Why is this even remotely controversial?
Replies
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I wonder how people would react to someone waving a PhD certificate around saying "What's your excuse?"
When I mention my doctorate online, people:
Insist that I'm lying
Smugly ask me for a list of my publications, and then fail to reply when I provide one
Smugly tell me that educational achievements have nothing to do with intelligence
Smugly tell me a personal anecdote about someone they know with a doctorate who is stupid and/or unsuccessful in life
Smugly tell me a personal about a high school dropout they know (sometimes themselves) who is smart and/or successful in life (if themselves, the anecdote will invariably be riddled with spelling and grammar errors despite their supposed higher-than-mine IQ)
Smugly tell me that I must not have any common sense or "street smarts", because that and education are opposites
Smugly tell me that I must not have any social skills, because that and education are opposites
I think the bottom line is that women are expected to be meek and self-deprecating, and when a woman publicly celebrates her personal accomplishments, everyone rushes in to pull her back down to her "proper place."0 -
I think the bottom line is that women are expected to be meek and self-deprecating, and when a woman publicly celebrates her personal accomplishments, everyone rushes in to pull her back down to her "proper place."
Sadly, this.
really wanted to input the "rainbow cake" quote from mean girls (i hate being serious) but worried about backlash lol.0 -
Its a good debate topic.
Its a hot topic because women spent so many decades fighting for the right to be free and choose their own happiness and live outside the traditional box - and now that we are finally enjoying the fruits of the labor of our generation and the ones before us - we are being dragged down and torn apart by our own.
Guys are prolly like - yo let those crazy chicks have whatever they want - they'll all tear each other's hair out and then put us back in charge lollergasm. -scratches butt-
You forgot the finger sniff.
It is like you know nothing about men.0 -
After checking out her website and Instagram photos, I find Maria Kang incredibly inspiring...
BURN THE WITCH!
-friending her on facebook today-
I decided to check out her facebook page today after seeing it blowing up my newsfeed. I decided to like it/her because I see nothing wrong with the picture and I thought she seemed like the type of person I'd like to be/know.
It's all about our perception/interpretation. If you want to see it as a negative, you will.0 -
I haven't read all the replies, but the thing I find most wrong with the pic is the suggestion that every woman could look like that if they just stopped making excuses. That woman is gorgeous. If all she is flaunting is her fitness, then what is with the glamour makeup and hair?
And the caption is more than a little narcissistic. "What is your excuse?" It implies that she imagines every woman wants to look like her.0 -
I feel sad for the people who are attacking her and not wanting to see past their own insecurities. It is their loss not hers. She has been inspiring me for nearly a yr when I first read her story with the same photograph. There is also another picture she posted recently where she is sitting down in a bathing suit on the beach with her beautiful "momma" skin ( stretched and slightly flabbed like mine).
And for the remark that they are not her husbands children...Grow up and educate yourself on the many possibilities of how the children could look. My husband is Puerto Rican(looks black) and our son came out looking like the identical version of him, excpet has coarse blonde hair, blue eyes and is white
> and is 100% his!
What is the difference between an attack and a critical analysis of her intent/approach? People who have offered the latter are being labelled as "haters", which serves little purpose in driving a substantive discussion.0 -
I think it struck a cord with some moms because there are kids who can make a person lose their freaking mind. Seeing a mom of 3 flaunting her tight body and say motherhood isn't an excuse for being overweight only gives them a target to hate (since it's in poor taste to hate your own kids :laugh:).
That mom looks great and I strive to have her body someday (sooner than later!). She isn't responsible for me eating my way to obesity; I am.0 -
After checking out her website and Instagram photos, I find Maria Kang incredibly inspiring...
BURN THE WITCH!
-friending her on facebook today-
I decided to check out her facebook page today after seeing it blowing up my newsfeed. I decided to like it/her because I see nothing wrong with the picture and I thought she seemed like the type of person I'd like to be/know.
It's all about our perception/interpretation. If you want to see it as a negative, you will.
Just eat the pizza! And yeah, my kids think it's hilarious to crawl under my while I do pushups, then I squish them.0 -
What if another mom posted a picture of their 3 graduate degrees or their corner office or their bestselling novel and used that same caption? It would be rude, right?
Bwahahahahaha I just had an image of hillary clinton with that caption over her head
Don't most people post their degrees in their office? I kinda like to see that if I am visiting a professional.0 -
After checking out her website and Instagram photos, I find Maria Kang incredibly inspiring...
BURN THE WITCH!
