Why is this even remotely controversial?

So, some fit mom with three kids posted a picture and the words "What's your excuse?" to inspire people. And for whatever reason, there's been heap loads of hate regarding the image. Some have even gone so far as calling her a bully or self-righteous. Here's the image and a link to the article:



http://shine.yahoo.com/parenting/hot-mom-defends-herself-against-facebook-haters-192149769.html

Anyways, I feel sorry for the haters.

Your thoughts?

First good lawd what a babe! Secondly she has every right to post that pic to inspire or to brag what ever the case may be that took a fuk ton of work and she should be admired for her feat! If you're offended by that then get the fuk outa fitness sites

This is ridiculous! Even if you don't want/need to look like her her point is that everyone can find a way to get and stay healthy. You don't have to be as toned as her to be healthy. She looks amazing and I am jealous - but I'll use that as motivation. I, like many others, am a working mom. I'm also in school full time. Time is limited. I'm not sure if I"ll ever look like her but that's fine. I don't need to. We need to be the best versions of us that we can be with the time, resources, and motivation that we have. If you can't work out, you can still eat healthy and go for short walks (or whatever the case may be - if you're in a wheelchair maybe you can do dumbbell curls...). There's a way to be healthy regardless of circumstances.

That's what I believe the message is. I think this woman is amazing. We don't need to criticize healthy people because everyone has gotten so used to being fat (myself included)

I have 3 kids. I personally do not take offense to this. We all have to work to get results. It's not going to magically happen. I stayed fat for a year and a half after my first child. It was my fault, I ate like I was still pregnant. The last two children, I ate right and worked out when the kids were napping or after they went to bed at night. It's not impossible to change your body if you eat right and manage your time.

Don't get me wrong, even putting in time working out, we all might not look like that lady in the picture.

Completely Agree! I too have 3 kids, with 6 years in between each one..my body is not what it once was..But I am making the time to get it where I want to be...Will I ever look like her? Probably not..I'm 5'10 and I have a larger frame. It may take me the next two years to get my body where I want it, but it's about putting in the time no matter how long it takes.

I don't think that's the message she intended to send, and I'm not personally offended by the picture and caption. But if you have
an analytical mind of any sort you can see that while she might intend her message to be about fitness and health it's obviously about appearance as her appearance is what's being referenced.

The OP wondered why the picture would be controversial and I've clearly explained why it is.

People seem to think its a "hater gonna hate" thing but its actually controversial because it's just another brainless message telling women they have to look a certain way regardless of health or fitness level.

And yeah... I'm sorry... if you can't see that, then you are indeed part of a greater problem in the war women fight against themselves and each other.

And that, my friend, is what is sad.

I have no "mom friends" left for this reason. They all hate me because I'm motivated. Whatevs! I just don't use having kids as an excuse to be overweight and/or out of shape.

Same here, most moms hate me at the school. They get all huffy when i mention going for a walk or to the gym or say no thank you to treats. They think i am :easy" and a few wont let their hsbands talk to me or their son come over to play with my son. Women are beasts. I don't look as good as the girl in the picture but in my demographic i will just say my hard work is evident, my town is very overweight.

*giggle* I wonder if they think I'm "easy" as well! I never thought about that.

I can definitely seen why it's controversial. Seems braggish. I understand it's trying to be motivational but it's just annoying. Being a mom is hard enough with out pressure to look like a fitness model. Of course by no means should you use it as an excuse to be unhealthy either. If you don't want to put in the time, or regulate your eating to that degree, you shouldn't feel pressured too. Sometimes just being healthy is "good enough".

Seems braggish. I dont like crap like this. She looks amazing, but the whole thing seems very self serving. And it's not like the kids had any choice in being a part of it. I don't really like people who make public spectacles of their children like that.

But she DOES look great and I DO congratulate her on that. It's not shaming to me, but IRL we wouldnt be friends.

