23 replies to this topic

[Steve Heard]

 

Maria Kang, the 'Fit Mom' previously in hot water for allegedly 'fat shaming' women, is back in the news again.

 

This time, Facebook shut down her page for 'hate speech'.

 

What did she say that was so hateful? She reacted to a 'selfie' photo campaign for 'Curvy Girl Lingerie' in which 'plus sized' women were encouraged to photograph themselves in lingerie.

 

Among other things, Maria wrote, "I woke up this morning to news stories about how overweight nearly obese women should be proud of their bodies. I think we should all accept how any healthy body through good nutrition and exercise manifests but I’m starting to get annoyed and here’s why..."

 

She went on to decry the rate of obesity in this country, and that it is unhealthy and shouldn't be celebrated. She listed some facts about obesity and the harm it can cause.

 

While many supporters agreed and 'liked' her comments on Facebook, someone at Facebook did not, and shut down her page. 

 

When word got out, Facebook restored her page (they said it was shut down due to human error), but the post about obesity had been deleted.

 

What do you think? Is Maria right, or should we accept ourselves and each other the way we are, even if we're overweight?

 

Full text of her post:

I woke up this morning to news stories about how overweight nearly obese

women should be proud of their bodies (as they posed in lingerie). I think we should

all accept how any healthy body through good nutrition and exercise manifests but

I’m starting to get annoyed and here’s why:

 

1. We have a health issue in America with over 2/3 overweight or obese.

 

2. We have a healthcare crisis. We spend over 3 trillion in healthcare yearly!

 

3. We have a childhood obesity issue, with many children suffering from adult

diseases like diabetes.

 

4. We have magazines everywhere praising the celebrity (with all her resources) for being fit after months of giving birth and scorn the “real

every day mom” who is able to be successful.

 

5. We keep blaming the culprit (school lunches, fast food, etc) when the real change starts at home – ESP those who lead, which are the parents.

 

There are some serious contradictions in our society. I know many people still get riled up with me and my convictions but the truth is I KNOW how it is to work your arse off and not have energy at the end of your day.

 

I know how it feels to be overweight and not drop an ounce after years of disordered eating. I know how difficult it is to raise multiple children – all born a year apart – and make my fitness and nutrition a priority.

 

Lastly, I know how it feels like to grow up with an unhealthy mother wondering if she will live to see your wedding day.

 

We need to change this strange mentality we are breeding in the U.S. and start celebrating people who are a result of hard work, dedication and discipline.

 

I’m not bashing those who are proud and overweight, I am empowering those who are proud and healthy to come out and be the real role models in our society."

 

 

 

[nomad]

And your crusade against this woman continues!

[tsukiji]

My opinion? I tire of this inane crap.

 

Facebook sucks. Society sucks. Maria is spot on.

 

Yes, there will be the exception where people will be obese because of medical issues. This will actually be a large percentage. But it's probably no where close to the actual obesity rates in this country.

 

Obesity is a symptom of the uneducated, indifferent, apathetic, disrespectful, misguided priorities, laziness, undisciplined attitudes pervasive in this country today.

 

Do we all have to be 5% body fat and in optimal aerobic condition? No. But we don't also need to be 30%+ body fat and out of breath climbing a flight of stairs either. 

 

This is what happens when every kid gets a trophy. Nobody tries to be better.

 

Am I in great shape? No. But people like Maria inspire me to be a better person. I don't (censored) and moan and bedrudge her for being in great shape. I'm sure she has her faults as well. Nobody's perfect.  But to celebrate being voluntarily overweight. That's just stupid. Acceptance is one thing. Cause for celebration it is not.

[ducky]

I think the trouble arose in the first place because people mistook this woman's question.  She has clarified what she meant, and I have no reason to doubt she means well and wants to inspire other moms to not give up on trying to be healthier because it's important to take care of yourself, too.

 

Seeing the picture she posted with only the question "What's your excuse?" without knowing what it's related to I'd have to ask, What's my excuse for what?  Not being my ideal weight?  I don't make excuses.  I know exactly why I'm not my ideal weight even though I exercise regularly and keep active.  I like food more than I like to exercise.  Do I care what I am considered on the BMI chart?  Not really as long as it doesn't require me to be on medication for a preventable condition.

