November 25, 2013
There are not many things I’m sorry about in life, but recently I’ve been feeling a deep sense of sadness within me. After being blocked on Facebook and reading the Yahoo article explaining the ban, I feel completely misunderstood. While I speak strongly about making one’s health a priority, the very last thing I intended to express was any level of shame. No one should be ashamed of who they are, at the same time, in order to desire something greater, you have to –at some level – be uncomfortable with where you are at. When we normalize being unhealthy we create complacency to positively change.
In our fast-paced world of news media, it’s easier to categorize someone as a ‘fat-shamer’, a ‘hater’ or even a ‘bully’, without understanding the full story. Somewhere in this social media frenzy, I have been called all of these names after using a popular catchphrase on a motivational fitness poster and now for my vent on our obesity crisis in America. I understand the deeper issues because I grew up with it. I witnessed the abuse of prescription pills that helped alleviate symptoms but didn’t provide the cure that living a healthy lifestyle would’ve done. I experienced a hateful relationship with food that triggered several years struggling with Bulimia. I sensed people creating environments filled with comfortable people and comfortable personal expectations that encouraged their poor habits.
I feel a lot of pain.
I felt it when I tearfully prayed my rosary while driving to the hospital because my mom just had a heart attack following her kidney surgery. I felt it when I saw people lose their legs and eyesight because of Diabetes. I felt it when my parents weren’t present on the day of my wedding.
November 27th is our wedding anniversary. Unlike many brides, I don’t like reflecting back at that life moment. All I remember was the morning phone call stating my mother was in the ICU for an infection and my father would walk me down the aisle, but would leave soon after to be by her side. Besides feeling emotionally lost the entire evening, a part of me felt resentful, because whether realized or not, I felt these unfortunate circumstances could’ve been prevented if she lived a healthier lifestyle. Any personal challenge, especially in dealing with health – takes its toll on the entire unit, not just the person itself.
Many put off what is important for tomorrow because of the short-term stressful or satisfying moments they experience today. Maybe one doesn’t feel their weight and unhealthy habits are taking a toll now, but it’s not a matter of ‘if’ but ‘when’ your organs, bones and overall body succumb to the additional pressure you are applying to it. Maybe you won’t be able to run with your children. Maybe you will miss out on special events. Maybe you might not witness your child’s wedding day…
I don’t want any child to cry over their parent’s hospital bed hoping they will wake up.
Because that’s what I’ve done.
I was caught off guard when my new father-in-law offered to dance
with me to “In my Life” by the Beatles, a song I chose for my first dance
with my father. It was the hardest moment of the night. Up until that
point I tried to keep it together but I cried so much wishing my father
was present and that my mother was healthy.
I get choked up every time I see this picture of my youngest sister, the baby of
the family, Angeline. Obesity effects a family, not just the person.
This was our first moment as husband and wife. Thank you David Casler
for being my rock despite my big mouth and unwavering attitude.
561 Comments
Maria, you are an amazing person.
This is exactly what I am trying to fix with myself and my children. My obesity does not affect much at this point as I am in good health and we actually exercise and play a lot together. I know I likely will not remain so lucky. It’s been a little less than a year and a half since I began my fight towards my new self. It certainly has not been easy, but you are such a huge inspiration to keep me moving. Thank you.
Maria, there is not need for you to say your sorry. I am way over weight and I am trying to lose. I check your FB for updates and when I find your book, I am going to be it. I been off the fats, low carbs. and now I eat very little or no carbs. and I still can’t seem to shake it. I have been taken Garcinia Cambogia and I did lose about 4 lbs. I do have heart propblems, diabebte and othe health problem and taken about 6 pills a days. I support you in everything you are doing, you don’t have to say your sorry to nobody, you are helping people. God Bless you and your family.
Here’s the thing, Maria. You stand for something. You take a strong stance, at that. And of course you are going to get backlash, but don’t let that stop you. Like you said, for people to change, they must be uncomfortable. You are hitting nerves within people. But for a good reason. Your posts sting me, but not because I am mad at you, but because you are RIGHT. Stand strong, momma.
Thanks for that. For many reasons. Keep up the good work. People don’t feel comfortable with what you’re saying not because of you but because of what they feel inside of them. Love to you and your family.
I fully understand your pain while reading this post on Facebook as a mother of two i can say that i am living a ” Unhealthy Life style ” as a chain smoker my mother is also a chain smoker ..before i told my self i would never do it but eventually without noticing it I’m a heavy smoker now..:( .. and how I wish i could stop it now .. Just want you to know that because of you and your story I was moved and looking at my children I don’t want them to see me in an Hospital bed or miss anything about them… that’s all thanks again ..God Bless you and your Family always..
You are an inspiration! THANK YOU for taking a stand and not backing down!
I am so sorry you have had this happen, so much misunderstanding and so many people willing to jump to negative conclusions. I agree with you, and as someone who works around many people who lead unhealthy lives, it is very frustrating to see that the answer to health lies within but so many are not able to hear it.
Keep on keeping on!!!
You have obviously made a positive difference in at least one person’s life & that is more than many can say. So, thank you! May God bless you for caring & trying to make a difference, Maria Kang! 🙂
Hi Maria,
I am someone who never writes people like this but to see your pain because you made a choice to change your life is not what God ever intended for you or peoples lives in general I believe that you making that change was what He wanted to cause others to see that you can live if you are undisciplined in all areas but still want success you showed women that discipline can change your life and God blessed that. use this heart ache to grow , to grow closer to God, and to make your drive to help that much stronger you are amazing and you have inspired this prior military, stay at home mom to get disciplined and get the life God wants for my life and the life of my husband and children.so just plain Thank you don’t give in to those who are afraid of how amazing you are. God made you and that’s all that matters. God bless
I heard you were upset. Focus on the many of us who like you and agree with what you’ve said and not some people who may have been confused about what you were meant to have done, or were offended or jealous.
I often find myself wishing my mother had taken better care of her health so that she might still be here today. She was an alcoholic for over ten years and a chain smoker almost her entire life before she died at age 52, leaving behind six children. Addictions destroy families. I am dedicated to fitness (read: lifting weights and eating properly) after losing 120 pounds, and just like you commit to eating right and exercising because of your mom’s problems, I don’t drink or smoke because of my mom’s. It’s not about guilt, it’s about setting a positive example and sticking to your guns in a world that is sadly complacent about taking care of itself. I don’t think we are designed biologically to be hyper-vigilant about what we eat and how often we move, but we have the information now that is telling us that the reality of modern life is such that we must become vigilant or risk life-long chronic illness and young death because we didn’t educate ourselves.
Don’t listen to this crazy…sick unhappy people…they are lazy people who just look for an excuse to excuse his/her fatness….U r an inspiration n example!!!!! those who complaint are people with not selfesteem!!!!! don’t worried for those….U rock!!!!!!
Don’t apologize to anyone. I lost 85# seven years ago without surgery or medicine. It isn’t easy to kick a food addiction, but it is possible. Do we see ads celebrating smokers, or alcoholics, or drug addicts, or wife abusers, who say “this is just the way I am, I can’t change it, so I accept it and so should you?” No! I will not accept people who are obese and want me to say that they’re fine. They are sick and need to take ownership of their problems. I did, sounds like you did, and we’re not apologizing anymore.
It’s unfortunate you choose to blame others instead of being uplifting and encouraging. Yes, sometimes it is their fault, as it appears to have been in your family. But, many very healthy, slim people have heart attacks and problems typically associated with obesity. Don’t blame those people.
I don’t think you need to apologize to anyone! Keep wing an amazing role model to not just your children but many other sane people around the world! I enjoy all your post!! You motivate me and for tht I thank you!!! Xo
You shouldn’t have to apologized. It isn’t your fault if people are fat. If you felt that you need to express whatever it’s in your mind as long as it’s not threatening any living creatures then be it. Most fat people are so sensitive even if they know they’re fat. Oh wait that’s everyone with issues. Sorry for your mother. Keep posting and let others be motivated by your determination.
As a fatty I really like what you have to say Maria. You not only have nothing to apologise for, but you need to keep saying what you are saying until everyone, especially mothers, recognise that they owe it to themselves & their kids to be a good weight for their height, to eat well, live well. To really LIVE life rather than exist from one dirty nappy to the next.
Your feelings about what it was like to grow up with a mother who didn’t look after herself really struck a cord with me. Our daughter sees a Mum who exercises reasonably regularly & eats well as I tend to eat mostly with her – and there is no way she gets to eat the rubbish I eat when she is at school! So I am actually quite healthy. I have great vitamin levels, good (not great) blood pressure, low cholesterol & no hint of diabetes. It seems I know how to make sure I get enough good food into me despite eating a whole heap of crap. But all that aside I am just too heavy for my frame which makes it more uncomfortable in the heat & it means I cannot move as freely as I like. I’m not talking morbid obese btw, just too big for someone who was a long distance runner.
And unlike many overweight people, I wasn’t like this growing up & I actually do know way better – as runner & competitive sportsperson (basketball & netball) I have been fortunate to have always been around athletes, people who really know their stuff so despite growing up with parents who were a little overweight (but still very active – biking, tramping & yachting) I always ate well, always done a heap of exercise, never had weight or body issues…which brings me to the other point you have raised previously…..having the passion to want something more; feeling a little uncomfortable with the status quo. Unfortunately I haven’t had either! The desire to really change has been hard as I am kind of happy in my own skin.
As to why I went from being very fit & healthy to not – it was a combination of arrogance (didn’t think I could ever put on weight so ate the same after a severe knee injury greatly reduced my running for about 18 months) and then post natal depression. As I said on the other post the 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.
So I say kudos to you & everything you stand for. I wish there were more ‘real’ women like you out there – it seems the world is at war with extremes re overweight women & the super skinny celebs.
We need more media to start focusing on real women in a real way I think your message is fantastic step towards that! You have every right to feel cheated re your mother’s poor health & how that impacted you.
This alone should be a warning to all us fat mums out there that what we do, the choices we make can have massive consequences for our kids. I take my parenting very seriously & that includes the message I am sending our daughter re body image issues. While I want her to know & accept that we all come in different shapes & sizes, I also want to know the difference between healthy lifestyles & no – whether fat or skinny (which is skinny fat).
Facebook is stupid, but luckily the internet is bigger than some egotistical young nerd! Ha! 🙂
I respect you for your truthfulness and courage. You are an inspiration.
I’m a latecomer to all this controversy over your picture but I have to say that I think much of this hatred is projection. The proliferation of self-image issues is huge in this country, so to see a woman in shape after 3 kids is a stark reminder to many that they are falling short of their own physical potential.
I’m not a mom, and I’m in really good shape, so your picture doesn’t evoke any such emotion for me, so I can’t sympathize with the women that have reacted so strongly to all of this. I will say however, that you should use this controversy to your advantage. I don’t say that maliciously, but I feel like if you have to deal with all this backlash, you should at least gain something from it.
It will all be forgotten soon enough in this blink-of-an-eye internet culture.
Enjoy your moment of fame.
PS….I’m sorry about your parents not being at your wedding. I had the same situation (both were dead by the time I married), so I know how it feels. It sucks.
xo
We are not jealous of Maria. I read dozens blogs by women who have children and are very fit and healthy. Some have lost a lot of weight, some were always thin. Some blog only about exercise and food, others blog about everything but exercise and food. They are inspiring, amazing women. Maria is not, if she has an inspiring message it is not getting through.
I disagree. I find Maria really inspirational. 😀
Stay strong Maria. I know you must feel hurt by all the people that have called you names. But the friends and family in your life know who you really are. You are a strong and caring woman. I don’t think people understand how difficult it is to express some of their most emotional and painful moments in life to total strangers and not be acknowledged for how difficult that must be. I admire your strength and openness. You are not alone. Many people have gone thorough a emotionally painful experience in life. However, your story because you have chosen to share it with us gives us strength. So stay strong Maria, Your strength lifts us all. And have a Happy Anniversary with your boys. Love knows no boundaries whether your husband is near or far.
Maria you have been an inspiration for all ladies. You’re not a bully, not a fat- shamer and not a hater. Your bravery and passion for this topic simply opens up a perspective on a lifestyle many don’t understand…
I am a female in my early 20s. Been active all my life. I eat healthy: I drink water when others go for coffee, choose fruits over junk food, no fastfood, no alcohol. At 5’4 and approx. 140lb my entire university life, I am confident and satisfied with my body image. While in univ., I was more active and healthy than the avg student… I would be at the gym twice a week, but in comparison to my younger years I very inactive as I sat around a lot (to focus on studies). I was unhappy with my lifestyle. In Jan.2013 I started going to the gym around 4-6 times a week. For you to gauge my fitness/hard work at the gym… a random goal I set for myself was to be able to do 10pullups by Dec2013 (at the time I couldn’t even do 1, I can now do 8)
Acquiring a strong physique and eating healthy is part of my LIFESTYLE. As I live my lifestyle I find it difficult to imagine how someone can allow themselves to be “fat”, how can someone eat fries/ drink pop without the sense of guilt? The biology of our bodies are meant to be kept active, how can someone hurt themselves by being inactive? My perspective of not being able to understand the lifestyle of what I deem to be ”unhealthy and unfit” is probably similar to how someone cannot understand how one can be so “healthy” and “fit”.
Here is my vent to those who have been arguing against you:
Contrary to what many of your critical readers would say, going to the gym and eating right does NOT define a person as a fitness/healthy ADDICT. In comparison, would not caring about your health and fitness label you as a FAT-ADDICT? Would supporting a bigger body image define you as a skinny-shamer/ a hater of good health/ a bully against the fit and strong?
So to those who have been calling Maria a bully and a hater, pause for a minute and think.
But it’s not just media and its images that tells us what’s healthy. Listen to your bodies, they’re usually pretty good at giving you signs if there’s anything wrong.