-friending her on facebook today-
I decided to check out her facebook page today after seeing it blowing up my newsfeed. I decided to like it/her because I see nothing wrong with the picture and I thought she seemed like the type of person I'd like to be/know.
It's all about our perception/interpretation. If you want to see it as a negative, you will.
Just eat the pizza! And yeah, my kids think it's hilarious to crawl under my while I do pushups, then I squish them.
My kids leave me alone for the most part when I'm exercising, but the youngest likes to do yoga with me. Which is fun, until he goes left when he should be going right and yoga turns into a rendition of human bumper cars.0 -
:yawn:
this again?:huh:
snoozefest.0 -
Publicity stunt, indeed!!!
Someone knows how to push the right buttons to get people talking.
1. Mixing sexy and babies just creeps some people out (me for one). I'm not saying that she looks skanky, but she ain't exactly dressed like someone loading up the minivan to schlep her kids to the grocery store. The photo makes the kids look like props.
2. Someone else mentioned the text. I agree - Yeah, "if I can do it, so can you!" sounds much less b¡tchy than her hands on her hips, saying "What's your excuse?" It's confrontational - on purpose.
Slick marketing product there. I imagine she paid a pretty penny for it.
Creepy??????????? Wow! I was thinking, "ADORABLE!" when I saw the photo! Calling it creepy just shows where your mind is.0 -
I didn't say 'provocative', I said 'sexy'.
Thanks a lot! You made me spit out my coffee!0 -
I don't even think "sexy" when I look at that picture. I think, "Woman who works out wearing workuot clothes."Publicity stunt, indeed!!!
Someone knows how to push the right buttons to get people talking.
1. Mixing sexy and babies just creeps some people out (me for one). I'm not saying that she looks skanky, but she ain't exactly dressed like someone loading up the minivan to schlep her kids to the grocery store. The photo makes the kids look like props.
2. Someone else mentioned the text. I agree - Yeah, "if I can do it, so can you!" sounds much less b¡tchy than her hands on her hips, saying "What's your excuse?" It's confrontational - on purpose.
Slick marketing product there. I imagine she paid a pretty penny for it.
Creepy??????????? Wow! I was thinking, "ADORABLE!" when I saw the photo! Calling it creepy just shows where your mind is.
She's not in lingerie, FPS, with her legs spread.
Apparently, though, if you look too good, you're "sexy" and that means it's inappropriate to have kids in the picture with you.0 -
There is a difference. A PhD is not feasible for all people, perhaps not even most.I wonder how people would react to someone waving a PhD certificate around saying "What's your excuse?"
(...)
Reaching and maintaining a healthy weight is.
For what it's worth, I don't think she looked all that hot in the original image (elbows too pointy) it was clearly chosen so as to highlight her fitness level rather than her attractiveness.
That swimsuit pic on the other hand
A PhD is mostly hard work in the same way that achieving a certain body condition is hard work.
I wouldn't post a picture of my graduation along side my kids/husband/dogs/hamster and say 'what's your excuse" because it seems a bit big headed and assumes that everyone should have the same goals as me.
In addition to "hard work," it requires the ability to achieve a Master's first, and a Bachelor's, oh and a high school diploma. That is *not* achievable for people with less-than-average intelligence. You don't have to be smart to be fit. You do have to be smart to get a PhD.0 -
Hm. I like the picture, don't get the problem or why people are being so sensitive about it.
And yes, she may be half naked, but I don't get people's problems with a woman's body. Some people seem to be bothered by the fact that she's half naked WITH her kids in the photo. Which I don't get the problem with that either, a body is a natural beautiful thing. We were all born naked right!?
No kidding! And how many women take their kids to the pool or swim park while wearing a bikini? Jealous is as jealous does.0 -
I haven't read all the replies, but the thing I find most wrong with the pic is the suggestion that every woman could look like that if they just stopped making excuses. That woman is gorgeous. If all she is flaunting is her fitness, then what is with the glamour makeup and hair?
And the caption is more than a little narcissistic. "What is your excuse?" It implies that she imagines every woman wants to look like her.
Yeah - you cant flaunt your fit body AND wear makeup and fix your hair lololol that's just asking for too much. you cant be fit and look pretty. you can only have one!
Obvs she broke the rules and didnt give up makeup and hairdos in exchange for fitness. I call shenanigans.0 -
Only people who already have something psychologically wrong up there - would accuse a mother of being creepy with her own children, just because she's hanging out with them and wearing a two piece.