 

I think what she was wearing in the photo is why people took the question more as, What's your excuse for not being physically attractive?  In a world where women are constantly feeling pressure because they aren't thin enough or pretty enough or sexy enough, sometimes the unfortunate ones even being told that by their significant others, I think she just was a magnet for frustration from the moms who are struggling and dancing as fast as they can.

They took it as her saying it's their fault they aren't attractive because they just don't try hard enough.  

 

That's my take on why people got so nasty about it.  I don't understand why they took the recent post down.  Seems more like freedom of speech than hate speech to me.

[4thgenFolsomite]

sometimes the truth hurts, I guess.  Maria is right.

[Steve Heard]

And your crusade against this woman continues!

 

That comment could not be further from the truth. I actually went to hear Maria speak and then had lunch with her and her husband afterward. I told her I could understand why so many women were offended by the 'what's your excuse' photo. 

 

Hearing her back-story, her own struggles with weight, bulimia, her mom with diabetes and a stroke, all put in perspective who she is and what she's trying to do.

 

She told me she was trying to inspire people, not shame them. I've since discovered several more 'what's your excuse' photos with people who were handicapped, elderly or otherwise challenged.  

 

Those didn't get the same reaction.

 

We traded notes this morning and I told her what I was doing, asked her which photo to use, and gave her a link to the story. She had no objections to it at all.

 

I don't see why you do.  

 

Yes, there will be the exception where people will be obese because of medical issues. This will actually be a large percentage. But it's probably no where close to the actual obesity rates in this country.

 

Obesity is a symptom of the uneducated, indifferent, apathetic, disrespectful, misguided priorities, laziness, undisciplined attitudes pervasive in this country today.

 

 

I found this timely, as we were just discussing the habits of the rich vs. poor, and many people found it necessary to defend the poor by saying that they don't have the time or energy or means to more successful.  Similar to the excuses given as to why we're obese. 

 

I think the trouble arose in the first place because people mistook this woman's question.  She has clarified what she meant, and I have no reason to doubt she means well and wants to inspire other moms to not give up on trying to be healthier because it's important to take care of yourself, too.

 

Seeing the picture she posted with only the question "What's your excuse?" without knowing what it's related to I'd have to ask, What's my excuse for what?  Not being my ideal weight?  I don't make excuses.  I know exactly why I'm not my ideal weight even though I exercise regularly and keep active.  I like food more than I like to exercise.  Do I care what I am considered on the BMI chart?  Not really as long as it doesn't require me to be on medication for a preventable condition.

 

I think what she was wearing in the photo is why people took the question more as, What's your excuse for not being physically attractive?  In a world where women are constantly feeling pressure because they aren't thin enough or pretty enough or sexy enough, sometimes the unfortunate ones even being told that by their significant others, I think she just was a magnet for frustration from the moms who are struggling and dancing as fast as they can.

 

They took it as her saying it's their fault they aren't attractive because they just don't try hard enough.  

 

That's my take on why people got so nasty about it.  I don't understand why they took the recent post down.  Seems more like freedom of speech than hate speech to me.

 

That's it in a nutshell. We all had to make our decisions about how we felt about her from that photo. I told her to me it looked like she was saying, 'What's your excuse for not looking like me?'

 

I expected that she was a professional personal trainer (she is not), professional model (she is not), has a nanny (she does not), does not work for a living (she runs 2 care elder-care facilities), and that perhaps she had rented those kids (they're hers).

 

She's just a super-focused, disciplined and driven young lady. She is passionate about fitness and health.

 

She sometimes says things that can be offensive, just as I do.

[caligirlz]

The situation is about 1-2 weeks old now.....and the article I read said FB reinstated her account & told her she could repost her comments, BUT she doesn't want to. She wanted FB to restore the original post and all the comments.

Too much drama IMO.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, just like Maria. She doesn't inspire me. Yea, she had anorexia/ bulimia - so did I. I would be far more impressed if she was morbidly obese & got fit but that is not her story, although she chooses to belittle those who are, instead of encouraging them (quoting fitness slogans such as "no excuses" is so boring....) Whatever, there's plenty of other trainers that successfully work with the obese. She has her niche. She should stay there.

[TruthSeeker]

She needs to shut up already and stop putting others down for not looking like her.

If an obese person is happy with their body and happy with their life then that's great. Nobody has a right to judge everyone else and tell them how to live and look. She's gone too far, her 15 minutes are up, time to shut up and go jogging for 4 hours because not everyone is well kept and a stay at home mom.