Maria,
I see that you are very passionate about health and I have to say that I am also that way. It is hard for me to understand why someone would want to live their life in an unhealthy way. I focus my life on health and nutrition and helping others along the way. You happen to be someone that I liked on facebook because when I saw your picture I thought how wonderful! Another person who is passionate and has no excuses in life! As I got updates from you I realized that you are feeding into the negativity! You keep apologizing and for what? I don’t understand why you have to keep feeding into what others are saying about you. I remember being in a time in my life where I was misunderstood and there was nothing I could do to prove who I was. I continued to try to explain myself but the more I did that the farther down the hole I went. I feel that maybe you are at a point such as this. You know that you didn’t mean to come across a certain way but you did come across that way to many people and the more you explain the more people get angry. I have other fitness people on my Facebook. They get all kinds of negative comments and they choose to ignore them and continue to put out positive statements. The people who like them like them and the people who don’t like them don’t like them. You do not need to keep explaining who you are! You know exactly who you are and you stand for something! Feeding into this negativity is making you seem like a negative person. I no longer find you inspiring because of this. When you post something and it goes viral of course you are going to get positive ad negative statements. There is nothing you can do to change this.
I live in France!! and i think that if you were here, you will treated like a hero!!!
Please tell me you are not the mom who posed with her kids as a role model for moms everywhere? Did I miss that?? FB blocked you? I remember the initial post and all the hoopla, but I seem to have missed the rest. Wow – unbelievable. Rock on girl..
H A P P Y B I R T H D A Y, M A R I A ! ! ! Keep encouraging your readers and THANK YOU! 🙂
You are an incredible woman who inspires me constantly to become better, to appreciate more, to love more and take nothing for granted. I really believe that those things that have been robbed of you in life will be restored! Just keep doing what you’re doing!
“When we normalize being unhealthy we create complacency to positively change.”
Don’t apologize! You are speaking the truth that nobody wants to hear but everyone could benefit from. This world needs to change, and only the power of positive forces like yourself can make that happen! Stay strong. Stay mighty! Peace and love. (and Happy Birthday!)
Keep fighting the good fight! I ditto everything you have to say. I’m a mother of four boys, 5’6″, and 125 lbs, and I love to work out and stay healthy. We Americans live such an unhealthy lifestyle that society had created and it is literally killing us. God bless 🙂
If your not sorry don’t apologize, because that makes your “sorry” a lie.
I am a mother of 4. I have lived a healthy life. Always working out & love to eat healthy, but hated my body because people like you. I have never been the Ideal size, dispite my hard work & dedication. I spent so much time crying & praying for god to help me.
In 2006 I was diagnosed with a illness that limits me, & now I am heavier than I ever have been. The biggest thing that has changed (other than my dress size) is my love for myself . I am sexy, I am strong, I love my self, & I accept my self for the first time ever. How dare ANY BODY try to make me feel ashamed for loving who & what I am. If I choose to flaunt my BBW curves I will with out shame. I have every right to be proud of my body the same way you are proud of your body.
It seems as if Filipinos have just accepted that at some point in their life, they’re going to get diabetes. Thanks you for having the strength and courage to speak up. Keep speaking the truth. Keep being banned. The truth-seekers are here for you, will follow you, and will support you. We need your voice.
Maria, you have just lost all my respect for you.
Maybe it’s the way you tried to make your point..
Maybe you could have ‘held back your fingers’ before you lashed out..
Maybe you should have put yourself into the shoes of others of all body shapes and sizes..
Whatever it is, I guess you need to learn the hard way.
Will never be back at your blog or your FB page again.
I’m guessing you’re grotesquely overweight. Get a mirror and use it. Deal with the real issue.
And I’m guessing you’re hung like a roll of Certs.
See this Maria, this guy Justin? He’s the kind of personality that is supporting you. When you are connecting with people like that than you should truly understand the kind of message you are actually sending out. Justin is a perfect example of the way you come across.
I have to say that I feel that you were robbed. I read what they banned you for from Facebook and I have seen much worse than that. I almost feel that you are a victim of being fit shamed or because you look one way, then you must be saying everyone needs to look this way when really your message was one of fitness and health. Yes women of all sizes are beautiful, but that doesn’t mean they are healthy, and it is nothing that they wouldn’t hear from a doctor, but because it came from you, then you must be prejudice. I agree a !00% with what you are saying. Americans have complacent in their unhealthy lifestyles and essentially we have lost balance. From working to hard, eating to much, smoking or drinking, everything is in excess and healthy ways of life is to find balance and health in all areas: mind, body and soul. This is essential. So many people just want to avoid the issue and find the fastest and easiest ways to avoid themselves in the mirror. I know this as someone who has had and beat an addiction and has had to make some very hard choices and come to some realities about herself in order to do so. So when you hear all the negative feedback, just ignore the fit-haters.
You threw a gauntlet with the “What’s your excuse?” line. You are also a model (as evidenced by your modeling pics and this site in general). I can dig, and get behind your reason for doing what you do (sorry for your wedding day, I can imagine what you were going though), but when the general public has no idea of your motivation, all they see is self-aggrandizement. The internet is place where everyone has a voice and an opinion. Sadly those who take to giving their opinions are usually folks who are not very nice in real life either. Also there really are people who just don’t have the time, money, knowledge, motivation or care about how to be as fit as you. I’m sorry you feel like you got thrown into a meat grinder, but when you shout “look at me!!!” you will get attention. And not all of it is good. Its why I have always said; “Rich and famous? No thanks, I’ll just take the money.”
I just came here to say I support you. Obesity is out of control and the level of acceptance it receives is disgusting to be honest. The political correctness in this country has began to flirt with interfering in our constitutional rights.
Everyone that is offended, stop following her. Stop looking at her pictures. And for love of all that is good, SHUT THE HELL UP. Your double standard is appalling. You have her posts and profile pulled down because you don’t like what she posts. Well, no one likes anything you’ve had to say since the “what’s your excuse?” picture posted and you’re still posting. Stop. Let’s all be honest with each other….she couldn’t have offended you if you didn’t let her. And the REAL reason she offended you is because of your jealousy. Stop with the “I love the way I am” bullshit, because you don’t love the way you are. And it’s clear you don’t. If you did, we wouldn’t be having this issue.
Wow. OK. Whatever you say, big man.
For the record– she was NOT banned from Facebook. She was banned from someone’s Facebook page for intruding. She was also banned from the person’s blog as well. And please don’t presume anyone is jealous– I sure as hell am not. See, I LIVED her “lifestyle” for years. And know what I got? Arthritis in my back, neck, and knees and ongoing eating disorders that I struggle with to this day.
Oh, and go fuck yourself.
I think the last comment is the most worthy, Julie. It made me laugh out loud. Though I try to keep my own language clean, sometimes a big fat f-bomb is just what’s needed.
There’s no double standard. We all have just as much right to spew bile as Ms. Kang. She hates unhealthy bodies, I hate unhealthy thinking, unhealthy attitudes, unhealthy society. Ms. Kang’s lack of love and understanding for her fellow human beings, the attitude that there is only one correct way to live one’s life, and the society that pressures people until they develop mental illnesses like bulimia connected to their body image: those things are FAR more unhealthy than a few pounds around the midsection. People like you are the product of people like Ms. Kang: she’s normalizing HATE. That’s sick, plain and simple.
If people are talking about you that means you are doing something right. I am not in a healthy weight or have the best healthy habits. But that does not mean that I will dislike because you had the disciplined that I lacked of. So you keep your head high and let the talkers do the talk while you do the walk. Best wishes and blessings!
Amen, Linda! I agree 100%! It is the discipline that most people lacks to change their circumstances in this world. I am probably 20-30 pounds overweight and I’m going to put on my big girl panties and admit that. If anyone feels convicted of their weight and health issues when reading someone’s personal opinions…that conviction comes from a place of unhappiness and discontent with oneself. I am unhappy that I have lacked the discipline…I agree that it is entirely up to me to change that! I feel inspired by Maria and wasn’t offended by her post. 🙂
Maria you are right about the obesity issue!
I have a 16 year old cousin that sits on the computer all day playing video games. He became obese and had gastral bypass surgery to lose the weight. At 16!!! Has he lost it a year later. About 75 lbs., but not since. Why? his mother keeps giving him sugary drinks and does not thing to promote him going outside and excercising.
It drives me crazy to see his life waste away. Keep up the message to get off our butts and get healthy!
Get on Twitter and Google+. They won’t ban or sensor you there.
censor**
>__<
For someone who hates excuses so much, you sure do love to blame everything on your dead mama. I hesitated to comment because I know it will only fuel your pity party, but somebody has to say and after all, despite your greatest efforts to make me feel otherwise, I am somebody. You can whine and cry that fat people are unhealthy all you want, but you have no medical background to validate those claims and even if you did, you are not entitled to demand health, fitness, or thinness from anybody. Live your own miserable life, stop bitching every time someone stands up to you for being the bully that you are, stop blaming those offended for your own ignorance and for the love of all things holy, enough with the pity party. Get over yourself and grow up!
For sure you haven’t done your research on how obesity affects your health. How obesity increase heart problems, the percentage of having diabetes, skeletal problems such as arthritis, respiratory problems, pancreas and liver disease, kidney problems. Many obese people can’t stop until they reach the point in which they even need help to tie their shoes, some of them do break the chain and change to a healthier lifestyle which in some cases makes them feel better, happier, more energetic and yes healthier.
What’s your point? One’s size and health status does not make them less deserving of respect, being a self-righteous, entitled, bully does.
Someone should put a muzzle on you. Wow. Just shut up, you’re not helping anyone, just making yourself look like an even bigger fool. Not everyone needs a platform, and the proof is in the (very sugary) pudding here. Maybe it’s not what you say, but how you say it, and you just come across as a jerk. Really sad, considering you have a decent message, but until you can figure out how to be compassionate, hush.
This is the first time I have read your blog but your statements make me want to read more. I read some of the comments and I am sorry that some people are such jerks. First, a blog is your platform to say what you want. You are not shoving your ideas down anyone’s throat. If they don’t care to read, they can simply not read. Second, you are so right. Unhealthy family members affect everyone around them in a negative way. Some people cannot help there condition, but lifestyle diseases are completely avoidable and we should hold people accountable for their choices. Fat makes you unhealthy and you don’t need a medical degree to recognize it, just your eyes. And your mother should be ashamed of not taking care of herself because she had daughters to be a role model for. When you make a choice to be a mother, you make the choice to live for another being, not just yourself. Good job being brutally honest with yourself and your readers.
That being said, if you plan to continue to do so, you need a thick skin and don’t apologize, even in a “sorry but I’m not sorry way.” People will take offense to what you say whenever you are honest, that is why so many people lie to themselves and everyone around them. My advice, either accept their ire or stop talking.
C’mon, you are a judgemental fool who thinks we are dumb enough to think your hate filled rant is meant as inspiration. Maybe your parents didnt take care of themselves because they didnt want to spoend too much time with your self centered insulting self? You are sick and mean and derve whatever negative backlash is sent your way. You embody the stereotype of cold hearted asians thinking they are superior to others. GET A LIFE LOSER!
Your comment is beyond nasty. Bringing her parents up to her is way out of line.
Oh, that kind of nasty comment is NOT ok, but shaming even slightly over weight people is just fine?? lol! Sorry but I lost all my sympathy for Maria when she put out a message of shame and hate rather than one of change and support. If she didn’t want her life to be picked apart than she shouldn’t have picked apart others. Maria comes across as angry and very much a mean girl. She said she struggled with her weight…maybe she should have struggled with her personality and conscience first. She’s the one who sent the shots out and basically attacked anyone who didn’t conform to her idea of ideal. If you can’t take it, don’t dish it out.
An intelligent person can discuss their concerns without being that nasty. I didn’t agree with her post either, however, I would never verbally abuse a person, and certainly not use her family against her. Two wrongs don’t make a right. Instead of sympathy, just employ decency and a respectful vocabulary. If you want get your point across, try being less angry and not reacting emotionally or doing that which you are accusing her of. Otherwise you won’t be taken seriously.
I am so glad Facebook sanctioned you for what you said and if you wish to be better understood, than trying saying what you mean (though I think fat shaming is exactly what you meant). I hope my neice, who is 12, never meets someone like you that uses their own success to look down on others. She’s a very tall, thin young girl but I fear for her body image when there are people like you and the media who try to tell her that she isn’t good enough and don’t be proud of yourself. It’s one thing to motivate a person, it’s another to use people own self confidence against them. Good for you for losing your weight. Bad for you for using your weight loss as a weapon against others. You come across as so mean and judgmental and self promoting on others pain, if I did need to lose weight I think I would just feel bad after reading anything you’ve written and be DEMOTIVATED. Good job!
I think your inspirational and amazing. I hope when I become a mum, I can juggle kids, family,fitness and work like you. I know your strong and dont worry about the haters. They just cant take the truth. You shouldnt have to tiptoe around the feelings of people who are overly sensitive. They need to eat some cement and toughen up! Keep doing what you do! Xx
I totally agree with you that we as a society is now normalizing obesity, disguised in cute words like “plus size”, “real women”, “healthy women have curves” etc. Obesity is obesity, nobody wants to take responsibility for their own action, the easy way out is to say “hey, I’m comfortable being obese, this is normal, you’re harassing me!”.
One just need to google “paris plus size fashion week”, it is SHAMEFUL. The women are NOT plus size, they’re obese, and its being promoted as “normal”, “real”, “healthy”.
Good on you for speaking your mind and promoting healthy lifestyle, there is NO excuse. If you can sit in front of the computer or TV for hours while eating pizza then you HAVE the time to go out and excercise.
I agree. Obesity should not be normalized. However it is not just about the individuals. food companies should stop putting out their cheap unhealthy cr*p . They keep building fast food joints whee I live as inner city elites have moved on to sushi , Asian fusion, gourmet burgers with real meat. There needs to be education in schools, but I agree with you. Those obese women in lingerie. Unless you have a fetish ..it made me lose my breakfast. Maybe they have a med condition or genetic disposition and can’t help it. But even as a normal sized person, I would look bad in some of that gear they are promoting. It’s a fetish site.
I still don’t think you get it. You ARE fat bashing.
According to you (and your followers) it doesn’t matter that my children are thin (yes they are), happy, healthy and adore me. I’m fat so I am therefore a bad mother. My husband loves me…or does he? I’m fat so how could my thin (yes he is), healthy, happy husband love a fat wife? I work hard and devote hundreds of hours doing volunteer work to make other peoples lives better (being the chair of a not for profit organisation) but because I am fat I am a burden on society. Worst of all is the message that because I am fat I do not even deserve to love myself.
