one of those people...hating this photo and the stupid tagline and her rockin' body...but today, here & now, I love everything about it.
My take on this is that, although the statement ends with a ?, I don't believe it's a question. I look at it as a statement. Maria has worked hard to get to where she is today...it's taken sacrifices, hard work, countless hours in the gym. What you don't know about her is that she struggled with Bulimia and has overcome the disease to get to where she is today. It's her journey, just like this is my journey...and you can't judge me until you've walked a mile in my shoes.
I don't know Maria personally, but I took this photo very seriously. All I ever did was put up excuses....why I couldn't eat right or work out...looking back, I made a hell of a lot of excuses. Do I now? Sure, but I recognize them and try to make better choices. If your taking offense to this photo, you probably are making excuses....just like I used too.
The point I think Maria was trying to make was that, whatever you have going on in your life shouldn't be your excuse. Use it as your motivation to come out on top & be a better you. It took me a long time to understand that what I was doing, even though at times very hard & left me out of family things, was only going to make my family stronger as a whole in the future.
Stop making excuses....and just go for it!
I needed this today! thanks so much for sharing.
ReplyDeleteIf that quote was put on a picture of a nice sunset or a long windy road it would have half a million pins on Pintrest, but because it's a fit mom with her kids its looked down upon. So sad. She's showing a healthy example to her kids we should applaud her!!
ReplyDeleteGreat perspective...I think it's the bluntness of it that turns some people off. But, when I was going through my weight loss journey there are so many days where I needed a kick in the ass like this.
ReplyDeleteWe have had this on telly over here in Australia too. Some are very negative about it. I thought she was more or less saying that with her busy life she found time to do what she has done because she wanted it bad enough. The question is - do I? So she's made me think!
ReplyDeleteI LOVED this picture from the moment I saw it. My kids are those exact ages and I don't look like her...yet...I've lost 40 pounds in the last 8 months...I think she's saying I can do it..with these 3 gremlins...so can you!!
ReplyDeleteWell said!
ReplyDeleteWow, everyone needs to read this.
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