[Carl G]

Maria is pretty hot and I think there in lays the problem.  If she weren't good looking no one would pay her any attention.  The funny thing is she isn't saying anything other than what I hear from my own doctor, or even Dr. Oz.  The bottom line is people don't want their failures pointed out to them.  Many of us a confortable with being fat.  My excuse?  I was comfortable with being fat and even though I didn't like it I did nothing about it.

[cw68]

Maria is pretty hot and I think there in lays the problem.  If she weren't good looking no one would pay her any attention.  The funny thing is she isn't saying anything other than what I hear from my own doctor, or even Dr. Oz.  The bottom line is people don't want their failures pointed out to them.  Many of us a confortable with being fat.  My excuse?  I was comfortable with being fat and even though I didn't like it I did nothing about it.

Spot on. She is saying what should be said, not what people want to hear.

[Steve Heard]

Maria is pretty hot and I think there in lays the problem.  If she weren't good looking no one would pay her any attention.  The funny thing is she isn't saying anything other than what I hear from my own doctor, or even Dr. Oz.  The bottom line is people don't want their failures pointed out to them.  Many of us a confortable with being fat.  My excuse?  I was comfortable with being fat and even though I didn't like it I did nothing about it.

 

I think you're right. I'm a 'no excuses' sort of guy in my daily life and business, yet was po'd by the photo because I know that women struggle with body image and have seen my daughters go back and forth with their weight (as have I). 

 

Talking to Ms. Kang gave me a different perspective. She didn't fill in the blanks, we did. 

 

None of the following made national headlines or got the negative reactions that Maria Kang's did. 

 

 

 

 

[cw68]

Great points made Steve!

[SacKen]

...

Talking to Ms. Kang gave me a different perspective. She didn't fill in the blanks, we did. 

...

Exactly. Similar to the rich vs poor thread, all these complainers want to hide behind their excuses and have to jump out to defend and validate those excuses when they are challenged.  My tubby arse knows exactly why I'm overweight; I love food and have a mean sweet tooth.

 

There's also a difference between physical fitness and weight.  Fitness is primarily a factor of strength, agility, athleticism, etc.  Work and kids do suck time that could be used to go to the gym or whatever and that affects my fitness.  Weight is more like a bank account and is pretty simple math; more calories in than the body uses and growth happens (ignoring medical reasons that are significantly fewer cases than people want to believe).  My weight is affected by the donuts, pizza, burritos and mochas (non-fat, of course ) I stuff down my gullet. That takes no time to change and is entirely my own doing.  I can't blame my kids or my job for me being overweight.

[cw68]

Another body controversy. http://shine.yahoo.c...-215700858.html

I was a lucky one and lost my pregnancy weight by six weeks, but my body still didn't look my pre-baby normal. I can't fathom looking like this four days after having a baby, but I agree that people judging these people are being hypocrites.

[caligirlz]

Maria is pretty hot and I think there in lays the problem.  If she weren't good looking no one would pay her any attention.  The funny thing is she isn't saying anything other than what I hear from my own doctor, or even Dr. Oz.  The bottom line is people don't want their failures pointed out to them.  Many of us a confortable with being fat.  My excuse?  I was comfortable with being fat and even though I didn't like it I did nothing about it.

I don't think she is hot. I admire many other female atheletes but not her. I don't follow Dr Oz's advise either. He recommends a lot of worthless & investigational crap.

 

I don't really hear a lot of fat (obese & morbidly obese) people indicating that they are comfortable with it. For example, at my company we have a wellness program, and we get several different types of discounts (products, fitness clubs, day off & health insurance) IF we participate. This year, the discount was greater if you were able to demonstrate actually meeting a specific goal (i.e., 10% loss of body weight) vs just doing an activity. So, there is incentive. However, people participate sporatically. I used to be a team captain for many of the fitness challenges. I could not even bribe people to walk. Just freaking walk 5000 steps per day.

 

Most people I know verbalize they are unhappy with the status quo, but when I invite them to join me (eating right most of the time, working out, lifting weights), most do not pursue. Several people have joined me at my kick-arse gym, but very few have stayed. They wanted something easier. When in reality, all new movement is hard. It just takes practice for it to get easier and become a part of the routine. 

 

I was never comfortable with being fat. IMO, it's a huge emotional issue, and until you deal with the REASONs why you overeat, you will never maintain a weight loss, no matter how healthy you eat or how much/how often you work out. There are always slips. 

 

Anyways...