Thank you, yoovie. This is worth repeating!0 -
I feel sad for the people who are attacking her and not wanting to see past their own insecurities. It is their loss not hers. She has been inspiring me for nearly a yr when I first read her story with the same photograph. There is also another picture she posted recently where she is sitting down in a bathing suit on the beach with her beautiful "momma" skin ( stretched and slightly flabbed like mine).
And for the remark that they are not her husbands children...Grow up and educate yourself on the many possibilities of how the children could look. My husband is Puerto Rican(looks black) and our son came out looking like the identical version of him, excpet has coarse blonde hair, blue eyes and is white
> and is 100% his!
What is the difference between an attack and a critical analysis of her intent/approach? People who have offered the latter are being labelled as "haters", which serves little purpose in driving a substantive discussion.
you cant debate a marketing tactic by criticizing the part you are inferring. They are criticizing the 'fact' that she is saying people have no reason not to look like her. when that's totally not what it's saying. It's asking if you make excuses or make results.0 -
I think it struck a cord with some moms because there are kids who can make a person lose their freaking mind. Seeing a mom of 3 flaunting her tight body and say motherhood isn't an excuse for being overweight only gives them a target to hate (since it's in poor taste to hate your own kids :laugh:).
That mom looks great and I strive to have her body someday (sooner than later!). She isn't responsible for me eating my way to obesity; I am.
true - some kids are monsters0 -
This being controversial is actually pretty funny to me. Stop using the fact that you had children as the reason you gained weight. I actually wish I could get pregnant again because having a baby helps me to lose, I tend to eat less and become more active because I have a little one to take care of and no time to eat unless I am truly hungry. This woman looks amazing and no doubt she worked her *kitten* off to keep her body in shape and healthy! She isn't saying every woman should look like her, but it says that even a mother can stay active and healthy.
Well I did gain 90 pounds with my daughter. I lost about half of it. Of course women gain weight during pregnancy. That doesn't mean the kids are an excuse to stay fat. My doctor told me to wait six weeks before exercising. So I waited 16 years to be safe. (Just my little joke :laugh:)
lol, I guess since my baby is 13 I can get started too. Even though its obviously 3 years early. I'll just have to sacrifice! :laugh:
Yeah, I definitely used my kids as an excuse (and my two c-sections), so I can really relate to this topic.0 -
I don't even think "sexy" when I look at that picture. I think, "Woman who works out wearing workuot clothes."Publicity stunt, indeed!!!
Someone knows how to push the right buttons to get people talking.
1. Mixing sexy and babies just creeps some people out (me for one). I'm not saying that she looks skanky, but she ain't exactly dressed like someone loading up the minivan to schlep her kids to the grocery store. The photo makes the kids look like props.
2. Someone else mentioned the text. I agree - Yeah, "if I can do it, so can you!" sounds much less b¡tchy than her hands on her hips, saying "What's your excuse?" It's confrontational - on purpose.
Slick marketing product there. I imagine she paid a pretty penny for it.
Creepy??????????? Wow! I was thinking, "ADORABLE!" when I saw the photo! Calling it creepy just shows where your mind is.
She's not in lingerie, FPS, with her legs spread.
Apparently, though, if you look too good, you're "sexy" and that means it's inappropriate to have kids in the picture with you.
I guess so! I noticed the boys first. They are such cuties. Then when I noticed how pretty the woman is, I'm like, "No wonder those boys are so photogenic." Yeah, I wouldn't call her "sexy," but then, I'm not one to notice if a woman is sexy or not. I would call her pretty.0 -
I replied to this once already, but didn't really do a good job of making any kind of point. Sometimes that happens. I ramble.
Anyhow, why did I read 30 pages of people arguing about this? I think it's because that image struck me, became important. Why? I don't usually go in much for fitspo. (Although, the mfp thread is awesome, partly because I'm familiar with many of those stories already). I'm more likely to read the "demotivational" posters than the motivational ones because they're funny, and the "real" ones just seem cheesy. I do my own thing and I do it well; fitspo/motivational stuff doesn't usually strike me much. So why did I read 30 pages about this image? What makes this image important to me?
All I've ever heard regarding child bearing/aging is that getting fat is an inevitability. (And with my family history that would probably include diabetes as well). This image tells me otherwise. I can look at that image and say, "Ef you naysayers, you don't know what you're talking about. She did it, and so can I. So will I."
Mfp, has taught me different than what the everyone has told me my whole life. There are plenty of fit moms on here, and ladies in their 40's who look better than many women do in their 20s. And this image is saying that, too.0 -
So, to sum it all up
Fit mom is fit, doesn't use children, work, or disabled husband as excuse.
