What's your excuse?

[fried eggs]

Took a mini-break from the debt ceiling coverage and found this:

In the photo, 32-year-old Maria Kang poses in a workout bra and matching micro shorts — revealing an incredibly toned figure with washboard abs — while surrounded by her three young sons, now 1, 3 and 4. Floating above her head is the question, “What’s your excuse?” The picture has gone viral, with more than 16 million views on Facebook, and has generated more than 12,000 comments. And while much of the input has been of the supportive “you go, girl” variety, plenty of it has been made up of angry, offended personal attacks on the photo subject, calling her everything from “obnoxious” and “fake” to a bad mom and a bully.

“I wanted to inspire people,” she explains, adding that the “What’s your excuse?” part was simply a borrowed, popular phrase that’s been used in various “fitspiration” campaigns. “I wanted to say, ‘I know you think you don’t have time if you have kids. But if I can do it, you can do it, too.’”

Though she first posted the photo to her Facebook page a year ago, Kang noticed it was being shared a lot more recently and that it was generating a swell of negative comments toward her. So she reposted it to her own 72,000-plus followers, tacking on an apology — which, she admits, is really a “non-apology.”

“I'm sorry you took an image and resonated with it in such a negative way. I won't go into details that I struggled with my genetics, had an eating disorder, work full time owning two businesses, have no nanny, am not naturally skinny and do not work as a personal trainer,” she wrote, in part. “What I WILL say is this. What you interpret is not MY fault. It's yours. The first step in owning your life, your body and your destiny is to OWN the thoughts that come out of your own head. I didn't create them. You created them. So if you want to continue ‘hating’ this image, get used to hating many other things for the rest of your life.”

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

What do you think? Is her photo inspiring or fat-shaming? I don't think it's fat shaming, it's general shaming directed to moms, both fat and slim, who don't have perfect bodies.

[NRaleighLiberal]

1. I think it's narcissistic and unnecessary...but typical of this "me" society

[mstinamotorcity2]

7. Every time I see those

tomatoes I want to salt and pepper them

[SheilaT]

2. I certainly never had a body like that ever.

But the first thing that comes to mind is, Who minds the kids while she's working out? How many hours a day does she work out?

I certainly don't see it as fat-shaming, but I do see it as celebrating something that not everyone can achieve.

[steve2470]

4. she is the exception to the rule, I would imagine, drastically easier said than done nt

[elehhhhna]

5. I did.

I'm an ectomorph. And ridiculously tall. I had a bod like that after 2 kids at the age of 40. Yanno how? I WAS TOO THIN! No exercise program (active but nothing official) but if you are thin your underlying musculature shows. Period. The only way to have the now required 6 pack is to have no body fat to speak of. This is just exhibitionism on her part. The defensive quote proves her motive is LOOKIE I'M BETTER THAN YOU BECAUSE THIN.

[IdaBriggs]

3. First thought: She's gorgeous.

Second thought: Where does she find the time?

Third thought: Good for her.

Fourth thought: I am never going to look like that because it just isn't one if my priorities.

Last thought: I suck.

[seveneyes]

6. Diet and exercise will do it for many

It won't help those with genetic traits that work against such a body quite as much. "What's your excuse" is a bit snarky and could have been said more mildly.

[NuclearDem]

8. Sir excuse for what sir?

[1000words]

9. Her "apology" is spot on

This in particular:

"The first step in owning your life, your body and your destiny is to OWN the thoughts that come out of your own head. I didn't create them. You created them. So if you want to continue ‘hating’ this image, get used to hating many other things for the rest of your life.”

[SheilaT]

10. I also think of this in terms of I have other things to do that I prefer to do.

Like read, or do embroidery or talk to friends.

I still wonder who minds the kids while she's working out.

[IdaBriggs]

12. If she's only doing it for 30-60 minutes, maybe she gets up early?

I'd rather hit the snooze button, which is why she looks fabulous, and I do not.

Life is choices. Good for her.

[LittleBlue]

11. That's very impressive

Great body, she must have tons of energy.

Almost forgot teh

[eissa]

13. I work full-time

My husband worked swing shift so he could stay home with the kids. We were like single parents for years. I'd come home, and he'd leave. I was taking care of two kids on my own, plus your everyday chores that need tending to: making dinner, laundry, running errands, etc. Once they were in school, it was helping with homework, running them to sports/music practice, etc. Sorry, going to the gym was low on my priority list. It wasn't until the kids reached their teens and I felt comfortable leaving them home alone that I finally joined a gym and got in shape. However, even though I've lost quite a bit of weight, I will never look like her. It's taken me years to finally be ok with that, and this girl's gloating over her body is not going to take me back to that place. I'm happy that she's so pleased with how she looks -- we should all strive to be as happy. But her insulting term of "excuses" are for most of us simply a different set of priorities.