I am banned from Facebook

November 23, 2013

November 22, 2013

I am banned from Facebook.

This morning I decided to vent on the current state of our obesity crisis in America. I was motivated by constant body (fat) acceptance campaigns strewn all over the internet followed by comments with the context of ‘you go girl!’ and ‘more power to you!’ The popular and unrelenting support received to those who are borderline obese (not just 30-40lbs overweight) frustrates me as a fitness advocate who intimately understands how poor health negatively effects a family, a community and a nation.

I am a firm believer that one should love their body in order to start loving and nurturing it. I’ve written about self-love many times throughout my 8 years of blogging online. What I don’t like is the fine line we are walking today – which is love and accept your body versus love and progress your body.  We should celebrate any person who makes their fitness and nutrition a priority. There is no one-size-fits-all in fitness. It’s unfortunate that we don’t see more variety in the physiques that bombard our media streams. I get that. That’s why I’ve never posted a motivational poster with a fitness model attached to the message (you can now look at my FB history) because I don’t want to perpetuate the notion that ‘fitness’ looks a certain way.

Please start your keyboards now (as I know many are thinking I encourage people to look like me) because I’ve never said that.  I am not a size 0 like most runway models and I don’t have a six pack like most fitness models. I am not a paid celebrity. I don’t work in a gym. I have a stressful life. I don’t have the perfect marriage. I have struggled with food addiction.  And I was not blessed with the best genetics. I run when I’m tired. I avoid food when I’m stressed. I discipline my constant desire for chocolate. I am barely 5’4. I have stretchmarks. I have excess skin – and while not perfect, I know this is how my body (not everybody) manifests after children through consistent nutrition and exercise.

I have a passion for fitness. This passion is rooted in both love and hate. I love seeing people empowered by their physical strength and I love witnessing people translate their fitness success in other areas of their life. While fitness changes lives, the lack of fitness destroys lives.  I hate the pain of watching my mother not take care of herself. I hate watching friends pop prescription pills for cholesterol, blood pressure and diabetes. I hate reading news about our healthcare crisis and I hate seeing people blame others for their lot in life.

That’s why I started writing fitness articles in 2004. That’s why I created a fitness nonprofit, Fitness without Borders, in 2007. That’s why I began a free mom-me fitness group in 2009 and that’s why I posted “my vent”  this morning on Facebook. There are free resources when people are ready to make change, but one cannot desire change if one’s environment deems it okay to stay where they are. With the majority of Americans overweight we are unknowingly normalizing our unhealthy nation – and while it’s a fine line we are walking – it’s a line I’m going to cross.

You can either sit on the sidelines or get roughed up trying to win the game. I’m not going to play this life sitting on the bench talking about change… I’m going for it.

My personal history allows me to come from a place of empathy, experience, concern and most of all – conviction. Find your passion, discover your conviction and stand for something. You might get criticized, you might ruffle feathers – you might even get banned from Facebook…

But if you believe in something, nothing will stop you.

Here is my deleted post:

WARNING VENTING AHEAD:

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 ass 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.

I know it’s hard. I know it’s not easy to break habits and build new ones. I know your environment challenges you and I know making your health a priority amongst the many priorities to stay afloat in today’s world is difficult. But I will tell you this: IT IS WORTH IT.

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. (Vent done)

  blocked
Isn’t that nuts? They also deleted my post. While I’m certain this may be computer-generated
when several critics reported my post as offensive, you would think Facebook would be more
assertive about what defines ‘hate language’. (I’ve seen much worse on Facebook)
They said it would be 12 hours – but I have a feeling it will be a few days.

iphone

Poor baby misses daddy. He was in LA for a week at Team Rubicon’s headquarters
to assist with the operations in the Philippines and is now in Illinois
helping with the storms and tornado aftermath there. Check out this awesome
article written about him:
http://www.npr.org/2013/11/21/246432031/in-tornado-ravaged-illinois-war-zone-veterans-find-a-mission

turkey pops
I loved this turkey cake pop project with the boys. Even though I’m slightly OCD, I
let my boys get involved in the decorating process.
They didn’t turn out pinterest-perfect but they are perfect in my book!

bellyball

 I finally re-filmed my DVD! As some of you know, this is my 3rd try.
So happy to work with Empty Kingdom (based
out of San Francisco) and my good friend and photographer, Larry Wong
.
My cute sports bra is from Affitnity! Thank you to Sandra Augustin for providing her
beautiful gym, Fitness Rehab in Sacramento!

557 Comments

  • Reply Rebecca November 23, 2013 at 10:14 am

    I am a registered nurse who works in a Cardiac ICU – I completely agree with your comments about the health care crisis and obesity issue in America. I see it everyday, and the unbelievable toll it takes on a person’s health and the health care system. Keep up the good work by spreading awareness! I think it’s crazy you were banned by facebook! I’ve never seen that before!

    agirlandhersparkles.blogspot.com

    • Reply Janet Ciulla November 23, 2013 at 9:04 pm

      I am not sure what happened to freedom of speech? I guess Facebook is not about that! What I do know is that you are 1000% right on with everything you said. People who do not want to be accountable for their health and body is what is hugely not working for today’s society. Little do they know that the money they are now spending on junk food and unhealthy choices is fueling the industries that then send those people on to need more health care and they can then make the pharmacutical companies, healthcare industries wealthy as they realize that in order to now exist they need all these medicines. I am not saying everyone who is ill wants to be sick, but if your lifestyle ends up harming your body and organs and that is your only option then what? You get to own it and if you are like me who did eat her way into TYPE 2 Diabetes because she was not ready or willing to listen to the facts about what being obese can do to your body, you then get to choose…Take the pills, then possibly insulin, damage your organs, almost every one of them OR TAKE on the challenge of losing weight getting fit and saying NO to medications and unhealthy foods….I REFUSE to cause my own poor health! GOOD For you Maria for pointing this out and now unfortunately FB has possibly cost someone their life, because who knows what impact those words could have had on someone who is right now on the fence about being OBESE and not well.

      • Reply Aunt Mandi November 23, 2013 at 9:55 pm

        Thankyou.
        Maria, you have started a revolution. You challenged women to get fit. If you could do it, with 3 kids under 5, why not the rest of us?
        That they attacked you personally, as they are doing now, is no surprise. EVERY SINGLE DAY I see women attacked, humiliated and threatened on the Internet. If one was to take just one of these insults, and slip in a term for a minority, all hell would break loose. But pillorying women is a fine Puritan tradition. I have observed, over and over, that women who post in open forums are villified. An awful lot of people do not like women. Including other women.
        Now you understand that, Michelle Obama had a FB page, encouraging others to be the best they could be, they would find a way to dislike her “target marketing”. You targetted people who wanted to get fit, and more fit. I could forsee a Daddy version. I’m sixty, and I appreciated it.
        The point is simple. Somewhere, somehow, there is a sista out there going through what I am. Pulling for me. I’m not alone in this.
        So, beautiful lady, you have no choice. You must go on. We are here to keep you up, create our own Maria pages, and get behind something and someone that we believe in.

  • Reply kristine November 23, 2013 at 11:39 am

    I completely agree with your post..I just can’t believe you got banned! You are such an inspiration to me. Keep on with what you’re doing.

  • Reply Dave November 23, 2013 at 2:31 pm

    I read and commented on your Facebook post yesterday. I didn’t agree with you, in fact I wasn’t exactly sure what you were trying to say but I now understand better after reading the blog today. That said I still don’t agree with everything you say but “I will defend to the death your right to say it”, as the famous quote goes. Facebook had no justification to remove your post. Totally, utterly absurd of them to say you violated “community standards” whatever that is. I would like an explanation from Facebook on what ‘standard’ they felt you broke? You stated a point of view, did not call anyone out by name, I can either read your post or not. My choice. I choose to read and follow you as you are an inspiration!! We don’t have to agree on everything, and for God’s sake, Facebook needs to grow a pair!

    • Reply jini November 25, 2013 at 3:54 am

      Facebook’s bans are temporary. Based on number of reports on a post.

  • Reply Kari November 23, 2013 at 3:55 pm

    It’s ridiculous! I sent a message to FB letting them know that I’ve seen worse during the political elections and nothing was done. It’s a double standard. Asked them to put you back up but not sure it will do any good. Keep up the message of health and fitness!

    • Reply Jackie November 29, 2013 at 10:56 pm

      It wouldn’t make a difference, she could put it back up just to be taken down again. The days of fit people being free to bully and shame fat people are over!

  • Reply Leslie November 23, 2013 at 4:19 pm

    You still don’t see the problem with what you posted Maria. You need to own it. It’s hate speech towards people. You act as if the only way a person becomes overweight is from living an unhealthy lifestyle. You just threw a big group of people under the bus and have shamed them. You’ve spawned some serious hateful issues towards overweight people. One of your loyal followers wrote this on your FB page. If you’re going to be in the public eye, you need to be more responsible with what you post.
    ———
    I agree with you Maria. All those obese people should feel nothing but shame and never be proud of their bodies. Unless of course they are attempting to metamorphosis into a healthy body, through good nutrition, and exercise. Then, and only then, should they be given permission to feel proud from people who know what it is to feel real pride in oneself. I saw the lingerie woman and trust that you are able to discern from their photos that they are lazy and attempting to improve nothing about themselves. There is really an epidemic of fat people photos now and it needs to stops before they start replacing the real role models of the world. If something isn’t done to stop these fatties they are going to be on the cover of “Health and Fitness” magazine next. Keep fighting the good fight Maria and keep reminding us who has earned the feel proud of yourself badges!!

    • Reply Maria Kang November 23, 2013 at 4:32 pm

      Leslie, I don’t know why you think I should feel regretful with anything I posted? I talked about our health stats, the contradictions regarding fitness in our society and empowering real-life role models? I completely OWN it (and not making apologies for it). There is no “hate” in my speech – I don’t control how people interpret my words and I have no control how they respond. You are focusing too much on the minority (the people spewing hate language) and not enough on those who are supportive and compassionate to the issue (the majority of comments). I DO believe the majority of people are overweight because of lifestyle. There’s a real issue and it’s not the minority of people who are unhealthy because of medical conditions. We are normalizing obesity and fit-shaming’ those who speak out against it.

      • Reply Leslie November 23, 2013 at 6:04 pm

        You still aren’t getting it, Maria. You called being overweight a medical issue and then targeted the entire group. When you make broad sweeping generalizations, as you did, it’s hate speech. It’s no different in principal than saying all African-Americans are lazy and criminals, or all Ricans have a bunch of kids, or all men are dogs, etc. Those are generalizations just like you posted. No where in your post did you express at any point you were referring to only those with a lifestyle issue. You never clarified your own words that you weren’t referring to people with legitimate medical issues, or those taking medications, or genetic issues and disorders. You attacked people’s character with what you wrote. And saying I’m not supportive or compassionate is attacking mine. But that’s ok, because I know better than you who I am. I believe in standing up for those you are attacking. I’m not even overweight. I’ve belonged to a gym since I was 16 yrs old and have 15% body fat. You’re not the victim here. The victims are those who are being targeted with your words, and the resulting vitriol. I agree you do not control others, but what you are overlooking is INFLUENCE. You are greatly influencing others to be hateful when you posted what you did. Stop splitting hairs. You write “it’s not the minority of people who are unhealthy because of medical conditions.” Yet you have no facts, offer no facts, to back up your claims. When beliefs are based on non-facts, it becomes rhetoric, not reason. Read peer review research over the last decade. (Anything over 10 years is not considered best case at that point.) You would be surprised how many people have weight issues not stemming from an unhealthy lifestyle. The entire population of overweight persons as a result of something other than unhealthy lifestyle is greater than the population who is due to unhealthy lifestyle. You are completely responsible for what you post. And BTW, being banned from FB isn’t a computer generated response to someone or whoever may have reported you. PEOPLE read those reports, and people decided your post was inappropriate. A reasonable person would acknowledge these things. Attempting to shift blame elsewhere is paranoid. You posted it. You need to take responsibility for it… and the consequences. That’s what OWNING it means.

        • Reply Leslie November 23, 2013 at 6:08 pm

          And I also want to clarify, I do not disagree that there is an issue around the world with being overweight from an unhealthy lifestyle. I disagree with making broad sweeping generalizations that put all persons with weight issues into one general category. It’s not okay.

        • Reply Stop Whining, Leslie. December 1, 2013 at 12:52 am

          Leslie, you are overly sensitive, and the logical flaws in your post shows that you are not used to reasoning properly.

        • Reply Deborah Young December 8, 2013 at 1:31 am

          Amen! “Owning.”

      • Reply Jeff January 27, 2014 at 6:00 am

        Leslie, you are so far off base it’s ridiculous. Only you PC-types think a person has to document everything they say with “research” and “studies.” Get over it. Most overweight people are overweight because they over-eat a fat-laden diet AND lead a completely sedentary lifestyle. Period.

        And all of these women who say Maria is “shaming” them and say things like, “Her words are a declaration of war,” are simply victims of their own internal, self-criticism and self-judgment. But then they have the intellectual dishonesty to blame their resulting feelings ON MARIA.

        What krap.

        Overweight people should own their obesity. Own their sloth. Own their lack of self-discipline.

        Then, if their own values tell them to do something about them, then they should DO something.

        Maria hasn’t done or said anything wrong.

    • Reply Jackie November 29, 2013 at 10:53 pm

      Only a monster would suggest fat people should hate themselves thin.

      • Reply Jeff January 27, 2014 at 6:04 am

        Jackie, can you do us a favor and point to where Maria or anyone else has ever said that???

  • Reply Ana Couto November 23, 2013 at 4:27 pm

    I can not believe that a group of evil people who can not live with themselves and the excess weight will surely have denounced your post. These are people who do not admit the opinion of others, and this is serious this century. But anyway … Your last post that is visible is the 20th of November. For me, I feel proud of the life you have and can you still fight and fight for your goals and personal fitness. You are a model to me!

    • Reply Jackie November 29, 2013 at 10:52 pm

      Evil people attack those who face discrimination and prejudice. Evil people also justify their shaming of people struggling against a world that hates them, by making claims it’s beneficial to them to be bullied.

  • Reply Raisa November 23, 2013 at 4:35 pm

    You were not attacking anyone. This is outrageous to be banned for saying the truth. I support your post 100%. Those complainers not only have a weight problem, they are insane.

  • Reply Sal November 23, 2013 at 6:22 pm

    Maria, although I agree with you that people should take charge of their own health, it does seem that you are targeting a specific group, mainly those that are overweight. Unhealthy bodies come in all different forms. I admit that I am a recent follower of yours, so I don’t know how often you’ve spoken out about these topics, but eating disorders and extremely underweight women can also be unhealthy, but where is the post about those statistics? In the US, 24 million people suffer from eating disorders, and eating disorders have the highest mortality rate from any mental illness in the US.

    And when it comes to kids:
    • 47% of girls in 5th-12th grade reported wanting to lose weight because of magazine pictures.
    • 69% of girls in 5th-12th grade reported that magazine pictures influenced their idea of a perfect body shape.
    • 42% of 1st-3rd grade girls want to be thinner.
    • 81% of 10 year olds are afraid of being fat.
    (Source: National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders)

    Anyway, my point is, I agree with you, but I also feel that advocates of healthy lifestyles should address the other end of the spectrum also.

  • Reply Faith November 23, 2013 at 8:30 pm

    I did not agree with what you posted. I feel like you had no idea where in their journey those women were. And, frankly, why would you care if they wanted to look that way for life? I know we’ve been back and forth with this, but you really can be overweight and be healthy. And you really can be thin and be unhealthy. And, when the chips are thrown and fall, I get the sense that you really don’t care about all of these “fat” strangers. You really don’t want to help them. You just want to appear like you care so you can tell everyone how fit you are. And how difficult it is. And how you work so hard. And how you are just a little, itty bit better than most heifer moms out there.

    Just take your comment “Unlike many moms, let my boys get involved in the decorating process”. Really. You think “many moms” don’t allow their children to partake in a fun cake pop making activity? Who in the heck are you hanging out with? Because, MOST moms I know do activities like this with their children constantly. Yet, you took this opportunity to make it like you were just a wee bit better than “many moms” . Why? Why are you programed to immediately think “I am different. Many moms wouldn’t do this with their children.” That thought should not have crossed your mind. You should have just posted the pictures and been happy you had a nice time with your boys, sans the “I am unlike many moms” because I did this with my children.

    With all of this being said, I don’t think FB should have banned you. I obviously believe in free speech and I love to debate it.

    • Reply kelly November 23, 2013 at 8:56 pm

      many moms DO let their kids help in decorating just like many moms probably do not. I like your general messages, but your self-righteousness is really alarming. You do not need to put others down to make your self look better. You are fine. You are a good mom. You are in great shape. You are not better than anyone. Nobody is better than you. You could have just said “look what a great time my boys had decorating the turkey pops!” I think sometimes what erks people most with you as that you tend to have a holier-than-tho approach even though you do not seem to want to come off that way. My advice to you would be to keep up your advocacy but slow down on the unnecessary opinions and ASSUMPTIONS. How painful for your friends, because unless you personally know a TON of moms that you are not friends with and you know that they never let their kids have fun decorating, you would be talking about people that you know. Yikes.

      • Reply Maria Kang November 23, 2013 at 9:09 pm

        Kelly – criticism well put. Forgive me as my sons are only in preschool and pre-k. My experiences so far has been exactly what I stated – which is many parents (not all) don’t allow their kids to participate in the process. For example, we were told to bring Valentine cards to school and have your child write their name (that’s it) – but I was shocked to find beautiful hand written cards (by the parents) plus perfect goodies to go with it. I had no idea this was the ‘custom’ for many moms. So, I’m agreement – I will reword it as I definitely don’t think I’m better than anyone.

        • Reply Kelly November 23, 2013 at 9:23 pm

          Thank you. Sometimes it is hard to recognize our own wording and how it might be viewed by others, happens to me all the time as a student mental health therapist. I think you have a really awesome approach and your advocacy is going places, the biggest thing is just that as a society as a whole we tend to generalize in order to streamline what we are saying (our world is fast paced). I also recognize the pinterest perfect moms (my kids are 5 and 6) and in kindergarten (10 months apart). So much of it probably stems from the factor that many moms want and feel pressured to seem on their game all of the time and kids can miss out on a lot of fun that way. You have a good message just try to keep it heartfelt and not generalized. Being banned from facebook is ridiculous. I am 60 lbs above my cross-country running, dance team leading high school pre-pregnancy days. I am text book healthy in terms of the numbers, but I know my body fat is a ticking time bomb. People like to be in denial. People think that in order to be “not obese” you have to be the opposite extreme (six pack abs) because fit is the “new skinny”. Health as a whole needs to be focused on and the extremes left for discussion amongst the exteremists. You can help only those who are willing to take it. Keep offering up your messages. Thanks!

        • Reply Faith November 23, 2013 at 9:24 pm

          But why would the “Unlike many moms” thought even cross your mind? Stop thinking of those horrible, loser moms that signed their kids Valentine’s and sent in perfect goodies. Just enjoy the moment with your kids. You are having a special time and you are thinking back to almost a year ago when your boys received Valentine’s? WHAT?

      • Reply Faith November 23, 2013 at 9:19 pm

        Kelly-I agree 100% I know people that act just like Maria. They do things. Normal things. Everyday things. Yet, somehow, someway, they are doing it the BEST. Better than everyone. And nobody is doing it as well as them. It’s weird to think it. It takes it to a whole other level to type it out. To allow others to read that you really thing this way. Yikes!

        Right down to decorating little cake pops. I think it is so strange to preface a simple activity with “Many moms don’t do this”.

        It has to be taxing and tiring to the people that surround her.

        One thing I must agree with her on is her FB should NOT have been shut down. That stinks.

        • Reply Kelly November 23, 2013 at 9:30 pm

          Faith- There are many people that act that way and it is very tiring to be around and must be extremely tiring for them and I feel sad for people that do have to live with so much self doubt that they have to preface everything with extreme excellence and preface anything they do so that people know how special it was. Maria was kind to reply if you see the above and clarified what she was trying to get across. As a mother myself, I am saddened how much kids miss out because mom and dads want their kids to be the best, stand out in everything, and turn everthing (even simple child fun) into a way to compete with other parents based upon their own insecurities. Pinterest is wonderful, but in the wrong hands, it can become a tool for perfection competiton and can really make kids and parents miss out on living perfectly imperfect. We just need to let our kids apply their efforts now (as Maria had said about parents writing the kids names when the kids were supposed to) or else at 10 their names will still look sloppy. Kids need to be allowed to be kids and allowed to make mistakes and ruin what is supposed to be beautiful lol!

          • Deborah Young December 8, 2013 at 1:30 am

            Facebook should just be shut down and I’m not sorry saying it. THIS is ridiculous.

  • Reply Justine November 23, 2013 at 8:58 pm

    If you do not agree with this blog than simply do not comment. I am a mother and probably considered overweight and nothing written here offended me. Why? Because I accept it as the truth.

    Maria I think you are inspirational 🙂

  • Reply Sabrina November 23, 2013 at 9:04 pm

    Hi Maria!
    I agree with what you said. It was almost as if I had written it myself. I am so sorry there is so much negativity surrounding you. But you still have so many people that support you. Keep being you <3

  • Reply Marcie Drescher November 23, 2013 at 9:11 pm

    When people listen to you from their heart, they WILL hear what you are TRYING to say. People that are mis-TAKING what you’re saying is a reflection of their ability to hear you. Maybe they have issues. Maybe they just haven’t taken the time to get to “know” you by reading other things you’ve written so they don’t have a good foundation for understanding you. They haven’t taken the time to understand your passion. They’re jumping in mid-game and basically have no idea what’s going on. A nice way of looking at things: the MORE people you encourage, motivate, and help the MORE your opposition will be. It’s kind of a good gage when you look at it that way! Be blessed!

  • Reply colleen sullivan November 23, 2013 at 9:11 pm

    I am really sorry you are banned

  • Reply Angela November 23, 2013 at 9:31 pm

    Maria, I’ve read your post over and over, and I honestly don’t see why people were so upset. I challenge Leslie to show documentation to support the statement that the population of people overweight NOT due to an unhealthy lifestyle is larger than the population of those unhealthy due to lifestyle. I have never read research to support such a claim, and have many research articles (I do have a medical background) that says overweight is due to an unhealthy lifestyle.

    What you, Maria, wrote is true. Our country IS in a health crisis, we DO spend tons of money on health care related to obesity/diabetes/cardiac disease – and our rates of these diseases is definitely not low compared internationally. It is a crime that our children are growing up with much higher rates of diseases such as diabetes, that there are teens seeking gastric bypass. No, the rates of genetic disease occurring that result in overweight due to a disease did not multiply manyfold in just a generation or two. I am aware of diseased like Prader-Willi syndrome, and that is not what the vast majority of obese teens have causing their weight problems.

    Our country is so full of overweight people that being larger is now becoming the norm, and people within a healthy BMI seem almost too thin. Yes, if someone wants to rant that lots of muscle can increase BMI, feel free. It does. Anyone with functioning vision can see the difference between a person with lots of muscle definition and one with extra fat rolls. This is common sense. I am sure that you, Maria, were not referring to people a bit heavy because of lots of muscle in their bodies.

    Maria, you are spot on. I am so tired of hearing you can be overweight and healthy. My husband for years would go to the doctor and have every number be perfect – BP, glucose, etc. except that he was significantly overweight, definitely obese. Over the years, the stress of the weight has caught up to him, and now he has diabetes, etc. Just because he tolerated the weight well when he was younger doesn’t mean that it wasn’t slowly impacting his health. I live with him, I see the multitude of problems he has now, and of course now the docs say “Oh, you need to lose weight” DUH! Of course he does. He did 20 years ago, even if the numbers were ok back then.

    • Reply Leslie November 24, 2013 at 1:20 am

      I challenge Maria to back up her claims as she’s making them. I’m not going to do her job for her. If she’s going to say they are in the minority, she needs to prove it- with real research. Your challenge is to Maria to back of what she started.

      • Reply Angela November 24, 2013 at 2:48 am

        Above I did make a post with a short description of a new study and I will post it here. I can post study after study after study stating the same thing, that overweight and poor ill are most frequently caused by poor lifestyle choices, not a genetic fluke that is targeting Americans. Now that I have posted a VERY recent study, please show me studies that say the majority of overweight does not come from lifestyle. I am truly interested to read what you have in your mind as you make that statement.

        America Lags Behind Other Nations in Health
        America’s health compares poorly with that of other developed nations, according to an annual survey conducted by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) of its 34 member nations. The U.S. life expectancy is 78.7 years, below the OECD average of 80.1 years. Twenty-five nations fare better, with Switzerland on top at 82.8 years. The United States is by far the most obese nation at 36.5 percent of the population, with some of the highest rates of infant mortality, dementia, diabetes, and death from heart disease. The United States also spends the most on total health care, compared with other nations, 17.7 percent of its GDP (almost 50 percent more than the next highest nation). The authors attribute the poor outcomes to poor lifestyle (including dietary habits), a fragmented health care system, and a high uninsured population.
        OECD (2013), Health at a Glance 2013: OECD Indicators, OECD Publishing. Accessed November 22, 2013. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/health_glance-2013-en.

        • Reply Angela November 24, 2013 at 2:51 am

          As an added point… even if we had a magic pot with unlimited funds to give platinum level health insurance to every citizen in America – the majority of the money would be spent treating problems related to the poor lifestyle choices. I still support what Maria said 100%, and so far I’m read people with hurt feelings, but I would truly LOVE to read someone post studies saying that what she said – not what people accuse her of saying or think she meant – is incorrect.

          • Leslie November 24, 2013 at 4:17 am

            Angela I think it’s awesome you looked for some research, however that is not research. It’s a study of statistics. by members of an organization, not peer review research. Peer-reviewed research is the highest credible form of research there is, it’s not posted in an organization’s survey, it’s not posted blips on a website. It’s a formulation of a hypothesis, testing of it, qualification/ quantification, populated results which is then reviewed by peers (scientists) whose aim to duplicate and test the integrity of it. You can’t prove something in science, you work to disprove it. Beyond that, what you posted doesn’t support the idea that persons who are overweight are so by majority due to an unhealthy lifestyle, but instead lists descriptively what their thoughts are on as to why people are overweight based on stats that don’t go beyond a preliminary set of data. There’s no breakdown within the subset at all, no hypothesis, just statistical conclusions, and its sites no actual scientific research. Nice try, but you’re not there yet. I’ll give you an A for the effort, but not for the logic employed.

          • Leslie November 24, 2013 at 4:30 am

            And also I’m already proven correct that what she posted is exactly what I claim it is. It’s why she was suspended on FB and the post removed. People may not like that it’s called “hate speech,” but that doesn’t change that it is. FB is very clear in their language a person cannot attack or target a group of people based on a medical condition. By her own words, she’s calling being overweight a medical condition. It’s that simple. It it walks like a duck, and talks like a duck… it’s not a horse. Do I think she had ill intentions? I haven’t seen anything that supports that. Doesn’t change it was irresponsible, and she needs to find more constructive ways of addressing herself.

          • Angela November 24, 2013 at 5:01 am

            I am very aware of what peer-reviewed research is, double-blind studies, etc. It is also true that scientists cannot split up groups of people at birth to control everything and make a pure study of exactly what influenced each person’s ending weight, without anyone knowing what was changed. This topic certainly isn’t like studying the effects of one experimental pill. So, if that is what you want me to find, then I bow to you that I won’t. That doesn’t mean that scientists haven’t used valid measures to look at what factors influence weight. Do some people have issues that make it easier for them to gain weight than others? Sure. Men vs women is an easy example. Some are issues that need medication. Some people have a very hard time losing weight. All true. So is the sad state of health in this country, which was Maria’s point.

            I would go on, but I have a ton of things I need to attend to tonight. I do appreciate your points, and have thought about them a good deal and will continue to mull over them tonight.

    • Reply Maria Kang November 24, 2013 at 3:28 pm

      Thank you. I am in total agreement, especially in your last paragraph. Just because someone can tolerate the weight now does not mean they will later – excess weight puts strain on the organs and bones.

      • Reply Leslie November 24, 2013 at 5:24 pm

        I’m completely not in disagreement about Maria’s intentions and what she wanted to convey. It’s the language. I’m hoping I will have the time next week to get into the database and I’ll pull an incredible piece of research which is tracking a randomly sampled group concerning this. I have to see what protocols are assigned to it. It’s very eye opening. Factors that correlate to being overweight go way beyond an unhealthy lifestyle and move to what’s occurring at a genetic level- with the genotype. There’s been more deeper level discussion by another research group concerning diseases of civilization as it relates to this homo sapien genotype. I was aware of (without ever having given much thought to it) a vestigial trait for the taste bud for fat. It may not be as vestigial as I (or perhaps many more) thought. It’s “deep.” I think that may be a good word to describe it.

  • Reply suzie November 23, 2013 at 9:50 pm

    Can you fight this? ? Thanks to me adopting your fitness calendar I have lost 50 pounds in about 8 months there is more hate speech in the comments directed toward you than what you have ever posted if there is something we can do like right to facebook on your behalf please let us know!

  • Reply suzie November 23, 2013 at 9:52 pm

    Thanks to adopting your Fitness calendar I have lost 50 pounds in about 8 months I have seen more hate speech directed toward you you have never posted anything that I have perceived as hate speech is there anything that we can do such as write to Facebook on your behalf?

  • Reply Courtney November 23, 2013 at 10:06 pm

    Maria, I know you are so busy right now and may not even have time to read this. And I rarely ever comment on blogs, but I felt absolutely compelled to leave you a comment to encourage you. You are an inspiration to all of us, and you have never been anything but open, honest, raw, compassionate, and tough-loving. We all know that the road to fitness is not easy, and you simply refuse to sugar coat it, and that is why we all love you. Please don’t be discouraged by the facebook incident, because we all still have your back. keep doing what you’re doing!!!

    • Reply Maria Kang November 24, 2013 at 3:34 pm

      Courtney thanks so much! I usually get to see my website comments more than emails or Facebook (well, since I can’t access Facebook right now it’s easier lol) but I want to say I appreciate you commenting as I value encouragement. I’m not made of stone and this recent backlash – ESP being blocked on a social media site – was not a good feeling. Thank you

  • Reply Deborah November 23, 2013 at 10:20 pm

    You’re awesome, Maria! You are the reason I changed my bad eating habits. My mom and dad passed away at the tender age of 61 because of health issues that could have been prevented if they made healthy food choices. I want to be around for my kids and their kids for as long as possible so I’ve changed my mentality on health by reading your posts. Educating ourselves and our children about food and exercise is key or we will fail! Thank you so much for sharing your wisdom with us and not giving up on us!!

  • Reply Kimberly November 23, 2013 at 10:35 pm

    Maria, everything you stated in that post is the truth. I am morbidly obese. I have no one to blame but myself. I eat my feelings. In the past I could lose weight. I have currently been fighting the residual effects of thyroid cancer and for the past 2 1/2 years since my thyroid was removed, I have not been able to get my levels within normal range and no matter how hard I try eating right, I cannot lose weight. THAT BEING said, my weight problem is still an issue I brought upon myself. I can’t “hate” you for speaking the truth about what is going on, wrong, with our society. Keep doing what you are doing. You can’t motivate everything with your words, but those who do find your words inspiring will thank you. Why my thyroid levels allow me to start losing weight again, I’m in the game with changing my lifestyle.

  • Reply Sheryl Arne November 23, 2013 at 10:38 pm

    I wish my daughter could also look like this. So does she! She has Hashimoto’s disease which causes her 5 hour plus a day exercising non effective! There are thousands of people who cry when they hear the criticism about being board line obese. They are their own harshest critics! Outside need not apply! You can’t be more critical or judging than they are to themselves!

  • Reply Anna November 23, 2013 at 10:54 pm

    When i saw your pics.. I WAS SOO MOTIVATED>.. I am pregnant and i thought.. man if she can do it.. So can i .. You inspired me.. Listen in life there will always be people who disagree with you.. Trust .. If it wasn’t this situation it would have been another situation. That is why you have to learn to brush your shoulders and keep it moving.. DO YOU GIRL..DO YOU GIRL
    !

  • Reply Cheryl November 23, 2013 at 11:03 pm

    Your words above are 100% accurate. Unfortunately, we have become a nation of entitled, and so there are going to be a lot of entitled people who will attack you for what you said, much like a few of the posters above. The reality is that Americans in general do not want to hold that mirror up and be honest. I am about 30-35 pounds overweight. I have a thyroid condition and I’m peri-menopausal. But that is not an excuse to not get things under control. It’s not my thyroid’s fault that I remain overweight, it’s my own.

    I have heard the line over and over again that people can be fat and healthy. I just have a really hard time believing that. Extra weight puts a strain on your bones, your muscles, and your organs, particularly your heart. The fact that you might be overweight and hike or ride a bike does not equal healthy. The same can be said for those who exercise too much, eat too little or too unbalanced, and lose too much weight. Having suffered from an eating disorder (anorexia) and living today with a seriously skewed body image, I get all of that.

    The fact of the matter is that our country has created the health crisis we are in. Chemicals in our foods, GMOs, ‘super size’ meals, and sedentary lifestyles have all contributed to where we are today. Add to that an entitled mentality, and you have people attacking you and FB blocking you. To try to attack you for posting the truth is just more denial from an entitled and narcissistic public.

  • Reply Guy B. November 23, 2013 at 11:14 pm

    Most likely you got banned because many people just reported you for abuse..All you have to do is push a that abuse/report button. I’m gonna bet that people working behind the scenes at facebook did not take the time out to read anything u wrote. Just banned you because you probably got a boat load of people pushing that abuse button.

  • Reply Frieda Gelber November 23, 2013 at 11:24 pm

    You are an inspiration! Jump over those roadblocks and hurdles! Keep on trucking! Lead by example! Don’t let anyone stop you from taking such good care of yourself and leading the world in your footsteps! I feel blessed to read about your success! Carry on! Your children are very lucky to have such a well disciplined parent on the right path! I look forward to more of your leadership and direction. Namaste.

  • Reply L November 23, 2013 at 11:29 pm

    While I have been a big fan of yours for some time, that post pissed me off. Not going to lie. I know what you were trying to say and what you meant. But as someone who has been overweight/obese my adult hood because of major depressions and eating disorders, comments like this just make it worse. They make people like me feel worthless. They make people like me, who has been working in fitness for two years and still haven’t lost all the weight, feel like utter shit. While I feel you should have the right to say what you feels on your own page, I can see where even your fans would report the post

    • Reply r November 23, 2013 at 11:57 pm

      L, Maria did not make you fell like “utter shit”. She cannot control how you feel and did not intent too. Your own personal issues and choices make you feel that way.

      • Reply Angela November 24, 2013 at 2:45 am

        I agree r, and Maria specifically is supportive of those working to better their health.

      • Reply Liane November 24, 2013 at 1:28 pm

        So, regardless of what you say to someone, it’s always his/her fault if it makes him/her feel badly??? No matter how inappropriate, cruel, shaming? You can call me a fat piece of sh*t, and if I take offense, it’s all my fault?? Um….yeah…. I should take responsibility for my feelings, perceptions, and response to what she says, but she has no responsibility for owning what she says and how it can affect people?