I’ve always thought it on a deeper level, but your comments and the comments of your likers on facebook have confirmed it: thin people think fat people are ugly, stupid and lazy. You can wrap your fat bashing up in a “I just want people to be healthy” package but the truth of the matter is is that fat people repulse you and your likers. We are less than human and our accomplishments in life are void because we are fat.
It makes me so sad. I am not a person. I am a FAT person, my weight, not who I am or what I do defines who I am to society. You are helping to spread that message.
I didn’t see the original post / photo as fat bashing and IM FAT. People are just asses and ignorant sobs. The more hate statements the closer to home you hit. Plus .. Be glad you don’t know these people they sound so hate filled and sad and desperate.
Just wanted to say you rock and look good doing it girl! You work hard for what you’ve got and should be able to showcase the fruits of your labor. It’s not about being a size 2 or 12. It’s about taking care of your body and not bashing someone for taking pride in the way they look. Fat women aren’t curvy and thin women aren’t anorexic. If you want it get up and do it. No excuses. Keep on postin’ Maria, show your hard work and keep being an inspiration.
Ms. Kang, you are not healthy. Obsession is not healthy, even when it manifests in a socially acceptable way such as exercising. Compulsively exercising and having to take constant photographs of oneself and continuously looking for those who threaten one’s self image is unhealthy behavior–justifying it by talking about people with diabetes is similarly unhealthy. Your problem is mental.
Further, your body shape is not healthy. It is true that morbidly obese people die, on average, first. The next group to go is hyper-skinny women such as yourself. If you get any sort of illness, you will pass from it quickly. If you had to have surgery, it is likely that you would be told to gain weight first. You are over-extending your body, and your body will eventually rebel. There is a reason why the slightly overweight live longer–and it isn’t because they are “unhealthy.”
Since you seem to have diabetes in your family, do not be surprised when you get it anyway. A person does not even have to be obese to become diabetic if one is Asian–and, if it’s in your genes, you might delay it for a while, but you will still get it.
If you want a word for it, it is either “orthorexia” (an obsession with “correct” eating) or it is compulsive exercising (an addiction). You have simply taken your addictive personality and turned it towards something which is socially acceptable and for which you will get the approbation that you also seem to crave. If you would take the time to at the very least look up competent psychological resources on people with issues having to do with weight, you will find out that not only is “fat-shaming” unproductive, it is counterproductive. It causes people to NOT lose weight.
But, then, that’s what you want, isn’t it? You want “ugly” people not to even raise their heads–certainly not to take selfies which show them comfortable with their own bodies–because it takes attention away from you. You want “ugly” people to help motivate you through your own self-loathing to maintain the ridiculous figure that you torture yourself to maintain–so that you will feel it is worth it. You need the “ugly” and “fat” people the way that any addict needs the thing that gives him or her pleasure–you need the selfies the way that any addict needs the thing that gives him or her pleasure.
Well, God is good. It is the hyperskinny women like you who die at a very young age. It is the slightly overweight women that you like to shame who will outlive you. God is a just god, and he hands out some pretty danged funny retribution to people like you.
No–it is not, and it provably is not, “empowering” to people who are overweight to look at people like you. The women here who claim to be “obese” are probably borderline anorexic and convinced that they are “fat” because they actually have a tiny bit of healthy fat on their tummies (women are supposed to have rounded tummies, my dear, not flat ones–it’s evolutionary).
You are doing two things: encouraging unhealthy habits such as anorexia, orthorexia, and compusive exercising; reinforcing the idea that women with weight issues (which are caused by contaminants in our food supply, work conditions, medications, and depression for the most part) are in some way “weak.”
Well, sweetie, I put on 60 pounds after being given a medication by my doctor which he claimed is given to women who are compulsive eaters to help them LOSE weight. My doctor told me it was my fault. I got a new doctor and looked it up myself–the medication I was on is known to cause weight gain, massive weight gain, and to cause a person not to be able to lose it. One version of that drug now has a black-box warning on it aimed at teens–if they start to put on weight, they are to be taken off it at once, because the weight gain will snowball and it may well kill them quickly.
If you saw me taking a selfie and being happy with myself for not gaining any more weight after I gained that sudden 60 pounds (which kind of proves that I’m not over-eating, because I’d still be gaining weight), I’m sure you’d call me a fat pig who has no reason to feel good about myself.
You know what, sweetie. That would be a marvelous compliment–because if my option is to become a compulsive exerciser who goes out of her way to say hurtful things to others on a completely different website (from which you, too, should have just moved on) or to look the way I look (not gaining weight, despite being menopausal)–I’ll take looking the way I look and being kind . . . and will be exceptionally pleased about it.
You are a unhealthy exercise addict with a compulsion to hurt others who don’t conform to your own warped sense of how women should look. And, my dear, if you are “hurting” because of this statement . . . well, if the shoe pinches, you have it on.
Youre right, obsession and excess of anything cannot be good for your body. Never did maria encourage compulsive excersising, eating or lack of. Nor is she super skinny, she knows shes not. Excessh fat, excess skinny, excess muscle is not natural and not healthy. And that’s why maria is encouraging doing good for your body in moderation, daily, until it becomes part of your lifestyles.
Through evolution and the study of our ancestors it is a known fact that homosapiens are structured to be active- the structure of our feet allows us to run, our diaphragms allows us to breathe in ways animals on all fours cannot, our lean bodies allows for endurance work. For our generation to always rely on machinery, be constantly sitting at our desks/ cars we are going against our genetic built. Excess weight (muscle mass and fat), creates excess burden on our skelital structures. We are made to move, we are made to be lean.
Obsession is what lazy people call dedication. Just because you manage to find a way to waste an hour a day sitting on your ass in front of your TV doesn’t mean that I, and many other people, aren’t going to use that same to lift weights and not eat like a pig.
Would you call someone who gets a PHD as “obsessed”? What about someone who works 60 hours a week?
Fat logic strikes once again
Fit denial strikes again!
You need to read more of her blogs. You’re getting it wrong. If she had the same diet/exercise regimen and DIDN’T happen to look like a model, I don’t think people would be so up in arms about this. Nowhere does she say to conform to a certain cookie-cutter type image. Speaking of cookies, she eats them. She has recipes for them. And in her online book, she warns of the dangers of eating too little. So no, she wouldn’t be calling you a fat pig. YOU’RE the one calling yourself a fat pig. People need to stop playing the victim and start accepting when people speak the truth. Don’t make assumptions about her. Give her the benefit of the doubt, and don’t punish her for being beautiful on the outside as well as the inside.
Inside, she’s ugly.
Just sent a complaint to FB for shutting you down. xo
Some of the comments on here are ridiculous. Obesity is an epidemic all over the world. No one has to suffer from it. There are no excuses. Diet and exercise achieves a healthy body shape, i am living proof of that. I gained 11 stone (i am British) when pregnant with my twins 3 years ago. I am now a healthy and curvy 8.5 stone and a UK size 8.
Maria promotes a healthy lifestyle and exercise which can be achieved through small changes like swapping your crisps for rice cakes and your chocolate for fruit. Yes, it might not feel as satisfying as stuffing all that rubbish in your mouth but your body will thank you for it.
I still eat take-out. I also still eat MacDonalds. But i counter it with homemade wholesome food that will benefit my body.
I am the laziest person ever. But i am walking proof that anyone can lose weight if they wanted to.
As a doctor i fully support your statement.
“I’m Dr. Nick Riviera, and I approved this message.”
As someone who is struggling with being overweight, I welcome it when thinner people, who’ve struggled to get their health in order take “no excuses” positions and communicate them. You have a problem not related to calories in and working out, then she’s not talking about you. YOU obviously have a medical condition and need to be talking with a doctor; not posting comments on a blog as if you are a bellwether for all people who are working at shedding the pounds, avoiding diabetes, and worse. If your feelings are so-o-o-o tender, maybe you need a shrink. Maybe you need to look in a mirror and ask, “Why am I such a wuss? Why didn’t my mom and dad raise me to be strong inside so that messages from the outside don’t hurt me so deeply?” I give Maria Kang props for having the guts to walk the walk and communicate it.
Forget everyone whining and calling you a “fat basher”. I’ve been overweight my whole life, I work really fucking hard to not become a land whale. I’m still big, but I work toward being in better shape. Being fat is unhealthy, you should be ashamed, fuck this “fat acceptance” bullshit. How about you get off your lazy fat ass and do something about it instead of crying on the internet about people saying mean things cause you are fat. As a fattie myself I have a much thicker skin (no pun intended) to all the nasty shit people say and if I don’t like it I do something about it. That would be working on my nutrition and going to the gym.. I was 6’6/400 lbs two years ago, Now I am 6’6/260. I didn;t get those results crying about it on the web.
Okay you have problems, fat people should never be ashamed of themselves. You are the one who should be ashamed. Why do you think people stay fat? Huh? Because they eat a lot yeah. But they do that because some of them are ashamed. They think they are worthless. They say “Hey, I am already fat I might as well eat the whole box of cookies.” At least Maria wasn’t trying to offend anyone, you actually did it. You actually wanted to offend someone.
I am overweight and I do not want it ever to become acceptable. Its not healthy and its something I am struggling to deal with. In no way is it ok or healthy. At the same time there are many cases where swinging the other way is as equally dangerous. Young women today should feel that a healthy life style is good, but they shouldn’t feel the need to stick a finger down their throat in an effort to look like a model who really needs to put on 20 pounds. So then what is the mean average that people should be aiming for? What image reflects health while at the same time does not breed obsession that can and does lead to death? However having said all that I feel your banning from facebook to be inappropriate. If someone can post what I consider to be an embarrassing picture of themselves on the web than you should able to express your opinion on the subject.
No one really cares about your over-privileged stupidity. Overweight people deserve to be celebrated every bit as much as your gawdy, awful wedding did. Who gives a shit if some fitness obsessed (and likely otherwise 100% useless) person with a really negative and sour attitude towards people who already have problems to deal with.
I’m sorry that you got jealous because every.last.bit of media attention wasn’t focused on how healthy and beautiful and wonderful you are, you selfish piece of trash.
Maria, you are inspiring and I think you deserve praise not shame, for at least trying to promote a healthy lifestyle and not rely on excuses such as having children (DISCLAIMER, I have no children), but I have let myself go in the past few years of my 30’s and it has been so much more difficult to lose the weight again, and with a little self-discipline in my 20’s I could have avoided having to do this. I understand the concept of “Health at Every Size” but I want to know honestly how many bigger people are healthy.
Yes, we should celebrate the epidemic of hypertension, heart attacks and strokes which all stem from obesity. Fantastic idea.
Let’s all quit pretending as if it’s all right to be obese.
Can we celebrate Hypothyroid and all the other health conditions that can make people put on weight/make it hard to lose weight then? I’m not ill because I’m fat, I’m fat because I’m ill. All this woman preaches is hate towards people of a ‘larger disposition’, She never once accepts that people CAN be overweight because of illnesses/ situations OUT of their control. Never once have I read her spouting disgust at skinny women not taking care of their bodies. It is NOT pretending that obesity is alright, it’s producing a healthier approach to the situation, rather than making people depressed of self conscious, it’s telling them it’s okay to come out of the house and to exercise, that no one is going to fat shame them in public. It is accepting that not all obese people are lazy and unmotivated.
See, this is the crap she’s spewing, do people understand that these conditions exist equally in people who are thin and who are heavy? And people are throwing around the word obese, but it’s clear she’s talking about anybody with even a little extra weight. lol! I think there is a real lack of medical knowledge going on here. Of course extra weight adds to problems in the body, but so does not enough fat and too much muscle. Maria is just focusing on weight, but there are so many factors. She’s ignorant and spewing fat-shaming without any real knowledge behind it. And she wasn’t just targeting grossly obese people. That’s the thing. And she even said “Why should overweight people feel proud of their bodies?” I would ask, “Why should Maria feel proud of herself after how she used her success to attack people?” cause…I don’t think she should.
Also, it’s ironic her motto is “No Excuses” when Excuses are all she gave on why she put out her bigoted posts. Sorry Maria, I wish you well, though I’m sure all this posting and attention is the REAL reason you said what you said. You wanted attention and you go it!
Nah. You should be sorry. In fact, you should stop blogging. Why? Because your behavior is not only counter-productive, it’s dangerous.
You pretend that you’re helping people by berating obese people, but really I think this all stems from your own paranoia about weight.
In fact, as someone who has struggled with eating disorders in the past, I know how much your cruel attitude and creepy obsession with your body just adds to the pressure many people, especially young people, feel to be thin.
In sum, you’re a jerk.
I’m so glad that Facebook did the “right” thing by banning you. I am a mother of a 15 year old girl who struggled with anorexia and bulimia for two years. It was pure hell. A nightmare. What you stand for is exactly what fuels these types of illnesses. Get over yourself. You are doing no one any good, not even yourself.
I just read the article in Jezebel about your FB ban and frankly, I’m surprised. There’s so much on Facebook and other social media outlets that is offensive, destructive, and tragic. Anyhow, now that I’m in my early thirties and feeling my lifetime of high metabolsim slowly dwindle away, I know I have two choices – to do something healthy for myself or to ignore my body. I’m not a mother, but I would like to be one day, which is why I found your original “What’s Your Excuse” campaign inspiring. You show people that with the right amount of effort, it’s possible to be fit – even after kids. The message as I saw it was to challenge and motivate viewers – not shame them. Maybe the bigger problem is that deep down, a lot of us (especially women) tend to demonize people who look fit and perfect (especially when we don’t) out of jealousy or insecurity. Society teaches us to compete with one another and then blame the media and external world for our own feelings. It’s no wonder people are unhealthy! All in all, I think you’re brave for what you’ve written, what you’ve shared, and what you’ve challenged the world to do – get healthier! And even though all the “haters” might disagree, I bet they won’t ever forget the question, “What’s your excuse?”
Hi
Just stopping by to say I have been following your escapades since Jezebel covered it. I am not impressed. You come off as a self righteous you-know-what who thinks only their body type is the right one. News flash honey, bodies, just as much as minds, come in many sizes, shapes and healths. Your argument is hurtful. So…As someone who is not a size 4 I am supposed to hate myself, not have any pride?