This is my favorite response so far (from someone on my FB who likely weighs 350+ lbs):

This woman is clearly obsessed with fitness. She's a recovering bulimic, and that doesn't really say healthy things about her relationship with food and exercise. It's probably a good thing she has boys.

What ignorance. Good for this woman - I hope I can look like that one day, kids or no.

I don't think that's the message she intended to send, and I'm not personally offended by the picture and caption. But if you have
an analytical mind of any sort you can see that while she might intend her message to be about fitness and health it's obviously about appearance as her appearance is what's being referenced.

The OP wondered why the picture would be controversial and I've clearly explained why it is.

People seem to think its a "hater gonna hate" thing but its actually controversial because it's just another brainless message telling women they have to look a certain way regardless of health or fitness level.

And yeah... I'm sorry... if you can't see that, then you are indeed part of a greater problem in the war women fight against themselves and each other.

And that, my friend, is what is sad.

what is sad is your view on life and the world. stop spreading it around here.

Some people like to hang their hat on "having kids ruined my body." While there are some complications that can really take away from your ability for your body to bounce back, it's not as common as the excuse is used. I grew up thinking that pregnancy made you permanently larger, I learned from experience that it does not permanently make me larger however continuing to eat at the pregnancy surplus and with the eat everything in sight mindset does.

QFcompleteT

I absolutely think you can get a great body like hers with 1-2 hours a day. Probably even less than that especially combined with the right eating habits.

Edited to add this: Your body might not look like hers though because, well, you're you, not her. You can be a fit version of you with that level of effort - definitely.

You can actually make really good progress with a good diet and just 2-3 hours a week of lifting. That's all I've been able to do for the past 2 years, and well, actually I don't do the "good diet" part very well.

Oh, I absolutely agree! Was just trying to directly answer her question. I'm a 3x/week lifter, minimal cardio and so-so eater myself.

I hope I am one day hot enough to have people hate me for no reason.

I hope I am one day hot enough to have people hate me for no reason.

I already hate you for no reason.

Personally, I do find it inspirational. When I see someone who has done well it makes me think, "Hey, that person did it so I can too!" I understand that we all have different circumstances, issues, struggles, etc. Truthfully, I may never look like her but that still doesn't mean that I can appreciate her success as I struggle towards my own.

At one time, I was the queen of excuses. I blamed everything on my poor health. While it is true I have to deal with some things that others may not while working towards a healthier me, I hid behind these problems and said it wasn't my fault. I really didn't start moving forward until I refuse to accept my own excuses.

I absolutely think you can get a great body like hers with 1-2 hours a day. Probably even less than that especially combined with the right eating habits.

Edited to add this: Your body might not look like hers though because, well, you're you, not her. You can be a fit version of you with that level of effort - definitely.

You can actually make really good progress with a good diet and just 2-3 hours a week of lifting. That's all I've been able to do for the past 2 years, and well, actually I don't do the "good diet" part very well.

Oh, I absolutely agree! Was just trying to directly answer her question. I'm a 3x/week lifter, minimal cardio and so-so eater myself.

yep

I workout 3x a week too with kettlebells...mostly@ home or at the beach.... eat moderately clean and still stay in good shape

maybe not the bodybuilder shape pics from when i was competing 3 years ago...but the pic in my white shirt is how I maintain now with a pretty mild, balanced program

Here's why this if offensive: the picture and caption imply that EVERY WOMAN should look exactly as ripped and thin as this woman does. The implicit message is that there is no excuse and therefore NO REASON for any female to look less fabulous than this woman does.

It doesn't say "you shouldn't use excuses to not change your lifestyle".

It says "you have no excuse to not look as sexy and fit as me".

I for one can think of many reasons why many women of all ages and types might not look anything like her while offering no excuses and pursuing the best, healthiest lifestyles there is.

To state it another way, this photo and caption is offensive because its clearly referencing outward appearance as the primary goal for a woman or mother to want to pursue fitness.

If you can't see how this victimizes women, then you're part of the problem.

I am part of the problem then, because I feel that saying this victimizes women is laughable.

^^This^^