        And, before you say I’m another fat person who doesn’t want to hear the truth – I’m 5’2″ and 125 lbs. There are “normal” sized women out there who have opinions, too.

        • Reply Crystal November 24, 2013 at 3:41 pm

          Yes, it’s “your fault” if you take offense. Just read everything with an open mind and don’t allow it to control your emotions because in the end, your emotions are just that, in your control. If something angers you, it is because you allowed it to. The world is overwhelmed with numerous thoughts and opinions. People need to quit being so touchy! Goodness!

        • Reply r November 24, 2013 at 4:35 pm

          Did Maria ever call you “a fat piece of sh*t”? No. Why did you come up with such words for yourself? That’s the problem and it lies in you. Nothing to do with Maria.

          • Liane November 24, 2013 at 7:38 pm

            Funny how Maria doesn’t seem to take her own advice. She can say whatever she wants to people and if they’re offended, then they’re fat/;azy/can’t face reality/too sensitive/have issues. However, she is constantly whining about people “hating” on her…. If we really are not to be affected by what other people say…. If we really are to read everything with an open mind… If we really are not to let anything anyone says control our emotions… Then why does she? People can’t get offended by her, because her intentions are so pure, and everyone is just soooo sensitive, but it’s fine for her to be offended by what people say to her? Because, why? They’re wrong, and she’s right? Whatever…. None of what most people write here makes any logical sense….it’s two-faced, hypocritical, and not well thought out. Moving along now. Have fun!

        • Reply Jackie November 29, 2013 at 10:45 pm

          It’s victim blaming, bullies can’t understand feelings they don’t have, so they claim those able to have feelings and who express them should be ashamed. They’re just upset you’re not broken like they are.

  • Reply Katie November 23, 2013 at 11:31 pm

    Maria, I whole-heartedly agree with you. I don’t think it was right that Facebook banned you for speaking your mind, and you weren’t even trying to offend anyone! You were speaking blatant truth. Yes, it’s true that everyone has their own story about “why” and “how” but, like you said, the “majority” of obesity problems lie in lifestyle. I also don’t understand how anyone can say you just want to gloat and brag about yourself by trying to motivate people, or anything of the like. By saying that, right after saying you make assumptions and feel like you’re better than everyone else, they are seriously making an ass of themselves. You keep doing what you’re doing and ignore those who aim to discourage you. They can choose to ignore your aparently offensive words and move on. It’s just the internet for christ sake. What right do they have to take away positive encouragement that you may bring for others? Freedom of speech!

  • Reply Gisa November 23, 2013 at 11:48 pm

    Hi,
    I am really mad, there are so many really annoying and disgusting things posted on face book. This woman posted her believe and Facebook is taking her right of free speech away. I cannot stand by and let this happen. I do not agree with a lot tis woman said, however she has the right to her opinion and if people don’t want to listen or even look, don’t. That is what we can do. Don’t be so mean to block her, she did nothing wrong

  • Reply Angela November 23, 2013 at 11:56 pm

    Maria, I agree with and support you 100%. Some of the comments against you boggle my mind, and I want to ask if the person really read your post.

    That the majority of overweight people are not that way because of an unhealthy lifestyle – I would love to see any research to support such a thing. There are people that may have more trouble than others, but research abounds showing that unhealthy lifestyle choices are the major reason for overweight. Can someone normal weight or skinny be unfit? OF COURSE! I’ve been that person. I can also say I didn’t LOOK healthy either, nothing like some of the very fit ladies I’ve seen posting pictures.

    I could go on and on, but Maria, you have a lot of support. Overweight is simply not a healthy state for the human body, even if some people are able to tolerate it better than others. My husband has been very overweight for decades. For years and years his numbers were “Great!” but now as he gets older it is catching up with him.

  • Reply Adriana R. Mitchell November 23, 2013 at 11:58 pm

    Maria K, I would love to have your body, people are ignorant and stupid. I don’t see anything bad about your photo, you look great, and I love the message as well. There’s a lot of prejudice in America and we have to live with that. Sad, but true. Keep your head up and keep looking beautiful, fit, and sexy. Women would love to have what you have, but since they can’t, they hate.

  • Reply Andy November 24, 2013 at 12:01 am

    Excellent job of posting your beliefs. Don’t let anyone stop you from voicing your ideas. Most people don’t know how hard it is to be fit and healthy. I have been doing my best to lose weight and body fat. At 37 years, weighing 173 and 16% body fat, I have been doing all I can to get that fat % down. I eat proportional healthy food and do my best to avoid the quick, junky foods that we all know taste good. I get up at 4 in the morning and do my workout before I teach class. I promote health living to my students and try to be that example. My wife has the same beliefs and is down to her size and fat % that she was before having our daughter (her body fat is at 10%, and under 110 pounds). So keep up the good work and keep posting it where you are allowed your freedom of expression as the Constitution says.

  • Reply Lorraine November 24, 2013 at 12:27 am

    I am seriously disturbed that FB would delete that post and ban you. I hope you tweet that, I will find you on Twitter and re tweet. That makes me so mad, your post was gracious, intelligent and spot on. I am just disgusted with FB , so we can’t express a constructively criticizing opinion now? Ridiculous. I agree with everything you said. I have benefitted from a life of fitness, exercise, weight lifting and good nutrition. I, too, have seen my mother and older sister suffer needlessly from various diseases due to lack of activity and poor nutrition. Where can we complain about what FB did because they need to hear what idiots they are. Keep on doing what you are doing, you are inspiring people, don’t listen to the negative BS. I think you’re great!

  • Reply Beth November 24, 2013 at 12:39 am

    Another bad trend in this country? Acting as if someone doesn’t have the right to express an opinion on their own web page, and attacking them for having a different viewpoint. I don’t like a blog posting, I stop following it and move on with my life. Whiny crybabies need to grow up.

  • Reply AnnieS November 24, 2013 at 12:52 am

    On your facebook page, I posted a link to this blog. I wonder if that will get taken down too. (And I now see I’m not the only one to do so.) How ridiculous is it that people are getting upset that you are trying to motivate them to be healthy? It just makes me think of that phrase “The lady doth protest too much, methinks”, and I think those protesting the loudest against you probably have the most to gain (health-wise) by listening to what you are saying. Keep it up, there are those of us who are completely in agreement with you, and we aren’t all in great shape either (5’6″, 165 lbs). But we’re trying. And you motivate us to keep trying.

  • Reply Angela November 24, 2013 at 2:41 am

    Hello again Maria! Here is a just released study verifying what you said and what I wholeheartedly agreed with!
    And what is the first cause listed? Poor lifestyle! Even if someone doesn’t have insurance (not good, not starting anything about that topic) living a healthy lifestyle is all the more important, they need to take responsibility for themselves! (Before anyone wonders – I am pointing the finger at me too! I was slowly gaining weight, and between my mom’s visit and seeing how ill she is with obesity/hypertension/diabetes, etc. etc. etc. and Maria’s “What’s your excuse” in my mind… I have started to change what would have most certainly been my destiny.)

    America Lags Behind Other Nations in Health
    America’s health compares poorly with that of other developed nations, according to an annual survey conducted by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) of its 34 member nations. The U.S. life expectancy is 78.7 years, below the OECD average of 80.1 years. Twenty-five nations fare better, with Switzerland on top at 82.8 years. The United States is by far the most obese nation at 36.5 percent of the population, with some of the highest rates of infant mortality, dementia, diabetes, and death from heart disease. The United States also spends the most on total health care, compared with other nations, 17.7 percent of its GDP (almost 50 percent more than the next highest nation). The authors attribute the poor outcomes to poor lifestyle (including dietary habits), a fragmented health care system, and a high uninsured population.
    OECD (2013), Health at a Glance 2013: OECD Indicators, OECD Publishing. Accessed November 22, 2013. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/health_glance-2013-en.

    • Reply William O. B'Livion November 25, 2013 at 5:32 am

      Actually that study has it backwards.

      America leads other countries in getting fat and lazy. No, really, we do. I’ve lived on other continents, I’ve vacationed in Europe and New Zeland, and other countries aren’t healthier they’re just starting out on a lower calorie diet. Australia and England are 10-20 years behind us. Italy a bit more. NZ isn’t so bad, but in the one “city” I was in (Christchurch) the folks weren’t appreciably thinner than the Aussies in the town I lived in, or the Americans.

  • Reply Narkesha November 24, 2013 at 3:08 am

    I honestly think that you are out of place to speak on people’s weight. You’re writings .. You’re website and even you’re Facebook page is full of ego. You’re obviously a beautiful woman so I think that’s why you’ve gotten as much attention as you have . It’s people’s business what they want to eat .. How they want to live their lives. You come across as bitter … Hateful and it obviously stems from your own insecurities. You should probably quit while you’re ahead .. I can’t see you being a role model . Real role models lift people up …not bring them down.

    • Reply Aja November 24, 2013 at 6:00 am

      She isn’t bringing anyone down. We need to be more realistic about the obesity epidemic America is facing today. My mom had a sudden cardiac arrest over the summer, coded for 40 minutes, and then spent 4 weeks in the hospital, and she is obese which they are suspecting is the cause. Obesity (and even just being overweight) causes so many health issues today, and in America’s health system so many people being overweight and obese affects everyone else, too, because it makes health care costs go up because of all the excess-fat-related diseases they get. It just does not make sense to be okay with destroy one’s own life instead of turning it around. It’s not fat shaming. It’s not bringing anyone down. It’s being realistic. People are not meant to carry extra weight, which is why they get sick. We can’t keep sugar coating this. People need to realize that their health needs to be their number 1 priority and take care of themselves. Maria is just trying to help people understand this.

      Also, it’s “Your writing, your website, and even your facebook.” YOU’RE is YOU ARE. YOUR means YOUR.

    • Reply bobby November 24, 2013 at 5:39 pm

      Shes stating facte about the health issues of america. Also she is being a role model to those who actially care about their health and encouraging everyone to want to have a healthy lifestyle. You are just sweeping the health issue of obesity america has under the rug. If your mom and dad were obese you wouldnt try and encourage them to lose weight? Your comment and view is misunderstood. You are probably just a “hater”. Hope your obese because you wouldnt care to take care of your body and just make excuses to not go to the gym. Mad at other peoples success.

    • Reply Mike November 25, 2013 at 3:37 pm

      Yea it’s people’s business what they want to eat and how they want to live their lives. So if Maria want’s to promote fitness then people like you should shut the hell up and let her do that instead of crying to the PC police. We shun smoking, alcoholism, sex addiction and many other things that are harmful to ones health and society. So why can’t we shun obesity? If you believe today’s obesity is due to genes or medical issues then you’re just another retard.

  • Reply Angie November 24, 2013 at 3:16 am

    I feel as if some people are going through everything you say w a fine toothed comb… Those who want to b offended regardless will be… I am Latina & I can twist was Leslie said & think “now why would she know about that stereotype against Ricans?”… Basically look for the negative & you will find it…you brought up your slight OCD as being the reason you would not normally let your sons take over a decorating project… I also have this idea that every other mom is Susie homemaker & I just can’t get it right… Being my own worst critic may work in my favor in my children’s upbringing… I agree with a lot in your post & thanks to the closed support group I am a part of I have greatly improved my eating & exercise habits… I am overweight but in the process of getting healthier… Welcome to the limelight where everything you say will get misinterpreted & taken as a slight… You are handling it very graciously , I would have had everyone collectively kiss my posterior~

    • Reply Angela November 24, 2013 at 3:26 am

      I agree, Maria has been very gracious!

    • Reply Leslie November 24, 2013 at 3:52 am

      Gee… how would I know…. Let’s indeed ponder that. It’s not hard to figure out.

  • Reply Melissa November 24, 2013 at 3:52 am

    I agree whole-heartedly with your message. Just remember that the venom that is directed your way is largely a result of a universal fact. The truth hurts. It is much easier to hide behind a keyboard and spread hate as opposed to taking a hard look inside yourself and making a change. I applaud your courage and desire to spread this hard truth. Oh, and Facebook is overrated anyway 🙂

    • Reply Kathy November 24, 2013 at 6:10 am

      I don’t believe you should have been band from Facebook. You were not putting obese people down, but rather telling it like it is. And since the majority are over weight, they over rule and blocked you out. No one likes to hear about someone who works out and takes care of themselves. I am that kind of person like you are, watch what I eat and work out. It is definitely a mind set.

  • Reply Jennifer November 24, 2013 at 6:22 am

    Well you know what they say; If you’ve made someone mad, congratulations, that means you stood up for something you believe in! I completely agree with your postings and I thank you. I’ve been reading health and fitness blogs and magazines looking for inspiration for years now. All the drama after your “what’s your excuse” posting brought yours to my attention, and you’ve reached me. I have two little boys myself and I’ve definitely added some baby weight, but I’m working on it now and I’m feeling better about my health and habits than I ever have . Losing weight and doing better doesn’t seem like an impossiblity any more. You’re a great inspiration so again, thank you!

  • Reply Lissa November 24, 2013 at 6:48 am

    Ironically … my comment has been deleted. Or banned. Or whatever you want to call it …

  • Reply The Jimmy Z Show November 24, 2013 at 7:26 am

    I posted this rant of yours in full on my wall and asked others to do the same. We’re going to see if we get banned too.

  • Reply Emaida November 24, 2013 at 2:56 pm

    I recently left a page that was created based on yours. It was supposed to be a ‘No Excuses 2013’, but it began to turn out to be an ‘ask mommy questions about kids problems’ one. When I saw that trend, I called it out, and I was basically slammed with comments on how a ‘baby allergy’ could prevent you from reaching fitness. Yes, it didn’t make sense for a page that promoted ‘no excuses’. Haters are going to hate. All we can do is continue getting healthy and fit, take care of our own, and live life purposefully.

    I think that, by unveiling that mask that fit moms are not neglecting their children and are not in a gym 24/7, a lot of people ran out of excuses and needed to use common sense. Unfortunately we live in a world where sometimes common sense needs to only be used by us, and that is only for learning to walk on egg shells so that third persons’ feelings don’t get hurt.

    Thank you for all you do. Thanks to your husband for helping out where needed.

  • Reply Crystal November 24, 2013 at 3:19 pm

    All I can say is you are an inspiration. Your “what’s your excuse” photo offended me in no way when I first saw it gaining the negativity publicity it did. I was eight weeks postpartum after my second child and was immediately inspired. Inspired to work hard, change my routine, eating habits. It’s what I wanted for myself and I’m not afraid of hard work. Your postings are wonderful. I find relation in almost all of them. Knowing I’m not alone aids immensely. Busy from dusk til dawn! Every hour accounted for with my husband, children, workout, and soon to be school! To date, I am 12 pounds down, 15 more to go and will not compromise anything to go back to the unhappy I was before. You are an inspiration and one heck of a woman! Keep posting, keep venting!!

  • Reply Susan November 24, 2013 at 4:09 pm

    While I do not believe you should have been banned I also think we need to include the message that what we see on TV and in ads is not the norm nor is it real. This is the message young women are bombarded with each day on every corner. You are about more that what you look like and I think that has to be part of the message. I also notice this skinny is better message is targeted at women who already do not have a very high opinion of themselves but the guys cheering you on may not be quite as fit as they should be either but we do not have constant campaigns to make them slim down. I have been slim all my life not due to diet or exercise but rather genetics I wore my regular size 6 jeans (and I am 5’9) out of the hospital 2days after having my daughter who weighted 8lbs 10 oz at birth This does not make me a better person than someone who struggled to remove the weight. You speak of a health crisis but there is another one that is perpetrated on our young daughters and that is you are not good enough, pretty enough, skinny enough and so they diet, and binge and take drugs all to fit in with what society believes they need to look like, However regardless of how I personally feel about the message you endorse I do have the ability to not read it or to debate it. I have seen much worse items posted on Facebook that they leave up so I am not sure why yours was banned. I may not agree but I believe you did nothing that the advertisers on my fb banner show everyday.

  • Reply Faithful November 24, 2013 at 8:32 pm

    Maria, I applaud your efforts to promote fitness. It is a very serious issue and you are in a rare position to really make a difference. I hope you will continue to do so with more insight and effectiveness as you fine tune your quest to inform and educate. If I could offer some constructive criticism it would be this…Your “vent” on Facebook would have been broadly received, in my opinion, if you had not included the lingerie beauties. You seemed to be bothered with the title in the story, especially the word proud. It came across as if these women are not entitled to have the word proud associated with their pictures. You then followed it by saying, “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.” You do not know whether or not the women you are using as an example are practicing good nutrition and exercise. They may or may not be striving for better health, but unless you know them, you should not make the assumption that they are not. Offer them the same respect you would like to receive when putting yourself out there.
    The article written about the lingerie ladies, if I recall correctly, was not written by them. In other words it was someone else’s interpretation of their photos. As I recollect you hated when individuals made assumptions about your infamous “What’s Your Excuse?” photo. You stated that you did not intend to imply that everyone should look like you. Because of a photo, are you assuming that these women are encouraging everyone to look like them? If you are indeed implying that they are encouraging obesity because of a photo, then I would ask you to acknowledge that you are and offer them the apology they deserve. Having a double standard is hurtful.
    In the end of your article you encouraged us to “start celebrating people who are a result of hard work, dedication and discipline.” There has never been a lack of appreciation for any of these qualities in this culture. Our society certainly does not need encouraged to start doing something that is already done in great abundance. Then you release a disclaimer, stating that you are not bashing overweight people. Instead you say, “I am empowering those who are proud and healthy to come out and be the real role models in our society.” Again because you used the lingerie women as your example it leaves us to believe that these type of women are not the “real role models in our society.” Again you do not know anything about these women to know if they are or are not role models. I take issue with the idea that role models are only “real” if they exemplify what you value in a human. There are people who may feel a real role model is a person of compassion, empathy, humility, tenderness, warmth, long suffering, joyful…the list goes on, and I think you get point. I truly am not against you, just trying to give you some insight into how you are presenting yourself. The article makes great points; I just wish you had not brought the lingerie photos into the story. It was not a necessary addition.

    • Reply jini November 25, 2013 at 2:15 am

      Well-said. Your advice should be read by many people who use the Internet as a soap box, with good or bad reasons. Making assumptions about someone you don’t know, not knowing what motivates them, etc. does not help make your point of view convincing. Especially when the word “should” is used. Thanks for posting!

    • Reply Maria November 25, 2013 at 2:55 am

      Thank you for your reply Faith. The only thing that bothered me about my statement was how I could’ve better formulated the first half – which was motivated by an article I saw (which I chose not to share) stating that ‘real women’ looked like the females they displayed, which from my professional opinion, were mostly 100lbs overweight making them nearly obese. It hit a nerve in me – naturally – since I was recently criticized for my message regarding health and fitness. It troubles me that ‘body acceptance’ campaigns and ‘celebrity fitness idoltry’ is trending so strongly in our society. There are a lot of contradictions and a lot of concerns.

      I will have to disagree with you regarding your statement that “There has never been a lack of appreciation for any of these qualities (hardwork, dedication and discipline) in this culture. Our society certainly does not need encouraged to start doing something that is already done in great abundance.” Not sure if we read the same news, but yes, we are struggling as a culture – an entitlement culture – that does lack many of these qualities.

      Lastly – regarding ‘real role models’ and what I feel exemplifies “real” – certainly warmth, compassion, tenderness, etc. are all very important qualities. However, this is a FITNESS blog. Those who are great fitness role models are ones who nurture their body through exercise and good nutrition. However one’s body manifests in that process is beautiful.

      • Reply Faithful November 26, 2013 at 4:31 am

        Thank you for taking the time to discuss this with me Maria. As I read and re-read your response it occurred to me that there are many styles to delivering a message. What I shared above would be my approach. That isn’t realistic or even fair to project myself onto you. Your approach seem to be to get right in someone’s faces and ruffle some feathers to get conversations going. An in your face approach is certainly a tool you can use if you choose to. So please know I am sharing from my own perspective and if none of it resonates with you feel free to disregard my words. My whole point of commenting was to give some constructive criticism, in hopes of assisting you to influence more of the people you need to reach the most.
        I didn’t realize you were examining the culture based on the news/media. What I based my opinion on was my life experiences, the people around me, and the examples I have witnessed. I have seen firsthand the respect shown towards those who exemplify hard work, discipline, and dedication. It is still held in high regard by the people I encounter. You possess those qualities and are respected by hundreds of thousands of your followers. Isn’t this proof that an abundance of people respect these types of qualities?
        I also understand that this is a FITNESS blog, and appreciate that you re-worded “real life role models” with “fitness role models” in your response to me. That is the language I expect to see on a fitness blog. Little things with wording make all the difference to the reader. I now clearly understand what you meant. Thanks again for your response. Much success to you.

      • Reply Jackie November 29, 2013 at 10:39 pm

        No what you clearly are troubled by is the reality that you might not be admired just for having a fit body any longer. You’re threatened that people who have accomplishments outside of the gym could be your competition.

  • Reply Anthony Wylie November 24, 2013 at 8:36 pm

    Subjective, political, and whimsical in its application… Create your own website and blog with safeguards in place to catch any wood be hackers or shall I say idiots and then if and when you catch one of these idiots legally speaking brain ’em with “an invasion of privacy tort” and “a 1rst Amendment Violation Lawsuit” if you are subjected to selective, subjective, whimsical, and nonsensical application of standard that defies explanation or reason. Moreover, research other accounts that mirror yours and show that it has been implemented in such a way that it is clearly “no-policy” , but in fact enforced on a whim without standards… You look great… Nothing said or implied in the latter other than noticing the obvious and good luck with Motherhood… Whether we like it or not, most people by nature, are visual and maybe if others, would not be petty then your page would still be posted. I would be willing to bet, that there are other pages that very similar, that didn’t have the same problem or result…Regards…

  • Reply Kim Hyatt November 24, 2013 at 10:27 pm

    Lady, I think you are awesome and loved your rant. It hits so close to home for my family and my own motivations to take control of my health and weight. Now I will continue to follow your blog and take every opportunity to put my own point of view out there. Maybe I can get kicked off Facebook too.

    Just a note, the people of Fitocracy are behind you, from what I’ve read so far.

    Take care and keep on ranting!!!

  • Reply Jen November 25, 2013 at 12:42 am

    Fitocracy loves you, Maria….we have thousands of working mommas who draw inspiration from you.

    • Reply Maria Kang November 25, 2013 at 3:22 am

      That’s awesome!

      • Reply Buzz November 27, 2013 at 10:19 pm

        Ya, come take a look at fitocracy, it is a site that has tons of people becoming half tons of people 🙂

        I love the site, it keeps me motivated. I used to be BMI 43, 300+ lbs. I use fitocracy to track my exercise daily.

        Now… to the spin bike!

  • Reply htom November 25, 2013 at 1:25 am

    It’s come to the point that being banned from FaceBook is a badge of honor. I can understand why someone could consider what you said was “hate speech” — not that it was, it’s just that they have a far too sensitive butt — and the proper way to complain would be to complain, not to have your speech banned. FB will let you back, but you should have your own website for such occasions.

    • Reply Jackie November 29, 2013 at 10:37 pm

      I’m aware bullying is seen as honorable on the internet in some places, that does not mean it applies to outside the internet.

  • Reply Margaret November 25, 2013 at 1:37 am

    You have a right to express your opinion, even if some disagree with the message, it is your right to express yourself.

    Now, I might disagree with your take on these matters, and that is because I think you have not thought through some of them. Take for instance your mention of diabetes. You did not distinguish between diabetes 1, which affects most children, and diabetes 2, which is related to weight gain. On top of that you do not seem to understand that there are many reasons that people gain weight, mostly due to injury and illness. It is not easy to walk on sore feet!!

    Perhaps as you mature you might begin to understand some of the difficulties that are faced by people who are overweight or obese, especially when their efforts constantly fail.

    I do understand that you have this desire to help people become fitter, maybe it is the message and how you express yourself that is in fact the issue. You see, some people cannot do exercise at a gym. There are many reasons, such as other women looking down upon the overweight person who is trying to make an effort, right through to problems developing in the ligaments of the feet during certain types of exercise.

    There is one word that I have tried to banish from my vocabulary, and that word is pain. It is something that is very real, and it limits one’s ability to exercise like regular people. It does not help to have people pushing and pushing on the issue of losing weight when it is pain that is holidng up the effort.

    There are ways around the problem caused by pain, but the ways are extremely slow, with very little results. The fact is that movement, whether it is just the arms that are moving is enough but it is not enough to overcome obesity.

    Being tolerant towards people who are obese is in fact something that you seem to lack. You seem to not understand why it happened in the first place. Take some time and learn more about what causes the obesity in the first place, and then put your wonderful enthusiasm to work to help those who simply need some better understanding of their issues.

    • Reply Nick November 25, 2013 at 2:06 am

      I know about obesity and why it happens; I was one. It came from treating my body like a dumpster, pouring in every piece of garbage food that made me feel good and tons of it. Never forgetting to wash it down with a 2 liter bottle of soda. Are there some out there obese due to injury? Sure. The vast majority are due to what they shovel in. Check out a McD’s line during lunchtime for a quick sampling.

      • Reply Jackie November 29, 2013 at 10:30 pm

        “Everyone must be just like me with the same health and experiences! I can’t comprehend that others could be different, it’s challenging for me to understand different perspectives.”

    • Reply DocEpador November 25, 2013 at 5:44 am

      Martha, don’t use pain as another excuse. Pain does not force you to eat more than your body needs to burn.

      Let go of it – it sure isn’t going to let go of you.

      • Reply Jackie November 29, 2013 at 10:33 pm

        Typical fitspo speak. “Pain isn’t real, keep saying that as your body aches from your depriving it of what it needs. Soon you’ll be able to ignore your body’s needs completely, while lashing out at others who say it’s unhealthy like a wild animal.”

    • Reply APB November 25, 2013 at 8:04 am

      and diabetes 2, which is related to weight gain. On top of that you do not seem to understand that there are many reasons that people gain weight, mostly due to injury and illness. It is not easy to walk on sore feet!!

      Really? My dad had Type 2 diabetes when he took his life in September. He was anything but obese. Was he in pain? Certainly. During his hospital stay before he took his life, I could clearly see the lack of circulation beginning to manifest itself on his lower legs. But, he was not obese by ANY stretch of even the wildest imagination.

      Most people blame illness, like the ever so tired “thyroid issues”. Well, my mother had her thyroid zapped out with radiation about 20 years ago via misdiagnosis, to boot. She’s not obese.

      What is everyone else’s excuse?

      • Reply Jackie November 29, 2013 at 10:35 pm

        What’s your excuse for assuming your life experience applies to everyone else?

  • Reply Nick November 25, 2013 at 2:02 am

    Keep doing what you do! People don’t like your message because the way if obesity and sedentary life is the path of least resistance. I used to weigh 330lbs. Was addicted to food. With hard work and discipline (no surgeries) I dropped to 185lbs. Was it easy? No. Rewarding? Yes. There is nothing more aesthetically pleasing than a well cared for, nurtured, honed body. Not necessarily “ripped” or muscular, but cared for and respected. Keep spreading the message; for every one person that hates you for it there’s tens or hundreds who thank you for it.

    • Reply Maria November 25, 2013 at 2:38 am

      Good for you Nick. That’s awesome. YOU are an inspiration.

      • Reply Jackie November 29, 2013 at 10:28 pm

        What would be inspiring is a fit person who doesn’t feel the need to bring everyone’s attention to their accomplishments, and then follow it up with the common ignorant assumption that others can do it too.

        • Reply Buzz December 21, 2013 at 2:40 am

          Others can do it to. IT is the easiest thing on earth to describe, but it is like pushing a boulder up a mountain.

          The reason people find it hard to lose weight is because they don’t accept that it will be hard when they start, and they don’t really “want” to lose weight.

          It is healthy to tell these people it is OK not to be shamed, and that they should be against fat shaming. It is bad to tell them that everything healthy people do is implicitly shaming though.

          There are things i can do now that I could not do, no matter how hard I tried, when I was obese.

          It isn’t shaming to point them out, I am just willing to put the work in. If working out and eating healthy were easy, very few people would be obese. But it is still a choice.

  • Reply Guy November 25, 2013 at 2:36 am

    To all the fat apologists out there, you are part of the problem. The ‘illness and ‘injury’ garbage gets old. I’ve got a spinal cord injury. A full days work is hard enough for me. Even then, 6 days a week I’m in the gym 2 hours a day busting butt and fighting to stay out of the wheelchair for one more day, one more week.

    ‘Sore feet?’ ‘Bad Knees’? LOL

  • Reply Rick Caird November 25, 2013 at 2:57 am

    I had a similar problem where I replied to someone using the FB comment system on Powerline who then, I assume ti was her, had me blocked on FB. I did not insult her or use objectionable language. I just disagreed with her.

    I have found this is a tactic of the so called liberals. They basically want to shut us up. But, FB is also complicit. They tell us they have an address to email if you have been blocked unfairly, but clearly no one looks at it. FB is a scam.

  • Reply Warren Bonesteel November 25, 2013 at 3:27 am

    You must conform, comrade, or it will be difficult for you.

    I was banned from Twitter for doing something very similar: Telling the unpalatable – and historically and scientifically proven – truth. The problem is: No one wants to hear the truth. They’d rather believe a nice big whooper, when they aren’t eating one, that is.

  • Reply DocRambo November 25, 2013 at 4:33 am

    Unfortunately Facebook is run by liberals who translate Truth as “hate speech.” Everything you wrote was perfectly true and the ignorant progressives know that what you wrote could not possibly be true, or they would have to take some responsibility for their lack of fitness, obesity, and health problems. Their tolerance does not extend to people who make them “uncomfortable.”

  • Reply Jane November 25, 2013 at 10:35 am

    Maria you are such a bitch! Just because someone doesn’t subscribe to your lifestyle…..you seem to think it is just fine to bully them until they do!

    Please try making those comments…and instead of using the word overweight….use the word gay…or black…or latino…..and see how far you get.

    Sit down and shut up you have no idea what you are talking about and you are nothing more than a schoolyard bully!

    • Reply sofia November 25, 2013 at 11:03 am

      Your the fucking bitch. instead of getting jealous of Maria hit the gym and lose some weight….oh wait your lazy so you decide to hate on Maria, and inspiration to all us women who suffered obesity.

      I was 100 kg and after 3 years I’m down to 54kg and with some muscle tone aswell. I’m fitter and happy.

      Your the schoolyard bully with you political correctness bullshit. you just hate the fat that your lazy.

      As a formerly obese person, what is the deal with other women getting mad at being called out for being obese. Being fat is not unchangeable like height/race, it is something that takes hardwork for it to change. Trust me, the reward is worth it.

      • Reply Jackie November 29, 2013 at 10:21 pm

        Yet you’re the one lashing out like a threatened animal. Does being fit obsessed make people more primal?

    • Reply Mike November 25, 2013 at 3:24 pm

      Nobody cares that you or anyone else is fat. People like Maria and I are just going against the whole idea of normalizing obesity in society. There are dire consequences for this. If you want to be fat, or claim that you can’t help being fat…then fine. But don’t try to tell other people that working out and improving your physical health isn’t a big deal and anyone who tries to encourage this is a “bully.” You are pathetic.

      • Reply Tracie November 25, 2013 at 6:46 pm

        There are dire consequences from obesity, and it should not be normalized in society. However, there is a difference between being classified as overweight and being classified as obese. There are overweight people who are active and eat well. Just saying.

    • Reply Kim November 25, 2013 at 9:08 pm

      Jane, there is a big difference about being a lifestyle. You can’t change being gay, black or latino. Eating habits are a lifestyle. She is only stating the obvious. I have 10 lbs to loose, and don’t work out, so she is talking to me (I am drinking a soda right now). She is right. Normal does not mean healthy. Average is not what we should be striving for. She does not say you(the public she is speaking to) are ugly, disgusting or anything derogatory. She states being overweight is unhealthy. She is only trying to encourage people to be healthier by her choices. She does state she has some OCD tendencies, which does explain shy she can do everything. Not sure why you are so sensitive on the matter. Sounds like someone is feeling a bit guilty.

      • Reply Jackie November 29, 2013 at 10:23 pm

        Guilty about standing up for those who are prejudiced against? There’s no reason to feel guilty about that. Maria admits she’s mentally ill, and fit fanatics cheer her on as she tries to bully fat people into thinking the same mentally ill way she does.

    • Reply Rachel November 26, 2013 at 3:10 am

      Comparing overweight to being a different race/sex is dumb, you CAN’T choose to be black or gay but you can choose to be fat. You have no idea what you are talking about and I highly doubt you even read the whole article. You called Maria a bitch then you claim she’s bullying you, hypocrite. Did she hurt your fat feelings? You need to get your head out of your ass.

      • Reply Angel November 27, 2013 at 4:35 pm

        Even if you can choose to be Black or gay, why would that concern you. It doesn’t make them bad people.

        • Reply Jackie November 29, 2013 at 10:26 pm

          It concerns them because the bully believes it gives them leverage.

        • Reply Buzz December 21, 2013 at 2:35 am

          Being obese is no different than being an alcoholic or a smoker. That is a difference. It is hard to quit drinking and it is hard to quit smoking, but no one pretends it isn’t a choice, and that there should be health at every alcohol level, and health at every smoking level. Trying to argue being overweight is the same is pure fantasy. This is coming from a former obese man.

  • Reply Igniss November 25, 2013 at 10:36 am

    It is truly shameful that they banned your post/account. Unfortunately, the political correctness crusade is extremely strong not just in the USA, but around the world. Anything that is “offensive” to these people is something that needs to be blocked, no matter if it’s true or not or if it’s positive or negative.

    As someone who frequently writes about the importance of working on your looks (especially for a woman, yet another “sexist” and “offensive” truth I’m afraid), I wish you the best and hope you’ll be unblocked soon.

  • Reply bojangles November 25, 2013 at 12:01 pm

    Being obese is a choice, it’s not like height, ethnicity or eye colour. These fatties like Jane just get butthurt by the truth. This is why liberals need a beating, it’s great that you’ve kept in such great shape

    • Reply Jackie November 29, 2013 at 10:19 pm

      It’s a choice to be a bully too.

  • Reply Frustrated November 25, 2013 at 1:34 pm

    As a medical professional who has to treat obese people who waddle to our office wheezing, barely able to walk even after knee surgeries with sky-high BPs and diabetes, I say we need more voices like yours out there. Shame is a powerful motivator and we seem to have abandoned the use of it except to vilify smokers and people who wear fur.

    • Reply Laura November 25, 2013 at 11:17 pm

      And frankly those are the only groups we should be using shame on! I am ashamed to live in a culture where people like you criticize others for eating. And also as a medical PROFESSIONAL, you should be PROFESSIONAL ENOUGH NOT TO DISCUSS YOUR JOB OUT SIDE OF THE “PRIVACY” OF YOUR PLACE OF BUSINESS. You want to shame someone? Then shame yourself for being an indiscrete, hateful person.

      • Reply TJ November 27, 2013 at 1:41 am

        “I am ashamed to live in a culture where people like you criticize others for eating.”