Let me tell you something special. Listen close. I’m not necessarily considered morbidly obese but I could lose some weight. Does that make me unhealthy? No, not inheretly. I work out, I eat less than I should but it’s healthy. My blood pressure, sugar levels and all other things are on track, better actually than many. Do I have issues? Yes, but it’s not due to my weight but genetics. I have a weak immune system, I have since I was born btw so don’t try to tell me it’s because I am “fat.” I get lung infections easily which makes running basically impossible if I want to breath. Does this make me a bad, disgusting, lazy person? No! I work fricking hard! EVERY DAY!
You need to step back and stop being so judgemental. You don’t know us, you don’t know what we’ve been through and continue to go through every single day because of people like you! It’s people like you that make it impossible for some people to get gym memberships, because they don’t want the skinny ones judging. It’s the ones like you that make people like me have such issues around food that we barely eat. You are not helping. If you want to send a message of SUPPORT you say “Hey, we can ALL work on ourselves.” Not “What’s your excuse?”
In my eyes, you’re just fat shaming…Not only fat shaming but you’re gloating about what your genetics have given you. You’re one of those people I never EVER want to be and I’m so sad to see some ladies saying thank you to you. Ladies, you don’t thank your bully. You don’t need HER kind of inspiration. Find people who actually care about you regardless of your size and become fit because you WANT to be, not because some “person” (I don’t want to name call) says you should be ashamed of who you are! It is only through loving oneself that changes can be made. She only tells you that you should hate yourself. There’s much better role models out there.
To be quite frank, you deserved your ban. Get off the internet, you’re embarrassing yourself. Good day.
I’ve been an emergency physician for 11 years and I can’t count the number of times I’ve had patients tell me about how their genetics made them fat. It’s not your genetics. That’s a ridiculous excuse. Are their genetic conditions that cause obesity? Sure. Turner’s syndrome and Cushing’s are two solid examples. However, if you’ve never been diagnosed with a genetic illness which was proven by diagnostic testing, you don’t have a genetic condition.
Do you have any idea how many elderly obese patients I see? Not many. They’re all dead. Quit making excuses and get yourself together.
My weight goes up and down and it’s up to me to get healthy. You are soo right about the normalizing of being unhealthy in the US. When I am at a healthy weight I feel like I don’t fit in and people don’t like me as much because I’m skinny. People’s minds are a little off now.
I love what you said b. Taylor…..tell it like it is; people need it. I respect my Dr. because he tells me the truth and that shows he cares about my health.
FYI….I am obese right now and it’s unhealthy. I work out, but have a problem with my eating. I take aspirin because I’m afraid of having a heart attach because my heart beat weird, I can’t breath well at night, it’s hard to run, ect, ect……..I can feel how bad it makes my health. I have a ton of stress and I’m a nursing student too.
I totally agree with what you said and how you said it, and I’m overweight myself. No offense taken here. You’re an inspiration to all of us. The fact is that any time I feel like getting up off my fat, lazy posterior, working out, and eating right, I can do it too. I know I can.
Get off your high horse and worry about yourself.
It’s probably best your parents weren’t at your wedding. They didn’t have to endure the shame of everyone seeing who raised such a terrible person
I am so sorry for the horrible comments people have posted. You shouldn’t have to experience such hate only because you’ve shared your opinion and personal story. I really appreciate you sharing your success and being willing to coach others to find the same through the information you share on your website. I have made a commitment to my family to be a fit mom and I know it is a gift to them. It is hard work to be healthy in this often very unhealthy society. Keep up the great work, I appreciate you!
Maria,
I have been following you since the post about your picture. I think you are on target and do not need to be ashamed. Most of the people who are complaining are those who don’t want to make the necessary changes to be healthy. Keep fighting the good fight. I find you inspiring.
You can’t get upset now about people voicing their opinion of you.
You opened yourself to criticism when you made it a point to try to make other people feel bad. So yes, you have a right to your opinion that people who don’t work out hours a day are lazy and others have a right to their opinions that you are a vapid, judgmental jerk.
I think the Jezebel article that was most recently published sums it up well. These issues are your own. Stop shaming women. Thank you.
Clearly weight issues have been a huge issue for you, as they are for many people. But it’s sad you can’t see the pernicious effect it’s had on your mentality.
If you were truly happy with your body, you would not feel compelled to chastise others. Your motivations all stem from your own issues with weight and body image, which you are still struggling with. That is something best done in private. Good luck.
Dear Maria,
First of all, I am really happy to hear that you are able to achieve a body that you find ideal. You have worked hard and no one should ever be criticizing your achievements.
HOWEVER, I think your approach of trying to “help” people is not only insensitive, but perpetuates the notion that people are overweight or obese BECAUSE they are lazy (or insert excuse). I gained over 20 kg after being on anti-depressants; I used to have a body that was super slender, and in fact, I used to make myself throw up after eating or not eat at all. I was fat shamed, even though I was eating very healthy, and exercising. I have a great resting heart rate (under 60), cholesterol, blood pressure, etc. But I cannot make myself lose the weight even during a period of my time when I exercised more than SIX days a week (cardio + strength training).
I wanted to share my personal story with you because I think a lot of times it is a bit more complicated. Some people just cannot afford a healthy diet (as I am sure you are well aware of the correlations between poverty and unhealthy eating); having access to the gym and time to exercise IS a privilege. Some people may have thyroid issues, be on steroids, or other medications; some people just cannot afford a lifestyle like yours. I hope you understand that people do not *hate* you, but are frustrated with what you have said and the way you have responded to criticism. You do have a right to say what you want, but we also have the right to criticize you.
LOL J! Did your white boyfriend dump your fat ass for a hot Asian woman? No wonder you’re so bitter, J. J, face it- white women are disgusting. Asian women are the new trophy wives. You are just jealous of Maria, and you wish you looked even half as sexy as she does.
Well, I am sure Maria will appreciate that her fans are also racists!
Ahh, the time honored tradition of picking on the fat kids. Mrs. Kang, you are a bully and an asshole.
Cheers, and good luck to your sons.
Thanks for all you do to make people fatter:
http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/fat-shaming-contributes-obesity-study-article-1.1413174
So many mad fatties. Incredible.
The most sickening thing here is how you blame your Mom for her death because she didn’t follow your approved “lifestyle.”
You really need some psychological help, Maria. The pep talks you and and your husband keep giving yourselves on these blogs are hollow. Sane, well-adjusted people don’t need to look down on others to feel good about themselves.
And again, even in this age of over-sharing, you ought to exercise some class and discretion and work this stuff out privately.
Mark W, you are a pathetic excuse for a man. I could beat your faggot ass with one hand tied behind my back, you faggot.
Miss Maria, pay no attention to the bullies calling you a bully. I admire you. Can’t please everybody! You are beautiful & in shape. We need more info on how to stay in shape after pregnancy. Keep up the good work! If people don’t like what you have to say they should ignore you and go watch honey boo boo or something if that’s the reality they seek.
People calling her a bully, are not the bullies. She has corned that market with her own words. If she wants to motivate people she should, absolutely not a bad thing. Her delivery is seriously wrong though. She might want to squeeze in a class on communication skills. It just might help, however probably not because if you read her blogs, she is a person suffering from some very real emotional issues and a bit of vanity. Keep telling her how great she is, she craves it now more than she used to crave food. She has simply traded one obsession with another food for attention. Hope it does not consume her, that will only further damage her marriage and kids.
LOL Denise! Did your white boyfriend dump your fat ass for a hot Asian woman? No wonder you’re so bitter, Denise. Denise, face it- white women are disgusting. Asian women are the new trophy wives. You are just jealous of Maria, and you wish you looked even half as sexy as she does.
We all can work on our delivery sometimes. I agree with you on that Miss Denise. Also there is an unhealthy obsession with judging others in this country. I just feel if you don’t like what someone has to say you just should ignore em.
You are a sociopath. And a giant cunt. And, kind of mushy yourself. Been slacking on the exercise regiment lately, hmm?
Long live fatties! That includes you, my dear “mommy”
LOL Muffy! Did your white boyfriend dump your fat ass for a hot Asian woman? No wonder you’re so bitter, Muffy. Muffy, face it- white women are disgusting. Asian women are the new trophy wives. You are just jealous of Maria, and you wish you looked even half as sexy as she does.
You disgust me.
You must be a fat bitch. Sext me a pic at Carlos@danger.com!
LOL Suzie! Did your white boyfriend dump your fat ass for a hot Asian woman? No wonder you’re so bitter, Suzie.
You are beautiful and speak truth Maria. Your energy is vibrant and alive. Unlike a lot of these peoples comments it is obvious you put in a ton of effort and work on yourself. This is beautiful. There is nothing wrong with nurturing and honoring the self and there is a ton wrong with neglecting the body and ingnoring all the signs that lead up to physical ailments from lack of education on how to nurture and take care of the body. Unfortunately we are bombarded with negative marketing of terrible food that is not even real and then paired with big Pharma drugging up America because the bottom line is American’s want convenience.They don’t want to work for the the results they want instant ones and to consume what is put infront of them in an effort to ignore what is really going on in their lives and making a difference in others. All of these negative comments speak to exactly how miserable these people are. You are amazing and inspiring and I am sorry that you have received any negative backlash but like all amazing souls that have come to the planet to share with humanity how wonderful and capable we are how could we expect anything else? Keep up the good work and doing what you do. When I first saw that pic of you and your sons I thought Hell yes! What is my excuse? She works hard for that body! I need to as well. Thank you for being a part of this world and making people think 🙂
I weigh 400 pounds and have struggled with weight my entire life. There is nothing wrong with what you said. I was not offended and no one else should be either. People who think this is fat shaming have never been fat shamed. Not even close. What you said is plain and simple truth to many people.
Obviously it doesn’t apply to everyone who have encountered weight issues as a side effect of other health problems, but why these people would assume that you are addressing them is beyond me. It’s ridiculous.
People are way too oversensitive about what you’ve said and really need to get over their own insecurities. There’s no reason people should be this upset with you for what you wrote.
Sometimes the truth hurts, people need to accept that and stop whining.
Maria,
Do not worry about the fatties banning you. FB is a cesspool for zero effort ego validation. If they cannot be motivated to eat right and exercise, then their families will suffer for it.
You are doing great by your husband and kids. Thank you so much for being a positive role model! Stay strong and have a successful and wonderful life! =)
Please do not allow others to dictate what your communications deliver. Words can carry differing meanings based on context, delivery, tone, etc…..the media routinely hijack stories by twisting context based communications…what you are facing is part of the war fighting we are all called to….please be strong…you are not alone….
I see nothing wrong with what you said. TBH, I’ve experienced a lot worse without even breaking weight limits in the Marine Corps. I know my perception of it isn’t the norm, but the fact of the matter is it’s all about willpower. If calories out +exercise>calories in, then you lose weight. It’s even easier if you low, and no-fat, foods because you can eat more. Don’t eat rich foods. All socio-economic factors aside, in the end it’s a personal choice of eating and not eating. Exercising and not exercising.
You do it, or you don’t do it.
I think you are such a horrib le person and a horrible rold model to your children for the way you bash other people. Some people are over weight because they over eat and dont qork out, yes. But other, like myself are overweight due to medical conditions and it is hard to stay thin due to medication anf such that cause weight loss. You shoild never judge something that you do not understand. You are such an ignorant human being. You shouldnt be allowed to post anywhere on the internet. Lw life. Try and find a hobby pther than being completely RUDE….
“You shouldnt be allowed to post anywhere on the internet”…. this person is the definition of “fucking moron”.
Brittney,
Aw, you sound super insecure. Sorry little buddy!
LOL Brittney! Did your white boyfriend dump your fat ass for a hot Asian woman? No wonder you’re so bitter, Brittney.
You Brittney are obvious not reading what she wrote. She is focused on people that have the choice to be healthy. medication can make you gain weight but when you know medication will do that you MUST change your lifestyle in order to stay healthy. This does include: working out, eating super healthy NO SUGAR OR FAST FOOD. You to have a choice and can lose weight but for you it’s much harder than it would be for someone that is just downing fast food and watching TV all day.
I’m pretty disgusted by the comments that are on here. I know what you had to say was harsh to some people, but when you said, “When we normalize being unhealthy we create complacency to positively change.” I agree wholeheartedly. While I think all women are beautiful, including the ones on Curvy Girl Lingerie, we can’t tell them that they because they are beautiful, they don’t need to get healthy. They do.
I’m struggling with overcoming my eating disorder, too. And I don’t think it’s a good idea to promote obesity as “normal.” It’s not. It’s not healthy to be this way, and it’s not smart to pretend that it’s good for me. Yeah, a lot of people take offense to straight-talk (I did at first, but then I realized I was making excuses for my bosses at my second job to monopolize all my freetime instead of placing down boundaries and being firm with them), but sometimes, they need that shock to wake up and realize it’s not helping them to tell them not to work towards health. I’m 100% sure I’ll never look like you (excess skin from weight loss) without plastic surgery, but that’s not going to stop me from pursing healthy weight goals.
The media’s jumped on the reactions of people who are making excuses for not only themselves, but sometimes other people, to treat them like crap and monopolize their time. That’s not your fault, but at this point, I really encourage you to stop feeding these trolls and writing apologies. Your straight-talk is changing lives. It made me pursue a better second job with better hours so I can be my best.
I’m doing a 4-mile walk/run tomorrow on Thanksgiving Day because your no-excuses attitude got through to me. Keep doing what you’re doing, you’re helping those who are stopping with their excuses!
“No one should be ashamed of who they are, at the same time, in order to desire something greater, you have to—at some level—be uncomfortable with where you are at. When we normalize being unhealthy we create complacency to positively change,” she wrote”
That is a very inspirational quote – no matter what you do in life. “be uncomfortable with where you are at”.
This is what motivates persons to do – what people call – foolish things …and this can sometimes lead to greatness beyond anyone’s imagination.
I know different persons have different perspectives on your thoughts. I think you are blunt and honest. When that one kid in the class asks a question or points to something and everyone looks at the kid like he/she is not “politically correct” – only for everyone to later realize – that kid was right all along. Only society and everyone made the opposite a norm. I admire your honesty. Now if only people realized the importance of being healthy,
Thank you
You’re a great inspiration, Maria. Don’t let all of these hate comments bother you, they are just jealous of you and wish they had the motivation to look as great as you do. I agree with you, obesity is a huge epidemic in America, and now because of ObamaCare, we are all going to be paying extra taxes to support fat people’s unhealthy eating habits and lifestyles. Therefore, their obesity IS OUR PROBLEM now that they have instituted a socialist welfare state where everyone has to pay taxes to support everyone else.