Other mommies/fatties (Yeah, I said fatties) get mad and pull out a whole lot of reasons to discredit said fit mom
She must not have gained any real weight while preggo. She must have nannies/help. She must be neglecting her kids. She must be lying about he amount of work she puts in. She's victimizing women. She's trying to tell me I have to look like her! Well after I had MY baby I couldn't have thisthatandthethird.
And it all boils down to even in a thread where someone is saying "Don't make excuses, just do!" people are still making excuses.
Did I miss anything?
This.. I mean, I'm not as fit as her, but I do damn good for having a 3 and (brand new) 2 year old, and a single mom... and here from WOMEN at work I must be neglecting my kids, cause there is no way I can work a full time corporate management job, be a single parent 80% of the time, and be in shape....
which seriously... is disgusting in so many ways. Are you really saying that women are so "weak" that that isn't possible... and honestly, I want to start asking them about their fav TV shows.... let them go on and on about who did what and what's good this year.. and yada yada yada.. then look them straight in the face and say... I chose being fit over watching TV.. that's how I "do it all", not by neglecting my kids. (not to bash TV, it just doesn't fit into my life right now because my plate does over flow)0 -
you cant debate a marketing tactic by criticizing the part you are inferring. They are criticizing the 'fact' that she is saying people have no reason not to look like her. when that's totally not what it's saying. It's asking if you make excuses or make results.
The pic isn't saying either of those things. It just says "What's your excuse" The rest is just your interpretation vs. someone else's.0 -
Wonder how this would have went if it was a dude that posted a pic and stated the same thing?
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
it is not even comparable, dudes are not expected to invest the same amount of time in childrearing; their bodies aren't completely messed with by the invasion of another creature, there is not the same unreasonable expectation to maintain youthful beauty all through life, and the accusation of laziness if that doesn't happen (and men are thought attractive into their later years even if they don't work out), etc etc etc.
it is not problematic because women are "catty", jesus effing.
if a male cover model had a pretty face, though, some men might cut him down by calling him a pretty boy (and taking that where it often goes). if he was more rugged looking and tough, or else just cool, they would want to be more like him.
women are no longer expected to spend most of their time child rearing - and dads are a million times more involved than they were before the 70s and 80s - they are doing their dangedest to do at least half the work and girls are STILL morning about how much work they have to do to be a mom - when being a mom is all they ever wanted in their tiny little world. then they get what they want and its like ermergerd too much work. TOO BAD. This is everything youve been dreaming about since you found someone willing to put a ring on it -_-
It IS problematic because women are catty and we've evolved over the last 500 years in competition with each other. And yes - women do hold their weight differently and deal with different kinds of hormonal effects and yes we can grow a person inside of us - but its not freaking mandatory to have kids. And there's no rule saying you cant be healthy and exercise WHILE youre pregnant and you dont have to wait until maternity leave is over to get in a workout here and there or eat right - especially if youre going to breastfeed.
No im not a mom. No Im not married. No I dont have kids. No i dont think that if i was married with a kid, would i have the right answers - of course not - i know im not perfect.
but i do know that ive been living a very healthy active lifestyle for many years now and that when / if i do end up in a situation with kid(s) in my life - then i will still be active (more active because kids) still be eating healthy (healthier because kids).
because im the kind of person who looks for all the possible ways of making something happen. Im NOT the kind of person that would rather sit around and talk about all the reasons it wouldnt work for me, all the people who wouldnt have success, all the things that could pop up and throw me off course, all the what if's and buts and exceptions that i keep stockpiling to prove that i cant be successful.
and also - regarding those comments yesterday - if Im ever at the beach, building sandcastles with the kids and getting all grimy and someone tells me im creepy for being in a bikini when im playing with my kids on the beach - i would slap them across the face so hard that they'd break through a plateau and hit a mini goal.
Only people who already have something psychologically wrong up there - would accuse a mother of being creepy with her own children, just because she's hanging out with them and wearing a two piece.
The fact that youve had children does not revoke your right to being sexy or provocative. If anything, you're allowed to be sexier than regular girls.
If you put as much effort into taking action and working with the plan you found that does work for you - as the amount of effort that people put in here - spending hours talking about everything that doesnt work (facepalm - in what universe is that productive) or wont work or why it wont work - yall would all be able to look back at this ad and mental high five yourself for not having excuses either.