        – Nobody criticizes others for eating. We criticize people for making the choice to eat 10,000 calories a day at McDonald’s or Dunkin Donuts. Eat in moderation and eat healthy and you won’t be obese.

        I am ashamed to live in a culture that justifies obesity and vilifies health. Bitch.

      • Reply GOING GOING gone December 1, 2013 at 10:04 pm

        I agree with you Laura …. thank you for taking care of people … I have alot of respect for people in the medical industry who have the right way of caring for others through health concerns.

        ignore the person below.

    • Reply disturbed November 26, 2013 at 2:31 am

      I see the “medical professional” had to post anonymously. Oh that’s right. You wouldn’t want us to know who you really are in case you got reported to your state medical board or the AMA. Good job medical person (I can’t use the word professional as it does not apply to you)! You go and treat patients with your lack of compassion and ethics! May your practice fold. But bless you anyway!

    • Reply Jackie November 29, 2013 at 10:16 pm

      Doctors like you should have their licenses revoked, doctors who shame fat patients drive those patients to starvation eating disorders. A doctor who believes in first do no harm, would know psychological harm is just as devastating as physical harm. A doctor who believes in first do know harm would know othering patients by using demeaning language one would expect of schoolyard bullies can drive some patients to suicide. A doctor who believes in first do no harm wouldn’t feed into a former eating disorder victim’s altered mindset, and claim that their way of thinking is healthy, unless Bulimia and Anorexia are the new states of healthfulness.

      I hope you are found out before you hurt someone, wherever you practice ought to screen against doctors who hold prejudices.

      • Reply Nicolee December 7, 2013 at 8:09 am

        I think she wanted some attention and definitely got it.. but really i see nothing wrong with what she said.. people are too sensitive these days.. if you dont like what she writes stay off her page and dont read it DUH.. Geeze not likeshe said anything awful… shes right the average person is over weight and it shouldn’t be that way…We shouldn’t promote anything encourage over weight..Being overweight is unhealthy and makes you unhappy and miserable.. and we have to deal with you when your miserable…. So get over it.. Stop being so sensitive its freedom of speech =) wait to we still have that these days??? RIDICULOUS

  • Reply Trevor November 25, 2013 at 5:11 pm

    Maria! Don’t let these fat phuckers win. You keep pushing for exercise and good nutrition. You unfortunately won’t change many of the parents. However, many of the children in this country should be inspired by a young woman who is fit and strong who preaches taking action in your life instead of making excuses. This goes beyond an obese issue. The people that got you banned on facebook just hate themselves. You’re one of the people they wish they could be, but instead of working hard to achieve their best they would rather give up and blame everyone else for their misfortune. It goes beyond obesity and I think you have spoken well about the discipline and the personal accountability it takes to be successful. Life is difficult for everyone. We all struggle to survive and then we fight to win!

    • Reply Chelsea November 25, 2013 at 11:12 pm

      The fact that you have to resort to pseudo-profanity to “express” yourself is just an indication of exactly what kind of person you are. A shame-mongering, judgmental, unhappy, outstandingly rude, ridiculous hater projecting your own dissatisfaction with your body and life onto others to make yourself feel better.

    • Reply Jackie November 29, 2013 at 10:03 pm

      Children shouldn’t find fat hating bullies inspirational.

  • Reply Tracie November 25, 2013 at 6:35 pm

    “We should celebrate any person who makes their fitness and nutrition a priority. There is no one-size-fits-all in fitness.” I agree with this statement, however, saying that women who are overweight should not be proud of their bodies accomplishes the opposite of this.

    There are many overweight people who need to change their habits (myself being one of them), but there are also overweight people who are very active and eat healthy. Habits are only a part of what determines a person’s body composition. If someone is above the recommended weight for their height, they can still be perfectly healthy if they are eating correctly and staying active. Those women have a right to be proud of their bodies as well.

    I don’t think you should have been blocked, but I do think you should consider the message you sent to healthy average sized women with that post.

    • Reply David Elmore November 25, 2013 at 8:15 pm

      It is IMPOSSIBLE to be overweight if you eat right and exercise sufficiently — no matter who you are. It is simply wrong to say differently — despite the urban legends on “natural obesity.” It is not being “nice” or “sensitive” to accept fattiness or obesity as a given in some circumstances. Lean bodies are the result of hard work and discipline. The less hard word and discipline, the more fat.

      • Reply Sascha Fink November 25, 2013 at 10:07 pm

        I am overweight. I eat right and exercise. I’m on psychiatric medications that cause serious weight gain. These same meds help me keep custody of my daughter, allowed me to graduate with a B.A. Summa Cum Laude,…oh, and to date I haven’t blown my head off like my dad did.

        • Reply Curious November 26, 2013 at 12:11 am

          “I think we should all accept how any healthy body through good nutrition and exercise manifests”

          And your point is? If you are looking after yourself – eating well, exercising regularly & keeping up with your meds then you’re a star. You are doing exactly what you should & need to be doing for yourself & for your daughter so that you not only maintain custody, but that you continue to be a fabulous mum setting a fabulous example of how to take the crap life throws at you & squash it.

          I think though you would find if you went & got your calories in versus calories used checked you are consuming more than you are burning off. Psych meds can cause weight gain, but that doesn’t mean it has to stay there.

          That said, your priority first in foremost is maintaining a healthy mind so eating well, exercising regularly & filling your life with good things are far more important than trying to jig things so that you scrape in under the ideal weight for your frame/height.

      • Reply Candi November 26, 2013 at 4:51 pm

        WRONG!!!! Take Depakote for your seizures, but it causes uncontrolled weight gain, worse in some than others. Then take Topomax with the Depakote daily for your seizures because if you don’t you will die. Then exercise MODERATELY for 10 minutes to try to offset the weight gain. I’ll wait, just to see the grand mal seizure that overtakes your body . Then when you wake up, IF you wake up, I’ll tell you you’re not disciplined enough and that you need to work harder you lazy ass. That is just one example of ONE medication, there are hundreds of others. Impossible indeed, you are an uneducated ass!

      • Reply Jackie November 29, 2013 at 10:02 pm

        Maybe if you say it loud enough., and enough times it’ll become true. Please don’t force your desperate need to delude yourself into believing anyone can be fit, because realizing it’s not reality would cause you to have a meltdown.

  • Reply Roy Adams November 25, 2013 at 8:15 pm

    That is just sickening.

    Facebook has jumped the shark. You haven’t. Keep fighting the good fight and being amazing.

    Let’s see how you and facebook look in a side by side 10 years from now.

    I’m thinking you win that one, hands down.

    Respect

  • Reply Christina November 25, 2013 at 10:30 pm

    You should be banned from facebook. There are ways to motivate people without making them feel like they aren’t beautiful. You break people down and make them feel like shit! You should be disgusted with yourself! How dare you judge others. Some people have health issues and can’t lose weight. Every persons body is different and react to things in different ways. You happen to be one of those women who bounce back to their pre-pregnancy body easily. There are alot of us out there that struggle to lose weight and to see you flaunting it for your 15 mins of fame enrages me. Look what kind of role model you are for your kids. You obviously spend more time on yourself than you do your children. Instead of worrying about facebook banning you, you should be with your children teaching them things and showing them that you are a loving caring mother. Do you constantly put your children down as well? I feel bad for your children growing up in such a messed up home. You are hated by women from all over the world. How can you sleep at night?

    • Reply Curious November 26, 2013 at 12:06 am

      Are you mental? How on earth do you reach such ludicrous assumptions based on a women saying ” think we should all accept how any healthy body through good nutrition and exercise manifests”

      Such a comment suggests you are part of the problem, not the solution.

      “You obviously spend more time on yourself than you do your children”

      Judgment can be righteous or spiteful. Maria is righteous – she is telling people to take responsibility for their own lives, choices & health, do look after the body that gave birth to your precious children. Something ANYONE can do, even if struggling with a medical condition – something you should be inclined to do more so if you do have an illness as you should be giving your body the best chance possible to cope despite it.

      So you are being cruel, spiteful & plain old ignorant. You are allowing your own issues to cloud any chance of forming rational thought.. Eating well takes less time than ordering a takeaway or heading out to a drive through. It just requires the will. And it takes no time away from your children – in fact it is a great way to involve them as they get to see how food is grown (vege gardens), how it is prepared & how it is cooked & served.

      Exercise – the same thing. It requires effort & organisation. If have a spouse who is away a lot or you are a solo parent then you just have to exercise around your kids. Jump rope for 3 minutes & do some press -ups & walking lunges. Or more if they are having a nap. Walk everywhere with your buggy. Pretend you don’t have a car. Make it something they can be involved in – those old enough to ride bikes & trikes,, take them to the park & jog while they ride beside you.

      There’s heaps of options. It just requires the will & initiative.

      • Reply Candi November 26, 2013 at 4:30 pm

        “Something anyone can do” huh? How about teenage girls and grown women with epilepsy who take medications that cause uncontrolled weight gain, or those who have grand mal seizures when they overheat, limiting their exercise and activity because they can’t control their body temperature because of the anti-seizure meds? What, pray tell, do you suggest for this these folks because, contrary to your statement, anyone CANNOT do it? I really want to know, because neurologist after neurologist can’t seem to figure out a way to prevent these life saving drugs from ruining our by causing these side effects. Based on your post, it sounds to me like you know all there is to know and have a solution for everything. Please, speak now, we millions of parents of children with Epilepsy and all adults who also suffer the same desperately need your help as you obviously have all the answers!!

        • Reply TJ November 27, 2013 at 1:34 am

          God, shut up! Seriously, we get it. You’re fat and you feel offended. Sure, 0.000001% of the population has some genetic condition or takes some medication that makes them fat. THAT DOES NOT EXCUSE 2/3 OF THE POPULATION IN THE UNITED STATES FROM BEING OBESE. OBESITY IS NOT HEALTHY. QUIT JUSTIFYING IT YOU FAT PIECE OF SHIT.

          BTW, two of my sisters have epilepsy, and neither one of them is fat. Get over yourself.

          • Candi November 28, 2013 at 5:49 am

            Shut up? Now that was brilliant, how long did it take you to come up with that? For the record, I’m not fat at all, but it makes you feel better to think I’m fat doesn’t it? So you can call me a fat piece of shit to make your ego feel better from behind your screen? You do realize that name calling signifies that you’ve reached the end of your ability to communicate intelligently right? That nobody takes you seriously when you act like a petulant child and tell others to shut up and call them names? Takes me back to third grade. Anyway…I do not disagree that this country has an obesity problem, nor that being overweight is unhealthy. What I disagree with is the malicious way Maria phrased her message, plain and simple. She asked for an excuse and I gave her one and if YOU don’t like it, well, that’s just tough shit for you isn’t it?

          • Mychele November 28, 2013 at 7:24 pm

            Where were all the fat people in the U.S. back in the 50’s and 60’s? Where are the fat people in Europe today?
            What wa/is their excuse?

      • Reply Jackie November 29, 2013 at 9:58 pm

        Maria isn’t being righteous she’s being self-righteous.

    • Reply GOING GOING gone December 1, 2013 at 10:07 pm

      Facebook and internet social media needs to go and Maria and her vain hubby need to seek a psychologist for their marriage insecurities.

  • Reply Judy November 25, 2013 at 10:48 pm

    What irks me is that you hide your prejudice under the guise “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.” RIGHT there your prejudice shows!!! You have place “overweight” and “healthy” at bipolar ends, when it is a fact that not all overweight people are unhealthy and not all appropriate weight or underweight people are healthy. If I do everything “right” then I should be thin, like you right? If I’m not thin like you then there is more that I should and could be doing. That is the message you are sending and we are SICK of it.

    I eat to live, I don’t live to eat. I don’t do processed foods, I am gluten free, grain free and limited dairy with lots of veggies and high quality natural not chemical protein. I move every day. But I also have fibromyalgia, 5 herniated discs and an endocrine system imbalance stemmed from a medication I took 25 years ago! I am limited in the movements I can do because what is good for the fibro aggravates the herniated discs and I don’t want to do more shots nor do I want surgery. So it is a careful balance I walk.

    So, YES! I am overweight and I want to feel good about who I am because I am doing my best. I won’t let you or anyone else shame me into feeling differently because what you do works for you. Being truly proud of yourself doesn’t include shaming anyone else.

    • Reply Curious November 25, 2013 at 11:57 pm

      Judy, like others you are projecting your own issues onto this & putting words in Maria’ mouth.

      Yes there are medical conditions (such as Cushing’s Disease or Wilson’s Disease which I stated earlier – no doubt your fibromyalgia, 5 herniated discs and an endocrine system imbalance is a valid medical condition too) that make people overweight, look pregnant and/or make it difficult for people to lose weight, but they are in such a minority that you cannot possible assume Maria is judging them or judging you.

      She made her stance quite clear when she said “I think we should all accept how any healthy body through good nutrition and exercise manifests”.

      So if you are doing all you can to be as healthy and as active as you can then you have nothing to be offended about.

      Like I said earlier, I find those who get offended the most by people like Maria are those who tend to make the most excuses.

      If you find people encouraging to you to take responsibility for your own life, your own choices & your own health such an issue then perhaps you should stop reading stuff online & I don’t know, go for a walk. Get that 30mins in.

      • Reply Candi November 26, 2013 at 4:08 pm

        Maria is fat shaming ALL woman based on outward appearance, her post projects that if you don’t look like her after having three children, you need an excuse. There was nothing in that post about health or nutrition or anyting, just a photo…again, OUTWARD APPEARANCE ONLY!! When the excuses she asked for come (ie: medical conditions), you immediately claim that those who have a valid reason for their appearance (as if anyone needs to explain themselves to Maria or anyone else for that matter) are such a “small minority” that they have no reason to be offended and should go for a walk? What a stellar human being you must be in your own mind!

    • Reply Buzz November 27, 2013 at 10:12 pm

      Pointing out that someone is obese, and is unhealthy, is not shaming. It is medical fact based on a preponderance of evidence.

      You don’t see 50 year old + fat acceptance bloggers who have been fat since they were in their 20’s, the reason is because they either got healthy and avoided fate, or they are so unhealthy now that being able to maintain a blog about how healthy they are creates such an incredible cognitive dissonance that they are unable to post about it.

      Someone doesn’t start as an obese 20 year old, and live a good life through their late 40’s and 50’s. They can manage their obesity into their 30’s, but after that you start having to take drugs.

      This is what Maria is against, because normalizing obesity is going to cause this to be the norm. I am against this stuff because I used to be morbidly obese, and I no longer have hypertension, chest pains, and I can walk up stairs. Its awesome to be able to walk up stairs without feeling like I am going to die, anyone who can’t is unhealthy.

      Of course, I lasted until 29 before my obesity really caught up to me, so enjoy obesity as long as it lasts, I still remember eating restaurant food for every meal, and it seems like a long lost dream to me. So there is that I guess.

      • Reply Jackie November 29, 2013 at 9:54 pm

        “It’s true so it can’t hurt” cries the bully.

        • Reply Buzz December 21, 2013 at 2:32 am

          If someone is being harmed by the truth, then they need to see a psychiatrist, instead of medicating themselves with anecdotes from the internet that tell them that being BMI 43 is healthy, and that they will live longer than someone in a normal BMI range.

  • Reply Nisha November 25, 2013 at 11:12 pm

    I’m reading the comments on this page and some of it is so scary .. There’s so much hate in so many peoples hearts reagarding this topic. Maria .. You’re a totally wrong for writing that article . More power to you for becoming healthy and overcoming your demons with eating. I get that you are in this to make money .. And that the media blew up that ” what’s your excuse” picture. But what makes you think anyone , fat or not needs to read your rants about obese women in lingere ????? Get over yourself .. You deserve to be blocked from Facebook .. And I hope they never let you on there again. Your writing is terribly offensive .. And you are embarrassing yourself . Trying way .. Way .. Way too hard honey !!

    • Reply LULZ November 26, 2013 at 1:50 am

      Hey lard ass, this woman is better than you in every way. You as a whale lover need to be removed from facebook. No one wants to see a hippo in a g string

      • Reply Jackie November 29, 2013 at 9:48 pm

        You’re just a manchild who needs to play schoolyard bully on the internet.

    • Reply Mychele November 28, 2013 at 7:20 pm

      Are you for real? I’m offended by what you write here so does that mean YOU should be banned?
      Listen to yourself.

  • Reply mk November 25, 2013 at 11:15 pm

    This is ridiculous. You have a right to say what you want. You explained yourself perfectly well. I guess Big Brother really is watching because everyone’s all for freedom of speech until it is speech that they don’t agree with.

  • Reply JoJo November 25, 2013 at 11:36 pm

    As I am looking through the comments I am seeing all this “what happen to freedom of speech” crap. People are entitled to their freedom of speech yes, however some people could make this out to be a hate crime though no threat was made. I believe your being a little to judgmental. Just because you can do it doesn’t mean everyone can. There are medical conditions that prevent people from loosing the weight even if they wanted to. Medications that cause people to gain weight when they don’t really want to. You say that one of the words you don’t use is “shame” no one should be ashamed of themselves big or small, slim or curvy we are all people and because of people like you who puts being “thin” and “fit” as the social norm teenagers/adults all over the world get eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia. People should be proud of who they are no matter what size they are and how dare you try and prove them otherwise. Words can hurt and just because you have no control of how people take your words doesn’t mean that it gives you the right to say it.

    • Reply Curious November 25, 2013 at 11:53 pm

      JoJo sorry to say, but I think you’re projecting your own issues onto this & putting words in Maria’ mouth.

      Yes there are medical conditions (for example Cushing’s Disease or Wilson’s Disease – the latter is horrific if you have the misfortune of getting it in your tweens like a friend of mine) that make people overweight, look pregnant and/or make it difficult for people to lose weight, but they are in such a minority that you cannot possible assume Maria is judging them.

      She made her stance quite clear when she said “I think we should all accept how any healthy body through good nutrition and exercise manifests”.

      So if you are doing all you can to be as healthy and as active as you can then you have nothing to be offended about.

      I find those who get offended the most by people like Maria are those who tend to make the most excuses.

      • Reply LE November 26, 2013 at 2:49 am

        I completely agree with Curious. Yes, some people do have medical conditions but surely 2/3 of Americans and all the obese kids do not have those conditions. I’ve been overweight, hated it, and finally did something about it. There a nothing beautiful about being at risk for harry disease

        • Reply reba November 26, 2013 at 3:37 am

          I agree. I’m not just overweight, I’m pretty much a fatty & I know way better – I’ve always eaten well, always done a heap of exercise, never had weight or body issues so having the desire to really change has been hard as I am kind of happy in my own skin….except that I find it more uncomfortable in the heat & I can’t run easily after our kids.

          For me the turning point was post natal depression. It meant weight started to pile on (before the meds) as sleep quality went downhill & fatigue set in – despite doing 20 hours exercise a week! Exercise became a struggle & bad habits crept in. Meds helped to sort me out then I incorporated lifestyle changes, but it has been a long hard journey – 3 years – to regain a normal outlook & the bad habits are really hard to change.

          But habits are just that so I know one step at a time, one bad habit replaced by good at a time I will get back the old me. I may not be able to getting into the kind of running I was used to, but I know I can be within the right weight range again for my frame & height, that I can live a more full & happy life which will make me a better woman, wife & mother.

      • Reply JoJo November 26, 2013 at 5:31 pm

        Sorry to say Curious, I am not putting my own issues into her mouth. You can assume that however if you please. But all I am saying is to many people say something without being opened minded about things and think about what one person can say and how it can effect them.

        I wasn’t saying she was being judgmental towards being with medical conditions that can not change this, only that she was judging people who are overweight,

        If she chooses to be a inspirational fitness instructor trying to pursue others to get motivated to loose their wright she should go about it a better way and not criticize them because of it.

  • Reply MAg November 25, 2013 at 11:53 pm

    I don’t really feel sorry for you that you’ve been banned. You make a point of creating senseless drama, under the guise of ‘concern and motivation,’ when in actuality, you are doing the exact opposite. Your words are not inspiration, they are veiled shaming, and that’s even worse in my opinion. News got quiet, you needed a new story. Well, be careful what you wish for.

    • Reply Nisha November 26, 2013 at 12:50 am

      Couldn’t have said it better ..

    • Reply Jackie November 29, 2013 at 9:45 pm

      Fit obsessed people can’t go a minute without attention, like children.

  • Reply SW November 26, 2013 at 12:43 am

    I totally agree with you! We won’t change for the better (grow) if we keep making excuses for our unhappiness and unhealthiness. We are the ones who are in charge of our destinations (even with God’s or Universe’s help). At the end, no one can live our lives and take care of our health for us. We all have something we struggle to overcome in life and it is not easy. But until we can face our weakness with acceptance and to make deliberate decisions to take responsibilities, we will bring our life challenges to grave with regret. Best wishes for all who are looking for happiness and health out there!

  • Reply nope November 26, 2013 at 1:25 am

    You may be a fitness advocate but don’t sit there and tell people they shouldn’t feel good about themselves. So what if there’s a little space for the “fat” girl to feel good. I’ve struggled with weight issues my entire life EVEN WHILE EATING HEALTHY AND EXERCISING. People like you are too goddamn quick to judge. I’ve had people shame me and even go as far as to tell me to kill myself because of my weight. So what if there’s a little space on the internet that we can interact with one another and feel good for just a little while? Why do you people have to go and bring down others? Maybe if these people weren’t shunned and put down to where they’re depressed they’d actually feel better, more motivated and lose some weight. Making someone feel like crap about it is NOT the way to help them get into a better lifestyle. We’re all very much well aware of the effects weight has on us, we don’t need YOU telling us so.

    • Reply LULZ November 26, 2013 at 1:47 am

      Kill yourself fatty

      • Reply Curious November 26, 2013 at 3:29 am

        Unacceptable comment LULZ. nope maybe getting on their high horse & barking up the wrong tree so they can continue making the same excuses & never reach their full potential, but end of the day, the onus is on them. It is their live that merely exists, not yours.

        So to take a poor me rant & respond with cruel cyber bullying is completely unacceptable. You should be ashamed. They may come across as dickheads, but they are someone’s brother, sister, daughter, son, niece, nephew or grandchild. Someone cares about them & to make light of suicide is shameful & morally repugnant.

      • Reply Jackie November 29, 2013 at 9:41 pm

        You have no heart, no soul. All you exist for is to hurt others because you are incapable of human feelings. How many more will you drive to their death with your need to feed on others to fill the void where you would be if you existed. You aren’t a person, people don’t urge others to harm themself, you’re just a black empty void, constantly taking happiness and joy from others so you can pretend by stealing others good emotions, you’ll be able to know how they feel. People like you can’t feel joy or love, all you can do is take those from others. You will be alone, as that is the fate of those who are soul stealers.

    • Reply Buzz November 27, 2013 at 10:04 pm

      You need to start eating less calories if you are actually exercising and eating healthy.

      Cut down your portion sizes, figure out what works for you.

      Here is what worked for me.
      http://themobilefieldbasehealth.blogspot.com/2013/02/how-do-i-manage-weight-loss.html

    • Reply hollywood and fame whores suck December 1, 2013 at 9:41 pm

      to the sweetheart poster (not being fake) … Nope… this should cheer yah up. It’s time for my strong fatty mcfuhkin to stand up to this beatch and her nazis. I sent a personal e-mail. No reply so far. Ha! don’t fuck with my stomach

      Hi Maria,

      I really want to understand what problems you have with overweight women? As a white woman whom is overweight I think you and your husband have some deep seeded issues to have to dictate how others live their lives. I am really torn because you need to understand why your comments are very hurtful to people with weight issues. This type of attitude continues in Our Country and when I say our Country yes lol I’m a part of it too. It also seems that you like to divide social standards on what is exceptable beauty. Ok your Asian Female married to a white man. Ok so he’s alpha …. Do you two go out and pick up vibes about oh what is she? doing with him. or why is she eating that? Life is precious and not to make fun of certain women that are labeled and picked on. Now I must admit was pretty effin pissed off at you because

      I feel you are looking for some male attention AND FEMALE attention. Your words provoke and uncaring message to overweight people. It used to be that I hung around a chick for a while who liked to demean me as a BEAUTIFUL WOMAN because eh hemm she was an ANOREXIC WHITE WOMAN AND the asian and blonde (fake at that) likes to bash Brunette women with brown eyes. It’s a form of diversity that is harbored by whom gets the brass ring.

      Your little boys are cute but however it seems you can’t stand confrontation as you delete any “negative” comments from your FACEBOOK. I CAN’T STAND FACEBOOK AND IT DESTROYS AMERICAN VALUES and also conforms to what you expect as beautiful and convince other women to go with your propaganda or bandwagon.

      Your very ignorant Maria and I hope you can explain to me why you do this to so many women whom can’t help that I am 40 lbs overweight. Also I receive medicaid and go to the psychiatrist and my FAMILY GENETICS MAKES ME BIGGER IN THE WAIST AND UP TOP. I HAVE A GROWTH HORMONE and I have compassion for others whom struggle with whatever towards emotions and food.

      by the way…. I was still treated horribly when in my early 30’s when my size zero friend and average friends liked to pick on me when I did continue to loose weight and be happy no matter WHAT I LOOK LIKE. IT’S UNFAIR AND YOU SHOULDN’T have to front for millions of people
      about beauty standards. I just want to tell you make women feel bad especially women and younger girls whom have body issues because of a harsh world.

      – Now last – if you want to stand up for society and problems in the world then maybe you should look into educating people and drugs and alcohol abuse mixed in society. And stop being so damn manipulative and mean.

      you can contact me and ok with any of your friends wanting bitch attack me because I do my life alone and happy. And love my fat stomach and big growth boobs because you will no longer have an effect on me or my beauty throughout the day. And yes I’ve been told I’m beautiful by white (attractive) guys just like you.

      I will show this to my psychiatrist and see if I was in the right vs. wrong…. in how YOU AND YOUR SNARKY FRIENDS , AND CATTY HUBBY SEE THE WORLD.

  • Reply Perry November 26, 2013 at 1:56 am

    I think you should be applauded for promoting good health practices. I feel sorry for those who don’t practice good health practices and cost all of us because of it. If someone doesn’t take care of their health and is obese or has any other self invocted health related condition that leads to poor health, they should feel bad and get some help or make changes to their lifestyle themselves. Taking care of one’s health should be priority one, otherwise you are doing a disservice to yourself and have nothing to give to those you love.
    Thank you

  • Reply William Carpenter November 26, 2013 at 1:58 am

    I can’t help but LMAO at all the cry babies on here! What a bunch of pussies America is raising! You cry about everything, “I’m fat so I need a disability card! I’m fat so I can’t stand long enough to feed myself so that’s why I go through the drive through! I’m fat because my daddy didn’t love me enough! I’m fat… Dear god… Stfu already and either do something about your fat, nasty, I definitely don’t like looking at you ass, ass, and GET OFF YOUR ASS! DUMBASS!

    Yours truly,

    A Fat Guy

    • Reply Smkd November 26, 2013 at 12:07 pm

      ahahhahahahahahahahah! Amen, brotha! Preach!

    • Reply Vicki November 26, 2013 at 1:24 pm

      I have never understood the word “pussy” being used as an insult to describe someone as weak. Especially by men!! It shows a true lack of intelligence. The “pussy” is a strong, powerful, giver and receiver of pleasure, life receiving, passage way to this world, with the ability to make men think of her almost constantly. How about a little reverence you ASS! Perhaps dick would be a better word to describe weakness? It can’t do half of what a pussy does! What a bunch of dicks America is raising! Yes, that sounds more fitting!

      • Reply Jim November 26, 2013 at 3:47 pm

        Betty White: “Why do people say ‘grow some balls’? Balls are weak and sensitive. If you wanna be tough, grow a vagina. Those things can take a pounding.”

    • Reply Jackie November 29, 2013 at 9:30 pm

      Sounds like you have a problem with internalized fat hatred.

  • Reply William Carpenter November 26, 2013 at 2:09 am

    Btw Maria, keep up the good work. Rub it in there faces… And don’t stop with the women! There are plenty of fat arrogant pricks like me out there that could benefit from your taunting. The truth… It’s time it came out. And not mixed in a large bowl of pudding to make it easier to swallow. Exactly how you are putting it out there.

  • Reply April November 26, 2013 at 3:13 am

    100% behind you. It’s so much easier to complain about/blame someone else than to get off our asses and change what we don’t like about ourselves.

  • Reply Joanne Lee JS TheOnlineRooster November 26, 2013 at 7:07 am

    OMG, I can’t believe they reported you. You’re awesome. What’s your facebook page? I wanna Like you.

    If they find the “what’s your excuse” picture offensive, then why didnt they report Nick Vujicic? Why didnt they report images of homeless children in africa who struggle to make a living?

    I like your image, and it’s obvious where you’re coming from… You’re proving that a busy live is no excuse to ignore fitness. If you cant take care of your well being first, how can you care for the well being of others?

  • Reply Arena November 26, 2013 at 7:29 am

    Look, I don’t want to be killed by you and your fangirls, but seriously? How can you possibly be so stupid? It’s fine to love fitness and excercise – just don’t bash up other people because they don’t. There are numerous cultural, financial, socialogical and genetic reasons as to why a particular person is overweight and/or doesn’t enjoy fitness, but posting such a hateful (yes it was hateful) comment on a social media site for all to is just wrong. Unless you have considered every possibility as to why someone is overweight (and have thought of a way for them to overcome it), I really don’t think you have the right to criticise them. Another detail of your post that bothered me was your use of the diagnoses “OCD”. I understand that you’re, to put it bluntly, a fitness nut, and probably do not have much knowledge in the field of psychiatry (or any field, judging from your attitude), but it is actually extremely offensive to say that “you have OCD”. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is a very serious (sometimes disabling) mental illness that affects people’s lives in a negative way. Some psychiatrists even consider OCD a personality disorder. Saying that you have OCD because you like things to be neat, or don’t like getting dirty is like saying that you’re Asian because you enjoy chinese food. It’s extremely offensive, and you sound incredibly stupid to educated people (whom you might not be around very often). Please, think before you post your stupidity.

    • Reply Paleomum November 26, 2013 at 8:46 am

      Sorry, Arena, but how do YOU know she hasn’t got a diagnosis for OCD? How do YOU know her medical tendencies? Are you suggesting you’re a medical professional because you have a medical condition?

      • Reply Candi November 26, 2013 at 3:57 pm

        You’d like Arena to back off because she doesn’t know her “medical tendencies”? Now that is just RICH!!! This woman had no problem fat shaming ALL women BASED ON OUTWARD APPEARANCE with zero regard to THEIR medical tendencies and then couldn’t leave well enough alone and slammed plus sized models. You don’t need a medical degree to see what is happening here…a woman who is so vain as to think all women should be just like her decided to go public with that thought and then doubled down on it by slamming plus sized lingerie models. Maybe next time she’ll think before she speaks…at least we can only hope so.

      • Reply Arena November 28, 2013 at 9:09 am

        Because I have OCD. You can’t just be “slightly” OCD. It is a life ruining mental disorder. And this woman clearly does not. If I am wrong, if she DOES have this terrible illness, then I am truly sorry. But reading her posts, and just by looking at her general attitude, I am relatively sure I am not mistaken in thinking that she is ignorantly misusing a serious medical term

    • Reply Buzz November 27, 2013 at 10:01 pm

      Having articles showing unhealthy and obese women, and then asking us to celebrate it, is asking for voices to come out and scream from the rooftops to be afraid, be very afraid.

      These woman will soon get to a point where only the magic of modern medicine is keeping them healthy, they will have difficulty holding jobs because they will be out of work on sick days, their breathing issues will catch up to them etc…

      Her post, her response, was for a public forum, no different than the one you are doing now. You are being hypocritical to give your opinion, yet argue that she had no right for hers. Hers was not a hate post, without voices such as Maria, we may actually normalize on obesity. This is horrific, as it means shortened lives, mothers who won’t get to see their grand children, who will die in their 60’s (barring modern medicine getting better). Higher health care costs burdening the average tax payer, because they won’t be working anymore.

      I have rarely felt the outrage I have in reading some of the responses on this forum, it is like an entire group of people decided night was day, and that the laws of thermodynamics don’t exist, and no one is responsible for their own lives.

      I suppose it comes down to be having been morbidly obese once myself, and knowing how false and horrible the obese community activism is, and how much healthier I am today. I would want everyone to feel the benefits of health as I have, watching obese people state it isn’t their fault makes me physically sad, watching them try to argue that it is healthy and that everyone must accept that despite the preponderance of evidence makes me angry at the harm they are doing.

      • Reply Jackie November 29, 2013 at 9:29 pm

        This is what you fit addicts do, spend your time making fantasies about what might happen to fat people? Do you know what’s horrifying, that you’re so mentally messed up you need to self soothe by creating fantasies about how fat people will suffer. That is not normal, it’s what pathologically obsessed people do. Rocking in the corner whispering, “Fat people will die. Fat people will die.” over and over, playing supahewo pwetending you’re going save fat people from themselves. It’s quite childish don’t you think? I heard that people who act out their feelings through their bodies are behaving as children who have yet to learn language.

        False and horrible are the characteristics of fat hating bullies in the fit community. Acting as if people are only worthwhile if they have the right body is horrible. Pretending that people with good self esteem need to constantly seek attention for how their bodies look think falsely. Fat people not hating themselves thin might make you want to scream like a frightened little girl, but people truly secure in themselves aren’t threatened by other people being able to do what they can’t love themselves unconditionally. Perhaps if you spent more time accepting yourself, and less time rocking in the corner like a frightened child fearful that others don’t need to torture their bodies to feel love, you could get past your disturbed behavior. You may want to seek psychological help, trying to control other people because their lifestyle causes you to rage and lash out in anger that they are stronger than you, is a sign of mental illness.

        • Reply Buzz December 21, 2013 at 2:29 am

          This is hilarious. You took a response I did in respect to how fat acceptance movements are trying to normalize a disease that kills people every day, far more than anorexia, and said as if I have some kind of problem.

          When we deal with Anorexia, we don’t ask the anorexic to accept their body and see it as healthy, and that their disease is OK and that they should keep doing it.

          I also specifically address the fat acceptance communities need to argue that being fat is healthy. That is what I think is horrible. Being accepting of being fat is OK. Many alcoholics and smokers live very happy lives accepting who they are. I don’t believe in shaming alchoholics or smokers either. I certainly never felt shame as a fat man, I loved the reasons I ate. I enjoyed eating very much, the only reason I changed was economic and health reasons. When I found out how much money I was going to be losing to treat my health problems, I knew I had to change. But what do I no longer get to do? I don’t eat 6000 calories a day, I don’t eat buffet 4 times a week, I don’t eat at restaurants for every meal anymore.

          The benefits of losing weight though have made me want to try to educate people to understand how obesity is bad for them, especially if they are desperate and sad enough to have to go on the internet to try to find solace in others. Instead, let them find a positive message that tells them the benefits of healthy eating, and healthy exercise.

          I had benefits when I was fat, I had one of the best fat lives you could ever had. Computer programmer, professional gamer, lots of friends, a good social life. I am one of the few people in life, even when I was 310 lbs, had achieved everything he had set out to do in life, and I was happy. I lived my dreams, and I still do, I just adjusted them and this life is pretty damned good.