That’s some good crazy talk, right there.
Mark
Aw, you sound super insecure. Sorry little buddy!
Dear Maria: It’s your delivery that’s the problem. Are you interested in influencing others or in showing off? Because it’s hard to imagine that someone could be so tone-deaf if she were interested in “hey, come and work out with me!” instead of “I’m hot and you’re not.” I hate to break this to you, but you are not the only one out there who has suffered losses and who has stumbled along the way.
You have obviously accomplished much and have a great message. But every other successful fitness guide who becomes a success knows how to strike the balance between encouraging people, pushing them, and still not putting them down. I don’t think you are there yet — and you could be so close!
Yes, I’m offering *you* advice: namely that you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. Now, what’s your excuse?
You are a fucking idiot.
She doesn’t want to influence others positively, unfortunately. Maria is simply exposing her deep personal issues on the Internetz.
She simply couldn’t stay silent when confronted with a feature on how people who aren’t emaciated are also beautiful. She presumably tortured herself to attain her skinny physique, and others who are overweight deserve the suffering she has experienced. It’s not ok to like yourself as you are (and it’s certainly not ok to be informed of current science on weight loss–she is blissfully clueless). Maria certainly doesn’t like herself, or she wouldn’t have to bully others.
Mark
Aw, you sound super insecure. Sorry little buddy!
funny… Maria bullying others because she is talking about what she believes in.. realy funny
Lynne,
Aw, you sound super insecure. Sorry little buddy!
LOL Lynne! Did your white boyfriend dump your fat ass for a hot Asian woman? No wonder you’re so bitter, Lynne.
I hope you read all of these comments. There is a lot of good advice in here that you could take to heart. Use this opportunity to grow.
It’s funny when naturally thin people chide others for their laziness… and laud themselves for their “hard work” as baby weight melts off. My word. The funny thing is, take an obese person living the EXACT same lifestyle as you, and their results will absolutely not be the same.
Maria, take this incident as an opportunity to check your behaviour and learn not to be so judgemental. Remember that “healthy” and “thin” are NOT the same thing. Some fat people are healthy. Some thin people are unhealthy. It’s crazy, I know. Your smug judgement is not helpful for anyone.
Lisa
Aw, you sound super insecure. Sorry little buddy!
Actually it was the judgment of obese womyn that got Maria banned from facebook in the first place. She does not have to apologize for being better than most of you.
LOL Lisa! Did your white boyfriend dump your fat ass for a hot Asian woman? No wonder you’re so bitter, Lisa.
No FAT person is healthy, that is a lie! I can see based on your picture that you have around 10 pounds to much. It might not affect you know, you in your 20s I assume, wait until you hit your 30s.. then come back preaching… If you eat healthy food, real food, you will be naturally thin this does not mean anorexic, I have a feeling that you are confusing the to.
I still think that you are missing the point! You are equating overweight people as being unhealthy, and that is something you cannot tell just by looking at them!! I
I totally agree with you that people should take responsibility for their own health and should make their health a priority. We do owe it to ourselves and our families to take the best care of our bodies that we can, and that includes not smoking, not drinking alcohol to excess etc, but you are delivering your message based purely on the basis of somebody’s looks, which is totally wrong.
It is statistically just as dangerous to your health being seriously underweight as it is being seriously overweight, but you make no mention of this. You don’t belittle the skinny, only the fat! The American culture promotes size zero as being the model size of perfection, when in fact for the majority of women to be at this size would put them close to death!
There are also plenty of people who are within the normal weight range on the BMI charts but when medical tests are carried out, are found to have high levels of internal fat, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes etc. Whereas a fit fat person may have perfectly normal test results! Recent research indicates that Metabolic Fitness is the key indicator to the health problems you are so concerned about, and that this is regardless of a person’s weight or size. If somebody is metabolically fit, their weight is irrelevant to the equation.
If you wish to be viewed in a more positive light and still promote your cause, then you should stop using weight and vanity as the motivation and concentrate on the importance of health and fitness at every size.
Aw, you sound super insecure. Sorry little girl!
LOL Karen! Did your white boyfriend dump your fat ass for a hot Asian woman? No wonder you’re so bitter, Karen.
I agree 100% with you!
I have family that is obese and I struggle with my weight constantly. My father is close to 400 pounds and recently suffered a stroke but because it was mild he has not made any lifestyle changes and instead is using medications, as normal for him! I see my brother who is several inches shorter than me and weighs close to 60 pounds more than I do and has health issues.
Because I have seen so many of my family members die of health related issues due to weight I have made a concious effort to work out and eat right. I am not perfect, still have a weight I want to lose, but my my overall health actually comes in higher than most people my age!
I admire your stance, no need to be sorry!! I agree 100%
Good for you Alex.
i think you have a point maria. far too often we bash people who are not afraid to say fat is not healthy nor is it attractive to most people. fat overweight people need to take better care of themselves rather than blaming people who point out the obvious. its a fact that fat people is a detriment to any healthcare system anywhere in the world and that is why their insurance coverage is higher than slim or should i say fit people. i want to encourage you to keep doing what you are doing
“…my mom was struggling to live at the hospital. What they don’t understand is whether realized or not, these unfortunate circumstances could’ve been prevented if she lived a healthier lifestyle. Many feel I am selfish for not being compassionate to her ordeal, while I feel she was selfish for not taking care of her health my entire life.”
This would be an outstanding way to begin your therapy sessions. Try to understand your self-hatred and come to terms with the way you rejected your mother in her last days. If you can get past that, you may be able to rise above your own shortcomings and insecurities and stop judging others.
But first, stop blogging. You need help, and this is the opposite of that.
Aw, you sound super insecure. Sorry little buddy!
Yay, a stupid troll! Was wondering when you’d show up.
You covered the “white women” thing, and that was awesomely nuts. Now say something crazy about Obamacare.
Mark, you sound like a pathetic beta male loser mangina. How about you grow up and grow a pair?
Beta male loser? Lol
Shut up, your steroids shouldn’t talk for you.
You need help! I would to be pissed off at my mother that choose to be selfish and destroy her own health without caring how it would affect anyone around her. That is what overweight people do! It’s slow suicide
LOL at all the bitter and angry fat white women who are posting hate comments on this blog.
You white women need to get over yourselves. Yes, Asian women are superior to you. And it’s because Asian women aren’t brainwashed by feminism. You white women are ugly on both the inside and the outside.
Aw, you sound super insecure. Sorry little buddy!
You’re the one that is super jealous and bitter towards Asian women, not me.
Nope. Not at all. Nice try though.
Oh how cute!!! Poor wittle baby is upset because white men are going for Asian girls.
What’s the mater, Rae? Did your white boyfriend dump your ugly ass for a hot Asian girl?
Face it, Asian women are the new trophy wives. Most white guys dream of marrying an Asian woman. The only reason a white guy would marry a white American woman is because he’s unable to find an Asian woman.
Asian women are awesome!!!
White women are so last century. Asian women are now the most desireable women on earth, and the polls and surveys prove it.
Face it, you white women are just bitter and upset because you KNOW that Asian women are superior to you.
Aw, you sound super insecure. Sorry little buddy!
Aw, you sound super insecure. Sorry little buddy!
Wow, where did you draw that idiotic conclusion?
How cute… Rae didn’t even stick around long enough to bother replying. I guess she’s too insecure and weak to handle anonymous comments over the internet criticizing her.
Once again- you white women are just JEALOUS and BITTER and ENVIOUS of sexy Asian women like Maria. Asian women are literally a 1000 times superior to white women.
I feel sorry for the Asian women who would end up dating such cruel people like you.
Darn, good thing African American or black.
You should move back to mexico. That and the fact that your ugly does not help. So yeah.. mexico. And a paper bag.
Aw, you sound super insecure. Sorry little buddy!
Hahahaha, you’re hating on everyone except Maria Kang you think you can white knight for enough so she’ll want to be with you. That is a sign of insecurity. You’re just a insecure baby, screaming and thrashing at others.
Just wanted to say that I completely support your position. While a very small percentage of people who are overweight or obese will also be “fit”, the truth is that the VAST majority are not. Some people blame genes and other such factors, and while there certain exceptions such as hypothyroidism, but the large majority of these factors can be overcome with diet and exercise. All current scientific literature supports that diet and exercise can overcome “fat genes”. So keep up the good fight! Obesity is not healthy and people should not be proud to be fat (although they should absolutely be able to be proud in accomplishments other than their weight).
You do not have to apologize to these obese/hate filled and insecure women who do not take care of themselves, the obese women in lingerie is a disgusting article and you are right what is worse about that article is that it does normalize obesity. People are too lazy to look outside of the box, people love to comfort themselves in their own failures. I fully support you, I think you are super awesome Maria, please continue speaking out against obesity. http://themysticphilosopher.wordpress.com/2013/11/27/i-love-you-maria-kang/
Calling women “lard-filled beached whales” in your blog post seems to indicate you’re the one with problems. (And you misspell the word “women” often.)
Mark
Aw, you sound super insecure. Sorry little buddy!
White-knighting hey?
ROFL……….I see a bountiful lard filled womyn coming your way….hey you might get laid…haha!!!
Mark W is a huge mangina. He is too weak and pathetic of a man to handle a REAL WOMAN, an Asian woman.
Wow, sexist AND racist! BravO, John King! You win asshat of the year.
Sorry DivaD, but I am just reflecting back YOUR OWN racism and sexism.
I’ve talked to many white women about the trend of white men marrying Asian women, and 90 percent of the time, the white woman will make an extremely racist, sexist, and hateful comment about Asian women.
Believe me, white women are the most racist and hateful people on the planet.
DivaD, oh how cute… poor wittle baby is upset because white men are rejecting her and marrying Asian women instead.
What’s the matter, sweetie? Did your white boyfriend dump your ugly fat ass for an Asian woman?
Maybe you should try EXERCISING, DivaD, and stop stuffing your face full of brownies and ice cream.
You are single, are you?
I understand exactly where you are coming from. Being physically fit is about choices. People try to use various excuses like economics, or “I don’t have time”, but the excuses are garbage. You just keep on spreading the message. stay strong.
Maria is awesome! She is the ideal of what a female should be- strong, intelligent, smart, sexy, funny, beautiful.
She’s the perfect waifu.
I just wanted to tell you I appreciate what you’re doing, working to emphasize health. I personally have worked to get my BMI down to the normal range and now that I am here I find people are angry with me for wanting more. The goal is health. Everything in life hinges on being alive to experience it and I support you voicing that.
Assuming someone’s health status based on what you can see is pretty fucking stupid.
Weight is not an indicator of health.
Shannon, you are one ugly fat bitch. It’s no wonder you are so jealous of Maria Kang.
What’s the matter? Did your boyfriend dump your ugly fat ass for a hot Asian girl?
Try exercising, you fat bitch.
You are trash.
You are a pathetic pussy whipped beta male mangina loser, Edgar. Grow up and grow a pair, you faggot.
Says the troll with no picture.
I lost count how many times you’ve said “hot Asian girl” and the whole “your boyfriend probably broke up with you for a hot Asian girl”
Sorry dude, no matter how many times you compliment her, you’re not gonna get yourself a hot Asian girl. You honestly sound so stupid. There are people who have diseases that refuse them to lose weight you idiot. I’m fit and healthy but I know not to bash on “fat women” like you do because I know that most of them try but having a disease that makes you gain weight than lose weight, there’s almost nothing can be done.
Do us all a favor and shut the hell up or at least educate yourself before you start barking.
LOL at Adele. Sounds to me like you’re an extremely insecure woman who feels threatened by attractive Asian women like Maria.
Maybe see a psychiatrist, he can help you work through your insecurity, Adele.
Of course it is. Why don’t you ask your doctor about that. Weight is the no.1 primary stat a doctor uses to gauge the health of a patient before anything else.
I always enjoy reading your blog posts, it makes me feel like I have a front row (maybe second or third row) seat in your life. I love the pictures and the real you, truly. I’ve been following your blog for a year and I continue to support everything you stand for. I’m soon to be 23, and with raising two kids on my own, I want to be like you when I “grow up.” 🙂 Happy wedding anniversary.
Please, “hate” away. Facebook is incredibly tyrannical and I left when they once warned me for using “hate” speech. It’s not ok to be fat. We’re losing our common sense and it’s absurd. BOYCOTT FACEBOOK!
I hope so, she is one of the sexiest women on earth.
all bout the looks for you, i see how shallow you are!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I think she has stated many times she is about health. Not looks. She looks beautiful on her wedding day because it’s her WEDDING DAY!
All good chikky babe..I get ya fully..I hav 6 kids & 1 granchild (im 38) I look alot younger & hav a physical appearance of a fit 18yr old..i eat rite & exercize (but not OB)..I do enjoy lookin good but its the HEALTHYNESS thats guna make me live a long & medication free life…healthy should b the new normal..not anorexic twigs nor chubbyz..people wana stop sookin around & just b healthy..it is possible!!!..I know it..u know it…& fat asses know it 2
Hey Maria,
Reading your story, it does seem like it was an incredibly emotional time for you. It made me tear a little as well. I do agree that many obese / close to obese / unhealthy women out there are giving in to all those ads telling them to be proud of their body and believing that plus size is beautiful. Which is true, we should all be confident with whatever size we are. However, what I feel and what I think you’re trying to say is for them to have the realization and know the difference between plus size and pure unhealthy size? There is a huge difference being big boned and just being fat. You had the right intention but I feel that you came across the wrong way.
It’s admirable that you want to create some sort of awareness through your own painful experiences, but people don’t take too easily to being called fat and other demeaning words. Weight is a sensitive issue, especially with women. I think you have some accepting to do with the way things panned out in your situation and then reach out in a more positive way to create a more positive awareness of this issue, coz I sincerely believe the issue needs to be addressed – I can’t tell you how, but maybe in a softer tone?
Either way, you did look beautiful on your wedding day, you should celebrate your anniversary and be happy about who the person you have become. Be proud in fact.