People who have legitimate reasons for not being in the best shape they can be - or not being able to work toward it - probably wont be offended by this picture because she obviously wasnt aiming it at people with REASONS. She was aiming it at people who have EXCUSES - and sure enough - just like every time you bring up that word, the ones that get hell bent out of shape are the ones that arent making much progress - if any, who are famous for writing long explanations of why they cant do anything, who are always complaining about not wanting to work out or are always forgiving themselves for a binge and saying its a NEW DAY! (its NOT, by the way, a new day - your body is the same one it was yesterday, with the same binge in your intestines) or who are too afraid to work out where someone might see them giving a frak. They have angry bitter mugshot profile pictures (or flowers, field or a cat) and instead of just walking past something that doesnt motivate them or doesnt apply to them, they pop a squat, sink into a big old lazyboy, grab their keyboard, move their snacks to the side, crack their knuckles and smile to themselves and get ready to shoot down every optimistic person who makes the mistake of walking into this thread and having the nerve to believe in themselves - or WORSE - to be a walking example that it IS possible.
Because its not - and there are a lot of people here on MFP who are only here to keep people from seeing any success. because they arent seeing any.
What's my excuse?
I dont have any. Im kicking tush, Maria. High Five!
Ok so first me:
- I don't have kids
- Until this summer when I got tendinosis in my shoulder (to go with the ankle), along with runner's knee & arthritis in both knees, i successfully maintained a 50-lb loss for over 2 years; i've gained 10 back & am working on that now
Sorry, but, though some men today are better than their fathers probably were about this, the research overwhelmingly says that women are STIIIIIIIIILL having to run things at home. Some estimates have it at ~80% of the domestic labour (when, both partners are working).
That problem is FAR FROM OVER0 -
There is a difference. A PhD is not feasible for all people, perhaps not even most.I wonder how people would react to someone waving a PhD certificate around saying "What's your excuse?"
(...)
Reaching and maintaining a healthy weight is.
For what it's worth, I don't think she looked all that hot in the original image (elbows too pointy) it was clearly chosen so as to highlight her fitness level rather than her attractiveness.
That swimsuit pic on the other hand
A PhD is mostly hard work in the same way that achieving a certain body condition is hard work.
I wouldn't post a picture of my graduation along side my kids/husband/dogs/hamster and say 'what's your excuse" because it seems a bit big headed and assumes that everyone should have the same goals as me.
In addition to "hard work," it requires the ability to achieve a Master's first, and a Bachelor's, oh and a high school diploma. That is *not* achievable for people with less-than-average intelligence. You don't have to be smart to be fit. You do have to be smart to get a PhD.
Are we not talking about the average person here though? People are arguing that the average person could achieve her body and are making excuses if they can't. I would argue that anyone of average intelligence could achieve a phD if that's what they wanted and they put the time in. I was not talking about people of below average intelligence, that would be like saying people with physical limitations would be able to achieve the body of the lady in question.0 -
you cant debate a marketing tactic by criticizing the part you are inferring. They are criticizing the 'fact' that she is saying people have no reason not to look like her. when that's totally not what it's saying. It's asking if you make excuses or make results.
The pic isn't saying either of those things. It just says "What's your excuse" The rest is just your interpretation vs. someone else's.
That's what I just said.
Ok fine - i will rephrase to make nitpickers happy.
They are criticizing the 'fact' that she is saying people have no reason not to look like her. when that's totally not what it's saying. It's asking if you make excuses.
She is in workout clothes, obviously fit, with her kids all around her in support, asking what our excuse is, if we have one - obviously.
And women are responding with - how dare you force me to want to look like you and have your body, you are victimizing women and attacking us for not having the perfect body.
and my eyes rolled from here to way over there.0 -
That was the reason for the picture. You CAN do it even if you have kids and a busy schedule. For some people (myself) that is inspiring. Everyone can do it, but do they want to?After checking out her website and Instagram photos, I find Maria Kang incredibly inspiring...
Just to clarify: I think she's beautiful and clearly has worked hard for that body. I just don't find her more inspiring than someone else simply because she has three kids.
I have a friend on this site (who I know from a previous WL site from years ago) who had four babies in three or four yeas, including twins and fertility treatments. The youngest I don't think is a year yet and she looks as good as Maria.
I mentioned my cousin earlier who works full time, her husband travels a ton and she has two kids, 3 and 15 months, and she's in incredible shape, too. It isn't an unusual situation. You just have to want it badly enough and be willing to work for it.0 -
I do not see why anyone wouldnt want to look like her.0
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