          My advice isn’t for people who were like me when I was fat, when I was fat my life was pretty awesome, my advice is for the people who are hurting because they are fat, and want something else, and I don’t want them to live a life where they quit on what they wanted in life because they found someone who told them that their lives were good. If they have to come on the internet looking for friends to tell them they are good, that their obesity is good, and that they won’t harm themselves, that is horrible.

  • Reply Troy November 26, 2013 at 12:12 pm

    I’ve been calling this the “wussification of America for years. We don’t want anyone to “hurt our feelings”. Nothing in your post was hate. The only hate here is those who hate how they look and live so much yet cannot focus that hate on their lifestyle. Instead, they crawl in their fridge and suck on a donut and cry foul. You didn’t say anything that their doctors haven’t said to some of them as well. I crawled out of depression (diagnosed), quit drinking, smoking, eating crap, started exercising and don’t need bp nor cholesterol medication. Whats your excuse, weight-challenged? Shame on Facebook.

    • Reply serious cellulite November 26, 2013 at 4:47 pm

      Troy….how do you know that fat people are fat because they “suck on donuts”? Stop being stereotypical.

      • Reply TJ November 27, 2013 at 1:23 am

        Well they aren’t fat because they eat healthy and exercise.

        • Reply Tyler November 27, 2013 at 3:28 am

          I know it may come as a surprise to you, TJ, but there are in fact fat people who eat well and exercise and are in good health. You don’t know the story behind every fat person’s life! And it’s ignorant to assume that you do.

          • Dan traynor November 27, 2013 at 3:06 pm

            No there aren’t, don’t lie. If you eat right and exercise, you won’t be fat. If you pretend you do, and make excuses and lie to yourself, you will be fat. That’s it.

  • Reply Candi November 26, 2013 at 3:11 pm

    1 in 50 children in the US has epilepsy treated with medication, one of them being a drug called Depakote. One of the many side effects of Depakote is uncontrolled weight gain. That’s in addition to severe hair loss, lethargy and cognitive slowing. ONE IN FIFTY kids, a large percentage of whom take this drug to save their lives. Adults with Epilepsy also take this drug. Next time you see an overweight child or adult, maybe, just maybe, you could ask WHY instead of judging as if you’re some sort of fitness god lording over we lowly subjects? Imagine how one of those young girls feels when you ask what their excuse is. THAT is why it was offensive, the negative feedback you’re getting and the drama associated is all you. My child no longer takes a drug that fully controls her seizures because of these side effects and their detriment to her self esteem caused by vain women like you who cluelessly run their mouths with no basis in reality. Sad really, that she would rather deal with occasional breakthrough seizures rather than deal with ignorant people like you. There us just ONE excuse, I hope it is acceptable to Her Highness.

    • Reply meisha November 26, 2013 at 3:55 pm

      I don’t think she was asking young girls or children whats their excuse for being over weight I think she was asking mothers and other busy woman whats their excuse for not taking care of their body to see their children grow old and get married if u read more about her you would see her mother didn’t make her wedding day bc of health issues and I must I can relate bc my father didn’t make mine for the same reason and im over weight at the moment and reading her blog and seeing the encouragement makes me wanna think it over. IM NOT ATTCACKING YOU I JUST SEE IF DIFFERENT AND I PRAY TO MY LORD GOD THAT HE HEALS YOUR DAUGHTER OF ANY DISORDER SHE MAY HAVE.

      • Reply Candi November 26, 2013 at 4:37 pm

        Adult woman (millions of them) take this medication as well, not just young girls. The source of my ire just happens to be my daughter who would be crushed to see a photo with such a derogatory question, as would any woman who is overweight due to no fault of their own. I question why Maria feels that she is in a position to judge the outward appearance of other women. These woman take more care of their bodies than most, they have to due to their illness, yet regardless of their effort, their appearance does not change. I understand you’re not attacking me, I just felt the need to stand up for these women who, really REALLY shoudn’t be fat shamed or made to feel inferior because they don’t look like Maria. Her photo post said nothing about health, nutrition or the like, it simply asked for an excuse. I provided one for millions of Americans who have this disease and wish she would think before she opens her mouth. I’d say I care about as much about her family history of illness as she did about the millions of women’s illnesses who had to look at her photo and felt ashamed. It should also be noted that SHAME was her intent!

    • Reply Matty P November 27, 2013 at 6:06 am

      1 in 50 is not 2/3.

      • Reply Candi November 28, 2013 at 5:24 am

        I am talking about just ONE segment of the population who has an excuse. Isn’t that what Maria asked, what’s your excuse? This is ONE excuse that applies to MILLIONS of women in America. Maria asked a malicious question meant to shame others and I gave her a relevant answer. Glad you’ve got the math skills (even though they don’t apply here), maybe you could tackle comprehension and overall context next?

  • Reply serious cellulite November 26, 2013 at 4:44 pm

    I am grateful they make plus sized lingerie! I am overweight, but not because I stuff my face at every buffet I see……not because the only exercise I choose to participate in involves unplugging the motorized wheelchair from the charger at walmart. I am overweight because I was thrown into menopause at the age of 24. I am overweight because I have a messed up heart……..I am overweight because my thyroid isn’t working like it should. So before you decide to speak for every fat person out there…..EDUCATE YOURSELF on other possible reasons and show some respect.

    • Reply Rifleman11B November 26, 2013 at 8:47 pm

      Oh woe is me, everyone look at me I’m a victim! Fuck your bullshit excuses. Fuck your Menopause, fuck your messed up heart, and fuck your thyroid. I’ll bet dollars to doughnuts not even half of what you said is true. People like you are the reason this country is spiraling out of control and we have retards shooting up malls and schools.

      • Reply Julie B. November 26, 2013 at 9:00 pm

        Fuck you back, Rifleman. Guess you need a gun to compensate for other things lacking, huh?

      • Reply Julie B. November 26, 2013 at 9:04 pm

        You fucking waste of human garbage.

        • Reply Julie B. November 26, 2013 at 10:01 pm

          Maria, the above comment was not directed at you, but at nutcase Rifleman who thinks obese people go and shoot up shopping malls or something. He obviously has the day off from ranting gibberish in front of the neighborhood Starbucks.

    • Reply Matty P November 27, 2013 at 6:05 am

      Thats not true, I bet I could hook you up to a metabolism measuring machine and your metabolism would only be 100-200 calories a day less than we would otherwise calculate for your weight, height and gender. And even if you can make the case that you have a slow metabolism, the answer is clear – eat less.
      There is no reason for anyone to believe your energy requirements are so special snowflake unique that you have to eat so much and get fat, whereas a person who does not have functioning legs can avoid obesity living in a wheelchair.

      • Reply Buzz November 27, 2013 at 9:54 pm

        You are correct. No one is magic. If people had the metabolism issues they claim in fat acceptance, the fat acceptance community could operate a perpetual motion machine.

  • Reply ben November 26, 2013 at 5:03 pm

    If you (the generic you) find Maria’s writing so offensive, how about just not reading it? Is someone holding a gun to your head forcing you to read her Facebook page? If so, blink twice and we’ll send help. If not, STFU about how she’s oppressing you (cue Life of Brian clip in head).

    And unsourced statistics about random disease X causing you and everyone else in America to be fat (except, apparently, Maria) don’t do anything except make everyone else think you are just making shit up to feel better about your pathetic life.

    • Reply Virus with shoes November 26, 2013 at 9:47 pm

      You know she isn’t going to fuck you just for defending her, right?

      • Reply Julie B. November 26, 2013 at 9:57 pm

        Virus, you win the Internet today.

      • Reply TJ November 27, 2013 at 1:21 am

        You know hating her won’t make you skinny, right?

        • Reply Virus with shoes December 2, 2013 at 1:21 am

          Who says I want to be skinny? I’d rather be morbidly obese and be a nice person than being a soulless wench like Maria Kang

  • Reply Anne November 26, 2013 at 6:04 pm

    The “obesity epidemic” in the United States is a health scare that is earning the medical and diet industry millions of dollars each year. Statistics on weight loss surgery, dieting and exercise are exaggerated, and it statistics on body love, healthy eating and exercise DESPITE size (even if designated “obese”!) are far more accurate. Please do more research before allowing the hype of the diet and fitness industry to dictate how you speak to those who are standing up against an industry and a culture that shames them and asks them to become “less” to be acceptable. https://www.sizediversityandhealth.org/content.asp?id=34

    • Reply Matty P November 27, 2013 at 5:56 am

      Thats not true, consult the WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION.

      If you’re claiming bias in the WHO, you’re in the company of anti-vaccination people, homeopaths and faith healers.

  • Reply Elizabeth November 26, 2013 at 7:09 pm

    This is getting annoying. Let’s just support one another, encourage each other, and be excited about a healthy life. I gained 60lbs from being on steroid medications for 6 months. It rocked my world because I went from being very athletic to being weak and “fat”. Now the weight is slowly coming off, but I get those “ew” looks at the gym and clothing stores from “fit” people. It DOES NOT motivate me. Encouragement goes much further.

  • Reply Elizabeth November 26, 2013 at 7:19 pm

    this proves that Facebook is dumb..

  • Reply Julie B. November 26, 2013 at 7:41 pm

    Do you really understand why you upset people? It’s not because of your dedication to fitness– it was because you intruded UNINVITED into a shopkeeper’s mission statement and literally threw your weight around. That was absolutely NONE of your business, and you insulted thousands of people. You have your audience, Maria, stick to them. And frankly, you are selling a pipe-dream; Ninety percent of Americans will NEVER achieve your fitness ideal, no matter how hard they work. We don’t all live in California, where you can just up and go do whatever you want (trust me, I KNOW people from Cali– they don’t get that the rest of us in the US can’t just leave our job for the day to go workout). Also, isn’t fitness your CAREER??? You are PAID to drive your body into the ground. These women are not– they work full time jobs and then come home to take care of their families. Honestly, this says more about YOUR insecurities than ours. Mind your own business.

    • Reply Matty P November 27, 2013 at 5:54 am

      People in america live in states where they cant just NOT guzzle cupcakes?

    • Reply Buzz November 27, 2013 at 9:52 pm

      If someone is forcing you to eat at a calorie surplus, then you need to call the police as that is NOT OK.

      IF ANYONE is force feeding you, and causing you to be obese, you DO NOT have to stand up for it, you can go to the police at any time and they will help you.

      If you are saying that no one is force feeding you, but you are unable to control your calories? I mean, did you know that boxes of food generally are required by law to state the serving size and calorie amounts, and that you can buy a scale (mine was from target for 20 bucks) and then use the scale to measure out the grams/oz that are in the labeling, you can also use measuring cups as well.

      Unless you are, in fact, being force fed, then I suggest the police.

      If you are eating because of depression, and the inability control yourself, you could probably seek counseling.

      But, if losing weight is not important, then I hope you don’t begin suggesting that being obese is healthy. The woman that posted the original article was giving her opinion, that was just as valid as all the “you go girl” posts, and the article itself was out there for criticism, she has just as much right to comment on it as you do to her post, which is a nice bit of hypocrisy by the way.

    • Reply Mychele November 28, 2013 at 7:11 pm

      What the heck does California have to do with it? Do you live in Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan, or what?
      That is the stupidest excuse I’ve ever heard, even here.
      There is NO EXCUSE to not be able to exercise in ANY state of this great union!! NO EXCUSE!
      There is sunshine in every state, and warmth, even Alaska.
      There is rain in every state ,even California!
      You can spend 10-15 min in the morning and in the evening doing something, indoors or outdoors, and doing something is better than doing nothing at all. California does not have a patent on self-control and motivation. You don’t need to be in fitness as a career to be fit just as you don’t have to be dirty all the time if you’re in garbage collection, and you don’t escape getting sick even if you’re a doctor.
      This blowback that Maria has to face is totally ridiculous.

  • Reply Sandra November 26, 2013 at 7:59 pm

    Hi, I’m Sandy and im a big girl. I am big due to eating disorder and I used to hate myself. And I think I know why you got so many people angry.

    First a little backstory

    I hated myself. Period. Seing woman like you, celebs and other “concerned” only made me feel worse.

    Every singe time someone commented on my weight (“you gained some huh”/”Maybe you should skip dessert”/”fat bitch”) I went home, and I opened my fridge, and I emptied it out. Everything went. From milk, to carrots, candy – anything. I ate till I almost puked. Then I ate some more. With tears in my eyes, trying desperately to fill that emptiness inside me with food.
    Then I plain stopped eating much and as any health professional can tell you that makes the body cling to the calories. It didnt matter that my daily intake was within the recommended KJ because it was eaten in one setting.

    Sure I wished I could be skinny but when you spend so much energy hating yourself and feeling ugly the motivation is non existent. I tried and failed like sooo many others.

    My turning point was an old picture where I disgustingly remembered seing it before, but I didnt see the same image! The first time I saw a fat girl with troll hair, pignose, horseteeth and small pig eyes. Not this time, no I saw a beautifull slender young woman with wawy hair and a big celeb smile. WHY was it different now??

    Because the mirror lies. Because every flaw we see in ourself is a lot smaller than what other people see.

    Im still big. I threw out my bathroom scale and decided my WEIGHT was just a number. I embraced my curves, my size. Spend money on wellmade clothes that flattered my body. I started eating better because, hey health is not a bad thing. I didnt do it to loose weight. I did it to be more healthy. I lost weight – I know I do because I had to change my wardrobe twice now because it got too big.

    And this brings me to the conclusion: When you shame that campaign, youre shaming every single woman who stepped out of her comfortzone in an effort to stop the hate. You say if we make plus size ok, then were blacklisting healthy lifestyle. Thats not true. You would know if you spend some time around us, the women with the fat you hate. Thats how you come off- as a hater. All we want is to be allowed to exist. Before, after, during a lifestyle change. You basicly tell us that we arent allowed to be proud of our bodies if we arent a size 2. You sweep the widest broom you have and declare every single plus size woman unhealthy.

    Im sure you dont mean it that way, and if you do its only because you dont understand the mental dynamic at work here, its not easy to understand if you havent lived the life as the fatty.

    Youre a mother; How do you make your kids perform their very best? By telling them they suck? No I didnt think so

    if you want to change the tides on the obese epedemic Vote for a socialist politician and fight poverty. The research is clear, the low class citizens weigh the most. The lower the income, the lower the education and the higher the weight. Because thats what they can afford: Crap food filled with salt, fat and sugar making them addicted to it. Especially sugar is an addiction because it gives an endorfin high. That food they give their kids who then wont like REAL food because they are used to crap processed shit

    • Reply Matty P November 27, 2013 at 5:53 am

      How about people treat their weight rationally, like they do the number of dollars in the bank account?
      Getting too fat should be the same as not having any savings. – You just dont spend your money, or you work harder and earn more.
      People like Maria are not to blame for your weakness, only you are.

      • Reply Sandra November 27, 2013 at 6:52 pm

        I dont blame her. I know my strengths and I know my weaknesses. I know who I am, I know why im fat and I also know I deserve respect as a human being. I am not less because my size is 20 and not 2. I am not pointing fingers but explaining how the way she conveys her attitude is recieved by those who struggle, and really just want to be accepted. Before, during, after eventual weightloss.

        You used the bank account example, so ill follow in that. Some people have no savings. Not because they spend it on 30 inch tv´s or hummer cars but because they use every cent to survive. For many people, especially the lower class, working harder isn’t an option. Some already work more jobs or maybe they got sick and is fighting their health incurance company to get it covered (“your parents are smokers and you got cancer? Sorry bud thats a preexisting condition”).
        Some people cant just spend less; Kids need food, medicine, clothes, school supplies, birthday gifts, christmas gifts, a roof over their head.

        Its the same with overweight; Some dont have the options for “savings” right now. Some never will for medical reasons.

        Does that mean its ok to tell us we suck? That we should hide away in shame and hate out self because we are ugly fat repulsivee loosers?

        • Reply Buzz November 27, 2013 at 9:47 pm

          Does someone force feed you? I always found that interesting. When I was morbidly obese, I don’t remember anyone actually forcing me to eat.

          When I lost weight, it was because I just chose to eat less, move more, which is what I found after I decided to ignore diets and figure out what made my body so heavy. Sure enough, all the studies say it is simple calories in calories out. So I looked up how many calories were in a lb of fat, and being a college educated individual, simply decided to invent my own weight loss program based on 1lb of fat = 3500 calories, exercise = X calories etc… by doing it with simple math, and a spreadsheet, I lost 130 lbs.

          It was amazing to find out that my body was based on the laws of thermodynamics.

          Here is how I did it, no Jenny Craig, no slim for life, no diet based on south beach, no internet help at all, just simple math.

          http://themobilefieldbasehealth.blogspot.com/2013/02/how-do-i-manage-weight-loss.html

          You can do it too. I have helped 2 mothers lose weight, just by going to their desks every day and getting them to go on walks with me, and encouraging them to count calories. So I know you can do it to if you want to.

          Maybe you don’t want to, and that is OK. Just don’t delude yourself that it is healthy, and try to convince others as well. That is all.

          • Sandra November 28, 2013 at 7:59 pm

            As I wrote I had an eating disorder. It was force as much as an alcoholic is forced to drink or the anorexic throws up or the smoker taking a cigarette. I needed proffessional help.

            I dont know where in my post you read something that made you think I needed any advice as to weightloss as it is clearly stated that I am living healthier and my size have gotten down.

  • Reply Masci November 26, 2013 at 9:27 pm

    Maria,

    As an officer, I am extremely fit workout everyday.. probably harder than you dream of. I totally believe in health and fitness and live and study it furiously, but I do not agree with your rant. I think your vanity supersedes you. Some people maybe aren’t given “genetics” like you, nor should they be spotlighted for it. You have no place to determine if someone who is heavier than you is in better shape than you or not, and IT IS NOT a relevant factor. Sorry not really your place to say, I say save that for the doctors. I think you should continue to focus on your own self so God-forbid you ever be “slightly” obese you don’t burn a bridge you may one day be crossing. You never know what things could befall you, and your body may not always be as capable or as flattering as you think it is now.

    • Reply TJ November 27, 2013 at 12:37 am

      Which part(s) of her rant do you disagree with?

      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:

      – Do you disagree with any of the following statistics??

      “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.”

      – I’m sure any one of those can be easily verified on the CDC.

      “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.”

      – Do you disagree that our society praises celebrities with fit and healthy bodies? If you do, I highly encourage you to read any tabloid or magazine. Or do you disagree that women in this society (yourself included) are scorning Maria (a “real every day mom”) for her successes? If you do, read several of the comments on this article…reread your own comment.

      “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.”

      – Do you disagree that parents need to play one of the largest roles in helping their children establish healthy habits? If so, then whose responsibility is it?

      “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 ass 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.”

      – Do you disagree that Maria works really hard to maintain her current fitness and health? Do you disagree that her mother was unhealthy? Do you disagree that she once struggled to overcome an eating disorder?

      “I know it’s hard. I know it’s not easy to break habits and build new ones. I know your environment challenges you and I know making your health a priority amongst the many priorities to stay afloat in today’s world is difficult. But I will tell you this: IT IS WORTH IT.”

      – As a self proclaimed “believer” in health and fitness, do you disagree that being healthy is worth it? Do you disagree that it is difficult to be healthy?

      “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.”

      – Do you disagree that we should celebrate people that DO work hard?

      *******

      Based on your post, I’m assuming you aren’t actually as fit as you claim to be. I’m assuming you aren’t as health conscious as you claim to be. I’m also assuming that you don’t /really/ believe in health and fitness to the magnitude you claim to. If you did, Maria’s venting would NOT offend you, and you would realize straight up that she is NOT bashing ANY overweight individual.

    • Reply Matty P November 27, 2013 at 5:45 am

      But it is relevant. obesity is an independant risk factor for disease.
      You can judge, because the people who complain about genetics are full of lies and rationalisations.
      Your genetics can never exempt you from the laws of thermodynamics, and in all the years of clinical metabolism measurement, there has never been a person whose metabolism did not realistically reflect their size, gender and activity level.

  • Reply FluffyChef November 26, 2013 at 10:10 pm

    I really hope you realize this is shaming just in a backhanded way. I am obese, always have been. A major factor is that at a very young age, a very stupid doctor put me on a drug called Lithium to control my supposed ADHD. This was in the early 90’s. I was 7 and developed congestive heart failure, seizures, and gained 150 pounds. To add to the troubles, when I finally start losing weight I got pinned between 2 vehicles in a parking lot. Now I am an Executive Chef and can count out the calories of any meal in my head. I eat healthy, cook healthy, and live as healthy as possible. My children are opposites. My daughter is slightly overweight and my son underweight. Genetics may have a lot to do with that since my kids haven’t “sucked on a doughnut” in about 6 months, since Easter when I made home baked ones.

    I just want to know how you handle ti when your children want something you deem so bad? Do you portion control them to death or just say no? Portion control is a must in my home, so we have mini candies of everything. I still have seizures controlled by yet another medication that can cause weight gain (Depakote) and am on pain control medications, but I do my best to do the exercise I can. I don’t drop 20 pounds a month, but I lose at a steady pace and have plateaus where I just maintain my weight. Since the age of 15 I have lost 346 pounds. This appears not to matter to you because I am still fat. Instead of making myself feel proud I have lost enough to feel comfortable in this plus-size lingerie, you shame me. Nice job Ms. Kang, very nice.

    I have my husband and children to encourage me so that I can ignore people like you.

    • Reply Angelica November 28, 2013 at 5:26 pm

      I love Marias post! I don’t agree with followers name dropping in order to defend her. I believe that only makes the problem worse. I say let her stand out for who she is; not for who others aren’t. Focusing on her rather than others:) Staying positive!

  • Reply Christina November 26, 2013 at 10:55 pm

    If one is truly trying to be healthy, and deep in their heart knows they are doing all they can to be healthy, this “rant” should not bother you. Sometimes the truth hurts.

    • Reply anonymous November 29, 2013 at 9:07 pm

      Since you seem to love the truth so much, here’s some truth for you. Maria Kang is only an inspiration to other fit fat people hating bullies. She hates her own mother for being fat, why are you all worshipping a narcissist who’s incapable of loving her own mother. Who needed to vomit to feel, because like most narcissists they lack empathy. Want some more truth? What if she drives her children to Anorexia with her pathological hatred of fat people. People say not shaming and humiliating fat children by their parents is child abuse. Child abuse is being so far from humanity that you’d bully your own children into vomiting to be thin.

      The truth hurts doesn’t it? That fit obsessed parents are more of a risk to harming their children than fat parents do by loving their children regardless of their body size. There’s something else you fit people can get all paranoid about. Since the obesity hysteria started, 10 year old children have developed starvation eating disorders. How many more children must lose their childhood from having parents who call them fat shaming slurs. How do we know Maria wouldn’t hate her children into thinness, like she thinks she can hate fat people thin.

      This isn’t meant as a threat, it is out of genuine concern. Why is there more uproar over fat parents loving their children, and less concern over fit obsessed parents hating their fat children? Do you all want to live in a society where emotionally abusing children into eating disorders is okay?

  • Reply Scythian Arrows November 26, 2013 at 11:07 pm

    The iron rules of the “fat acceptance” movement:

    UGLINESS IS BEAUTY
    WEAKNESS IS STRENGTH
    DEATH THREATS ARE RATIONAL DISCOURSE
    MY FEELINGS TRUMP YOUR FREEDOM

    Cry more, you lousy fatsos. You’re fat because you sit around, fill your guts with grains, and think 30 minutes a day on the elliptical is a workout. Choo choo! All aboard the excuse caboose!

    • Reply LEMON November 27, 2013 at 3:38 am

      Hey everybody look at this! A sentient piece of garbage! Truly a miracle of nature.

    • Reply Angel November 27, 2013 at 4:21 pm

      I lost 30 pounds by eating grains

    • Reply Jackie November 29, 2013 at 8:49 pm

      You’re a bully and a monster, your kind needs to pick on those ostracized to feel strong. Speaking of excuses, what’s your excuse for being a monster?

  • Reply bill November 26, 2013 at 11:51 pm

    Ms. Kang-

    Keep focused and forget about the idiots that own and run Facebook. It too will go the way of myspace and other social media as they overreach to control free speech. Your message is more important than the venue. And sadly those you were trying to motivate and encourage will miss out on considering you message. Their loss…….

  • Reply LEMON November 27, 2013 at 3:36 am

    A person’s worth as a human should not be judged on their weight OR their health. (which are not necessarily correlated!!) That’s just vain and awful. Judging people’s worth by superficial traits they may or may not have control over is messed up, full stop.

    • Reply Matty P November 27, 2013 at 5:38 am

      Actually, weight and health ARE correlated. Exactly.
      If you’re in the overweight category, you can expect an early death, REGARDLESS of other factors like what you’re eating and your exercise level.
      While its true that there are some people who may have most of the habits of most other ‘healthy’ people and remain obese, they will not enjoy the same positive outcomes. They will die early because obesity and belly fat are independant contributors to disease.
      Combine that with the fact that most obese people actually underreport calorie intake by as much as 40%, and you’ll probably find most people who are ‘fat and healthy’ actually are not.
      You can be obese while eating plenty of fruit and vegetables, and you can be obese while having good cholesterol levels and not smoking. But it will still kill you.

      • Reply Lee November 27, 2013 at 4:49 pm

        The data does not support your claim that weight & health are exactly correlated. And, the point that one’s inherent worth & dignity is not based upon one’s weight, body morphology, or “health” is exactly on.

        Health cannot be assessed by how someone’s body looks. The only one who has the right to make judgements about one’s health is the one who resides is the body. This moralizing of bodies being “healthy” as equivalent to good is destructive and misguided.

        • Reply Buzz November 27, 2013 at 9:38 pm

          You are incorrect. The women being mentioned here are very obese. Only the magic of modern medicine is going to carry them through into their 50’s and beyond, unless they have some truly spectacular genetics.

          We cannot pretend that just because of modern medicine that someone is healthy. I have asthma, I do not pretend that I would be alive if I did not have albuterol inhalers available. I used to be obese as well, and those who are in their 20’s and sometimes even into their mid 30’s can be obese metabolically, but then it comes crashing down horribly and very fast.

          These woman are unhealthy, and they are going to live short lives because of it. They don’t have to be shamed for their short lives though, I do agree with that. But we should not be required to be happy for them or hold them as role models either.

          • Julia November 28, 2013 at 7:47 am

            You’re a medical doctor with knowledge of the “very obese women” being mentioned here? Or you’re making claims based upon what data, exactly? Perhaps it’s your own biases and prejudices which are the basis for your assumptions. And what does “But we should not be required to be happy for them or hold them as role models either.” even mean? Do you hear the contempt in your words? It’s very sad.

          • Buzz November 28, 2013 at 1:26 pm

            Julia,

            I know you mean well. It is truly sad that you are feeling this way. If you cannot look at these women and realize that they are either currently unhealthy, or about to move into that state, then you are deluding yourself. I don’t think it is intentional.

            I used to be incredibly obese, and though I am a man, my body type and build were similar to these women at various stages. These women, even if they are not unhealthy now, will certainly be unhealthy and live (on average) shorter lives.

            It is no different than smoking or alcohol addiction. Sure, you can do really well for a long time, but averages are you are going to start going downhill at some point. Modern medicine can give you a happier life for longer, but an extra 10 years,when you could have had an extra 20 or 30 really sucks to think about.

            I know you seem to have some kind of “CANTJUDGEEVER” feels in your heart on this, but as a former morbidly obese person, I feel it should be a mission to inform people of the damage they do to their bodies, and try to get them help and try to make sure others DON’T see it as normal.

            This is as important as Mothers Against Drunk Driving, and anti-smoking campaigns.

      • Reply Olivia November 27, 2013 at 9:03 pm

        You can also be very thin and have diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure. Yes obesity can trigger this but constant unhealthy living is the problem. This woman’s experience was what she saw not what she actually experienced….I think she is just butt hurt about momma and taking outher aggression with a thin body and pretty smile and nice words.

      • Reply Jackie November 29, 2013 at 8:45 pm

        Correlation does not equal causation.

  • Reply Matty P November 27, 2013 at 5:48 am

    Pointing out that people should stop eating themselves into an early grave is not fat-shaming.
    Holding people to an arbitrary beauty standard could be called fat-shaming I guess…. Did Maria do that?
    No.
    Would you also welcome the mainstream media celebrating alcoholics or meth-heads?

  • Reply Matty P November 27, 2013 at 5:51 am

    In what way is she ignorant? what can she be ignorant of? Your feelings? fuck that.

    • Reply Nicole December 11, 2013 at 1:02 am

      Hey Maria,

      What you have said and done had inspired me…. which is the whole reason you do this I’m sure. I have posted what you said on your page. Hopefully they will ban me too :-).

      Work hard, play hard,
      Nicole

    • Reply Jeff January 27, 2014 at 6:07 am

      Matty? Is this David Shade’s “Matty P in Finland”? Is that you?

  • Reply kodnejm November 27, 2013 at 9:30 am

    You are banned for saying something that could be an inspiration to a normal person, and they say you can’t offend sick people. They maybe didn’t realize but they just offended ’em too. 🙂

    • Reply Jackie November 29, 2013 at 8:44 pm

      I guess Maria’s history with having an eating disorder, and continuing to push her eating disorder mentality on others isn’t the behavior of a sick person to you.

  • Reply fat November 27, 2013 at 9:35 am

    come one, everybody that agrees with this hidious, awful, shamefull bitch should go to a hospital to check their brain out. not everybody chooses to be fat, sometimes it just happens (medication etc) but hey, atleast we have a mom of three that is more interessted in bashing on fat people and making sure she looks great that she doesnt even takes care of her kids.

    Maria, you need to be hospitalilzed for your horrible behaviour. You were fat at one point, i bet you got hurt too. Stop bashing on people, make them feel disgusting, while truely you are disgusting.

  • Reply Tomas November 27, 2013 at 2:55 pm

    Who cares. It’s Facebook. That place is full of status-quo/sheep. This is why I preferred Myspace. Facebook is full of emotions and feelings. If anything, we all now know who Maria is. PLUS, she’s now known as the “hot” Facebook mom. She wins.

  • Reply Kristen November 27, 2013 at 4:55 pm

    I thought your “venting” was completely truthful! Our society today has dubbed obesity as the new normal. Everyone thinks obese is a bad word or it means 500 lbs when in reality obesity “means having too much body fat. It is not the same as being overweight, which means weighing too much.” I am constantly scrutinized for being slim from my healthy eating choices and weekly gym visits. When did being healthy, picking the apple over the snickers, and working hard for a strong and lean body become the taboo?

    • Reply FluffyChef November 27, 2013 at 5:10 pm

      It becomes taboo when you clump every person together. I hit the gym, eat healthy, and have stopped taking medication that encourages weight gain, but alas I am not slim. So you judge a slightly obese person automatically thinking they must stuff their face with snickers bars? When did THAT become the norm? Just because some do it don’t mean all do. That is what is offensive.

      • Reply Buzz November 27, 2013 at 9:34 pm

        If you are going to the gym, and are still overweight (by body fat %) then you need to start eating less and getting a better diet, unless you are trying to bulk up for a competition.

        If you are interested in how to lean yourself down, or look better and fit into smaller clothing, join fitocracy.com, and read the articles on how manage weight. It is made by people whose only goal is helping others meet their goals, whether that is bulking, endurance, or overall fitness, or just trying to get activity in.

    • Reply August November 27, 2013 at 5:58 pm

      I didn’t take any offense by what she wrote. What she wrote is true. Too many people refuse to see the truth in it. I didn’t take any of what she said so personally. I am guilty of not getting back down to my best weight post-baby even. If Maria saw me on the street, I don’t think she would make that kind of judgment, though. If we are confident in ourselves and what we are doing, then we wouldn’t be taking offense. I know I should exercise more, but I haven’t fit it into my schedule yet. I will someday when I’m ready. Right now I’m hanging onto 15-20 pounds from my sixth baby, who is now 8 months old. But I’m not going around complaining about it and how hard it is to lose, mostly because I haven’t really bothered actually doing anything to lose it. I think that what she is getting at are (1) those people who complain loudly about how they look but don’t do much about it and (2) this new cultural notion that it’s okay to celebrate obesity because everyone comes in different shapes and sizes. Sure, everyone comes in different shapes and sizes, but being unhealthy because of your size and weight is not something to be celebrated. Because we now celebrate it, it has become perfectly acceptable to live an unhealthy lifestyle and those people who don’t live an unhealthy lifestyle are accused of being obsessed with fitness or blessed with good genes or just lucky when most of it comes down to personal choice.

    • Reply Olivia November 27, 2013 at 8:56 pm

      Maybe you are constantly criticized because people don’t like you. I am an overweight woman. When the younger thinner women talk of their gym experience I am proud of them. I am also a gym rat but not with the muscular results. I don’t really what six pack abs. If I could lose 40 lbs I would be happy. But age and heart disease keep me from strenuous workout and fad dieting. I am truly happy to be alive!

  • Reply Alexis November 27, 2013 at 5:15 pm

    Just in case you missed this brilliant article on Jezebel about you Maria, here you go:
    http://jezebel.com/fit-mom-banned-from-facebook-for-fat-shaming-is-sorry-1472563091?utm_campaign=socialflow_jezebel_facebook&utm_source=jezebel_facebook&utm_medium=socialflow

    Quote from the article:
    ” It’s obvious that weight, food and body image are emotional, complicated topics for her and she is still working through a lot of issues, and one could even wonder if her disordered eating turned into an ostensibly “healthy” fitness fixation. But here’s the problem: Her issues are her own. She has no business talking shit about women who are overweight and feel pride. When she asked, “what’s your excuse?” or told critics “it’s all in your head” she was making it about other people and not herself. There’s nothing wrong with her being proud of her dedication to exercise and flat abs. There is something wrong with responding to average size women wearing lingerie with a rant about the “healthcare crisis.” A person, regardless of outward appearance or size, has a right to pose in underwear and feel good, proud and deserving of respect, and if it offends your eyeballs and sends you into a tizzy, dredging up feelings about your sick mother, the problem is not with the chubby lady in lace. It’s with you. ”

    –Fat-shame away all you want, continue to make yourself a spectacle, it’s only going to continue to show others how truly weak, vain and empty you are on the inside Maria ( and and all the other ‘shamers’ on this site)

    • Reply Mychele November 28, 2013 at 7:00 pm

      And meanwhile, our nation’s military, police, firefighters, and little leagues are noticing a drastic decrease in the fitness of recruits, our healthcare system, already in crisis is seeing an increasing number of lifestyle diseases, even in kids, we have to have double-wide wheelchairs, some of us are wedged in between hefty people in seats we pay an increasing amount for for a hellish hours long ride . . . but oh no, you can’t say anything. Vain, weak and empty people don’t care about the future of their society or nation. We’re not going to be able to battle disasters or terrorists with an army of chubby ladies acceptingly decked out in lace.

  • Reply Jezebel November 27, 2013 at 5:27 pm

    A person, regardless of outward appearance or size, has a right to pose in underwear and feel good, proud and deserving of respect, and if it offends your eyeballs and sends you into a tizzy, dredging up feelings about your sick mother, the problem is not with the chubby lady in lace. It’s with you.