Well said. I think it’s great to encourage being healthy, but Maria, you haven’t been very kind in how you have done it. In your famous pic that got you in trouble, why couldn’t you have said something more kind like. “you can do it, too!”. The truth that you want to spread is going to hurt more than help if there isn’t more love in it.
LOL! Courtney, you are just some fat ugly white woman who is jealous that you’ll never be as hot as Maria Kang.
What’s the matter, sweetie? Did your boyfriend dump your fat ass for a hot Asian girl? Is that why you are so bitter, Courtney?
John King, I find it really interesting that you are making so many assumptions about the physical appearance of those commenting given that you have no photo posted. I would tell you my physical stats, but then I would be stooping to your level.
But I will tell you this: I’m not offended, I’m pissed- there is a difference. It pisses me off to see how much our country glorifies physical appearance over compassion. My husband and I recently adopted a 4 year old child with special needs and our hands our quite full. And while, fortunately, I have still been able to maintain a healthy weight, it is certainly more important to me that I focus on my daughter’s very intense needs right now than it is for me to look perfect (or anywhere near it, really). I would rather sacrifice my life and love well than look perfect, and perfect is what Maria Kang is advertising.
I’m sure this is all hitting deaf ears, because you are pretty clearly one of the most psychotic internet trolls that I have ever seen, so I mostly write it for anyone else who may see.
So you want people to feel “sorry for you” for being overweight? You want people to feel sorry for you eating unhealthy?
Being OVERWEIGHT is a CHOICE! Why in God’s name would I feel sorry for someone that chooses fast food over a healthy cooked meal? Why?
Courtney …. You don’t owe Maria, or her alpha culture hater group ANYTHING. remember most wont even read your remarkable post BECAUSE they (the posters and Maria and her arrogant hubby) need to get some damn help of their own. They want to eliminate anyone with overweight genetics to live in their Utopia and don’t care if the as they call it “fat” people are gone today or tomorrow. She’s not compassionate she’s a wet bitch with cat poop growing out of her fungal ass!
Well said. I think it’s great to encourage being healthy, but Maria, you haven’t been very kind in how you have done it. In your famous pic that got you in trouble, why couldn’t you have said something more encouraging like, “you can do it, too!”. The truth that you want to spread is going to hurt more than help if there isn’t more love in it.
If I’m honest, it seems to me like your physical attractiveness has brought pride that needs to be dealt with for your message to really be given for the benefit of others. Because right now you come across to me as an arrogant woman with a platform. A platform that has lots of truth in it, but that I can hardly see because of the big head of the person on it.
LOL! Courtney, you are just some fat ugly white woman who is jealous that you’ll never be as hot as Maria Kang.
What’s the matter, sweetie? Did your boyfriend dump your fat ass for a hot Asian girl? Is that why you are so bitter, Courtney??
Her famous picture got in her in “trouble” because a overweight mother of three was in pissed off because she showed what you CAN do if you WANT TO. That is the only reason that picture hit home for many women. THE END
I couldn’t read all of the comments, but I just wanted to jump in and throw in my support! I agree with you tenfold. Nowhere did you cite any sort of hate. You are a strong woman, sometimes those who speak out are hated for speaking the truth. But we need people to step and speak that truth! Instead of silently letting it go by the wayside. You’re absolutely right. People simply want to make it ok to keep their disgusting eating habits and look like the result of that. And then passing this down to their kids and their kids kids. We have to stop it somewhere!! Foul eating habits and not exercising cause disease and take a toll on our economy. Everyone can eat like a junkie for the first half of their lives, but they pay for it the second half, as does the health care system! For the record, you did not blame anyone for being a little overweight. Nor ere you wrong at all. I don’t look like you, and I have one kid! LOL. And I work out regularly, and hard! And eat healthy. It is what it is. But I didn’t get up in arms with what you said. All you’re saying is to eat healthy and exercise (even getting outside for a walk!!) and make something more of yourself than a couch potato and health hazard. (those are MY words. LOL).
I believe your challenge reached many; however, many are weak in mind, body, and soul and not everybody responds well to competition or pointing out complacency, particularly the weak.
KEEP MAKING NOISE!!!
Hello Mrs. Kang,
Don’t worry for every one loud mouth yelling hate in your direction, there are 2 or more people who understand what you are saying. I myself am 31 and about 10 lbs (maybe 15, if speaking of ideal weight) overweight, and as a martial artist who had to “retire” from rigorous training and exercise much earlier than I ever hoped due to injury, I find it painful to look in the mirror and see a me that I struggle to fight off.. But as you say, we have to do our best and try as hard as we can (and then try a bit harder than that).. Being a mother of 3 typically wrecks a woman’s body and to see how you look should be an inspiration to hard work and self motivation, and not seen as an insult to people who are over-weight.
As obesity and other “lifestyle choices” that used to be frowned upon become more and more widely accepted (out of fear of being labeled as some sort of hater if you speak the simple truth about things) people slowly begin to forget WHY the behavior was “frowned upon” to begin with.. The two biggest lifestyle choices that prove to be prime examples are:
Obesity: Un-necessary strain on the human body caused by weight issues is not only un-sightly, but it tends to be a large factor in health problems, and limits placed on one’s lifestyle that otherwise would not be present if not for the excess body fat.
Homosexuality: There is a reason there are two sexes. The human body is not that of a hermaphrodite. It takes two opposing sexes to propagate the species, sure people can spout religious or other person views, but honestly it all roots back to that (I am speaking scientifically, that is NOT intended as a slam against homosexuals).
Sure there will be people who dis-agree. Those people are called “ignorant”. They are not stupid, and they are not idiots. They just don’t know , or are unwiling to accept the real facts.
As you have now witnessed, the media can take a person and shred them or bastardize them into becoming a “monster” in the eyes of the ignorant masses.
You see it alot. Whether it be with political conservatives who adamantly disagree with our current administration (both parties have been guilty of this), People who doubt climate change because every report released so-far that claims it is real, turns out to be altered slightly or out-right phoney (thus negating any real scientific value), being accused of being “Climate deniers”. Or even a simple health advocate being slammed as a “fatty hater” because she did what most of us struggle with, or flat out refuse to do, and that is get off their @ss and improve themselves…
Your beautiful, you worked hard to be that way, and you SHOULD be damn proud of it… And the rest of us SHOULD be slightly ashamed (or at least not proud) of the fact the we haven’t done the same.
So now you’re using the guilt trip method to justify your prejudice against fat people? That’s the same way people use personal stories to justify being bigots or misogynists. It doesn’t change a fricking thing. I’m so embarrassed you have Malaysian blood. You’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem.
There are plenty of “obese” people who go to the gym 3-4 times a week, who count calories religiously — newsflash, we may not lose weight but we /are/ healthier for it. Self-image, a positive one, is the first step on the path to fitness. Views like your suggest society should further marginalise fat people because omg, we’re so selfish, we don’t realise our fatness is affecting other people. How motherfucking stupid are you? Is your head so deep up your ass? Are you so solipsistic/fucking narcissistic? GROW THE FUCK UP.
LOL M. Lusine. What’s the matter? You sound very upset. I bet you are just some fat white woman who is jealous that she is not as hot as Maria Kang.
Did your boyfriend dump your fat ass for some hot Asian girl? Is that why you’re so bitter, M Lusine?
M. Lusine”prejudice against fat people?” LMFAO You’re kidding right? So you like being fat? You like being unhealthy? You like raking up your bill on healthy care? Do you want to die young? Do you ever want to fit into normal clothes?
Just because you think FAT is OK doesn’t mean that your body agrees. Your body would strongly disagree with what you wrote. NORMAL people workout 3 times a week and watch what they eat because they RESPECT their bodies and want to live till they are 90.
YOU NEED A WAKE UP CALL like everyone else that is overweight – BEING OVERWEIGHT IS NOT NORMAL; EVEN YOUR DOCTOR WILL TELL YOU THIS IS A FACT!
Jesus Christ you troublesome little turd merchant. Maybe if you hadn’t gone attention whoring all over the Dived States of the Easily and Perpetuity Offended, you wouldn’t have people attacking you like they are. If they knew the real truth about that scam you’re running with those Nursing homes where you’re bilking large sums of cash out of the State to pay for your large house, the second home, and your luxury car, you’d be in a well deserved world of shit. Hell, from the looks of it, you already are in a world of shit. Now feel free to eat it.
William, you sound like a pathetic pussy whipped beta male mangina. Did your wife agree to give you a blowjob if you wrote a hate message towards this sexy Asian woman Maria?
You need to grow up and grow a pair, you mangina loser William.
why do you keep pointing out the fact that she’s Asian? that has nothing to do with the issue at hand.
These comments are sickening.
Keep doing what you’re doing. My wife is 6 months after her first child and she looks fabulous.
All the people leaving hate comments are just fat ugly women who are jealous they will never be as attractive as Maria Kang. What a bunch of pathetic losers. If they spent the same amount of time EXERCISING as they do whining on the internet, they’d lose weight and stop being such a fat parasite on society.
Kudos to you for standing up for healthy lifestyles and challenging the growing cultural acceptance of sloth and delusion.
I suppose it worked, the attention seeking. Umm who died and made you god over big people? CHileeee to speak of your mother like that, who gave you life and the American dream that has clearly gone to your head – is an abomination. Find other ways to ‘market’ yourself because this is just ridiculous. You cannot just bash people to feel better about yourself, and then turn around and act all ‘attacked’. Chileee bye!! Sorry but not sorry
LOL how cute! RandomNone, you are a fat ugly woman who is just jealous that you’ll never be as sexy as Maria Kang.
What’s the matter? Did your boyfriend dump your fat ugly ass for a hot Asian girl?
How about you GROW UP and stop being so damn sensitive? And secondly, lose some damn weight. Now that ObamaCare is here, I don’t want to have to pay extra taxes to support YOUR UNHEALTHY LIFESTYLE.
In the end, you are just jealous of Maria Kang. What a pathetic bitter woman you are, RandomNone.
Lol Maria come get your husband. This is pathetic. Lol mental health checks should be mandatory – but I get it, if I was hungry I would be angry too and typing ‘mangina’ after each comment. A crying shame! Get some scruples, and a spine. As long as you insult people you will will get it too. So bring it on mangina schizo!
They’re better than you, a monster filled with hate.
You need to stop bashing the woman for speaking her truth. Obvious this topic hits home for you doesn’t it. You obviously deep down know that you choose to be unhealthy.
Mary, sounds like you are just bitter and jealous of hot Asian women like Maria.
What’s the matter? Did your boyfriend dump your fat ass for a hot Asian girl? Is that why you are so bitter, Mary?
Here’s a novel idea- START EXERCISING and stop stuffing your fat face with McDonalds and ice cream.
You fat women are disgusting.
I don’t hate Maria but I am starting to hate you John. You are annoying parasite.
John…Just shut up. You’re done. I’m a fan of Maria’s, and I don’t even like you.
Oh my god, I really would like to see what this john king looks like. I believe he is the most ignorant individual I have ever encountered online! Claudia’s story about thyroid exists exercising is great but if the situation is too far gone without medical attention taking off that weight gain could take years.
Don’t let the hate get to you, you’re doing a marvellous job in promoting a healthy lifestyle. you have my utmost respect for what you are doing and standing up for. The people who are hating on you are obviously lazy, fat, and self-centred people who wants everything sugar coated, as they cannot handle the cold hard truth of there unhealthy lifestyle. People who are fat/obese and are trying to get into shape have nothing but my full respect, but people who are fat/obese who choose not to take change AND shame and degrade others for having a ‘fit body’ are the scum of the earth.
You are wonderful person and don’t let the haters get to you! I find is ridiculous that people with unhealthy lifestyle choose to bash you in order to find another apology as to why they can’t change their life around and become healthy.
I used to find excuses why to choose fast food over REAL food that did my body good. I used to find reason why not to work out and just gain weight. I used to do this until my healthy was really messed up! Then I started reading online and change my diet, started working out and my entire healthy bounced back in two months.
People are mean when you preach the truth.
The truth hurts and that is why you have many people bashing you. We all CAN find the time to be FIT but MOST people choose NOT to because it involved work away from work. It’s EASIER to find a reason why you can’t eat healthy and work out.
See my doctor told me a few things he said:
– Being overweight is one of the most dangerous things you can do to your body
– he told me that it’s very important to eat healthy and workout.
– He told me that due to my health issues: PCOS and hormonal dysfunction I will have a harder time losing weight and keeping it down.
But he told me that if I watch what I eat and work out 2 -3 times a week I can be super fit. I listened to him and LOST a lot of weight.
I have NEVER felt better or healthier
Your doctor needs to do more research, there are several studies that say being fat is not that bad. What all doctors do agree on is that starvation based eating disorders and being unhealthily obsessed with fitness can be harmful, far more harmful than having some extra weight.
I usually don’t comment on blogs of people I only recently stumbled upon, but some article on yahoo led me to your place, Maria, and I just felt the urge to try to make something more clearly…
…I once looked like you look now. And – yes – I earned it after being overweight by doing a lot of sports and trying to eat healthy food. That worked perfectly well then and it was only a matter of discipline. So far I am with you. But that was about twenty years ago….and now I am overweight too…and had to watch my body grow more and more during a period where I didn’t understand the world anymore. I haven’t been eating less healthy or more…. I just had been feeling soo tired all the time…my bones aching and my muscles having lost all their strength and tension. I felt terrible… and started to think about myself as being too lazy, somehow wrong about healthy food…. (and maybe too worn out after some years of chronical pains which made me take a lot of medics which I didn’t like but I couldn’t have done without – even though I know there are people out there who might tell me that I could – it wasn’t within my capability). So I though – well, it’s the medics. They made you this worn out and tired. It took me some years of trying to fight this… trying it the way it had worked so well before. But I simply couldn’t… you don’t want to feel like you were punishing yourself by doing pilates or tae bo and feeling sick for the next three days afterwards. Finally my doc diagnosed a thyroids desease (which is incurable but treatable) – which explained why I had been gaining weight even when I ate less. Which explained why I felt like a wet bag hanging on the line and not understanding myself anymore.
It’s slowly getting back to (almost) normal now. After three years of constant pains in my joints and being tired at times when I had never been tired before it’s getting better and it took about two years of finding the perfect dose of hormones to have my body work like it should (well almost at least). I have started to loose weight – at least a bit and in very tiny steps. Which is great but even greater was the fact that I found that I don’t have to be angry with myself or thing about myself as a lazy loser. That was definitely the worst thing of it all – even worse than feeling pain everyday.