    • Reply nikki December 3, 2013 at 2:37 am

      AMEN, Jezebel!

  • Reply Dorien November 27, 2013 at 5:29 pm

    Maybe your mom ate herself into diabetes to try to die and get away from you, you narcissistic shrew

    • Reply Michelle November 27, 2013 at 5:44 pm

      I don’t know why I am surprised by this, you would think nothing on the interwebs would surprise me any more. That is an absolutely hate-filled response to someone who is point out the truth–that being over weight is unhealthy and our celebrating it as “normal” is contributing to the ongoing obesity problem we have in the country. If you don’t like what she has to say, go sit on your couch and eat some more Cheetos. For the rest of us that get up and exercise ever day despite our busy schedules and how much we hate it, she is inspiring.

  • Reply Quelyn November 27, 2013 at 5:33 pm

    Maria,

    I will protect your right to state your opinion, even if I disagree with it. Being reported / banned from Facebook is a ridiculous form of censorship, and it’s silly. HOWEVER… You do know that you can be positive and a good role model without bringing other people down, right? If you were posting a picture of you and three kids saying “Look what I have accomplished” then people would be like “HELL YEAH! GO YOU!” But instead, you choose to highlight what you deem to be failures in order to make your success seem more impressive. It’s a dirty way to play.

    An article telling people to be proud of who they are is not talking about people who might be killing themselves to just ignore health risks. It’s talking about people who will NEVER have your body shape because they are just not built that way. Being healthy and being skinny are not mutually exclusive.

    I’m sure you’ve been getting plenty of negativity thrown your way, and it’s not fun is it? Just consider other people’s feelings. If you truly want to inspire people then concentrate and embrace positivity! It goes such a longer way.

    – Q

  • Reply Charity November 27, 2013 at 5:34 pm

    I think it’s ridiculous that you were blocked form facebook. I disagree with a lot of HOW you present your message (it is possible to inspire without tearing others down), but everyone should be free to voice their opinion. What you don’t seem to understand is that not everyone is at a place where they are ready to dedicate their life to fitness. It’s a full-time job. I did it for a couple of years, and I did lose weight, and I did get fit – but I neglected a lot of other important things in my life. I am a poor, divorced mom of three kids, who struggles with mental illness and has a special needs child. Those are not EXCUSES, they are facts.

    Can I dedicate all my time to my fitness? Yes. I did it for two years. I decided that I needed to focus on other things. I put weight back on. I am ok with that choice. Life is all about choices. I am not your mother. I do not have diabetes. In fact, all of my health indicators (other than weight) are normal to excellent. I am not a burden on the health care system. I do try to eat healthy and walk every day, but without obsessive attention to my diet and fitness regime, I will not lose much weight.

    So, why is it a threat to you that I don’t hate my body? Why is it a threat to you that I love myself and how I look? I think I am sexy. I am allowed to. It shouldn’t threaten you or your fitness-obsessed followers. The fact that it does says more about you than it does about me or anyone who looks like me.

  • Reply Emily November 27, 2013 at 5:48 pm

    I couldn’t agree with you more, Maria.

    And you look great, by the way.

  • Reply EmJay November 27, 2013 at 5:51 pm

    Thanks for posting this, Maria. You just wrote what all of us are thinking, but are too scared to admit out loud. Although I do think everyone has the”right” to be proud of his or her body, people need to start making the right choices when it comes to food and exercise if they want to see a change. And, yes, all it takes is a little self-discipline. I have seen many people take the initiative and change their lives for the better, so I know it CAN be done.
    Stop hating on fit people – if you want a change, then DO IT!

  • Reply Brea November 27, 2013 at 6:08 pm

    So, tell me more about your fat mom

  • Reply B.L. November 27, 2013 at 6:39 pm

    Ignorance is bliss. FYI. Diabetes is not an adult disease. If you want to be credible, I would suggest doing some research on Diabetes. There are two types. Type 1, is Juvenile Diabetes. It is an inherited genetic disease that children are born with and can manifest at any time between birth and 18 years of age. It has nothing to do with lifestyle. Type 2 is Adult On Set Diabetes, which also has predetermined genetic markers which can be triggered and manifested by things like stess, poor nutrition, lack of excercise, other health issues. These are well known facts and what I don’t like about what you post is that you mislead people in making blanket statements like the one you made regarding this disease.

    • Reply Ashlee November 28, 2013 at 9:02 am

      Actually, there are more than two types of diabetes. And type onediabetes is technically not “inherited”. Neither are any types of diabetes actually. I’ve done plenty of research on all types of diabetes for school. Just for your information before you try to get someone else to “do their research”.

      • Reply Amber November 29, 2013 at 12:50 am

        You want to get technical about diabetes? Then get technical with this. There are actually 3 yes 3 different types of diabetes. Juvenile or Type 1 Diabetes which in fact are inherited by genetics. There there is Type 2 Diabetes which is caused by poor nutrition. Then there is Diabetes Insipidus where this part of this disease is stemmed in the brain and pituatary gland. All types of diabetes can be inherited. I have Juvenile Diabetes and it’s not because I am fat or ate to much sugar. It is because my dad’s side of the family has a history of Juvenile Diabetes. Insulin is MY life support, it is the one thing I can not go without. Even if I do not eat my blood sugar still rises. I also have Diabetes Insipidus because when I was diagnosed at the age of 19 but have had this disease since 12 and was not diagnosed with it but had the symptoms. I had a very hard time controlling my blood sugar and the high sugars created Diabetes Inspidus where my brain told my pituatary gland to flush all the nutrients out of my body and caused me to go into a coma. Anyone can have diabetes, whether you are skinny or fat. Or older or younger. Diabetes can strike at anytime. But just because you think you are right when you stated your comment and told the other person they weren’t is quite rude. I am just informing you of what Diabetes really is.

  • Reply Terra November 27, 2013 at 6:42 pm

    I love how a comment that says “That b*tch cheated on him. She deserved to get her head cut off.” Or any number of other racist, hate speech comments won’t be deleted when reported , but you’re blocked for “fat-shaming”?! Seriously the dumbest thing I have ever worried. And this is precisely why not we have to watch everything we say and walk on eggshells to as to not offend the overly-sensitive pansies of the world. If you felt shame in anything Maria wrote then obviously the problem is with you. Get over it.

  • Reply Ron November 27, 2013 at 7:19 pm

    That was a great read. Now I’m off to curvage.org to fap to pictures of chubby women.

  • Reply Rachel @ Betty LIVIN November 27, 2013 at 8:21 pm

    I agree with you 100%!! I saw the article with the “curvy” women posing in lingerie and I thought it was so sad that our society has become so inactive that we “celebrate” obesity. I LOVED your “what’s your excuse” photo because motherhood is the number one excuse I hear from women about why they are overweight. My favourite is a woman I know who had two children very prematurely (4 & 5 months) and here it is SEVEN years later and she blames her extra weight on having children. No one should be taunted or shamed for being obese but they shouldn’t think that it’s okay either. Thank you for staying strong!

  • Reply James Lindly November 27, 2013 at 8:23 pm

    Welcome to the NEW America where you CAN’T speak your opinion any more. Shame on FB and the News, speaking of which, they will be the NEXT to be silenced by political correctness. We should ALL post her article on FB and other sites just to prove we can say what we want to, even if others don’t agree. And by the way, I AM FAT and was NOT offended by what she had to say. I need to lose weight and thank GOD someone out there had the compassion to tell me and others like me that we need to lose weight!

  • Reply Hannah November 27, 2013 at 8:27 pm

    I used to be obese I am now slimmer, happy and working. I woke up one day and decide I could “love my body” all I wanted but it won’t magically make me healthier. I was exhausted, cranky and generally just felt sick all the time. I would use the line “I love my body, I don’t have to be a rail thin girl, I’m a real women” to justify just sitting on the couch, eating, doing little no exercise. I was told that I was beautiful just the way I was, which is great, but I didn’t feel that love coming from ANYONE but close friends. One day, I woke up and said I don’t have to starve myself to do this, I just have to get healthy. So I started running, and I’ve lost 55lbs and i’m still going, i have no “dream” weight or goal, I am just running because I am so freaking happy now. I have amazing energy, I love life, I am no longer sick all the time and I really do love my body, because it is HEALTHY. I LOVE LOVE LOVE your blog post, you reached in my head and pulled out every thought I had. People get really mad at me when I tell them how I feel, they say how could I be so judgmental when I was so fat, how could I be so mean, I am what’s wrong with the world and females alike. That hurts, and is foolish. The truth is we can “love” a healthy body way more than one that doesn’t get off the computer chair all day. We can LOVE the body that is healthy, but a VAST majority of us, and I say us because I was once very obese, we use the “love your body” as a crutch and a curtain to hide behind, to be lazy, to eat more and to not be healthy. I love your post, keep it up. You inspire me to keep running and keep pushing to stay happy and healthy.

  • Reply Noneya November 27, 2013 at 8:32 pm

    You are a douche and can kiss my double wide ass.

    FAT AND PROUD!!!!

    • Reply shane November 27, 2013 at 9:16 pm

      you just don’t want to accept that you can make a change but are deciding not to. An unhealthy lifestyle leads to a shorter life and although that is unfortunate, taking care of our bodies is the only way to truly love ourselves and live a healthy life. She is right and she provides evidence with her opinion. Don’t be ignorant and take the time to really listen to what she has to say.

    • Reply Mychele November 28, 2013 at 6:51 pm

      You’re ridiculous and your double-wide ass better pay for half of my airline seat next time I’m forced to be parked next to you.

    • Reply John King November 29, 2013 at 7:10 pm

      Noneya, here’s an idea. Instead of trying to get men to like fat women, how about you fat women EXERCISE and LOSE SOME WEIGHT???

      Men do not like fat women. No amount of whining on your part is going to change that FACT.

      You are just jealous of Maria because she’s a hot Asian woman and you know that you will never look as good as her. ANd instead of trying to work to improve yourself, you just use the excuse “oh, it’s my genetics”. No, how about you stop stuffing your fat ugly face full of McDonalds and pizza and start EXERCISING?

      You fat women disgust me. You should all be exterminated, because you are a parasite on society, now that we have a welfare state, EVERYONE has to pay taxes to support you fat parasites and your unhealthy lifestyle.

      • Reply Jackie November 29, 2013 at 8:33 pm

        John, why are you so frightened of fat women loving themselves, and being loved by others that you needed to spam your post several times? How does fat women respecting themselves personally affect you? I think you need to work with a psychologist to find the root of your fear of fat women.

  • Reply Brittany November 27, 2013 at 9:03 pm

    Sure your message was condescending. Sure the average mother can’t relate to you very well. None of that really matters though. Health is health! You are absolutely right about entitlement and normalizing poor health. People have forgotten that you have to WORK to reach goals! Stop whining about how you got to this place and just fix it. Comparing your situation to others will do absolutely nothing. Take charge of your life. No one can do it but you. Changing your eating habits is hard. Working out is hard. Lots of things in life are hard. But here’s the good thing: THERE’S NOTHING TO IT BUT TO DO IT. I am still overweight, but I lost 30 pounds and kept it off by changing my eating habits and getting off my butt a few times a week. All I did was…..DID THE DARN THING. Keep on keeping on Maria Kang. I want to be a hot mom just like you!

  • Reply Disco Harvey November 27, 2013 at 9:04 pm

    At first I couldn’t decide which is worse: a fitness fanatic who puts down those who aren’t as fanatical as he/she is, or a religious zealot who puts down those who may not worship or (even worse!) worship the “wrong” God. I’m leaning towards the religious zealot, but it was close… At least you have something you work for, something that you literally and figuratively break a sweat over.

    But boasting, gloating, practicing unbridled narcissism, and putting others down is no way to make friends or influence their behavior. Some might even say you’re just another attention whore, putting your children in the spotlight and mentally masturbating about your successes.

    Lay off of people. Yes, we live in a country where obesity is a problem. But apparently we haven’t learned much about modesty either.

    • Reply todd November 30, 2013 at 12:48 pm

      You’re the narcissist, I think.

  • Reply Michaela November 27, 2013 at 9:13 pm

    Great blog. I am 100% on your side. Coming up 10 years ago I lost close to 100 pounds and I have kept most of it off. Its an everyday struggle and you really have to force yourself some days. I am a single mom of 2 boys 15 & 4. We ALL eat healthy. Between my gym and their activities we are busy but always have time for healthy meals together and fun activities were we can indulge and laugh. Dont listen to that hate… one day these “fat and proud” people will understand your message when their doctor tells them they have to get on the diet train before they can qualify for heart surgery from their years of abusing their bodies.

  • Reply Raj November 27, 2013 at 9:15 pm

    Fat people are unhealthy. It’s true. This ‘fat acceptance’ is nonsensical anti-scientific drivel. Notice how the fatties are still chiming in? Let them, hopefully they’ll burn a bunch of calories every time they have a heart attack reaching over to hit the ‘return’ key.

    Nothing but support for you from the fat-ass midwest where the blobs walk around daily feeling depressed, never having heard of the spoiled, privileged class of whales that spit their food out in anger when they see someone who bore children, didn’t get as fat as them, and then got even fitter afterward. Kudos to you! And kudos for your kind feelings towards the tubbos, because that leaves the hating for me.

    STOP EATING SUGAR, YOU GIGANTIC BEASTS! WALK AROUND INSTEAD OF RIDING A DEVICE MADE FOR ACTUALLY HANDICAPPED PEOPLE! Get ahold of yourselves, read a nutrition textbook, and go live your lives!

    • Reply Julia November 28, 2013 at 7:37 am

      Love your kind, respectful words. Name calling and derogation are such great ways to make others live just the way you want them to!

  • Reply Kate November 27, 2013 at 9:18 pm

    I love you!! So true, in with healthy— out with obesity!

  • Reply Lori November 27, 2013 at 9:35 pm

    I must say. I am glad you were banned. Why? Because I wouldn’t have found you otherwise. I am overweight. I have been for years. In March of this year, I began my journey to a healthier me. I lost 30 pounds and fell off the wagon when I had several family crisis issues in a row and gained back 6. I am struggling to get back on the wagon. It’s like you said. You know its hard. I appreciate your acknowledgment of that.

    As someone who it more then 30-40 pounds overweight, I see nothing wrong with anything that you wrote. It’s all true!

    You didn’t say that being healthy is easy. You acknowledge that it is hard and that it is a journey. I appreciate that. I have been exercising 5-6 days a week for months now. I have tried different eating habits. My challenge has been those around me who are not supportive and encourage me to eat unhealthy things. Sadly, during recent stress (which has been going on for almost two months now) I have had many people bring unhealthy foods to my home as a way to comfort my family. I’ve asked it to stop, but it has not.

    I am hoping that by reading your blog, I will again find the strength that I had lost. Thank you for being a resource.

  • Reply Jay S November 27, 2013 at 9:40 pm

    Throwing some support your way — I don’t care about your fat crusade or even about the feelings of the random people you’ve somehow stepped on; the fact that facebook bowed to the pressure of these people is ridiculous. You didn’t set out to hate monger, you weren’t inciting a riot, and you didn’t do anything even close to warrant being banned.

    Let this be a lesson to everyone. Fat people will throw their weight around on facebook.

  • Reply Brittany November 27, 2013 at 9:45 pm

    To everyone talking about medications, I am currently on corticosteroids which is notorious for weight gain. Yes, it is also an EXCUSE! Yes I feel hungrier, yes I’m a little bit pudgier but some of these horror stories I hear of gaining 50+ pounds is pure lack of self-control! No matter how hungry that medication makes you feel, you have to eat to gain the weight. I say grit your teeth and deal with the hunger if you don’t want to gain that much weight. From HSS.edu

    6. Weight gain
    Steroids affect your metabolism and how your body deposits fat. This can increase your appetite, *leading* to weight gain, and in particular lead to extra deposits of fat in your abdomen.

    Self-care tips:
    Watch your calories and exercise regularly to try to prevent excessive weight gain. But don’t let weight gain damage your self-esteem. Know that the weight will come off – and your stomach return to its normal size – relatively easily in the six months to a year after you discontinue steroids.

    Keyword here is LEADING to weight gain. Medication does not make fat appear on your body! I am overweight and tired of these excuses as well!!! If you have to deal with being temporarily fatter, you sure as hell don’t need to be mad at Maria for it. You should be secure and confident in yourself that you’re going through a tough time and will get out of it. Anger just shows that you’re guilty of not trying to better yourself! NO MORE CODDLING

  • Reply LINDY November 27, 2013 at 10:01 pm

    All the power to you! I have no idea why everyone got all wigged out about anything you have said or done!
    Your body looks awesome and you should be proud. It is ridiculous that it was banned from facebook, you’ve got to be freak’n kidding! They have all sorts of bullying crap on there that they don’t ban and this they find offensive?? Unbelievable. I agree with you!

  • Reply Kat November 27, 2013 at 10:21 pm

    people too often forget that obesity is not a disease, it is a symptom of a larger underlying problem. people get fat often due to hormonal imbalance, or even pharmaceutical contraindications. anything from cortisol, leptin, estrogen, or, the ever popular insulin, can be knocked off and cause weight gain. now this is not to say that there is no personal responsibility in the way we look. many people understand that ben and jerry’s at midnight is a no-no but do it anyways, and most couldn’t be bothered to even walk a few extra paces across a parking lot. but let’s start off with altering our mindset from symptoms of obesity to obesity is a symptom of. insulin resistance, aka type 2 diabetes, is a disease that often causes weight gain, thus why many but not ALL are usually obese. heart disease is caused inherently by inflammation which is triggered by blood sugar spikes that occur due to over-intaking carbohydrates. once again why many people who have heart attacks tend to be obese (blood sugar spikes lead to the discharge of insulin and this the storage of excess sugars into fat cells). not because obesity causes these things — because we know not all who suffer from these diseases are fat. in essence, the key to remaining healthy as far as we can control is to minimize our intake of processed foods laden with trans fats and hidden sugars, increase our consumption of healthy fats including saturated fats, and move around more especially after eating carbohydrates which are needed only as a source of energy. i’m sure this woman meant nothing but good, but let us remember that 1) obese doesn’t mean incipient death, but an underlying imbalance or deficiency that may need to be resolved. and 2) saying “i did it now so can you” may not be the best and most scientific way to approach these things.

  • Reply Sydney November 27, 2013 at 11:14 pm

    Why are you so obsessed with how other people look? Sure, you have a right to be proud of your accomplishment but most people are focused on more than how they look. As for it costing the health care system – sure it does. BUT, I’m betting my so-called healthy lifestyle has cost the health care system more than most fat people. I skied and played baseball most of my life and have had achilles tendon surgery, a dislocated shoulder. dislocated knee, countless sprained ankles, torn ligaments; I got thrown from a horse once and was hospitalized with a severe concussion – the list goes on. You could say that playing any kind of sports is asking for it too. After leading my supposedly healthy lifestyle, denying myself, watching my weight, not drinking or doing ANYTHING from a food point of view to excess, I was diagnosed with breast cancer at 42 years old. Newsflash…you are going to get old, you are going to die and you are most definitely NOT going to look that way forever. My 32 year old niece died from cervical cancer last November; she wasn’t fat either. Personally, I’m going to go eat a chocolate bar which I denied myself for most of my life and I think I may have a big piece of steak for dinner besides.

    • Reply John King November 29, 2013 at 7:07 pm

      Sydney, here’s an idea. Instead of trying to get men to like fat women, how about you fat women EXERCISE and LOSE SOME WEIGHT???

      Men do not like fat women. No amount of whining on your part is going to change that FACT.

      You are just jealous of Maria because she’s a hot Asian woman and you know that you will never look as good as her. ANd instead of trying to work to improve yourself, you just use the excuse “oh, it’s my genetics”. No, how about you stop stuffing your fat ugly face full of McDonalds and pizza and start EXERCISING?

      You fat women disgust me. You should all be exterminated, because you are a parasite on society, now that we have a welfare state, EVERYONE has to pay taxes to support you fat parasites and your unhealthy lifestyle.

      • Reply tes ting November 30, 2013 at 5:36 am

        Either you are a troll or extremely immature. Leave the discussion for the grown-ups, mmmmkay?

  • Reply Teresa November 28, 2013 at 12:17 am

    I don’t see why anyone would be so offended by your post. I found the initial pic inspirational. It has taken me 7 years to be at my pre-pregnancy weight. Still not where I would like to be but am getting there. If someone finds it offensive they must sincerely have their own personal battle they can not control. Maybe instead of reporting as “offensive” they should self reflect. We are responsible for our own decisions as to what we choose to eat , choose to exercise or not, and choose to be offended or not.

    • Reply Ray Mikelonis November 28, 2013 at 1:02 am

      Loved your posting; my wife and I are involved in a usage group for a product that will be rolled out “no pun intended” LOL next spring that actually helps to reprogram the body’s hormone signaling systems to help remove the cravings for bad things and the tendency to overeat. Have to say it is working quite well and it has taken away my desire for the free foods at some of my business establishments I frequent. My wife has been battling the 118 pound mark and has never broken through but only 2 months on this system she is now 114 and is losing inches. She actually maintained that number even while being in Mexico for a week to send off her 96 year old grandmother who was surrounded by all 12 of her children who had gathered for the passing and was the first time they were all together in one place at the same time. You can imagine the eating that went on. They counted up all a total of 237 direct blood relatives not counting spouses in the bloodline from this amazing lady. If you are interested keep in touch and I will forward the information on this wellfit program when it becomes publically available. Keep up the good work. Love to hear from you.

  • Reply Mike.M November 28, 2013 at 3:51 am

    hi. i completely agree with what you say. i’m 19 now but when i was a kid i use to be a bit bigger then the other but as i grew up i played sports and worked out as much as i could. sadly i like fast food and processed meat (only because i don’t know how to cook lol) but i still try and keep my self in shape and when i have the chance to eat healthy i do so. it sadden me to see peoples who aren’t even trying to take care of them self and go around blaming the society.

    P.S. sorry for my terrible grammar, i’m french. lol.

  • Reply Oran Watson November 28, 2013 at 8:34 am

    Judgment is judgment, whether you’re obese, or too skinny, or not athletic enough. I have read your post and i feel like your IQ is you shoe size. Your posts are contradicting as well as show no relevance to your arguments. First you talk about how no one should feel bad about their body and then you talk about. You ABSOLUTELY have no RIGHT to shame anyone. It is not i who says this, it is the Constitution. Every man is free to choose.

    Now for my opinion: You are stupid, attention seeking, ugly and a bitch in general. I spent two hours looking through what you write on your blogs before deciding to say something. And all you nitwits out there, go do some research. you will be surprised to see that being obese is not at all bad.

    It is so sad to see that the average IQ of an american is the IQ of an 8 year old in China….

    • Reply EmJay November 28, 2013 at 8:02 pm

      Yes, way to go. Calling someone “stupid, attention seeking, ugly and a bitch in general” is a great way to show how non-judgemental you are 🙂

      • Reply todd November 30, 2013 at 12:44 pm

        Lol Oran are you a 15 year old with a bad mustache and a fedora?

  • Reply Angel November 28, 2013 at 8:40 am

    I think you’re amazing. You worked hard, you are a hard worker, and you have control. That’s something to look up to. I’ll be part of that 80% that is inspired by you. I have no kids, but when I do, I’ll be looking up to you.

  • Reply strawbryme November 28, 2013 at 9:27 am

    I am 60 lbs. over weight. I was an ideal size until I had my first kid. I didn’t start really thinking about weight loss until after my second kid, though. It has now been six years. Since then I have struggled and fought with me weight- and I keep gaining weight! Believe what you will, but I have done everything possible to lose weight. Exercising, changing my eating life style, keeping optimistic. I am fat. I am. (although I would never say that in front of my children!). Here’s the crazy thing: There is nothing medically wrong with me. All my numbers are fantastic- cholesterol, glucose, thyroid, etc.
    I would love to lose weight, but it’s just not going to happen. I have made peace with that. Not because I want to be fat, but because I know that I am doing everything I can to be healthy, and I am! I know many “skinny people that cannot keep up with me.
    Here’s my point. This woman writes about the dangers of obesity, which are very real and very dangerous. But she writes about them like all these people want and have made the conscientious choice to be fat. There are a myriad of reasons why people are overweight. Obviously some people are overweight from making stupid or ignorant choices. However, there are many of us who are making the right health options and are very healthy, but are still over weight. And though we may not have the bodies we would prefer to have, we love the bodies that we DO have.
    And that is where her ignorance shows.

    • Reply Thermodynamics November 28, 2013 at 3:32 pm

      You are full of crap. There is NO situation in which you can’t lose fat. You have to eat at a caloric deficit over an extended period of time. Somewhere, you cheated. You ate too much. You didn’t move around. First law of thermodynamics dear. Look it up. You burn more calories than you eat, you will lose fat. Yes tons of things can make it more difficult to do but IT IS POSSIBLE. DIFFICULTY IS NOT AN EXCUSE. STOP SPREADING LIES.

    • Reply John King November 29, 2013 at 7:04 pm

      strawbryme, here’s an idea. Instead of trying to get men to like fat women, how about you fat women EXERCISE and LOSE SOME WEIGHT???

      Men do not like fat women. No amount of whining on your part is going to change that FACT.

      You are just jealous of Maria because she’s a hot Asian woman and you know that you will never look as good as her. ANd instead of trying to work to improve yourself, you just use the excuse “oh, it’s my genetics”. No, how about you stop stuffing your fat ugly face full of McDonalds and pizza and start EXERCISING?

      You fat women disgust me. You should all be exterminated, because you are a parasite on society, now that we have a welfare state, EVERYONE has to pay taxes to support you fat parasites and your unhealthy lifestyle.

    • Reply Lindsay November 30, 2013 at 6:29 pm

      ^These two people have never been in your shoes so they shouldn’t speak. I have been. I was 200lbs at my heaviest. I did the Medifast diet, Nutrisystem, diet pills, etc. I exercised every single day. No lie. I tried so hard and I could not lose weight. I then found out I had a hormonal imbalance. Once I started birth control pills I started losing weight. I stopped the birth control pills when I lost 30lbs and once I was at a lower weight, my hormones sorted themselves out and I have since lost another 20lbs.

  • Reply Danielle November 28, 2013 at 9:47 am

    Hi Maria,

    Happy Thanksgiving to one and all!
    Last month or so, I defended you..and I am happy to do it again. I get it..I get the message you are trying to convey. However, I think you may want to rethink the comments or postings on others fb, blogs, etc, in reference to their (primarily younger woman with children) being over weight and possibly flaunting it. We all know the truth, we all are aware of what a healthy life style looks like.. what needs to be done to achieve that. Most, sadly, ignore the truth to the logistics of medical facts pertaining to obesity.. in other words, they don’t want to see it.they don’t want to open their eyes, do the hard work. After all, it’s too damn easy to sit on your a**, not moving around, eating all the wrong foods. I say this to you, because you deserve a fair chance to be successful with your health videos. The cold hard truth is, you won’t be considering the vast amount of obesity I this great Country of ours. The odds of a business owner being, knowing a, having an obese family member(s)-or friend(s)-business associates, etc are extremely high.Therefore, it is my belief that you will not getthe support that we all are entitled to as an American. In other words, it seems so many have already made their minds up about you, your message, etc, that they are not capable of opening their minds to the possibility that you are being sincere and really do have their best interest in mind… anyway, I have been trying to type this on my phone..not an easy task! So,I apologize in advance for all grammatical errors.. and I really do hope that what I wanted to convey to you came across as clear as cloudless skies.. ‘Wishing you all the best!
    Happy Holidays Everyone & Best wishes, Danielle Shapley

  • Reply karen w November 28, 2013 at 1:44 pm

    I didnt think ur post was offensive — its the truth! Facebook should not be banning you for writing that… what happened to freedom of speech ?

  • Reply Maria November 28, 2013 at 2:33 pm

    You’re post was not offense. You speak the truth. I’m very over weight and unhealthy and I know you’re bang on with your message. I need to love myself more in order to lose weight and get healthy. Thank you for inspiring me. You go girl!

  • Reply Maria November 28, 2013 at 2:43 pm

    strawbryme – BS is what I say to your post. Of course you can lose weight and you need to for your joints if nothing else. I’m a 50 year old woman that battled thyroid cancer 10 years ago. My thyroid and parathyroid was removed because I had a lump in my neck the size of a grapefruit. I gained over 60 lbs because of my thyroid condition and fully believed I couldn’t lose weight as a result. It was after my thyroid was removed that I lost a significant amount of weight because of cutting out bad carbs. However, I gained the weight all back because I over ate PERIOD. I used food for comfort. At 50, I now have joint pain. I wake up every morning in pain because of my weight. Everything else seems to be fine because I’ve been tested, however, I know other complications are just around the corner if I don’t do something now.

    Do not tell me being fat is something you can’t change because that is just BS!

  • Reply keepingitreal November 28, 2013 at 2:59 pm

    I couldn’t agree with Maria Kang more! For too long the the likes of Oprah and her pet, Dr. Phil have been coddling America by convincing people they should “love themselves for who they are”, and not worry as much as people should about their weight and health. BS! America has become the Land of the Lazy and the Home of the Fat Azzes. Let me tell you people something, there’s only a small percentage having the excuse for being fat – obese due to either a medical condition or genetics. All this “Whaaaaaaah, don’t pick on me! I’ve got big bones!” or “You don’t know my life and how I don’t have time to exercise and eat right!” is a bunch of CRAP for the majority! And you all know it! Quite frankly, folks that are overweight should not only heed Kang’s advice and lead a happier, healthier life but realize their lazy self serving ways affect medical costs and other issues of those around them. Personally, I’m 15 lbs overweight, and that for me that’s bad enough. I look at some of the embarrassingly gigantic lard azzes waddling around in stores in their frickin’ pajama bottoms and think to myself….Jesus H. Christ! What’s become of the pride and dignity that was once shared by the fellow American? You don’t think our people are much fatter today? Take a look at 40,000 sporting fans packed into a stadium back in the 1960’s or 70’s and compare their physics to those of today. Wake up people. Folks like Maria Kang are not the enemy. McDonalds, Burger King, Jack in the Box, the FDA, the clothing industry (enlarging sizes and still calling it “medium”), the “warm & fuzzy” celebrities telling you it’s OK to be big and unhealthy, to name a few are the ones you should be giving flack. But the biggest (no pun intended) reason you’re not more thin and healthy no matter what your age is because of YOU!

    • Reply Erin November 28, 2013 at 3:36 pm

      Love it! Thanks for articulating what many are thinking. I too am 15lbs overweight and it’s because of what I put in my mouth … my fault.

  • Reply Michael-shay November 28, 2013 at 4:32 pm

    I am having a terrible time losing weight after the doctors had to put me on a drug to medically induce me into menopause (I am 25.) Every time I see one of your posts it gives me even more motivation. I don’t think I will ever be 100% happy with how I look, but i know I will be 150% happy with how I feel when I get to my goal. Thank you so much for calling everyone out on our bull shit.

  • Reply vickie November 28, 2013 at 5:05 pm

    I did not seeing anything wrong when you were venting. I thing you hit a nerve with people , and so they reported you to Facebook. How sad that they have to reported something that hit a nerve , and makes then wake up. Speaking of Facebook I am still not allowed to post on any comments that other people make on any of my page’s that I like. Why people can dish it out put they can’t take it when I pushed back. so now I am in Facebook Jail I guess it has been about two months now oh well my life did not stop . Keep the posting coming I really like the recipes also thanks for those. I am trying to eat more health. because it is a battle to keep the wt off since I have quit smoking a couple of years now .

  • Reply Connie November 28, 2013 at 5:22 pm

    Hi Maria, I’m really sorry to hear that there are still people who are angry at you for speaking the truth. While your original Facebook post wasn’t something nice or fun to read, it speaks the truth. Sugar coating anything never solved or fixed anything, facing the facts and taking responsibilities does. I applaud you for what you do to keep yourself healthy, balancing life and raising a family all while encouraging others to do the same. Ironically, as a chubby gal, I never took offense to your “What’s Your Excuse” photo. I found it rather compelling. However, a photo can be interpreted in many ways which is why I only take photos by their face value briefly and consider what the subject matter stands for, and clearly, you weren’t trying to shame people or make fun of anyone–anyone who’ve read your blog knows that. Keep doing what you love to do, I think there are still more people who find you inspirational then those who do not–I know I do. Thank you.

  • Reply Sophia St. James November 28, 2013 at 5:27 pm

    You should have been banned. Period. Yes, obesity is a health risk. But your rant about Curvy Girl was selfish, childish, insensitive, and rude. All women are beautiful and should be allowed to express their beauty. Some may say you are too thin or anorexic. You are no one above ANYONE to judge another. No one.
    Most of American women are over a size 16. So shaming others does NOT change anything. You are not a role model, you are a bully.
    And bullies should be banned.
    I am a nurse, a community leader, a REAL woman, and a community servant. And I can say first hand you do not make change by being a bully. You make change by understanding and leading.
    Your style is leading is what is tearing this country apart.

    • Reply Annie November 29, 2013 at 4:55 am

      I could not agree more with this post. I was always taught “if you do not have something nice to say then do not say it all”.

      Ms. Kang focus on the positive, be a role model – and stop with the unnecessary and hurtful comments. Just apologize for all the hurt and pain you caused.

    • Reply Vasily Spesivtsev November 29, 2013 at 6:24 am

      So you are saying you should be polite to people, to the extend that you honor and respect their disease? Obesity is not ONLY a problem of looks it’s huge problem for health or should I say various problems. People should and must talk about that. If you start patting on the head, each and every obese person than you’ll nourish obesity and there is nothing good about that. I also don’t see Maria as a bully, she is not bashing anyone, she is just telling the truth, I guess some people don’t like hearing it.

      • Reply Lindsay November 30, 2013 at 6:19 pm

        Other people’s weight is none of her business. No one is asking her to clean bed sores so she should just shut her mouth.

    • Reply John King November 29, 2013 at 7:00 pm

      Sophia St. James, here’s an idea. Instead of trying to get men to like fat women, how about you fat women EXERCISE and LOSE SOME WEIGHT???

      Men do not like fat women. No amount of whining on your part is going to change that FACT.

      You are just jealous of Maria because she’s a hot Asian woman and you know that you will never look as good as her. ANd instead of trying to work to improve yourself, you just use the excuse “oh, it’s my genetics”. No, how about you stop stuffing your fat ugly face full of McDonalds and pizza and start EXERCISING?

      You fat women disgust me. You should all be exterminated, because you are a parasite on society, now that we have a welfare state, EVERYONE has to pay taxes to support you fat parasites and your unhealthy lifestyle.

      • Reply Lindsay November 30, 2013 at 6:21 pm

        1.) Some men do like fat women.
        2.) No one is jealous of her for being an Asian.
        3.) She was once fat, by your logic she should have been exterminated.
        4.) Jump off a cliff, the world would be better without you.