I am writing about this because I have learned that there are a lot of people out there who still have not been diagnosed correctly and who think about themselves as I did about myself – not being able to do anything …. being a lazy pain in our very self a….s. This is what hurts more than anything else. Loosing faith in yourself and in your body. Feeling trapped in a body that does not work on your own will any more.
I know you believe in the way you do your thing, Maria,
and I am sure you didn’t mean to hurt anyone or to call all of those out there who struggle with overweight lazy or suffering from lack of discipline…but this is what we call ourselvse anyway (having lost faith in ourselves) – so this is what we “hear”. And it is a hard job to accept that a way that works for others doesn’t work for yourself. No matter how hard you try. So you try to be kind to yourself. Which is a hard job – believe me. And once you have started being angry with yourself you start a vicious circle of even more loss of self- confidence…which leads to nothing good at all. So telling “all of those overweighed folk out there” to just get their a…s up and “do” something instead of only talk about it can be really hurtful as it only confirms the wrong idea of us we have already developed in our heads (due to social pressure and the image of the perfect woman the media makes us believe is a goal that we all can reach – if we just are disciplined enough).
I hope that all those out there who haven’t been where I have been can understand that building a lobby for finding beauty in overweight people is a way to try to gain more (or win back) self respect and confidence by breaking this vicious circle out there (and in our heads). The way out of something can only open for those who believe in themselves and have stopped hating themselves for what they are right now.
It is my sincerest wish that all those fit and disciplined people out there become aware of the hurt they cause by thinking and saying out loud that it could be so easy if just….
Thanks for listening and wishes,
Claudia N.
Claudia, 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.
Wow, Trevor,
seems I wasted my time on people who cannot read and comprehend (or who are maybe only twelve years old…well, you never know on the internet, don’t you ;). I didn’t insult Maria in any way. On the contrary – I tried to tell her that I understand her point and know she did not mean to really insult anyone. What do I get? An insulting answer from an anonymous nobody.
I am not sad about having made my point because I know there are a lot of people out there who feel like I do (or did). It’s for them I am speaking up mainly….I never said that I think being overweight is healthy or more beautiful than being …well, whatever anyone wants to be to feel fine.
I think you fanatics are doing Maria more of a disservice by NOT reading and answering in such a bold and offensive way. Sorry, Maria. Hope you got the real message I left over here.
C.
Claudia, do you know that the same amount of time you spent typing a hate message on here to Maria, you could have done 200 push ups, or done 400 squats, or jogged in place for 15 minutes, or done 500 sit ups?
Maybe if you’d stop wasting so much time being envious of people who ARE fit and who DO look sexy and attractive, YOU could also become fit.
Just a thought, Claudia.
LOL…a funny thought…it would spare you the time to read thoroughly I guess. Sorry for calling you Trevor before btw. Seems you waste a lot of time over here too 😉
Ah, now I know …you are doing sit ups AND reading at the same time. Now I understand. Promise – I won’t “disturb” you any more. *giggle
funny how it’s only men who are bashing Claudia. I doubt these guys have washboard abs. there is a double-standard in this country: women must be thin and pretty, men can be whatever they want. these guys sound shallow and immature. they’ll figure it out someday, or they’ll end up alone.
You are aware that some men actually do like fat women right? You shouldn’t lose weight for a ignorant men like yourself anyway,
You are aware that some men actually do like fat women right? You shouldn’t lose weight for a ignorant men like yourself anyway. I know a lot of men who date fat women, a lot of good looking men that is.
here’s an idea. mr. john king should post a photo of himself so we can all judge HIS looks. once you do that, sir, i’ll consider taking your comments worth a grain of salf.
Thank you, that was very well said!
I hate you all and I’m. Not even fat does that get me e-famous too?
Trevor, you sound like a pathetic pussy whipped mangina loser. Did your girlfriend agree to give you a blowjob if you came here and insulted Maria?
You are a spineless little faggot. Your girlfriend has your balls in her purse.
You’re a bigoted MONSTER!
This is ridiculous why would a men get insulted over something like this, as far as I know most men do like healthy women more, that is why I think that you are nothing but a lard filled BBW womyn posing as a man.
He hates fat women too, all John King does is hate.
Hi Maria…happy anniversary! Blessings to you and your family. I think that if you talked about your food struggles at first, and how you lost 40 pounds with your 3rd child, you know, do a before and after like Jennifer Nicole Lee did, it would have been inspiring to many women. People have already been shamed enough for being fat, and for some it’s a vicious cycle of endless dieting and failing and trying again and failing. You have the right message; it’s the delivery that is at issue. What’s your excuse implies you are lazy and you are a failure. People want hope – I struggled too, but I am an overcomer and you can do it too! I’m Maria Kang, wife, mom of 3, and a former bulimic whose family history includes obesity. I know and understand those food struggles. Let me show you and inspire you to be the best you can be. If I can do it, you can too. Let’s go on this health journey together.
Same message – different delivery.
The Bible says to speak the truth in love. Your message is truth, but if you surround it with love and empathy, it will be powerful.
Blessings to you and yours, Roni
Per your recent Facebook post with the picture of your mother: For crying out loud, Maria! Are you really going to leave this picture up and exploit your mother? Yes. We see. You are thinner than her. Hooray! Although, she does have kidney problems, and that tends to lead to a rounder face. But, I am sure you give your mother no excuses.
You are allowing people to make awful comments about your mother and then you are answering them with: “Oh well. It’s difficult to get your family to exercise.” WHAT!?!
YOUR POOR MOTHER! I doubt she asked for her picture to be put up so all could criticize her, including you. Why would you exploit your own mother like this? I find this disturbing and sad.
I wanted to add that I have been a faithful follower of you. At one time I found you inspirational and positive. You have lost me on your last few posts. You seem to be very critical and negative lately. I do wish you inner peace and mean no ill will towards you. But where is the perky, happy, inspirational Maria of Past?
The Facebook thing with your mom is very concerning. I really don’t know anyone (who loves their mother) that would exploit them like that. You are not only allowing people to criticize your mother, you are criticizing her too. I don’t think she is asking for you to post that it is difficult for you to get her to exercise. Why not keep her life private? What is up with you? Are you ok?
It’s not uncommon for people like Maria to view fat people as being less than a person. Just like MeMe Roth she’s exploiting her mom with no shame or concern as to how that could affect her.
I just don’t understand how you can post a picture of your mother on FB and allow others to call her names. How doesn’t she feel badly about doing that? Instead, she sides with the people calling her mother fat. She tells them it’s difficult to get family members to work out. It is bothersome to me. I can’t believe her siblings allow her to exploit their mother.
And then to turn it around and basically blame your mother’s obesity for ruining your wedding day? Talk about narcissistic. Her mother would most likely have the issues no matter what weight. I work for a nephrologists and I know many thin and active women that have kidney issues.
My Grandmother is 93 years old and lives on her own. She weighs a solid 160 pounds. She is healthy and I hope she sees 100 years old 🙂 She eats pasta and butter and all sorts of goodies. She does take a walk everyday. She has outlived all of her skinny friends. She is a beautiful lady.
I think Maria being obsessed about her weight is her own demon. But she should stop applying her obsession to everyone else.
That’s a bit of a stretch don’t you think? You’re mad. I get it. But now you’re turning this into something different. Maria LOVES her family. If you read her blog you know that for damn sure. You have every right to express yourself but please, don’t stretch the truth for the sake of your ego. You’ll only end up looking like an ass.
That’s a bit of a stretch don’t you think? You’re mad. I get it. But now you’re turning this into something different. Maria LOVES her family. If you read her blog you know that for damn sure. You have every right to express yourself but please, don’t stretch the truth for the sake of your ego. You’ll only end up looking like an ass.
Maria,
I am very interested in how you have gone about branding yourself. I am not a hater but I am definitely an enlightener. As you proceed further in developing your career you have to open your own mind a bit. You seem very narrowly focused on physical fitness looking a certain way. What if someone made a blanket statement about reformed pill poppers or bulemia sufferers. Would you not feel marginalized.
Some women who are plus size like myself, according to society’s standards, are the same size as Marilyn Monroe back when she was the standard. I do not have diabetes or high cholesterol. I shaved 2 minutes off my last 5k time today by doing a Turkey trot race. This June, I climbed 11,100 feet on Mt. Shasta wearing 50lbs. of gear. I have been a size 7, 8, 10, 12, and 14 in my lifetime. I have never loved or appreciated my body more than when I was a hot size 12 crossing the finish line of my first marathon 10 years ago.
As you progress in your fitness driven career, you may want to educate yourself further on various fitness levels and certainly various sexy sizes. Women posting their full figure lingerie photos does not promote an unhealthy norm. Those women could be celebrating a 10% weight loss which improves health dramatically. If you want to have a lasting career that appeals to moms like myself, who are constantly striving for their personal best at any given moment, then you need to expand your horizons.
I will stay interested for maybe another 5 minutes. Stop trying to stay relevant with these, “she’s done it again” sound bite stories. Every skinny person is not healthy just as every full figured person is not unhealthy. A lot of skinny chicks have more fat than muscle which leads to diseases while a hot mama like me has tons of muscle under my curves, and I get in my fair share of burpees and push-ups.
You actually were being a hate promoter, and I do not think that was your intention. Facebook did you a favor to try a snap a promising career back on track. Good luck living up to your initials.
How do people still not get that Marilyn was “plus size” for her time. For today she would be below average size. She had a 24 inch waist. Today’s vanity sizing keeps woman deluded that her size 12/14 is the same as today’s when in actuality you’d probably hate Marilyn, too, because if Marilyn were alive today she’d be a size 4. What say you then? There is a such thing as body dysmorphia and the majority of this country is engaged in it big time.
Wow…love this posting Joe. Couldn’t agree more with a lot of it. But I do think her intention initially was look at me and epitome of fitness and here is my website and business card for all on my facebook to pass along. We all know how facebook can be viralized. That was the goal. Making the statement “what’s your excues” was
not lost as a smug , demeaning and rude comment. Her shock at the response led to the twist to throw in her concern for our overweight society. I believe it was strictly an advertisement that went wrong. No matter how she back pedals; not knowing how to apologize is very telling. Clarify if you want Maria but I don’t think it was ever about concerns of others but all about self promotion.
Maria,
You seem like a woman with her head on her shoulders. Please please do some research before making post about others, and your own family members. When I first saw some articles about you a few weeks ago I was inspired. As a nurse, please know that their are obese/overweight people that are healthier than the “normal” size. And as a patient with hypothyroid disease ( please look it up) it is extremely hard to lose weight even with all the tricks of the trade you spout. On a serious note, good luck with the future (honestly), but watch how you present things. Sometimes it’s better just to keep your mouth shut.
That’s a complete lie and an excuse as to why you are too lazy to lose weight, womyn in my family have thyroid problems and they are a healthy weight, why? Because they exercise, they eat healthy and with moderation. There is no excuse even if you have thyroid problems, are genetically predisposed to gain weight and have poly-cystic ovary disorder, at most if you eat healthy and you exercise you will be overweight but not obese, as the BBW’s in the regular womyn in lingerie article. http://themysticphilosopher.wordpress.com/2013/11/24/my-response-to-regular-women-in-lingerie-remind-us-what-imperfect-un-photoshopped-bodies-look-like/
You are an ugly nasty jealous womyn, your threats do not scare us nor the likes of Maria Kang, get a life hater back off and get mental help. Maria has the right to her opinion and you have no right to threaten her or halt her freedom of speech if you are so insecure with yourself.
All they did was suggest Maria do some research. Then you viciously attacked and insulted them, very ugly behavior from you.
Wow, so many post. You have a lot of time to complain about your oversensitive, bruised ego.
You’re the problem, Jackie. Your weakness and inability to accept constructive criticism is a direct reflection on the victim mentality of so many Americans. Was Maria pointing the finger at someone and personally calling them fat? NO, but you’re so weak minded and “soft in the head” you take ANY and ALL criticism as a direct attack on you personally.
It sounds as though you are so insecure that you have to accuse anyone who has an opinion that isn’t yours as being a “Hater” Kind of the pot call the kettle black, wouldn’t you say? I suggest getting some self-esteem therapy and doing a few push-ups.
Alyssa, obesity is not healthy. While there are a small percentage of people who are challenged because of a disease/disorder, most choose to be unhealthy.
Maria, that’s nonsense. Physical activity, not obesity, is what predicts mortality. An active obese person has a better life expectancy than a sedentary thin person, according to numerous. That you would parrot an popular opinion about something you know very little about puts the lie to your claims to be concerned about health, rather than external looks. Obesity itself does not equate “unhealthy”. (BTW, “most choose to be unhealthy’? How silly. Do you really believe that all health conditions are caused by obesity? Or are you just not very good at expressing yourself?)
Wow! You’re psychic as well as a fat-shaming, ignorance breeder?!
Don’t be sorry. There will always be haters. There will always be lazy people who rationalize their situation by being haters.
You can’t force people to do the ‘right’ thing. You can even convince most people logically to do the right thing. But if you are very lucky, a few out there will use you as an example to lose weight and become healthier. It is just too much work for most people as they are not very motivated anything in their life.
The media tries to convince everyone that being overweight and unhealthy as they get older is inevitable. And they do it by saying that people should just accept it and think of themselves as beautiful. There is nothing wrong with viewing yourself as beautiful no matter what. But not as an excuse to accept it.
You go girl. You are beautiful and obviously worked hard to keep you body beautiful. Concentrate on the successes. Those that have used you as role model to be healthy.
As a massage therapist who works with clients of all sizes and shapes, the only problem I have is judging someone without walking in their shoes. There are many medical conditions, medications and hormone issues that make it hard for people to lose weight. It’s not always about choice or willpower. Like all things in life you do best by being an example and not a judger. Best to you and your health journey.
Oh how cute John, cutting and pasting the same vapid reply to anyone that disagrees.
Instead of brown nosing, how about coming up with an original reply that doesn’t consist of the words ‘jealous’ and ‘bitter’. Because I can guarantee you, no one is jealous of a narcissistic *****.
Amen!