      • Reply MosesChick November 30, 2013 at 9:18 pm

        John King thank you soo MUCH!!! WOW YOUR JUST A GREAT GUY!!! am gald there IS LITTLE dicks LIKE YOU IN THIS WORLD ;D honestly how can i thank you FOR TURNING SOO MANY WOMEN GAY?? THANK YOU THANK YOU!! you the best…ONE DAY GOD WILL RETURN THE FAVOR AND BLESS YOU WITH A BEAUTIFUL MONSTER OF A WIFE AND WHORE FOR DAUGHTER ..karma is great AND IT WILL COME BACK TO YOU LOL

    • Reply Yoselin Matthews November 29, 2013 at 10:33 pm

      how is she being a bully? you type of women are so sensitive. If those girls on curvy girlz were fit then there wouldn’t be a problem but the reality is they are not and it is obvious. I have seen thick women with their voluptuous hourglass figures be fit with a toned stomach and good eating habits. That is what she is trying to promote but you people read in between the lines. For someone who tries to show off her education you come off as poorly educated with lack of being open minded.

  • Reply Roger Buck November 28, 2013 at 5:37 pm

    I have found that we have become a society that goes around looking for something to be offended about. In this case, folks who have made a conscious decision to not care about their own personal health, are offended that you have pointed out their flawed decision. It’s very similar to smokers who are offended when someone points out that smoking is VERY hazardous to their health. IF I were to advise you, and I guess I am, I would tell you to keep on doing what you are doing. There are many, like me, that find your posts inspirational, and read those posts and you site to gain motivation. Others will continue to be critical of what you and others that get inspiration form you are trying to achieve. I would advise you to ignore the critics, they will only drive you crazy and bring you down. Hopefully you will indeed not give attention to those that criticize your efforts or others that find you to be a very motivational young lady. Instead, I would hope you exert your efforts to the task at hand. You have a following, you are inspirational, and you have your purpose in life. Don’t wast your time or energy on the naysayers, they will always be out there. They are trying to bring you down, and any effort to answer them is a waste of effort. Spend you time and effort on those that are inspired by you. And thank you for doing what you are doing. You are making a difference.

  • Reply Karen November 28, 2013 at 6:33 pm

    I know what you are trying to say, but your choice of words and phrases are very poor and disappointing to say the least.

    Just to quote your deleted post:

    1) “I know your environment challenges”
    Have you been in every person’s shoes in the entire world to make that comment? In which you and/or spouse or other adult family members are working just to have a little food on the table to come home to (in a shelter that hopefully provides heat & protection) for yourself and kids (whose ages that are similar to your kids)? Especially in third world countries where people do not have the luxury of having the right food (or any food for that matter!) to promote a healthy eating lifestyle… You, a half Filipina, should be well aware of that! These people do not have the luxury of time and effort to be healthy because they are struggling on a daily basis just to stay alive! Do not tell me that there are no Americans who are living like this because there are homeless people everywhere; where there are rich people, there are poor people coexisting in the same country.

    2) “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.”

    Obesity, like its counterpart anorexia, is a mental disease. Even if healthy options are provided for individuals to make healthy choices, it’s futile if the individual has no desire. As you said, “we need to change this mentality,” but it’s not the root of the problem. Any typical problem causes stress. When that stress is caused by determining all available means just to stay alive, stress can consume the body. Physiologically speaking, stress causes release of cortisol, which is secreted in times of physical or psychological stress. When the body’s natural secretion of cortisol is disrupted (for example, a person is stressed all the time because of the physical need to stay live) , it can cause weight gain. This is an internal reaction by the body, and the individual has no control over this in any way.

    If the person/family finally has the means to “start celebrating people who are a result of hard work, dedication and discipline” to keep themselves and their families alive (even just for a week), they may have very little saved up. The downfall in healthy promotion in the USA is making unhealthy food one of the cheapest and most readily available to its population. In what way healthy food are cheap and readily available like the thousand calorie-filled Mcdeal meals in McDonald’s?

    So my question to you is, what have you done about the five points in your deleted posts?

    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.

    I know you have made other people aware by posting your concerns online. What steps have you done to make the USA government aware of this and make this one of their cases in making a healthier country? Do not just say that you have been featured in magazines, marathons/charity events, shows and podcasts because not everyone has the same luxuries to read, attend, and watch or listen to your points in these events. Have you actually rallied on foot with big signs in front of constitutional buildings to make polititians aware of your 5 points that you venting about? I think that these people (politicians) actually have to power to do something about it as a nationwide concern. These politicians were voted by the general population of USA in hopes of making the country better for its citizens. You, as a 100% American, have a responsibility of making these politicians accountable in making actions for the good of the entire USA? Or are you hoping that someone else will do all the leg work instead of yourself?

    • Reply Ginny November 28, 2013 at 7:29 pm

      I don’t even understand half her sentences. Celebrities are applauded but real women are scorned for losing weight after giving birth? When? where? I think everyone who gets to a healthy weight is applauded WITHIN their circle of friends and family. Celebrities merely have a bigger audience. This nonsensical post doesn’t deserve any more of my time to dissect.

      • Reply Vasily Spesivtsev November 29, 2013 at 6:26 am

        That really shows, that you didn’t. Why even bother with reply if you can’t understand what are you reading about?

    • Reply Vasily Spesivtsev November 29, 2013 at 6:35 am

      @Karen
      So if person never ran around a white house with signs, this person should just shut up and never speak up? Do you really think that the government which approves the use of huge variety of chemicals in food production and which approves a certain obese lifestyle, will listen to a person with signs? The best way is to make people aware and motivate them to do things. Government and corporations will NEVER EVER reduce production of garbage foods, they will always promote them. The mission of a sane person is not to fight with corporations, where trillions of dollars are made, but to educate people and give them information about what’s going on.

      “You, as a 100% American, have a responsibility of making these politicians accountable in making actions for the good of the entire USA? Or are you hoping that someone else will do all the leg work instead of yourself?”
      She has only responsibility for her own life, life of her children and family that is all. Other people have to have their own responsibility, because each and every person is responsible with what is happening to him/her. She is doing her best, not only hard working and providing for her family, not only raising children but also trying to educate and motivate people about their health, and you are telling that she is hoping for someone else to do “all the leg work”. There is no point in this leg work, unless you truly believe that government is more interested in your health than you are.

  • Reply Kellie Anderson November 28, 2013 at 6:47 pm

    Well you sure are getting a lot of flack for you FB comment. I’ve got to admit when I first heard about you and your “What’s Your Excuse” photo and comments, I thought you were a bit full of yourself. Then I read you deleted Facebook comment and think that was very well written and you are right. I don’t think anything you said was in the least offensive or bullying in any way. FB allows people to be viciously bullied all the time and they allowed inappropriate pictures to be posted as well, so why on earth they suspended you, I don’t get it. The only reason is probably because people complained because they didn’t like what you said. I have gained weight recently due to some health issues, but your FB comments have motivated me to snap out of it and get back into shape. So thank you for that. I will say though that posting a picture of yourself looking so good with your three children around you probably causes a lot of resentment in woman and hence the backlash, which I am sure you realize. Because of my body type, I am never going to look like you. BUT, I am okay with that. I am who I am. Most women are not, but surely you know that. I don’t think “showing off” is the best way to get the message across and that is what I took from your picture with your boys. That you were showing off. So again, your FB post I think personally was very well written and got the message across in a much, much better way. Good luck.

  • Reply Lisa November 28, 2013 at 7:22 pm

    I think that poor grammar and usage of the English language are ruining our country. FYI, it’s “affect” in your sentence in the beginning of the post, not “effect”.

    See? You probably didn’t care to read about that, just as I didn’t care to read the opinion of an “ex”-bulimic throwing hate all over people who dare to feel good about their bodies.

    • Reply John King November 29, 2013 at 6:57 pm

      Lisa, here’s an idea. Instead of correcting grammar errors, how about you fat women EXERCISE and LOSE SOME WEIGHT???

      Men do not like fat women. No amount of whining on your part is going to change that FACT.

      You are just jealous of Maria because she’s a hot Asian woman and you know that you will never look as good as her. ANd instead of trying to work to improve yourself, you just use the excuse “oh, it’s my genetics”. No, how about you stop stuffing your fat ugly face full of McDonalds and pizza and start EXERCISING?

      You fat women disgust me. You should all be exterminated, because you are a parasite on society, now that we have a welfare state, EVERYONE has to pay taxes to support you fat parasites and your unhealthy lifestyle.

      • Reply Lindsay November 30, 2013 at 6:14 pm

        John: since when do you speak on behalf of all men? When I weighed 200lbs my husband was still very much attracted to me. I’m now 150lbs and while he’s complimented my new figure, he’s never disliked the way I looked at any weight. Each man has different preferences, from weight, race, hair color, skin tone, hair…etc. What does this have to do with her being an Asian? This might surprise you but the societal preference is European women, how do you like the generalizations? The way that you’re speaking on her behalf is why so many people dislike this woman. It’s not jealousy, it’s her arrogance and self righteous preaching. Maria herself was once a fat woman, should she have been exterminated? You’re disgusting.

  • Reply John P November 28, 2013 at 8:08 pm

    There are so many posts here with hate over what? One person is trying to show the world how good it feels to be healthy, to exercise, to eat right. How it affects your attitude toward life in general and the way people view you. For all the good Maria has done, there are those who have such little self esteem that they view this as some sort of hate speech or offensive. Here is a news flash, you are free to take your insecure asses somewhere else. Last I heard this is America and everyone has freedom of speech and choice. Why don’t you choose to start your own Facebook page that celebrates how great is is to be a big fat, fat ass?

  • Reply Julie November 28, 2013 at 8:24 pm

    You know what, you are free to state how you feel and if people on FB didn’t like it…all they had to do was get off your page. Keep doing what you’re doing =).

    • Reply Sandra November 28, 2013 at 11:28 pm

      Actually it wasnt on her page. She posted it on curvy girl lingerie´s facebook page in response to their “unphotoshopped selfie” campaign.

      The reactions is not about what she puts on her own page or website but what she puts on OTHER peoples personal facebook pages

      • Reply Amanda November 29, 2013 at 4:50 am

        Actually, I saw her posting on her ORIGINAL page, just a few minutes after she posted it. The reason her post was removed was because the people who have become obsessed with making her into a target reported her post the required number of times for Facebook to remove it. So, please don’t state things as fact unless you KNOW they are fact. You might be confused and getting your “facts” from a secondary source, such as the news outlets or feminist groups that are currently hating on Maria.
        Also, it’s hilarious that you said, “The reactions is not about what she puts on her own page or website but what she puts on OTHER peoples personal facebook pages.” First of all, as we have already covered, the reaction WAS about what she put on her OWN page. Secondly, I don’t think Maria actually posted the comment that she also posted on her own page on this plus sized lingerie model’s page, but if she did, she has her right to say what she wants on a public Facebook page as do all the people currently commenting on Maria’s page. Maria Kang also has a Facebook page. She takes the comments, negative and positive, and I can bet you that all the people that are currently spewing “hate speech” on her Facebook page are not getting their comments removed and suspended.

        • Reply Sandra November 29, 2013 at 5:31 pm

          No. I was there when Maria posted on Curvy Girl Lingerie and that is the reason why the fans of that site reacts with anger. Myself included. I didnt know who she was until her degrading post on Curvy Girl

          Her post on Curvy Girl was flagged as Hate Speech and shortly after she was banned. That she posted the same post on her own page at the same time is irrelevant

  • Reply Meredith November 28, 2013 at 9:24 pm

    Most of my life I’ve been thin, although there was a time in college when I put on a few pounds. As I get older more effort’s required (less food but it’s easy to put on a few pounds). So, from experience, I have to say I agree with you and see nothing whatsoever wrong with your opinions. I also have to say that when I do pack them on, it’s because my self-discipline has slipped . That’s personal. However, I have friends with weight issues who also have a range of health problems that can be attributed to excessive weight (bad knees, hips, blood sugar, blood pressure, etc.). On outings they can’t walk at a normal pace; one has a handicapped placard so she doesn’t have to walk far to the entrance! Sorry to sound like a socialist but in my adult English classes some students receive Medicaid and are moderately to significantly overweight. The cost to taxpayers for medical treatment that might not be necessary if individuals took better care of themselves is significant. My Asian students aren’t very subtle about judging heavier classmates when we practice personal descriptions in a unit.
    Last word- it’s not your genes it’s your level of self-discipline and poor habits. Put the fork down! Don’t stop at 7-Eleven for that bag of Lays for a few days. Stop loading up on bread, tortillas, chips, etc. etc. Don’t use the excuse that you’re poor and can’t afford healthy food- I shop at the 99 Cents Only store- lots of fresh fruit and veggies- no excuse.

    • Reply Jackie November 29, 2013 at 11:07 pm

      “I was thin most of my life, and easily lost weight due to my genetic predisposition to being thin. Instead of acknowledging that I’ve decided to show my ignorance in claiming my genes had nothing to do with it

  • Reply yvonne November 28, 2013 at 11:25 pm

    you’re a hater, plain and simple.

    rather than criticizing fat people, stick to being proud of your fitness and making workout dvd’s.

    i don’t see julianne michaels or jake ventura going on rants about fat people. people are gonna live how they live.

    you do you.

    • Reply keepingitreal November 29, 2013 at 3:39 am

      And you Yvonne are probably an inconsiderate, lazy lard azz that simply had a nerve ending touched!

      • Reply Jackie November 29, 2013 at 11:03 pm

        They’re not you, a bully who needs to use hurtful language. You hurt others.

    • Reply Corey November 29, 2013 at 7:21 am

      Yvonne, what you’re doing is hating. She just put the facts straight about obesity without actually bashing anyone. She even put out everything she had to say in a considerate manner. If you feel the need to hate, then do so AFTER putting in EFFORT into trying to be happy instead of just being miserable and scorning others who attempted and succeeded

      • Reply Jackie November 29, 2013 at 11:05 pm

        Pointing out that someone is a bully isn’t hating them, it’s a noble and brave act of trying to save others from being bullied. While cowards lacking the strength to not be followers call them haters

        • Reply todd November 30, 2013 at 12:32 pm

          Pointing out that someone is a bully when they’re trying to empower you, because you’re scared of being responsible for your own life and body, is not bravery; it’s cowardice. Ya’ll are scared that you lack the will power to fix yourselves, so you hide.

    • Reply Days of Broken Arrows December 1, 2013 at 3:50 am

      My bro has been in the hospital for two weeks. Had someone done a little fat shaming in his life, he might have gotten healthier. Telling people pretty lies doesn’t help them. Our society is now officially 180 degrees from where it should be when fat people are shaming in-shape people and calling the shots on social media.

  • Reply JJ November 29, 2013 at 2:13 am

    Thanks so much for your honesty. I guess I never looked at it that way before and I guess I agree with you! While Im on here, let me tell you that you inspire me to fit a workout in even after a long day. Its not easy but its doable if its a priority. Thanks for reminding me of that. With 3 little boys of my own, sometimes I like to make excuses…..Ive started using your idea of the wall calendar and it really helps me!!!!

  • Reply Eve C November 29, 2013 at 7:19 am

    You inspire me Maria no matter wat haters have to say…..am your number one fan. U have an amaizin family too!

  • Reply amanda November 29, 2013 at 1:49 pm

    Hey Maria
    I just read your article and I agree with everything you say there. It’s a simple truth…you are what you eat. And as for the fitness how much evidence does anybody need to know the long term health benefits etc..but alas…we don’t like the truth..it’s hard damn work to keep fit and maintain healthy eating habits especially with the stresses of life with small children..I take my hat off to you and think it’s a pathetic thing to ban somebody from speaking the truth on social media..what happened to freedom of speech. I think many women would be inspired as I was. I’m a busy mum of 5 recently become single but no matter how stressful & busy my life gets I make time for exercise its part of my routine & without my general well being suffers..it’s almost impossible to feel good without it in my opinion. So keep doing what your doing. There is no gain without pain.
    Cheers
    Amanda

  • Reply kara November 29, 2013 at 6:17 pm

    Maria.
    Walk in my shoes!!!!!!please! Try to get help or assistance if you are overweight or obese. Our governments and medical system like us being overweight and obese. Do you know if one is lucky enough to heave medical insurance, there is NO coverage for counselling or “remodeling” of ones thought process or FIXING our BROKEN and TOTALLY destroyed self confidence from comments such as yours. There is no ability for a family physician to bill for weight checks ins and support of the obese. There is a cost to get surgery to help with the problem of obesity. The food industry ladens all foods with extra fat and colories..a fat free salad dressing is higher in sugar than a regular dressing! Did you know that medical system will not even look at helpful procedures such as lap band and gastropplasty until a person has SEVERAL co morbidities..and then the funds need to come out of the overweight or obese persons pocket. It is sad that some people need to resort to surgery, but in some cases it is the only way to assist in the loss.

    If you honestly have compassion for the overweight and obese, learn what social determinants are, and recognize it is more than what is placed in a persons mouth. A calorie is not a calorie once you have become overweight and have dieted up and down on the scale.

    I speak from experience, I lost a huge ( almost 100 lbs of weight) but maintaining it off has been a horrible fight, and unfortunately I have not been totally successful in doing this. BUT in order to do this, I have spent thousands of dollars ( than god I have the ability many,many,many do not) in medical costs for personal counseling and regular support from medical professionals for weekly weigh ins……

    Continue to offer your free exercise classes, BUT STOP being a Bully, cause whether you think it or not, your tone,and ( what I presume uneducated) comments HURT!

    By the way, I am educated, a masters in nursing (honors) , so when I speak of nutrition, calories, and health determinants I do know what I am talking about.

    Shame on you!
    Kara

    • Reply William November 30, 2013 at 6:18 am

      Kara,

      If you “know what you’re talking about”, I’m curious how you got to being so overweight that you had to lose 100lbs to reach normal weight (assuming that you’re even at a normal weight). Maria, on the other hand, didn’t. Interesting, who’s actually fit and deals with life’s challenges head on, without a five paragraph accusation that she is a bully.

      Btw, I have 2 degrees in computer science and engineering; and when my computer stops working, I’m humble enough to take advice from someone else who I do not presume to be uneducated (unlike you).

      • Reply todd November 30, 2013 at 12:30 pm

        She’s not being a bully. You’re just making excuses and her picture made you feel guilty about it. She’s not making you feel ashamed about being fat. What you’re feeling is shame about being a lazy person that blames the world for your problems.

    • Reply keepingitreal December 1, 2013 at 1:46 pm

      Kara,
      Sounds like “you know what you’re talking about” all the way up to the point where you haven’t the self discipline NOT to shove those extra calories into your mouth. AND YOU KNOW IT!

    • Reply GOING GOING gone December 1, 2013 at 9:56 pm

      I agree with everything you say …. Good for you for loving your INNER SELF. AND LETTING MISS SO SO AND HER CHAUV PIGS KNOW THAT .. SKINNY DOES NOT EQUAL BEAUTIFUL. . IT DOES NOT COST ANYTHING TO HAVE CLASS MISS MARIA KANG. AND ur mom is overweight too do you get on her daily or just preach hatred. Develop an inner soul !

  • Reply Gaby November 29, 2013 at 6:49 pm

    Haters gonna hate!

    I am so happy someone had the courage to say this. Thank you! Good for you for showing such an awesome body. And hey, if people feel threatened by you that is THEIR PROBLEM.

    Shame on them, for blaming their kids for their health and body.

    Congratulations!

  • Reply Lindoro Almaviva November 29, 2013 at 9:19 pm

    Well, you have a point, but of course, what you do not understand is that this is not about your point, or the message, but the delivery.

    I get it, you are proud of your body and you should be. You have worked hard for it and you should be commended for it. Shaming other people because they do not fit your standards is not the way to go about it and you have discovered the hard way that when you do, people will react with anger and hatred. That’s how it feels.

    Next time, instead of shaming those who do not look like you, use your message in a positive way. Offer help, tips, encouragement, help. Offering shame will only get you push-back, and then you do not get top complain because it is the response that your shaming brought. You reap what you sow, and this time, you are not a model for anyone who wants to be like you, but a model for anyone who thinks that shaming people for their weight is acceptable.

    You reap what you sow

    • Reply Stephanie November 29, 2013 at 11:15 pm

      What’s interesting is that when I read what she has said, there is no shame at all. This message for me pushes me to want to do better. And since I first read about this I have currently lost almost twenty pounds simply by making a couple dietary adjustments. I haven’t even changed my activity level (not bragging about that part). I am just saying that it’s a matter of perspective. What shames you, motivates others. So, it may be the way you filter information; others opinions may be filtered through shame naturally for you. Some people like me need that in your face approach because it’s a challenge that others like me want to take on but others that are emotionally resilient in temperament need things to be softer and less obvious. Truth is truth so I think it comes down to learning how to digest truth without becoming disjointed and hateful. I am not saying you have been hateful and disjointed. There are those that have however. Being an example to others requires being able to stand naked in the light and not being ashamed, facing truth head on and making changes that need to be made, whatever those changes are…it could be physical, emotional, or spiritual. And when we live understanding that until the day we die we need to be willing to make those changes.

    • Reply todd November 30, 2013 at 12:27 pm

      Please explain how a stating facts and making a statement like “You have no excuse” is equivalent to shaming. She’s not telling obese people that they should feel bad. She’s telling obese people that they are unhealthy, but that its not impossible to change that. Just because ya’ll have low self esteem and cant make that differentiation, does not mean she’s shaming.

      • Reply Fat Girl December 4, 2013 at 4:44 am

        She is shaming people by attacking groups whose sole purpose is to help reduce body shame. By saying these groups are illegitimate, she is saying that the message, “you don’t need to be ashamed of your body” is illegitimate. By extension, she is supporting the idea that fat people should be ashamed of their bodies and should be working to change them without regard to whether they are actually healthy or not.

  • Reply Patty November 29, 2013 at 9:34 pm

    Hi,
    After really reading what you are saying, I can understand you better. There is nothing wrong with having strong opinions, in fact I applaud you for that.
    I would just like to share my story, very briefly. I have always been overweight, even as a small child. When I hit my teens, I tried to change my body by trying every diet out there. I binged and purged, I went to a medical clinic, I starved myself eating only an apple for a week at a time, and I did lose weight. However, my hair started falling out, I had bruises all over, and I felt atrocious Each diet .worked, temporarily, and then the weight would come back on, plus 10 or more pounds.
    I can’t exercise hard because I’ve had 5 back surgeries so far, and that limits me.
    In my adulthood, I have just decided to accept myself as I am. I feel beautiful, and I take great care of my self.
    I try to eat healthy, but it seems I am just destined to be a big girl.
    If I could lose all the extra weight, and be slim and beautiful like you, I would in a heartbeat. You are basically the woman I wish I looked like. But, I can’t seem to do it.
    I started out angry with you, based on the false press reports, but after reading your posts, I really like you.
    I want to wish you and your beautiful boys all the luck and love in the world. Sorry to babble on so long….Namaste!! Patty
    In my experience, I have probably lose and regained a thousand pounds in my 53 years. Each diet

    • Reply Stephanie November 29, 2013 at 10:59 pm

      That is so sweet, and I truly feel for you. You seem like a very great person, don’t change a thing.

  • Reply Ashley Hobbs November 29, 2013 at 10:12 pm

    I just read your story. You are very inspiring. Don’t let the haters get you down! You asked a simple question, “Whats your excuse?”. The fact that so many people got offended by your post just proves that you are right & they know it. The truth hurts & a lot of people don’t want to face it! MK you rock! Keep inspiring people always =) Please & Thank you!

  • Reply Chrissy November 29, 2013 at 10:16 pm

    After the first media uproar I was a big defender of yours. I even started following you on facebook and I think you are very motivational. I was very overweight in my 20’s. I was 220 pounds at 5’7”. Now, I am a group fitness instructor and a size 8. I teach Bodypump among several other programs at a gym in Atlanta. I am not as small as you. I’ve never been your size even as a teenager. I also have stretch marks, excess skin, fat, no six pack. I watch what I eat and I workout 8 to 10 hours a week. I feel healthy, though sometimes I feel inadequate in my own skin working in the field I’m in. I feel like I should look like you because that is what society says a trainer should look like. While I agree with most of what you say, I also think that it isn’t a bad thing for someone to put on a bathing suit or lingerie and post a picture even when they’re overweight. The first start to change is loving the person you are currently. I think people are put off by the way you present your argument. While you say you don’t think everyone should look like you, you present yourself as kind of a know it all. Put yourself in the shoes of the people who are very overweight, not by just 20 pounds, but very overweight. Look at the self-hatred most of these people have in their hearts. Posting pictures like this is a good thing for them. It shows them they’re not alone that there are people with compassion in the world. It creates a sense of worth in them, and maybe if that’s the case, they will begin to care enough to make a change and take better care of themselves.

    • Reply Jackie November 29, 2013 at 10:59 pm

      How sad that you believe fat people being able to love themselves is a form of self hatred. It’s amazing the rationalizations fit people will invent to convince themselves their strife was worth it.

      • Reply Chrissy December 2, 2013 at 9:51 pm

        I think you misunderstood me. I mean some of them hate themselves because of the way they look. I know I hated the way I looked when I was overweight. But these women posting pictures obviously love themselves enough to show their real selves. I think what Maria said is insensitive. But, I also think that if you are morbidly obese, you should work towards change. If you love yourself, you should try to take care of yourself.

  • Reply GD November 29, 2013 at 10:21 pm

    I agree with your comments but you disturb me! This whole thing with Asian people who dont feel like they’ve accomplished anything in life unless they marry a white person is VERY disturbing and sad!!!

    • Reply Stephanie November 29, 2013 at 10:50 pm

      What are you talking about? Why would you say something like that?

      • Reply Marc November 29, 2013 at 11:32 pm

        There is nothing wrong with the fact that Maria finds Asian men unattractive. Everyone is entitled to their opinions.

        • Reply Jackie November 30, 2013 at 10:20 am

          They’re better off without her.

  • Reply Marc November 29, 2013 at 11:29 pm

    Your son looks kind of chubby. Why are you feeding him cake pops? Don’t you know that cake pops are a gateway food? Next thing you know he will be FAT like your mom was FAT. You and I both know that having a FAT family member is simply unacceptable.

    Get your son on a restricted food program ASAP and post the results of his transformation please.

    • Reply Lisa November 30, 2013 at 12:33 am

      Picking on someone son is not cool, Marc. If you have a problem with Maria that is fine but don’t go after her child – that is playing dirty.

      • Reply Marc November 30, 2013 at 5:08 am

        I don’t have a problem with Maria at all. I’m concerned about her son, he looks a cake pop or two away from being on his way to obesity. We can all agree that obesity is unacceptable, yes?

        • Reply Jackie November 30, 2013 at 10:19 am

          Marc is concerned that if Maria is this abusive towards fat people, if her children became fat she’d turn her fat hatred onto them. He’s acting no differently than Maria has towards fat people.

        • Reply Tallaney November 30, 2013 at 7:44 pm

          Maria feeds her kids healthy food as well, not just cake pop. Marc…what do you eat for dessert? And don’t lie.

          • Marc December 1, 2013 at 12:05 am

            This isn’t about me, it’s about Maria’s chubby son. She might feed him healthy food in addition to the cake pops, but apparently the volume of whatever she is feeding is too high.

  • Reply Just Me November 30, 2013 at 1:02 am

    I read your post and started reading the comments. And I am an individual that did hear of the previous controversy though I didn’t continue to follow until there was a news article about the facebook post.

    The reason that I’m posting this comment is in the hopes that you do read the comments that you receive. I hope that you become aware how much hate is in so many of the prior comments and to reflect on why people are giving such responses. I hope you reflect on why you alienate people you want to help and why your supporters comments are usually filled with negativity in some form.

    And I wish you well on your journey; that you find your center and are able to spread your passion in an uplifting and loving manner. Peace be with you.

  • Reply Amy November 30, 2013 at 1:23 am

    In 2005 I topped the scales at 285 lbs., was a size 28, borderline diabetic, and had constant problems with my feet, hips, knees, back and ankles. 1t’s now 2013 and I’ve lost 105 pounds and am a size 10. I’m still working out hard to lose the last 40 but I feel amazing! Obesity is a mental preoccupation as much as it is a physical one. It seems so daunting to take on the task of remaking ourselves into someone healthy but it’s worth it. Because of my weight loss I’m back in college getting my life back together. If I can lose 105 pounds I can do anything. Saying that obesity is okay does not make anyone healthier mentally or otherwise, it’s enabling their illness – be it mental, physical or emotional. In order to be healthy you have to be fully healthy: mind, spirit AND body. I was constantly sick when I was fat. Now I’m the one who’s never sick. Did I mention that I feel amazing? So what is your excuse?

  • Reply Mike November 30, 2013 at 1:39 am

    Keep doing what you’re doing, Maria! No shame.

  • Reply Tsegereda November 30, 2013 at 4:48 am

    I agree with what you said…I think some people just don’t like to hear the truth. We need more people like you advocating great health by hard work!

  • Reply Alex November 30, 2013 at 10:00 am

    This is what I said on my Facebook page about it:
    There are people who should be banned for worse here on Facebook, but being banned over the state of obesity here in America is messed up! In my opinion, I think the size acceptance movement goes way too far by feeling threatened by her. She made the choice to be healthy, others make the choice to be unhealthy. And personally I think this woman after having three kids looks great!

    Beauty is in the eye of the beholder but to ban her is just wrong! If Facebook needs to ban anyone, they need to start cracking down on the real problem people like the rapists and child molesters who lurk online. Me, I may be a big girl myself but I have agree with what she says. Now I know I will never be rail thin, I have accepted that but since I have quit smoking over a year ago I have gained lots of weight.

    You can tell me that I look sexy or whatever, you don’t live in my body and you don’t want to. When I have to count to three to lift myself up after kneeling, that is not good. It’s not good at all. It’s unhealthy. It’s not sexy when I am breathing hard just to walk up a flight of steps and it ain’t sassy or sexy when I can barely run like I used to. The point is obesity is not healthy.

    So after the first of the year, since I am now smoke free I do plan to become healthier because I want to live longer. I don’t want to have to count to three anymore when I get out of a chair or get up from a kneeling position and then have to go through excruciating pain when I do it. Believe it or not being obese like I am is very painful and I am dealing with it daily.

    Now I know what some of you are going to say, you’re probably thinking “Oh she doesn’t love herself.” or “She should be satisfied with the way God made her.” This is where some of you are wrong, I do love myself. I love myself enough to where I want to see my nieces and nephews get married and have kids of their own and the way to do this is to lose weight. I will no longer buy this ‘size acceptance’ bullshit because it will kill me and I want to live.

    So to ban this woman for setting a healthy example is wrong on FB’s part!

  • Reply Dave November 30, 2013 at 11:55 am

    I greatly admire you and your effort. I am very sensitive to this issue having grown up being teased and called all sorts of names. I lost the fat with the courage and workouts of football in high school. I still feel conscious about how I look and my legs are much bigger due to bones that developed playing hockey while very young and overweight. I will always struggle against food and snacking, but I workout and am determined to never again no matter how many parenting, family, career, social, spiritual obligations or interests I have take away from a lifelong duty to keeping fit.

    Your message is an inspiration to fathers, mothers, and everyone. I do not expect perfection. There is a sad amount of jealousy and excuses that many use and have wrongfully directed their vilification of what is an admirable quest to positively motivate society to improve their health. Keep up the great work in promoting your positive message. Now I must go for a run while the family sleeps. I was up with my 3 month old for an hour. You are a heroine and role model and keep sending your message.

  • Reply Allie November 30, 2013 at 1:28 pm

    I agree that people should take care of their health, but I don’t think you are a good messenger. You’re not connecting well with the demographic in question. Individuals who are overweight need positive encouragement to make healthy changes in their lives. An image of a half-naked woman demanding, “What’s your excuse?” immediately turns people off — especially other women.

    And by the way, I’m a very fit mother of almost three-year-old triplets. No chip on my shoulder!

  • Reply DJ November 30, 2013 at 1:35 pm

    Keep doing what you are doing. You look great and my wife and I can relate to your situation. We also have 3 kids (2,5,7) but make sure we make fitness a priority so that our children have a good example from which to learn. It all starts in the home.

    • Reply Marc December 1, 2013 at 12:07 am

      Give it a rest, DJ. Maria is not interested in having a threesome with you and your wife. She is a classy Asian.

  • Reply Michael Santiago November 30, 2013 at 3:11 pm

    Originally, I was in Maria’s corner. After reading this, she can go kick rocks.

    I workout on a regular basis. I don’t do it so people can “celebrate” me. I do it because I want to enter a career that requires a relatively high level of fitness, and because I enjoy it. My 7-year-old son works out with me because he enjoys it and loves spending time with his father. We don’t do it to ostracize those who are obese.

    Fat. Skinny. Whatever. If you’re happy with the way you look, nobody has the right to put you down.

  • Reply alex November 30, 2013 at 3:54 pm

    go get em girl, this fatocracy is crazy and should not be occuring in a day in age when we know exactly what causes these dis-eases. also, fat people suck

  • Reply Could it be Jealousy? November 30, 2013 at 4:32 pm

    Maria Kang and her message are awesome.

    If attractive, fit males such as those featured on this site: https://www.facebook.com/malefitnessmodelz went public with the same message, overweight, unattractive females would not lambaste these fit males because such females are not jealous of these men. They are JEALOUS of intelligent, confident women such as Maria Kang.

    The female haters would be hard-pressed to try to prove that their immature reactions to Maria Kang’s message are not based on a toxic admixture of jealousy, gender, and their own flawed self-perceptions. If males can be applauded for promoting lifelong fitness, health, and wellness, then applaud all role models who educate and inspire others to live free of avoidable illnesses and other ailments that compromise well-being.

    Be rational about this issue, and take responsibility for your own lives and for YOUR reactions to Maria’s great message. Why does jealousy have to drive this issue? Why is there a double standard?

  • Reply John November 30, 2013 at 5:13 pm

    I think Facebook should be ashamed for deleting your post. You were not critical or offensive – you stated a truth people don’t want to hear. Since when is trying to inspire become bullying? You keep doing doing what your doing and hold your ground!

  • Reply Joseph Vincent November 30, 2013 at 6:07 pm

    I was nutritionist in Boston and I got sick of seeing overweight people asking and paying me to help them. I would talk with them very nicely and let them know how to change their eating habits, but they would never take action for more then a week. I now live in Cancun, look me up if you ever visit. I friggin love who you are !

    • Reply Really??? December 3, 2013 at 5:13 pm

      I call bullshit!!!

  • Reply Chris Lutz - Master Trainer November 30, 2013 at 6:15 pm

    I’m a fitness professional and I think what’s happening here is that what you’re saying is coming off like you want to impose your values on others. It’s really none of our business, individually, who does what or how they look unless we have a professional relationship with them for it. If there’s a group that wants to celebrate it, that’s perfectly within their right just as much as it is your right to freely talk about it. Certainly nothing wrong with inspiration, but your statements aren’t being perceived as inspiration. Efforts are likely best focused on those who are willing to listen to your message rather than some obscure commercial marketing niche for underwear.

    • Reply Proves my Point December 1, 2013 at 12:41 am

      If a male fitness professional clad in a Speedo were promoting fitness, the focus would not be on “underwear” or his “skimpy” little outfit. You need to admit your gender bias.

    • Reply Kim F December 2, 2013 at 9:44 pm

      I get her point we can’t celebrate the fact that we have kids and can manage to stay healthy and in shape but the heavy chics can post thing like real men like curves only dogs go for bones.

      Well turn around is fair play ladies get off your lazy butts and go for a walk. Make dinner every night, take lunches and make sure you eat breakfast every morning. Get your kids and yourself off the computer and off the couch and go spend quality time together doing something physically active. And ladies let me tell you a real man doesn’t let people tell him what to like, a real man will like whatever he wants.

      • Reply Guillermo December 3, 2013 at 12:58 am

        Holy hell Kim you hit it right on the spot! I don’t like “curves”…to me thats just another way for a fat girl to feel god about herself. To me, Mrs. Kang has the curves I like. In fact, my fiancee is 5’8 and weighs 117lbs and is 34-24-36 and looks HOT! I dont want a 5’3 155 girl. Thats not what guys like. Guys don’t like slugs in bed sorry to break it to you fat chicks.

  • Reply Lissa November 30, 2013 at 9:13 pm

    I’ve got to say that I agree with your deleted post on facebook. As far as the campaigns that we have to love our bodies: yes, we should love ourselves, and loving ourselves means that we should be taking care of our bodies. I’m currently trying to drop weight that I have gained due to disorganized eating.

    I tend to skip several meals in a row without even thinking about it or realizing I’m hungry. Then, I’m sure you know how that makes weight actually just pile on. I got so frustrated, and finally got my thyroid tested with my doctor after damaging a muscle in my back. I had to write down everything I ate, every calorie I spent in any kind of activity, and watch my blood pressure through out the day. I was shocked to discover that I averaged only about 400 to 500 calories consumed on the normal day with a day thrown in every so often where I hit 2000 to 2200 calories! (I even had a couple of days that I literally didn’t eat and only drank water! Yikes!)

    I’m not going to go into all the details of having to correct this, but nutrition and taking care of our bodies is something that we not only should be proud of doing, we owe it to ourselves.

  • Reply Nick November 30, 2013 at 9:48 pm

    I’m 28 years old and growing up I’ve heard so many excuses from individuals on why they cannot stay in shape. This woman is doing nothing more but showing people even with having 3 children and a husband we all have time in our lives to be in shape. Sure, it’s a lifestyle. Choose to be healthy, choose to be overweight. Nobody can make that choice but ourselves. I think she could be an inspiration to many and if that is a crime then Facebook and the rest of the judgemental society can take a leap. Go get em girl, you, your husband and children should be proud of you.

  • Reply shanghaifire November 30, 2013 at 9:52 pm

    Savvy. How many people have NEVER heard of this narcissistic Beotch before? Until now. I’m sure she is getting LOaDS of free publicity just by “innocently” insulting every person without her freakish Asian metabolism. This Tiger mother is going to ruin her kids for sure

    • Reply Lilac November 30, 2013 at 11:18 pm

      You cannot be serious? If you are, you must be seething with jealousy. I can help you. Go to the gym.

    • Reply Ms. Very Stupid November 30, 2013 at 11:51 pm

      Wow! You are a little bitter! Maybe she is narcissistic, however calling her names doesn’t make you any better. “Freakish Asian metabolism”? That statement is just plain racist. What is wrong with you? Even if you don’t agree with her, calling her names reflects poorly on YOU! Grow up! You don’t have to call her names like that just because you don’t like her message.

    • Reply Days of Broken Arrows December 1, 2013 at 4:00 am

      My mother was a thin fitness nut and we all went to top colleges and turned out great. The only problem I have, in fact, is I have to deal with fat women in real life.

    • Reply jose December 6, 2013 at 11:23 pm

      you’re retarded

  • Reply Mark symons November 30, 2013 at 11:28 pm

    I am 59, I am a keen Mountain biker. I cycled France and Japan in 2003 and did 6,500km camping.
    I had 3 stents put in 3 years ago after eating what I though to be healthy diet. I was 100% blocked on the left artery and still alive. I have had a weight problem for the last 15 years that I have battled against. I have just found out I am gluten sensitive, a major cause of arteriosclerosis and weight gain.
    I go out bush and ride 20km in hilly country 3 times a week for 2 hours at a time. It’s not easy to fight back. I lost 11KG earlier this year after going of the statin drug etc my Cardioligist had prescribed and going on the Pauling therapy. I had gone on the Paleo diet, no sugar, minimal grains. Doctors tell me I am going to die if I continue my natural healing thing and ignore.
    I stopped riding 3 months ago because it got to hot. I weighed myself after 2 months and found I had put on 6kg. OMG! I nearly committed suicide. All that work for nothing! So I got back on my bike, damn the heat. A week ago I came across a Youtube video by Tim Noakes on wheat. I am now completely off Wheat. I weighed myself after 3 days and had lost 3kg! My first ride 3 days later and I cut my time by 15 mins over a two hour ride.
    NEVER give up, its hard but NEVER give up. Listen to Maria K.

    • Reply Jessica December 3, 2013 at 7:15 pm

      Keep up the great work, Mark!

  • Reply Are only women "skimpily clad?" December 1, 2013 at 12:33 am

    So many critics are referring to her being “skimpily clad” and “half naked,” and they have no point. The attire she is wearing in the photo is appropriate for a fitness enthusiast. Is she supposed to be wearing a prom dress?

    Male muscle-builders often flex while wearing tiny briefs that barely cover up anything. They are way more than “half” naked, but that’s just fine, it seems. I don’t see anybody complaining about that or saying they’re “skimpily clad” or complaining that they’re not flexing in a 3-piece suit.

    Place the attire into context. If your dentist arrived in the exam room clad just in little briefs, that would come across as inappropriate and would warrant criticism. However, it is not inappropriate for a body-builder doing a photo shoot to be dressed that way.

    It is appropriate for a fitness enthusiast to wear fitness attire in a context that promotes fitness, unless… that person happens to be a woman. That appears to be the message, and what a sad message it is. Get with the times, people.

  • Reply Bobby J December 1, 2013 at 1:13 am

    I am now a fat old lady but seeing fatties saying what they have is special is sickening. They are not healthy compared to what they would be if they were 50 pounds less. Today it is PC to celebrate anything and everything. As a 68 year old woman who has hundreds of parachute jumps, thousands of scuba dives, multiple solo climbs of Mt Whitney’s back side (strenuous hike rather than technical climb) and other physical activities I salute what you are doing. It is a lot easier to stay fit then to get fit.

  • Reply Augusto December 1, 2013 at 3:28 am

    I understand the emotional distress of being done wrong; unfairness and the like. Remember that patience is the bread of the wise and time will always uncover the truth. Difficulties can help us grow by overcoming them or sometimes, just by enduring them. Stay strong!

    • Reply Keren December 1, 2013 at 8:53 pm

      I agree Maria, it is wrong what Facebook has done. Stay strong and continue to deliver the message you have been telling women. Only the strong women will accept the challenge to improve ourselves.

  • Reply Days of Broken Arrows December 1, 2013 at 3:58 am

    American women’s calls for “body acceptance” is the biggest load of hypocrisy ever. Women are the ultimate body shamers, who rule out any guy too short, too thin and nerdy or too dark sinned (the last of which makes them mace innocent men). Go to any online dating site to see how closed-minded women are.

    The takeaway I get from the female body acceptance crowd is “freedom for me, but not for thee.”

  • Reply Tony D December 1, 2013 at 4:14 am

    Everybody should be banned from Facebook.

  • Reply Jerome Magajes December 1, 2013 at 7:33 am

    Maria Kang, congrats for re-filming your DVD! So what’s the title of your DVD?

  • Reply Brian Mora December 1, 2013 at 9:07 pm

    I can relate to your plight, Maria. I have been censored three times this year from Facebook – the last one happened two months ago after I had gotten home from work and decided to catch up on a few days of action I had missed on account of my job requires me to be out of town and away from my c0mputer for a few days each week. Then some neoliberal crybaby got buttsore and cried “SPAAAAAAAAAAM!” or “ABUUUUUUUUUUUSE!” or some idiotic “automated system” decided to censor me for no reason. I have been trying to get ahold of Facebook for the past TWO MONTHS to make them address this problem and remove all restrictions from my account.
    Facebook rely too much on automated systems and their leftward ideological biases as an excuse to censor folks like you and me for no good reason whatsoever and need to stop allowing this censorship. They conveniently claim that they cannot reduce the time of the “restriction”. Let me share with you something that I wrote about this in my MULTIPLE responses to them as I have been appealing this unwarranted and unlawful censorship against my account.

    Their terms claim that “Facebook should have a process of notice and comment to provide transparency and encourage input on amendments to these Principles or to the Rights and Responsibilities.”
    There is NO transparency when they keep deferring to their precious “automated systems” and let any unwarranted restrictions on accounts run their course for however long, even to the 10th of “whatever” with no determinate end in sight.
    Facebook also falsely claim that “People should be able to use Facebook for free to establish a presence, connect with others, and share information with them. Every Person should be able to use the Facebook Service regardless of his or her level of participation or contribution.”
    But what happens when someone IS connecting with others and sharing information with them as they are establishing a presence, and suddenly they get censored, restricted, flagged, and whatever, for no reason?! That is hypocrisy on their part.
    They also falsely claim that “Every Person – whether individual, advertiser, developer, organization, or other entity – should have representation and access to distribution and information within the Facebook Service, regardless of the Person’s primary activity. There should be a single set of principles, rights, and responsibilities that should apply to all People using the Facebook Service.”
    The fact of the matter is many vast majority conservative American users like myself have been needlessly targeted with these “restrictions” that serve to censor us for no reason. This has driven some folks to even leave the site.
    For the record: I have NEVER EVER violated ANY of their “precious” “terms”. I have NEVER posted ANY so-called “spam”, I have NEVER “abused” my account – I am simply an ordinary American citizen exercising his God-given rights protected by the Constitution of the United States of America.
    And I have found such problems with using Facebook pages only during the course of this year, and without any reason for it. I have had enough of this interference with my First Amendment rights – and I expect this unwarranted “restriction” removed from my account immediately.
    They also claim that “People should have the freedom to share whatever information they want, in any medium and any format, and have the right to connect online with anyone – any person, organization or service – as long as they both consent to the connection.”
    Somehow some people get interfered with for no reason when they try to connect, and I have heard horror stories about people who have been pestered about whether they know that person, and so forth, leading to additional censorship via restriction.
    I have contacted their site numerous times about this unwarranted restriction via Report A Problem and Report An Issue links from the toolbar without any relief and I have attempted to reach them via regular mail as I have given up on trying to reach them by telephone.

    Additionally, I have had to contact my Congressional Representatives for assistance because I cannot seem to get through to any of their technicians who won’t be bothered to intervene on my behalf and remove this outrageous and unwarranted restriction on my account – and see about pushing a Social Networking Bill Of Rights that mandates that First Amendment rights be protected for

    This is unacceptable handling of a legitimate problem that their site’s “automated system” has created – and by refusing to handle this on a case-by-case, more personal basis, they are putting themselves at great risk of being exposed for their hypocrisy and their censorship.

    Now maybe you are not a conservative yourself. Whatever your ideology, does not matter: The fact that you are being censored for no good reason is appalling. Maybe getting ahold of the press, your Congressional representatives, and even the Securities Exchange Commission – Facebook are publicly traded on Nasdaq under the symbol FB – may help your cause. ANYONE who is being censored by rampant, radical policies like those you and I have been “restricted” with illegally, fraudulently, unconstitutionally, and treasonously, is under attack. Your freedom of speech needs to be respected by social networking sites – and we need federal LAWS that mandate such controls over how social networking sites can and cannot treat their users.

  • Reply The faulty assumption ... December 1, 2013 at 9:23 pm

    … is that skinny = healthy ALWAYS, fat = unhealthy ALWAYS.

    I am fat, have been fat all my life, have been the healthiest person I have ever known, all my life. Never get sick, never need to see a doctor, haven’t cost you a dime in health care, while, for example, a wonderful old friend of mine who works out like mad and is crazy lean as a result … is in and out of doctors for a wide variety of things, week in and week out. Not to say that I am typical for a fat person OR that she is typical for a slender person, but it is just plain INCORRECT to pronounce every fat person you see “unhealthy.” I am quite fat and quite healthy, thank you very much!

    • Reply GOING GOING gone December 1, 2013 at 10:15 pm

      skinny does NOT equal always happy. Being blonde does not equal happy, having blue eyes does not equal happy. Being Asian and having a fast metabolism doesn’t equal being queen to human civilities….Loving youself fIRST is wealth and health. clearly Maria can’t equate fork with spoon.

  • Reply Mary Burr Baldwin December 1, 2013 at 10:00 pm

    I think it is a sad commentary against facebook that they would deny you your constitutional right to free speech. I don’t see anything wrong with what you said.

    • Reply GOING GOING gone December 1, 2013 at 10:13 pm

      no it’s Obama and his effd up wife. Maria is just lighting the match so HUMANS can’t speak for themselves. what a dumb ass …. we HAVE NO FREEDOMS …..

    • Reply Fat Girl December 4, 2013 at 4:34 am

      No one has a constitutional right to post anything on FB. FB is not run by the government, is not an agent of the government, and has not been held to be a public accommodation. Therefore constitutional rights don’t apply.

      • Reply Brian Mora December 14, 2013 at 12:35 am

        See, “Fat Girl”, that is where you are wrong. Re-read the First Amendment and you will understand.

  • Reply Jen December 2, 2013 at 9:44 pm

    I don’t mind if someone wants to work out all the time and only eat raw avocados and juice or whatever so they can be thin. But it’s annoying when people equate their obsession with their looks with being healthy. That’s not health. That’s vanity.

    And you know what? I bet you’re boring too. I’m bet you have nothing in your head but calorie counts.

  • Reply Ashley December 2, 2013 at 11:55 pm

    I don’t care if you think your stressing concerns of obesity in America…your a bully plain and simple. Grow up and realize not everyone is built like you, granted I don’t believe in being unhealthy I believe in loving yourself noatter the state of your body, those poor women you put down are beautiful women. You don’t have to be a size zero to be fit, I agree on being healthy and bettering yourself, however better yourself with the body type god gave you. You can be fit and curvy, I am in bootcamp 4x a week and in advanced pole fitness and I rock what I got by showcasing my beauty in the best body that I have ever had and I am a beautiful size 16. And everyone in my fitness facility loves how dedicated and hard working I am, ohh and I am a mother of two and work. So excuses to work for the best body I agree with, but come on putting down women cause they don’t look like you.. Get over yourself, ohh and I am a plus size pin up, fit mom who kicks ass with a clean bill of health being my gorgeous size!

    • Reply Ridiculous December 3, 2013 at 12:54 am

      Ashley are you being serious or are you some special kind of stupid? She didn’t criticize anyone. Actually she was stating that obesity is a serious problem in this country. The average woman now weighs 144 lbs and is 5’4 when just 40 years ago, the average woman weighed 129. And that was supposedly when women were supposed to be curvier. Give me a break. Youre just a fat slob who wants to pretend they are in shape. Size 16 is FAT!

      • Reply Jessica A. December 3, 2013 at 1:46 am

        Wow, “Ridiculous,” you made sure to live up to your screen name, didn’t you? Ashley stated that she goes to bootcamp and pole classes many days a week. So calling her a “fat slob” is completely off the mark, and shows how desperate and insecure you really are. You seriously need to have a mental health evaluation – it’s clear you’re suffering from at least one severely debilitating personality disorder. Unlike you, “Ridiculous,” who showed nothing but cruelty and judgment, I will be kinder and show you what you need: pity. Please get yourself some help dear, it must be so very hard living life as you.

  • Reply amanda December 3, 2013 at 3:25 am

    all she is saying is she promotes heath. she’s not putting down people who aren’t her size! People get sooo defensive so easily. I’m certainly not perfect, at a size 12, but I fully agree obesity IS a problem in America now and we should all LOVE and RESPECT our bodies, regardless of the size, but ALSO work towards being healthy/eating right/and exercising. There’s a clear difference between a heathy and unhealthy plus sized woman and don’t lie to yourself if you’re clearly unhealthy. Just take care of your body, love it, and that’s it!

  • Reply Justino December 3, 2013 at 8:01 am

    Did freedom of speech die? I guess so. Anyways nothing offensive about this post. Just absolute truth concerning the epidemic of obesity in America. Thank you, Mrs. Kang, for motivating many women to get in shape. Also, you and your husband make a beautiful couple.

    God bless.

  • Reply Keith December 3, 2013 at 8:47 am

    Love a nice thick curvy lady, I mean who wants bones or a sharp muscle body. Some people bash people on weight because deep down inside, they hate themselves.

  • Reply DeWayne December 3, 2013 at 8:57 am

    I’d rather see the proud and curvy instead of the proud and boney pics posted everywhere. Honestly

  • Reply Lawana B December 3, 2013 at 10:37 am

    If I had the body like that I would show it off too! I would like to know your daily workout so that with in the nwxt 6 months I can show my body off like that! I’m a 45yo mother of a 25yo and a 15yo and two grandchildren. I do keep myself up and in shape!!! 5’0 and 125lbs working daily to show my great workout off! Keep up the good work hopefully more women will do the same!

  • Reply Meredith December 3, 2013 at 10:57 am

    Fat girl here. I’m not offended by your post, I’ve seen/heard worse in my day, but you can’t boast that your an advocate for self-confidence, (“I am a firm believer that one should love their body in order to start loving and nurturing it”) and then tear down women who aren’t at YOUR level. Kudos to you for having 3 kids let alone getting back in shape, but please do not “get annoyed” with fat bodies like mine. You wouldn’t like it when people start shaming you for your body, don’t do it to others. “I’m not bashing those who are proud and overweight…” uhh, you kind of did. Excuse me while I go put my lingerie on my fat ass. Would you like to see a picture?

  • Reply jenny December 3, 2013 at 5:04 pm

    so i smoke i drink and i eat! maybe i will die young…maybe not i dont think it matter! i make good money which also make me pay lots of taxes so i do my share for the health system! i am fat and not offended by your post. you did good you should be proud of yourself! looking like you do with a familly and all most not be easy! i respect that a lot.

  • Reply Lynn Lamy December 3, 2013 at 5:18 pm

    Enough of the green eyes, hats off to a success story. Hopefully, others will be encouraged toward good health of which self esteem is a critical part. Best wishes.

  • Reply vivace December 3, 2013 at 5:22 pm

    You are totally justified in your position! A closeup look at all studies connecting weight and health conclude that overweight and healthy just do not go together. Plain and simple. http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/12/02/248206955/overweight-and-healthy-a-combo-that-looks-too-good-to-be-true?utm_content=socialflow&utm_campaign=nprfacebook&utm_source=npr&utm_medium=facebook

  • Reply KI Chee December 3, 2013 at 7:55 pm

    If you were secure with yourself, you wouldn’t lash out so much at women who truly are at peace with who they are and who find themselves satisfied with their weight. I understand you struggled with an eating disorder and I don’t want to de-value your goals or your sense of accomplishment. But you seem to carry with you some kind of unresolved emotional issues from that time period and you are directing them outwardly. Perhaps focus on getting your own self esteem in shape – your real, core self, not your outward persona – and perhaps you will truly be beautiful enough in your own eyes to let go of the bitterness and dare I say jealousy you feel towards those who are comfortable in their bodies.

    • Reply Hans December 5, 2013 at 6:10 pm

      Stop making other people’s success a personal attack on you. You, like everyone else that is lashing out against Maria, are fabricating a personal attack against yourself based on her success that she has shared with others through social media. Just because she’s sharing her personal fitness success, IT DOESN’T MEAN SHE’S PERSONALLY JUDGING YOU. YOU CHOOSE TO MAKE IT PERSONAL ATTACK ON YOURSELF. So quite the contrary to your post Mrs. Ki Chee, it appears you are the one who is insecure. Those who are bothered by other’s success are the insecure, weak minded and hyper-sensitive. You should look to no one but yourself to resolve the issues you have with other’s success.

  • Reply kim December 3, 2013 at 8:25 pm

    I agree with the obesity issue!! We are a society that is getting out of hand with excessive weight. I was a size 18 six months ago with high blood pressure and on the brink of diabetes. Now I am a size 12 and am feeling so much better.. still have a ways to go and your picture inspires me to keep going!!

  • Reply D December 3, 2013 at 8:47 pm

    If people want to get fit and exercise, that’s great! But there are some people who have decided the way they look is fine. Their health is not your business. Let them be happy. You have no right to assume anything about their health, as you are not their physician, and even if you were, it’s still not your body! Someone is actually deciding not to hate their bodies forever? Perish the thought!

  • Reply Thermodynamics December 3, 2013 at 9:17 pm

    How can you claim to have a healthy lifestyle and still be fat? It makes literally no sense at all. People that eat right and exercise are not fat. You fat “healthy” people are still consuming too much calories or else you would not be fat. It’s SCIENCE. INFALLIABLE SCIENCE.

    • Reply Jen December 4, 2013 at 1:18 am

      Actually, people who are overweight tend to only eat one meal or not eat properly as a last resort thinking less will help loose weight. It doesnt. And this is why they get stuck. Labellin someone as eating too much and thats why they are overweight is as cruel as someone calling a skinny girl anorexic. Its not on from either side. She worded things wrong and probably only for all this attention. I for one put my KIDS first. Always. My bodies taken a beating and im not as ‘toned’ as I want to be, but I wont let someone like this make me feel any less cos I dont ditch my kids with someone to work out, I do what I can and ive always eaten healthy and still couldnt ditch the weight, its only since joining a group-slimmin world, ive found the drive to take a real look at my lifestyle and get anywhere. Some people dont even have kids as their reason, some guys like big woman, and so what, if they feel sexy why tear em down, if they havent got health problems leave em be! Get on with ya own life 🙂

  • Reply Tayloe December 3, 2013 at 10:45 pm

    In what way is she wrong? She’s absolutely, 100% correct – there’s a difference between just loving your body and loving your body enough to better it. Empowering people to take their health into their own hands is NOT shaming. Kang never said these women were ugly, or unattractive, or shouldn’t be considered beautiful – she simply said that promoting images of obese women as the “norm” is not helpful when as a nation we are in the middle of an obesity crisis. It’s about being fit and healthy vs. being obese, not skinny vs. fat. OBESITY IS NOT HEALTHY! You may be comfortable in your own skin but that comfort won’t make you less likely to develop adult onset diabetes. If you love your body so much how about treating it right?

  • Reply Rolling Eyes December 3, 2013 at 10:56 pm

    Oh yeah, people who encourage others to be fit instead of obese obviously “hate themselves on the inside” and are “jealous of people who are comfortable with their bodies”. And that jealousy drives them to do what? Oh, that’s right, try to help other people find a healthier way of life. What a$$holes those fit people are! Ugh, enough with their fat shaming by offering workout tips and diet advice, it’s so offensive! They make it seem like anyone can be fit and healthy if they just work hard and are disciplined, but my genetics obviously make me lazy and unable to resist candy bars! YOU DON’T KNOW MY BODY! YOU’RE NOT MY DOCTOR! But all obese, excuse me, “curvy” women are OBVIOUSLY licensed psychologists since they know everything that’s going on inside the mind of any fit person who’s enough of a dick to try to help others.

    Too bad sarcasm doesn’t burn calories…

    Maria Kang – ignore the haters! You can only help those people who want to be helped.

  • Reply Wendy Poe December 3, 2013 at 10:56 pm

    Are you mad fattie?

  • Reply Gerald Mick December 4, 2013 at 2:23 am

    I’m surprised they blocked you! I am a family doctor and I have rougher “come to Jesus” talks with my obese patients who have cozied up to the idea of taking pills for diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, osteoarthritis, and erectile dysfunction–all because they won’t do one thing: lose weight!

  • Reply LaughOutLoud December 4, 2013 at 2:39 am

    Remember when she pretended her kid was up in a balloon ? Error…wait. That was a different attention seeker. How much validation do these people need? Answer : enough to believe in themselves. Won’t come from others. Won’t come from appearances either. People like Maria seek something they can only get from themselves. Just as her bulimia couldn’t puke away her issues, this crusade of hers can’t bring her contentment. We shouldn’t encourage her because this attention probably only serves to make her more neurotic.

  • Reply Fat Girl December 4, 2013 at 4:38 am

    My comment won’t post, and every time I try to post it again is says “duplicate comment detected.” Yet, someone’s post that says, “kill yourself fatty” is allowed? Who is censoring who now?

    • Reply Jackie December 6, 2013 at 1:50 pm

      I think it’s that the server that handles the posts on Maria’s blog are slow. She might be moderating the posts, but I haven’t seen much evidence of it.

      • Reply jennifer Anne December 8, 2013 at 10:28 pm

        no someone is deleting posts that speak the truth from all sides. sending out the message that loving yourself and having more than 15 pounds to loose and setting your own goals just isn’t ok. She has supporters so they go and tattle tale so can get a piece of the lemon and lime pie. Someone monitors these posts and then puts up the defenders to mock the ones of us that don’t back down against treating people unhappy through society.

        • Reply Fat Girl December 12, 2013 at 6:27 pm

          Yes, my post provided factual information on body positive communities based on my experience as a member of many of them. It gave information on what these communities are really about (i.e. they are not about advocating being fat or unhealthy). For some reason it was decided that that comment could not go up, but all the other random stuff I posted made it’s way here.

      • Reply Fat Girl December 12, 2013 at 6:30 pm

        Yes, my post provided factual information on body positive communities based on my experience as a member of many of them. It gave information on what these communities are really about (i.e. they are not about advocating being fat or unhealthy). For some reason it was decided that that comment could not go up, but all the other random stuff I posted made it’s way here.

  • Reply c December 4, 2013 at 1:50 pm

    lol I hope this bitch pulls a Jim Fixx soon, enough of your fat shaming you self-righteous fuck.

  • Reply Bree December 4, 2013 at 2:44 pm

    When I saw Maria on the news AGAIN this morning, I was shocked. Geez, people…let it go!
    I weigh more than I should and it shows. You know what could change that? If I ate better and exercised. I could make tons of excuses…my full-time job, 2 active kids, etc. But the truth is that I am lazy. When I see pictures of Maria with her boys, I am jealous. I don’t hate her for what she looks like or what she is saying…I am mad at myself for lacking the discipline to look like her.

    • Reply Askme December 4, 2013 at 3:45 pm

      I think Maria looks amazing, but she is also insane. She claims to have a passion for fitness, but actually it’s an obsession and what she really wants is for everyone to be a mirror image of herself. That is pretty arrogant to assume that everyone should want to look like her. I think the best way to combat this is for people to stop reading her blogs so her 15 minutes of fame can finally come to an end. Let those who want to follow her like a cult do so in peace. She is our modern day Hitler and KKK. I’m sure if she were given a chance, she would eliminate anyone bigger than a size 6.

      Bree, I know your post was meant to support Maria King, but take a closer look at what you wrote. Maria King and her advise is supposed to make you feel good right? But in a few short sentences you manage to call yourself lazy, jealous and mad. 2 kids, a full time job, those aren’t excuses, they’re a reality. Maria doesn’t work and if you read her blogs you will see that she exercises all the time and everywhere she goes. That’s not reality either. Unfortunately, her sons will bear the brunt of her obsession. They will miss out on a wonderful woman one day just because she might be a size 8 or something.

      • Reply shut up! December 4, 2013 at 5:06 pm

        I think Bree is full of shit just like Maria. You are absolutely right and you can add Charles Manson and his followers to the list or maybe that jones crazy guy since so many people can’t stop drinking the fucking KOOL AID!

        gosh ….the only people I do respect are her kids and unfortunately they won’t ever see her bring a fat girl home for mommy to belittle. Truly disturbing. Thanks I will take your advise and STOP OBSESSING WITH HOW THIS WOMAN INTERNALLY HURTS ME AND HER GAL PALS AND STUPID BASTARD MEN.

  • Reply Lauri December 4, 2013 at 3:34 pm

    I think it is really pathetic the way FB blocked you for saying what you felt. It’s also pathetic that people feel the need to report your post as abusive simply because they don’t agree with it. Where is freedom of speech?! Frankly, I am tired of people bashing you Maria for doing what is good for you and trying to help others do the same. As an overweight person for most of my life, I am thankful for people like you. Without the support of you and others like you, my struggles would be much worse! Thank you for what you do for myself and those like me.

  • Reply LizBet December 4, 2013 at 6:00 pm

    Maria…I saw nothing in that post that had anything to do with “fat shaming”. They were facts. To date I am a 5’3″ woman who weighs 245 lbs. I am exactly 100 lbs heavier than I was 10 years ago. I know that I did this to myself. I don’t have an overactive thyroid, or any other medical issue that causes me to retain weight. I have as much or as little stress as any other middle class mom with a full time job and full time household. I don’t have any psychological issues that would cause me to use weight gain as a protective cover. For those who do have those problems: It’s ok. You have a valid reason for having to deal with obesity. YOU are not the one she’s talking to. She’s talking to those like me. Those who know exactly how to lose the weight and keep it off and CHOOSE not to. I have freakishly high cholesterol, osteo-arthritis in both knees, pinched nerves through out my back and shoulders, all aggravated by my weight. My recent wake up call was when my doctor offered me gastric bypass surgery. I was floored, hurt, and embarrassed. I was a Marine. And now I’m being offered gastric bypass. Screw that. Life changes here they come. Keep it up Maria. There are thick girls out there who find you inspirational!!!!

    • Reply Maegan December 6, 2013 at 7:09 am

      You said it perfectly Lizbet. As an obese mom of four who has used every excuse in the book over the last 15 years for my weight problems, I was pissed off by Maria at first. And then I truthfully examed why. SHE wasn’t shaming me! I was doing it to myself! I had no excuse to be this way except laziness. Maria wasn’t personally attacking me, she was trying to show what’s possible if I’m just willing to make an effort!

  • Reply Shar December 5, 2013 at 1:48 am

    Maria – It’s appalling how you can really believe that post was okay.
    It doesn’t matter that you shared “facts” It matters how you pre-empted it shaming beautiful women who pose in lingerie.

    It seems you’re the one with the issues.

    Actually it’s very clear you’re the one with the issues.

    It’s also clear you don’t have any friends.

    Because if you did, at LEAST one of them would be overweight (based on your statistics) and if you did have a friend who was overweight, never would you post such a thing about another human being.

    You’re a classic version of “ugly on the inside” and at the very best, you’re average on the outside as far as the superficial fitness community goes.

    You should be absolutely ashamed of yourself for posting that in the first place, and now perpetuating it by reposting it here.

    I wish you the best of luck on your journey to mental health and wholeness.

    P.S Facebook is not a place to post emotional rants. If you really were committed to what you say you stand for, you would have paused for 2 seconds, gave some thought to what you wrote, and expressed it very differently in the spirit of support, not HATE .

    You’re nothing but an emotionally unstable tyrant, and no matter what you say to defend yourself, you’re not fooling anybody. (Even those who are pretending to agree with you just to get your approval)

    • Reply Ellie March 7, 2014 at 1:43 am

      Don’t pay much attention to this post Maria, some people just cant handle your brutal form of honesty. If they want to claim you have no friends, because at least one of them would be overweight, that is a load of crap. Based on what statistics? And even so, if you do have overweight friends, who’s to say you don’t use the same form of honesty with them? I have overweight, and obese friends and I wish I was brave enough to kick their asses into shape like this.

  • Reply ME December 5, 2013 at 4:53 am

    Your sob story does not excuse your lack of empathy for other women, you’re shamelessly trying to pass as inspirational a photo that was posted for the sole purpose of self promotion. You’re blessed with genetics, you’re LUCKY that’s it, being in shape comes easy for you. I truly hope your LUCK does not run out, because you will not be able to survive if you ever gain an ounce of weight. Good Luck in promoting yourself by insulting other. Who made you an expert in weight loss, being a freak of nature?

    • Reply Ellie March 7, 2014 at 1:40 am

      What makes you think she is blessed with genetics? She has worked her ass off for that body, it has nothing to do with her genetic makeup. Your metabolism is not solely affected by genes, but also by how active you are and what you eat. Besides, your post doesn’t make much sense. You just sound like an idiot.

  • Reply imjustsayn December 5, 2013 at 5:00 am

    I saw Maria on Access Hollywood defending herself for the harsh words that she used to describe curvy women and just because you see curvy differently from others Maria doesn’t make it right to call them fat. I did not see empathy I saw arrogance and ugliness and the way you are coming across is what’s making people turn their noses up at you for the message that you are trying to put out there I personally was ready to turn the TV off after watching and listening to you.

  • Reply Robert December 5, 2013 at 6:04 am

    You are doing the right thing Maria King, keep up the work on fitness. Your health is earned. it’s not given, and you can not buy it. It’s a life style of making the right decisions and researching the facts. Sooner or later obese people will have complications. Science states this as a fact.

  • Reply c-dizzle December 5, 2013 at 1:11 pm

    I’m really just surprised people use Facebook. That’s so 2008.

  • Reply Christa Heafey December 5, 2013 at 3:05 pm

    I am SO impressed with what I just read. I have been struggling my whole life with eating disorders. I am now 30 – 40 overweight and am getting nowhere fast. I have tried everything. I have just read Maria’s response to the “hate” response she received. I am more motivated now than I have ever been just from her words. I will continue to follow her and pray the envious will leave her alone.

    • Reply Shar December 12, 2013 at 4:51 am

      Envious?

  • Reply Jenna December 5, 2013 at 4:23 pm

    Maria,

    You should stand proud and not feel bad about your picture and caption. You look amazing and you obviously worked hard for it. The truth is….there is no excuse to remain overweight months after having a child. It’s a choice period.

    Every negative comment about you has the same butt hurt undertones. They KNOW there is no excuse but they choose to piss and moan because of their own lack luster choices for their bodies. Jealousy is ugly….and lame.

    Keep up the great work! You are an inspiration!

  • Reply Ashley December 5, 2013 at 4:58 pm

    If people are offended by your post they that just proves they are either ignonant or in denial. Most people would rather not listen to good advice or good criticism. Everything you say about health is readily available proven facts and statistics. I personally look at the acceptance of obesity as defeat. Weak people accept defeat and accept less than they should. It’s personal choice. As is everything in life period. I choose fitness. I choose to try to sick to a healthy diet. I embrace and celebrate my body. Mary you are motivational, and I’m sure you have helped to motivate those that need the motivation. Thank you, for all your motivational posts!

  • Reply Aran M Cockburn December 5, 2013 at 5:15 pm

    Having read this post and the deleted post from FB, I see nothing wrong in what you said. I am obese (still, after losing 30+ lbs), I have various health issues related to the excess body weight and I take no offence at what you have said. I agree that parents SHOULD be role models, kids learn from their parent first and foremost.

    While I don’t think people like myself should be shamed into doing something about their bodies, neither do I think we should celebrate fat is beautiful.
    I am working on shedding my fat self in order to be healthy…

  • Reply David December 5, 2013 at 5:29 pm

    It’s funny while I agree with you and think Facebook has issues when it leaves bigoted religious and seemingly hate groups alone it takes down these posts. But also I had to chuckle at all the you go girl comments here. Every type of group, person etc gets those.

  • Reply Beth Gross December 5, 2013 at 6:13 pm

    She has her opinions and I have mine. She is tactless and shames people because they aren’t doing what SHE thinks is right. For her to say “what’s your excuse” …excuse me? Who are you again? She can live her life as she sees fit, but don’t go throw it in everyone’s faces, shove it down their throats and belittle them. I see nothing but a huge ego there. She’s getting her 15 mintues of fame and I think it’s about expired. Next time you go and post something, think of HOW you say it. It might come across a little better and people might accept it more rather than how it was done.

    • Reply EricaB. December 5, 2013 at 9:43 pm

      Being obese/overweight isn’t healthy. It never will be. It’s not good for us.

      Why is it *ok* to allow permissive advertising on this issue? Ladies, it’s not Maria Kang who is shaming you. It’s food advertisements, lack of self control, ignorance, refusal to change and our American nation that are all saying its *ok* to be obese. IT’S NOT OK! It’s your health, it’s your life, it’s your future and it’s important!

      If something is important enough to you, then it will become a priority. If it’s not a priority then it’s probably not that important. All y’all are just mad at Maria because she’s doing a better job than us and its obvious. So, instead of hating on her and her awesome life, make one of your own! I’d rather wear out than rust out ! CAMPAIGN MOVE!!!

    • Reply Wanda Wanda December 6, 2013 at 1:27 am

      Well done, Beth. Thank you for saying what EVERY abled American SHOULD be saying…

      -=W=-

      • Reply Dave December 8, 2013 at 10:02 pm

        Wanda, you’re out of your mind. What Beth said was nothing more than a massive dose of ego. Doctor’s fight tooth and nail to try and tell Americans what is healthy and what they should do.. but as soon as they walk out the door, they head straight to McDonalds to pollute their bodies.. and then wonder why they don’t have the energy to be fit, and can’t lose weight. Sorry, but the majority of people in this country have absolutely no idea what good nutrition looks like, nor proper portioning, nor why exercise really *isn’t* an option.

        She wants to blast Maria for coming off arrogant, tactless, and shaming.. Well that’s funny.. Because that’s what you and her are trying to do yourselves. Unfortunately, it looks like she knows what she’s talking about. I bet a current picture or two of ya’ll would more than put ya’ll in your place. You’re just pissed that she has willpower, and you two do not. And this is coming from a REAL American, aka, one who FOUGHT for this country.. Pfff… Coming on here trying to say what a real american should be saying… Talk about arrogant..

  • Reply Nick McCray December 5, 2013 at 8:52 pm

    I absolutely agree with what you’ve said here. I have a large problem with people who glorify ‘accepting your body’ and vilify progressing your body to what YOU want it to be. It’s asinine.

    I support you 100% and am ashamed for those who attacked you for having a desire to help people better their pshyical, mental, and spiritual health. There will always be haters out there who find ways to feel superior over you when in fact they are acting out in opposition of their deep-seated inferiority they experience through encounters with those like you and I.

    Now, however, I’ll finish with a different angle: let them be their unhealthy self, once they die there’s more air and speaking room for the healthy ones. 😉

  • Reply Shell December 5, 2013 at 10:49 pm

    Maria, I love your blog. It’s very honest and informative. I’m glad you’re staying true to yourself and your beliefs. You’re a real role model. Keep writing! Keep inspiring people!

  • Reply EmJay December 5, 2013 at 10:52 pm

    Hmmm . . . sounds like you have some racism issues to work out.

  • Reply Tyler December 5, 2013 at 11:29 pm

    Thank you!!

  • Reply Tiffany Benitez December 6, 2013 at 8:36 am

    Ok…I don’t get it. I am FAT and I don’t find her comments offensive at all. Even if they were…she has a right to free speech. I have heard a lot more offensive comments on other topics and those people don’t get banned. She should file a lawsuit! I read some of the comments others were saying and I agree…it is easier for someone who doesn’t work….but its not impossible for those who don’t. I could wake up at 5AM to work out…but I choose not to so that is my fault and I have no problems admitting it.

    • Reply you suck December 6, 2013 at 5:00 pm

      don’t you think fat people have a right to speak up for themselves in debate. Oh and Fat people dicriminate against other bigger people of proportion. Just to emotionally satisfy . Thin people like Maria look down on us with her boss Obama. What’s not to get? Are you really not ok with putting 2 + 2 and seeing that if you support these people they will continue to mentally defect the rights of others? Jus sayin’

      and why can’t Maria or her husband defend themselves on their website. Kind of cowards …. if you ask me.

      • Reply Steve Chernick December 8, 2013 at 10:45 pm

        I cant make heads or tails of your banter.

        • Reply leave me bee December 9, 2013 at 10:59 pm

          tails does that suffice?

  • Reply Samantha H. December 6, 2013 at 6:45 pm

    It is really sad that those who simply have an opinion with basis on facts can’t verbalize their thoughts on a social media site. It’s okay for people to flood your Facebook pages with political rants, but God forbid anyone say anything about obesity. I am a married mother of 4 children, with a full time job and also finishing my Master’s degree. Needless to say…i’m a bit busy. I have struggled with my weight for many years and in the past 2 years have really taken control of my bad habits. I started completing 5k runs and going to the gym on a regular basis. So far, I have lost 30lbs and I have had to fight for each one. It wasn’t until I joined a small group exercise class at my work that I realized all that I was capable of. The class is guided by a personal trainer and is mostly cardio with some added strength training. Before the first day of class, the trainer and I had a conversation about goals. She wanted me to make realistic and attainable goals for the course of the 10 week program. She also told me that she would have me running at a 7.0 on the treadmill before the end of the 10 weeks. I had to laugh…..ummm chubby girl here who is 5’3 if we round up…..falling off the treadmill was more likely! Through the course of this 10 week class (which I use my lunch hour at work to attend) I have worked harder than I ever have before. I can say on week 7, I successfully ran at a 7.0 on the treadmill and didn’t fall off. Granted it was for 30 seconds during intervals but you know what? Success! Moms are busy, but in order to make fitness a part of your life you have to make it priority. It is my priority and each small success just gets me closer to my ultimate goal.

    • Reply Jackie December 7, 2013 at 4:11 am

      “It is really sad that those who simply have an opinion with basis on facts can’t verbalize their thoughts on a social media site. It’s okay for people to flood your Facebook pages with political rants, but God forbid anyone say anything about Black people.”

      Now, see what your statement really is saying? You’re supporting hate.

  • Reply Ej December 6, 2013 at 7:00 pm

    I’m all for encouraging healthier living, but you seem more like the born again Christians who suddenly think they’re the best Christian ever and love to judge others, or someone who quit smoking and from then on is very vocal about their disgust for smokers. There’s a way to be inspiring and then there’s belittling and you come off as belittling. Lead by example, not by claiming superiority.

    • Reply sal December 6, 2013 at 11:05 pm

      She’s just expressing her opinion. There’s no need to offend Christians about.

      • Reply jose December 6, 2013 at 11:12 pm

        How is she claiming to be superior or bettling. Everything she is saying is true. I get tired of going to other countries and seeing the surprise look and people’s faces when they hear that I am from the United States. Obesity is getting way out of hand and it is an issue that should be worked on. How is it fair to people that actually do their best to stay healthy to have to deal with things such as obama care(which should be called obese care) and higher insurance prices when they themsleves will not use insurance services much.

        • Reply jennifer Anne December 8, 2013 at 11:40 pm

          why the hell did you come here in the first place? Isn’t Mexico considered the first Obese in the world?
          so do you go to Indonesia and look at the smoking baby and his obesity problems. Obamacare needs to stay obamacare because that is actually what is happening people don’t have insurance so we are stressed the older you get the stressed out you are the more opportunities dwell down because of the wrong people in charge. The more unhappiness within quanity not quality. Learn facts about people before you berate them!
          also – next time you leave the United States please consider staying so I can be happier in knowing can now afford toilet paper!

  • Reply DC Metro Mom December 6, 2013 at 7:18 pm

    I have been 265 and now I’m 153 at the same 5’5 with hard work and years of trying. I actually agree with her post. We should be more aware of how those extra pounds effect our hearts and our lives. I couldn’t walk a mile and thought there was something seriously wrong with my shins and musculature. What was wrong? I was seriously fat and in my 20s unable to walk to and from classes without stopping. That’s ridiculous. This is an epidemic where this generation will not outlive their parents (in years) because we must shove more food into our faces. I’ve been on both sides of the spectrum and I’m glad to be on this side–enjoying my children, hiking, biking, kayaking, riding in planes (all the things I couldn’t do comfortably while so fat). Let’s not accept the unhealthy lifestyle, lets celebrate journeys to be better.

  • Reply Nan Smith December 6, 2013 at 7:50 pm

    Just curious, do you work outside of the home?

  • Reply Midevil December 6, 2013 at 7:50 pm

    Unfortunately another case of women being their own worst enemy.

  • Reply Charmaine Koonce December 7, 2013 at 6:30 pm

    She is telling the truth. Obesity has passed cancer in killing people. Children should be 400 pound it crazy!!! I have lost 90 pound on the 90 day challenge we are in a battle to fight childhood obesity!!!! I just ask people to look at themselves and try to help those folks who are trying to lose weight it is hard and it may take a lot of tries but DON”T GIVE UP!!!!! KEEP TRYING!!!!! http://www.bmsfitness.bodybyvi.com Check it out!!!!

  • Reply amanda December 7, 2013 at 8:17 pm

    Facebook will allow murder to be broadcast. Facebook will take down posts that empower women unfortunately it is a corporation ran by male supremacists. Violent abuse pics are ok. I promised my friends and family i would keep my account open but it gets harder everyday!

  • Reply Deborah Young December 8, 2013 at 1:35 am

    LOL the idea America is free speach is antiquicated, where have you people been? We are a “Militarized” country in every respect are you really this blind? And this craziness over Facebook is a great example of the American people wanting it all in this world, I’m glad to be leaving this ridiculous country, it’s assine government and most of all you idiots who have nothing better to do than sit here online jabbering about insignificant topics like THIS one.

    • Reply jennifer Anne December 8, 2013 at 10:22 pm

      pretty sick stuff huh? oh go to http://www.teaparty.net and sign the petition to impeach Obama. That will be the start of getting the rights that were unfairly stripped from us whom do continue to be better. Or if you don’t then bon voyage!

    • Reply Ellie March 7, 2014 at 1:37 am

      um.. I think you meant “speech” and “asinine”. Before you go talking smack about this country, why don’t you at least use spell check? You have just made yourself look like an idiot, which pretty much invalidates your post.

  • Reply Alex December 8, 2013 at 5:21 am

    Now before some of you come on here and start shaming Maria, maybe you fat fascists need to check out this link, or if you’re too lazy to click the link, read THE FACTS below from THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.

    http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/physician-resources/public-health/promoting-healthy-lifestyles/obesity.page

    Obesity is a major public health problem contributing to 112,000 preventable deaths each year. The prevalence of obesity has increased dramatically in recent decades, from 13 percent of adults in 1980 to 34 percent of adults in 2008. Among children, the prevalence increased from 5 percent to 17 percent during the same time period.

    According to the Centers for Disease Control and PreventionExternal Link (CDC), the following are health consequences of obesity:

    Coronary heart disease
    Type 2 diabetes
    Cancers (endometrial, breast, and colon)
    Hypertension
    Dyslipidemia
    Stroke
    Liver and gallbladder disease
    Sleep apnea and respiratory problems
    Osteoarthritis
    Gynecological problems (abnormal menses, infertility)
    Risks for these conditions increase as weight increases. Obesity also affects various racial and ethnic groups disproportionately. Further, obesity and its associated problems have a large economic impact on our health care system, with the costs in 2008 equating to $147 billion.

    The current Surgeon General Regina Benjamin, MD, MBA, recently addressed this issue in her report, The Surgeon General’s Vision for a Healthy and Fit Nation 2010External LinkPDF FIle: “Today’s epidemic of overweight and obesity threatens the historic progress we have made in increasing America’s quality and years of healthy life.”

    The AMA is committed to obesity prevention and reduction through its established efforts, as well as by advancing new projects and initiatives which will provide up-to-date patient and physician resources.

  • Reply Jason December 8, 2013 at 2:25 pm

    Amazing how you try to be positive and promote good health and people come here and trash talk. What’s wrong with society? If all these keyboard warriors would quit the negativity and get up and spend 5 minutes walking around the block just once a day maybe the world would be a better place.

    You’re an inspiration Maria!

    Thank you!

  • Reply Sandy December 8, 2013 at 7:52 pm

    There is nothing wrong with that post. I’m over weight and I’m not offended. I feel encouraged to get healthy. It’s pretty sad that I’ve asked them to remove an extremely pornographic picture and they refused because they saw nothing wrong with it but they felt the need to delete this post….they definitely do not have they’re priorities in order.

  • Reply Steve Chernick December 8, 2013 at 10:42 pm

    In addition to nothing you said being offensive, I’d like to say I am offended by the company Curvy Girl lingerie, who seems to be confusing ‘Curvy’ and obese. Curvy should be used to describe the likes of Christina Hendricks, Beyonce, and Christina Aguilera, not as a p.c. term for obese, morbidly obese, etc. They offend me with their wonton use of the word ‘curvy’ and while some of the ladies posting their pictures in the lingerie sold by the company could be described as curvy, many were simply obese. While I dont think the obese should be discriminated against or harassed, I also dont think we need to reinforce an unhealthy lifestyle. Being proud of ones obesity is like being proud of having high cholesterol. Its ridiculous, and it shouldn’t be encouraged. Anyway, keep up the good work! I love seeing news stories where you’re infuriating the unhealthy. Maybe they should channel some of their rage into an aerobics program.

    • Reply Jackie December 9, 2013 at 3:26 am

      You’re offended that people who face discrimination are, angry, and not channeling their anger into a eating disordered mindset? I don’t think channeling your anger into being the thinnest, is any better than overeating your feelings away. These people are confronting their justifiable anger, you don’t know how to respond because it challenges your shallow view only thin people matter, so why don’t you go exercise your anger at people living lives differently than you away?

      • Reply Steve Chernick December 9, 2013 at 9:55 pm

        Who said anything about an ‘eating disorder’? I believe I said ‘aerobics program’. I also never said anything about being the thinnest, but I did mention something about being healthy. And you just proved my point, and the while I can’t speak for miss Kang, I think you proved hers also; I’m not fat shaming. I’m not saying anyone thats overweight to the extent of having their health adversely affected should take drastic measures that in and of themselves would be unhealthy. All I was talking about is; The differences of ‘Curvy vs Obese’, and that unhealthy behavior shouldn’t be reinforced. What you derived from that was suggestions of bulimia or anorexia. As for calling obese girls Curvy, thats kinda of like using the term ‘Athletic build’ to refer to both Jonah Hill and Hugh Jackman because they both have broad shoulders and large chests. And please don’t call me shallow, my last several girlfriends have ranged from size 10 to size 16, because thats what I personally find attractive. And even though they were all proportionate bust/waist/hip wise, I had plenty of friends that would grill me over ‘dating fatties’ and I didnt like that either. However, they were all healthy, they all exercised, none of them refered to gluttony or eating unhealthy food a ‘lifestyle’, they were just proportioned differently than girls with naturally small frames. If you fall under this category, I’m sorry you were offended by what I said, If you are one of the ones with a poor diet and no exercise regimen however, than you probably need to get healthy, not for aesthetics sake, but for your own well being.

  • Reply Angela Krout December 9, 2013 at 5:05 am

    I find nothing offensive in your post and I am a 50 year old woman who has had cancer twice and I have fibromialgia, diabetes, kidney damage from the diabetes, degenerative disc disease and osteophrosis. I am also about 50 pounds overweight, not sure if I am considered obese or not. I am out of shape not because I am lazy but because I have a hard time doing almost any kind of workout. What I wanted to say is that if Facebook banned you then it would have been because someone on your friend list turned you in for offensive posts. Although it doesn’t offend me if someone says anything like your post, there are people that feel whenever they hear or read a statement about overweight they think they are who it is directed to. So maybe you should check your friend list or make your page private so you don’t have to worry about what you are posting. You have a great looking family and I hope the holidays are going great for you.

  • Reply Thermodynamics December 9, 2013 at 5:28 pm

    I know you don’t like buzzwords Maria, but I will make “effort-shaming” a thing!

    • Reply Jackie December 10, 2013 at 1:01 am

      Just another way to victim play. “Boo hoo, people aren’t giving me gold stars and prizes for trying like in 1st grade!” Being an adult means understanding you don’t just get attention for effort, you get positive feedback for results. That result could be being thin like Maria, or being healthy regardless of size. However, sitting in a corner sobbing because no one will pay attention to you going, “Look at me! Look at what I did!”, that’s just pathetic.

  • Reply Jenna December 9, 2013 at 5:33 pm

    Nothing you said offends me, it’s a bit of tough love that people need to start listening to. I myself am actually a little overweight, but I’m down from being well over 100lb too fat and I did it with diet and exercise, so I know what you’re saying is completely right. We, as a society, shouldn’t be complacent and happily accept our failures and shortcomings. Yes, people should love themselves and be confident, but sometimes we need to work on ourselves and shouldn’t shug and say “it is what it is”. The main point you were making about how if you can find time to work out, everyone can — that’s very true. I hear quite often “I don’t have time/energy/money/resources to work out several times a week”. I started working out while I was working full time and had absolutely no money to spare, so I shuffled around the neighbourhood in ugly old track pants and a pair of sneakers and taped my boobs up so I could “jog”. Enough with the excuses, people. And enough with this over-sensitive society of ours that calls it “shaming” any time someone points out the harsh realities.

    • Reply Jackie December 10, 2013 at 12:58 am

      Claiming people need “tough love” which usually translates as emotionally battering someone to do what you want them to do, and claiming those with a healthy sense of empathy are “oversensitive” is the language of the bully.

  • Reply Misaki December 9, 2013 at 9:35 pm

    But what if a person is struggling with a mental disorder, or a health disorder, or what if they can’t simply loose weight. A person can be completely healthy no matter what their size though….

  • Reply Catalina Lin December 11, 2013 at 6:52 pm

    You are an awesome person Mrs. Kang, I appreciate your honesty and tips. Please continue to do what you are doing.

  • Reply Lori December 11, 2013 at 9:15 pm

    I am about 50lbs overweight right now – mother of 1 gorgeous child, full time stressful job, married, struggle with a couple disorders, but nothing life-threatening. When I saw you’re “what’s your excuse” post the first time, I thought, “well I have all kinds of excuses, but that’s what they are – excuses”. And then I thought “damn, she looks awesome”. I never once thought anything negative or defensive. And I’m fat.

    I saw this post before you got banned, too – and again, no anger. Since I started following you, and Amanda Sullivan, who is like reading sunshine in her awesomeness, and Eli, I started going to spin classes at the Y. I LOVE IT! I’ve only lost two pounds, but I now see what I’d lost several years ago, even before baby – I’d lost the joy that comes with making sure you move your body every day! My legs are getting stronger with every class, and it feels so fabulous. In turn, it’s prompting me to eat better. What else can I do but say thank you!!!

    I think your doubters and haters need to remember something important, all those who take you the wrong way: “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent”. If people think you are attacking them, that’s on them. Yes, I need to love myself, even at 50lbs overweight. I won’t be strong enough to lose it if I don’t. But that doesn’t mean I need to love the fact that I’m fat right now. I don’t need to “celebrate my curves” if they are hurting my health. I just have to love *me*, the me on the inside – and I’m working on it.

    So please know that not everyone who is overweight at the moment is getting the wrong message from you. Thanks for the motivation!!!

    • Reply Fat Girl December 12, 2013 at 6:45 pm

      But this is a false dichotomy – that some how you are a separate entity from your body. The two should work in tandem as we achieve our best self. I am obese. I jogged two miles yesterday. I have run many 5Ks over the years at varying weights/body sizes, and I’m training to run another in the spring. Darn right, I’m proud of my body and if I want to put it in lingerie and feel good about the way I look, no one should tell me I’m contributing to a health crisis because I choose not to find myself ugly. Would I like to be thinner someday? Sure, and I’m working on that. But I’m not going to hate the body I live in while I get there. I have skinny friends who can’t run from their front door to their car, but I’m the one that shouldn’t be proud of my body because it’s fat?

      • Reply Krystle December 25, 2013 at 8:26 am

        I love this post and I absolutely agree with you! Confidence increases happiness and overall well being. Being comfortable with how you look does the opposite of “contributing to a health crisis”. Thank you for posting!

      • Reply Kent Lavallie December 26, 2013 at 5:37 pm

        I have found through bitter experience that it is like 80 or 90% diet now and 20% workout that allows me to shed excess weight. I fact strength training and weight loss no longer co-exist together for me. If I want to drop weight I can still lift but light weights and a nearly carb free high protein diet. It was way different in my 20s to be sure but such is not the case any longer. A few extra squats does not consume the three extra pieces of pizza after 30 years of age in my opinion. I am extremely aware of the example I set for my children. I think that is likely where this lovely woman’s point originates from rather than an inate need to deride women she does not know.

      • Reply Linda July 10, 2014 at 3:39 am

        Your skinny friends can’t do that because while they have no fat, they have very little mussle either. I went to school with someone who refused to work out because when she did she would gain weight. I tried to tell her she was gaining it from mussle which was a good thing, but she did not care. If you keep exercizing, Being healthy is not just about dropping fat, its about putting on mussle. I have also met a lot of big women they are not however fat. take a look at your body how much of your weight is fat how much is mussle. If you have more mussle than fat you’re probally good. The thing is not so much how you look on the outside but what you got going on the inside. Not everyone is completely happy with their body. I have a pooch in my stomach that makes me uncormfortable in skimpy clothes and despite or perhaps espically because I am think someone asked me if I was pregnant, but the biggest issue I have is my lack of upper body strength. Even when I manage to work out regularly I cannot get any significant upper body strength. I was never even able to do so much as one pull up even in high school or collage. But when I was in high school I could do 60+ sit ups in a minute. Funny thing even when I was able to do 60+ sit ups in a minute I still had that stomach issue.

  • Reply Angel December 13, 2013 at 5:26 pm

    I don’t get it. She did not say anything offensive, I know she said it after she seen women trying be confident about themselves but this was not bullying.

  • Reply Michelle M December 15, 2013 at 6:00 am

    Good for you for being completely honest. You are so right about normalizing the wrong things in society… overweight is becoming normalized yet its dangerous to the individuals and costly to tax payers… its preventable not a disease. I was fat for awhile… fit most of my life until I gave birth at 36 years old… started using the excuse that my child came first … put on an extra 70 pounds it was horrible! I finally said enough of this and slowly lost the weight… using discipline with eating and fitness. There is NO quick fix for weight loss … you have to eat right and exercise. You hit the nail on the head lady… and if people are offended their just looking for an excuse to stay fat. Facebook is a joke anyway. I had a guy say I was pms ing in a post told me to put a tampon in it … I reported it… you know what facebook said,… he didnt break any guidelines, it wasnt hate or racially motivated….. it was probably a guy who reviewed it and thought whats the problem with that… maybe someone fat read your complaint… you just never know who the judge is in social media complaints. Way to tell them like it is!

  • Reply Miriam December 19, 2013 at 12:30 am

    I am 25 years old and now have two amazing children (3 year-old boy and 2 year-old girl). I am very overweight for a variety of reasons. When I saw your post for the first time I did get a little upset, but I realized quickly that the reason I got upset was that all I had were excuses. I have several programs that, if I had put any real effort into them, I would have already lost all of the weight I need to. But I haven’t, I have let excuses build up until I am in pain most days because of how much extra weight I carry. Thank you for helping to see my excuses for what they are. It is my hope and goal to eliminate these excuses and get healthy – for my children and myself.

  • Reply Laura December 19, 2013 at 3:28 am

    Maria,

    I would have never found your website except for all the publicity this post got. Thank you for being brave and saying what you did. You’ve truly inspired me! “Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you ..” there will always be haters. lol

  • Reply marie December 19, 2013 at 7:12 pm

    This is the first time I have responded to anything I read.
    I am 40 years old with 6 children and 130 lbs over weight. My oldest is 20 and my youngest is 6. I always said I would shed the weight after my youngest…well 6 years later I am still over 200 lbs. So you are right, WHAT IS MY EXCUSE?
    DO NOT. I DO NOT accept myself because I am only disappointed in what I have let myself become and that I know I shouldn’t be this size if I lived a healthy life.
    FEAR. It is an overwhelming thougt to realize that I have to lose SO much weight that I just ignore it. So why then should I complain? I don’t have a right to. I need to overcome my fear of the task at hand and just start doing and moving. What’s a year of 1 or 2 years of hard work compared to 40?
    HOPE. I hope that one day soon I can write and share my success story with you. Thank you for sharing your story. I am motivated.

    P.S. Unbelieveable that you would be banned by sharing an opinion or a thought on health issues when there are so many ridiculous and stupid things posted on Facebook. Interesting society…just saying.

  • Reply Molly December 19, 2013 at 10:35 pm

    Interesting to watch,
    http://search.cheezburger.com/?q=Empathy+vs.sympathy

  • Reply Christiane Bagnato December 20, 2013 at 9:32 pm

    Facebook is absolutely nuts. They once cut me off for what someone else spammed as me on different people pages. I didn’t even know those folks. It turned out that the nephew of one of my “friends” had a program where he could spoof any FB user who wrote on her wall. Although it was a random pick, I’ve never seen anything like that before or since. FB penalized me for 72 hours…and I was livid! No amount of questioning, follow-up explanations or contact changed their minds and I never heard from anyone there. Facebook sucks the big green apple folks! Now let them get me for saying that too. At least it will have been the real me!

  • Reply Bob December 23, 2013 at 5:33 pm

    If a Jew runs a mode of communication, you bet your ass he’s got to have his finger up your ass throughout the process.

    • Reply Jeff January 27, 2014 at 4:29 am

      Hey Bob, The Jew-hater neo-Nazi meeting is being held right over there, just off the end of that pier.

  • Reply Linda December 24, 2013 at 4:54 pm

    I just heard about you today, all the harsh feedback that you have received. I want you to know that at 60″ and 180#s, I am obese, I am FAT! and I support everything you say! It is NOT acceptable for us to just accept that obese is ok! You are totally correct. I am fat because I eat to much and I don’t exercise. I am fat because I have allowed my life to dictate my health rather than to make my life about my health!
    We are a nation of to many choices and we have allowed ourselves to become FAT! I support 100% what you said, the way you have said it and the meaning behind your words. This is not hate speech, this is telling us to open our eyes and see what we are doing to ourselves! This is LOVE for your fellow humans, trying to let us know that we are unhealthy! Unhealthy eating has become an addiction and just as many of us fight to get loved ones off of drugs for THEIR OWN GOOD, you are fighting to end our addiction to unhealthy eating habits and an unhealthy lifestyle. You are fighting to have us open our eyes and see what is happening! Keep it up.
    I believe in you, your power, and your words, at least in this matter. I don’t know you well enough to say I support you 100% in everything, I am not totally crazy! LOL. Good luck dear one.

    • Reply Britney December 29, 2013 at 1:20 am

      I really commend you for having an open mind and being so honest.

    • Reply yanina March 4, 2014 at 3:49 pm

      Linda, let me hug you! you are a brave woman! all the best to you!

  • Reply Holly December 24, 2013 at 6:28 pm

    Maria, while I feel that what you advocate is great, I feel you go about it completely the wrong way. You come off as arrogant and bullish, and naive in general about the way other people work. Why attack a group of women who pose and are proud of themselves other then to generate more self promotion for yourself and this website? You talk about being banned while you see scantily clad people on your wall everyday, yet you have your three children in front of your scantily clad, heavily made up self? What’s your excuse for your horrible attitude toward other people not as fitness minded as you? I myself have worked hard to get into fighting form, and too struggle with food and fitness, but I don’t run around yelling at every muffin top at the beach to go cover up until they get “fit” like you. Your mentality is what is wrong. So sit up there on your ivory tower and smirk at all the fat people, because lets face it, that’s all you’re really doing. You go girl!

    • Reply Kent Lavallie December 26, 2013 at 5:26 pm

      Dearest Maria. I think what Holly was trying to say was that you are really hot three kids or not. I have paraphrased somewhat but I think I got the essence of her post.

    • Reply yanina March 4, 2014 at 3:48 pm

      oh please! i guess someone is taking it personally))) i bet Holly is not as fit as she says she is. America does have a problem with fat people, and as long they r whining and accepting their “curves” nothing will change.

    • Reply Linda July 10, 2014 at 3:27 am

      Holly there really is a subculture out there that thinks being morbidly obesse is ok and they are proud of their fatness. It is out there. For some people if you want them to wake up you have to ring a very loud alarm bell. Furthermore I think it’s time to put an end to political correctness and it’s assualt on freedom of speech. Down with PC up with the first amendment!

  • Reply Britney December 29, 2013 at 1:30 am

    Maria, I found your article when I was looking through how to be fit after pregnancy. I was SHOCKED at how people have received your message. I read a comment by Holly saying your mentality is the problem. I hope you change nothing about your mentality. I can’t fathom that
    1) Facebook decided to ban your message or your profile – of all things that they broadcast to the world, this is what they decided to be offensive? ABSOLUTELY ABSURD
    2) People assume you are condescending to fat people instead of interpreting it to be motivating
    3) “what’s your excuse?” is as open ended as it can be. If you had a genuine excuse for being overweight, that statement shouldn’t offend you. Only the guilty will hate you, and that very attitude of blaming someone else for being successful is what is making them continuing to be unhealthy
    4) The US has become a place where you accept everything, even if you know it kills you.

    You are very motivating and what you’re doing with this website is very impressive. I am sure you’re not reading all the 600 comments your receiving. But if you do read this message, please know that you’re achievement and attitude will help so many reading about it.

    Thank you!!

  • Reply Denise January 2, 2014 at 8:55 pm

    GIRL, WORK IT, You are amazing and you’re so inspiring. While I know I’ll never look like a supermodel, I know that hard work and dedication and discipline will get me to the best version of myself which is healthy and beautiful!

    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.<<<< AMEN!!!!!!

  • Reply andrei January 4, 2014 at 6:37 pm

    I think that you’re awesome Maria!!
    Greetings from Chile!

  • Reply NKid February 5, 2014 at 11:00 pm

    I’m fat. And I’m inspired. By none other than you. I first heard of you a day before you were banned and I was so sad to hear that people just DON’T want to be motivated. Oh well. Just know there are many out here who you are an inspiration. Keep workin’ it!

  • Reply Joy February 6, 2014 at 4:50 am

    Maria!

    You’re amazing for calling out America’s acceptance of “curves” (aka fat)! Don’t stop girl, you are an inspiration!!!

    Joy (mom of 1, working towards my best self at 41)
    Toronto, Ontario
    Canada

  • Reply marcoguizar February 15, 2014 at 4:08 am

    You are just amazing. So good to see people like you who are so passionate. Keep up the good work. I will definitely recommend your blogs to my friends.

  • Reply AB March 5, 2014 at 4:55 pm

    Good Morning from Florida,

    Ms. Kang, I read about this article and had to comment… Your passion I think was inspiring to many, including myself. Although you are beautiful and exquisite, I think Facebook and those who complained, cannot handle such passion (and I think you stepped on a few toes). Many people’s minds are closed to change. Many do not want to be told how to look or feel. For Facebook, they have their corporate sponsors and partners to satisfy… Therefore, they did this. I think you have a great message and calling to bring to the world – a calling to tell others the benefits to fitness and living a healthy and happy life. You truly inspired me, having been diagnosed with prediabetes not long ago. I work out almost daily (with the appropriate days of rest in-between), and I am eating better foods (“Saying no to fast foods”). Keep up the good fight. AB

  • Reply Rhonda March 7, 2014 at 4:04 am

    Hello Maria ~ I am just hearing abut you and WOW, you are inspiring and humble and beautiful and have so much to share. Thank you for all you’re doing. Sorry you’ve gotten a bit of bashing from the peanut gallery.

    I get a great vibe from your message and your website.
    THANK YOU for not following the herd — you’re helping more people than you know!
    Much love!
    Keep going!

    XO

  • Reply Roger H Werner March 8, 2014 at 3:53 am

    Ms. Kang, you’ve run head long into what has become so common in the US. It’s called political correctness. You criticized a class of people…fat people. Everyone should know that being overweight is unhealthy. It causes high blood pressure, Type II diabetes, effects cholesterol blood level, damages lumbar spine, puts excess stress on leg joints…I could go one and on. But criticize people for being overweight and you’re treated like an overly sexist male or someone who insults gays. Some people who are overweight are genetically predisposed to it. But most overweight people are simply lazy couch potatoes. I’m overweight. I don’t look it but I know it and I’m so embarrassed by it that I refuse to walk around without a shirt on. I look at some people and have to wonder what are they thinking. I wouldn’t insult anyone for any reason but treating obesity as a valid lifestyle choice is political correctness run amok. It’s not a valid lifestyle choice, It unhealthy and ultimately, we all pay for it in higher insurance rates.

    • Reply hilda March 8, 2014 at 7:49 am

      well said Roger!

  • Reply hilda March 8, 2014 at 7:49 am

    Maria, Thank you for your willingness to speak your mind! I am obese and very inspired by you. seeing and hearing about all the struggles you face and yet are able to set time aside for yourself to be healthy truly motivates me to get off my ass and do something! Thanks for sharing your story about watching your mum suffer illnesses related to unhealthy lifestyle choices- it is the reality that many of our children face when we as parents make those unhealthy lifestyle choices. I do not want that to be my children’s story. Thanks again!

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  • Reply Shannon March 6, 2015 at 3:49 pm

    A woman who is not a doctor should not chime in about diseases like diabetes.

    Claiming that diabetes is an adult only disease that is only caused by being overweight is irresponsible and disgusting.

    Children can be born with it and it is not always caused by being overweight.

    I wish Facebook had upheld the ban. No one should be allowed to pretend to be a doctor and give medical advice when they really don’t know.

    It’s really sad how someone who claims to have such a passion for health and fitness is so okay with tearing the fitness community apart like she has.

    • Reply Ana August 10, 2015 at 1:42 pm

      Read the article again. You may understand her point. It’s upsetting that people like you bring down someone who is trying to help and get more attention for childhood diabetes. Are you a doctor?

  • Reply PF April 10, 2015 at 7:30 pm

    Why empower a service/platform that compromises your ability to freely communicate via its infrastructure? Facebook regulators/managers appear to severely misunderstand the basis of individualism and expression, which is fairly odd given that their in the communication business… or perhaps the social regulatory business. Have you considered ditching facebook entirely?

    In terms of some of the previous posts and whatnot, wait 20 years and see where those poster’s lower standards get them… my hope is that their sloppiness doesn’t bring down those around them.

  • Reply Facebook December 16, 2015 at 6:31 pm

    I wish Facebook had upheld the ban. No one should be allowed to pretend to be a doctor and give medical advice when they really don’t know.

  • Reply Jim February 16, 2016 at 5:33 am

    I just read about this story and googled for it because I thought it’s fake. Cool that you are unbanned and have still the profile pic with “What’s your excuse?”.

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