Maria
What you say and what you do are two different things.
You SAY you understand, you SAY you dont want women to be ashamed of their bodies, you SAY you want to promote health.
But what you DO is shaming. What you DO is walk in uninvited on a site and spew your views in a very degrating way. Thats what you do.
ACT what you TALK and this would never have happened
I think you need your psychic abilities need an adjustment
Sandra, please get your facts straight. I never posted on another person’s site but my own.
Yes you did Maria. No need to lie about it
I totally agree Sandra, she is just wanting attention an show off!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks John for your support – but can you please be less abrasive in your posts? Thank you and I appreciate it!
Maria, why would you thank john for his support. The only thing he is supporting is the idea of you being a narrow minded individual. You need to cut that at the quick and should apologize to the woman you have allowed him to insult on your blog. It seems to me you are lacking intelligence on how to market yourself in a positive light. Also I can assure you I am not an overweight white person whose bf dumped me for Asian woman. In fact I am a successful Pilates instructor who feels that you yourself could use some more shredding if you are going to attempt to define perfect.
Maria,
Keep doing what you do. You set a great example for all of us, regardless of what any of the name-callers have to say. I guess I’d only take issue with one thing: your reluctance to be labeled as “shaming” someone. While people hurl epithets like “fat-shamer,” the truth is, being fat is unhealthy, and a burden not only on the individual, but on their loved ones, and society as a whole, in the form of elevated health care costs. Further, shaming is a tried-and-true technique for encouraging socially acceptable behavior on the part of those who otherwise seem unwilling to live responsibly. Don’t ever apologize for trying to make this a better world.
Maria,
“I feel a lot of pain.”
just remember. No one stole your children. No one stole your house. No one impoverished you. Just a few fat women hated on you. How much “pain” might you feel, if, say, you were me?
Not only were my children stolen, my house stolen, my business destroyed. I was impoverished. Reduced to begging from family and friends. My own father told me I should just allow all these crimes to be committed.
And what have women said about all these things happening to me? They are happy. You made the mistake of having boys I see. Well they are 4th class citizens. And even their mothers…women like you…do not care about your own children. How about that?
Try reading my books and wake up the to HATRED WOMEN EXPRESS in the west.
http://www.a-man-zon.com/Books/B0000PeterNolan.aspx
Despite not being that much fit i can understand how you feel.
This kind of backlash is to be expected, humans are very protective of their lifestyles, its so sad to see a fat friend and his endless half-willed attempts to lose weight and imbeciles that say being morbidly obese is fine only disencourage them.
Losing weight is a matter of will, i hope you keep providing that to everyone that is willing to listen.
maria kang, you’re a bully and a bad human. you don’t know anything about others health.
Stop being such a cunt.
Maria Kang you’re my hero! We live in a world where mediocrity, unhealthy lifestyles, and making excuses are celebrated! I am far from a fit mom but I am working on myself to develop a healthier me! I applaud your “no excuses attitude…people need to be held accountable for their poor health choices. Some people hate the way their bodies look yet have no desire to get up, get moving and exercise! The obesity rate keeps rising because of complacency point blank. We need to start with self and be the change we want to see in this society. Kudos all the way keep it up….I have no excuse..my health is my wealth!
Good for you! The obesity crisis in our country is REAL. It kills me to see toddlers walking around with twice as much weight on their bodies then they should have. Then you look at their parent, who is supposed to be their model in life and they are morbidly obese. I’m sorry, but medically there is no reason to be morbidly obese. Individuals will blame it on their thyroid or whatever miscellaneous issue that isn’t their responsibility. Are you eating healthy? Do you get the AHA’s recommended exercise? If you don’t, then you need to start. Kudos to you for having the courage to stand up for yourself and your beliefs.
Maria – I saw a Facebook post on my friend’s page with the oh so famous photograph and tagline. I didn’t have an opinion initially but quickly saw that you had haters and supporters equally passionate. I thought about it and realized that obesity is a health epidemic and it should not be glorified. I was once a person who had an unhealthy amount of body fat. I was lazy, ate too much and kept telling myself that I’d start a healthier lifestyle tomorrow but never did. I can honestly say that I was one of those people who hid behind the “look aren’t everything”, “love myself no matter what size I am”, “no one can judge me but me” and “I’m happy like this” mentality, downplaying the self-esteem and health benefits of being healthier because I was scared, not confident and lazy. I pretended to like myself where I was.
Upon seeing my doctor for a physical that year, she took my weight, asked about my eating and exercise habits and I answered honestly. I could tell she was trying to be sensitive about my feelings going around in circles to basically gently tell me that I needed to drop a few pounds and get more active. I did right after that appointment and I haven’t regretted it. I had more energy throughout the day, had more confidence, my cleaner eating habits gave me the mental stamina to get through my days and nothing beats the exhilaration of a pushing your limits when doing the extra mile on your run…because you never imagined the old you could have ever done it. I knew what you meant the first time…you weren’t attacking those with illnesses that affected their weight or other circumstances of the extreme. It was intended towards the old me, who had a million excuses and no real reason to not live a healthier life. You are clearly fit and HEALTHY and your photographs don’t portray a woman who is thin and weary. You are muscular and fit. Keep up the good work.
You smallest son looks a bit chunky…. Clean house before you stick your nose in others’ business.
Hi! I came across your story on Yahoo News. I thought I would just leave you with some words of encouragement. There are plenty of people that agree with your philosophy and stand with your cause (me included). Don’t give up! You are a tremendous inspiration to women! Your lifestyle is empowering and is the prime example of hard work paying off. We should celebrate this! Rock on!
You weren’t wrong. I’m overweight. I have no excuses. I realize that I can walk a few blocks before catching the bus to work or home. I can walk up the stairs two flights before taking the elevator to my destination floor. I realize that there are a lot of things that I can and should do to start my path to fitness and I don’t do those things.
I liked your “What’s Your Excuse” picture. I liked it because I have no excuses and possibly, I should walk or take the stairs more. I’m sorry that you were temporarily banned; I’m sorry that people misunderstood what you were trying to do; I’m sorry that people didn’t realize that they could simply not read your posts. You’re not a bully, you’re not evil, you’re not . You’re a person who wanted to show that there really should be no excuses.
Thank you for trying to make a difference.
KEEP ROCKING GIRL!! I really don’t see what the big deal is anyway. You look great, take care of yourself and posted a picture ~~~ what am I missing? Keep doing what your doing :O)
Ah yes this. I hope you see my other comment as well as this one.
If you open yourself up more like this, you will receive more understanding. You were vulnerable, raw and sensitive in this post. Your heart for others could be felt. When you send out your passionate message don’t forget to send your heart as well. Speak strongly, but not with alienating commands. Speak strongly with compassion and understanding. Both come from a place of insecurity. But one builds a wall, the other builds a bridge.
Be strong. Life is giving you another lesson to learn. Receive it in your heart gently and love it so. Nurture your vulnerability, for it is your true strength.
Dear Maria, your perspective is refreshing ~ personal fitness is about taking personal responsibility and being as healthy and well-balanced as one possibly can, given individual circumstances. You seem like a great mom with a positive attitude, and you look great! Sometimes, the messenger faces harsh criticism, but what you say has a lot of sense to it ~ people often have difficulty hearing something against the grain, against what’s comfortable or politically correct. Keep up the promotion of healthy habits and mindful thinking, and don’t let the nay-sayers get you down. Best wishes.
I like many running Facebook pages and posters saying what’s your excuse are there all the time with fit images. I find motivation. So why do people who don’t like that stuff look? And why does the internet foster such negative comment from people. So sad. Keep up the good wrk inspire your kids and friends and font worry about the internet. Facebook blocked the comments not the posting
Maria,
Your picture was beautiful, inspirational in its own right. It’s really the “What’s your excuse?” that really alienates people and makes them feel judged. I’ve tried everything… staved myself, excersized for hours everday, had two weight loss surgeries, and no matter what I did or how long I did it, I never got that body. I don’t think starving myself is a good image for my twin babies, so all I can model is healthy eating habits and help them keep active through their lives. But I will never look like you, and it’s okay.
No excuses,
Brenda
Maria:
I learned about you from the yahoo article and decided to visit your web site to read your side of the story. I think you are inspirational and I’m not a skinny minny, either! The journey is about learning to love yourself and treating yourself the way you would if you were actually living loving yourself. We are so lucky to have so much more information than our parents’ generation. I was touched by your wedding story because I could relate to the health problems your parents suffered from. Both my parents are gone now having suffered for years from lifestyle related health problems. Keep on doing what you are doing! God Bless!
Trish
Thank you for speaking out. When our economy is being ruined by the gluttony in today’s society via billions of dollars in medical expenses and you’re banned by Facebook for saying what needs to be said, something in wrong in the US.
Being overweight is a sign your body is inflamed suffering and that suffering can manifest itself in the form of cardiovascular disease, cancer and Type 2 diabetes…all of which are inter-related. Feeling “good” about a body that isn’t in a healthy state? What are we missing.
Keep up the great work.
Apologies for the typos! 🙂
Thin people need medical care too, you also pay their bills.
Jackie, I hope you weren’t serious with you comment? Nothing to do with topic on hand.
Hi Maria,
I was inspired by your story when my good friend also a mommy of three posted your picture. We are busy working moms balancing the priorities of family , husband and careers, and still work at maintaining our health and personal appearance and admire your tenacity for pushing a healthy lifestyle.
However, I offer you this one caveat – don’t allow the messenger to get in the way of the message. A lesson I have learned in practicing law that different communication styles are sometimes needed to win over a jury. If you are getting the same response over and over again, there is most likely some truth and probably exaggeration also from your detractors. It would be wise to consider your communication style. Continue to reach out to those who are inspired by your message and accept that some women consider it okay to be “big and beautiful”.
Much success !
Maria you should read this article about you, you could learn more than a few things from it.
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/darlena-cunha/maria-kang-fat-shaming_b_4128198.html
you should be ashamed of yourself i myself have been big an i would never say that crap an not be sorry for it you totally deserve to be banned because not everybody is a beauty queen an some ppl have medical problems that will not allow them to look like you be honest you were jus trying to show off your body still trying to be the beauty queen get the attention!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Michelle Stevens… I understand not everybody is perfect. Maybe you should also read the book by Kyle Maynard. Here is his website http://kyle-maynard.com/
And try using his condition and his achievement and then compare those with your situation if you are better or worse than him.
This isn’t the place for the Oppression Olympics.
Michelle-I don’t agree with anything you are saying. This woman is an inspiration to many of us!!!!!!!!!!!! I am sorry that you or others have medical problems but don’t blast this woman-it’s not her fault. Maria Kang ignore the negativity that is coming from these people.
Michelle,
You really need to stop the hate here. And I think you are the one who should be ashamed of YOURSELF! Because what you doing is slut shaming and that is not cool! Her point is obesity is a huge part of medical in overweight people. And BTW I’m a fat girl myself!
“Michelle Smiley…..” I love that song. That’s from Full House by the way. Michelle Stevens needs a Big Hug.
Medical problems run in my family; hypo thyroid does for instance it can only causes an extra 10 to 15 pounds. She never said people had to look like her. Nothing wrong with her showing off her accomplishments. If you think she is seeking attention; don’t give her it.
we all have problems an lost parents you have gotten your 15 minutes of fame take this crap down nobody cares bout you being blocked when you should be banned cuz your the one who made it to such a big deal an said words that hurt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Your problem Michelle is that you hate yourself. So how about you look in the mirror, get some professional help, both mentally and physically and stop being a troll!
Exactly! I’m sick of Mrs Kang’s pity party as well. She needs to grow the fuck up and get over herself. Lots of people lose loved ones and they don’t turn into insufferable cunts because of it.
Nikki…You sound like a very angry person. I wanna be your friend. I can help you lose weight, if that’s your problem. Let me know.
And you sound like an ignorant fuckstick. Please do society a favor and have yourself neutered so you won’t be able to breed ignorance, or better yet, blow your fucking brains out. You’re too stupid to be alive.
I see you haven’t replied…. Hopefully you took my advice.
I agree!
By responding, you’re giving her attention. Don’t like her posts, don’t read them. The truth hurts; and sometimes needs to be said.
Alex is an Ass with his pc.
Maria,
I am a fan because of your attitude, regardless of how you may look. You look great now obviously but you worked to get there and didn’t always look fantastic. It wasn’t given to you on a platter. It was obviously a change in mindset that got you to where you are and that is the key. The epiphany. The conquest of mind over matter. I agree with you on the brutal attitude so many people have and so much of the criticism of you I find just a deflection of either a poor work ethic or poor attitude to get to where one has to get. I can’t tell you how many of my former patients went out and got a gastric bypass without even trying. Some even purposely gained weight to “qualify.”
You will never be a $100 bill loved by all, but keep on with your mission. You are passionate about it and love it. Its very obvious. You are helping a lot of people too and you know you are. Mindset and attitude are everything. Keep it up. Never give up, and don’t be afraid to tell the truth. Part of the world always hates the truth.
M
I read your article about being healthy and I totally support you on that issue, and believe that you have a good point of view and if you need my help on this issue please e-mail me and I will be glad to help you out in any way I can. Have a great day, May the Lord Bless you as you fight for what is right.
You should be proud, to stand out as a voice of reason, as a voice of ALL that is wrong in this country!!! I am overweight and I struggle daily to find the time to add exercise and good eating habits back into my life…As a single father of two, a business owner and an individual, all too often I find it is easier to fall back on the “Easy” option. Fat is not pretty…Fat is not healthy and Fat should not be made normal and acceptable. None of us are born fat, we choose to be that way. Your new movement is both inspirational and hopefully enlightening to all who hear the message…
Amen!
Thanks you for finally saying something worth saying. Obesity is an epidemic in this country and is very responsible for a lot of our chronic diseases. I understand because I see it daily, (Im a RN). How many people have regretted with whatever life they have left the choices that put them on the trajectory to landing in the hospital bed. Sympathy is not helpful, that generally leads to a pity party that gets no-one anywhere. We need to empathize and then help to implement change. How many times I found myself wishing that there was someone in their life that intervened to let them know that they were on the road to a lot of terrible consequences. We try to sugar coat everything and be PC about obesity its about time that someone asked the question. While everyone doesn’t need to have your ABS they do need to have a reasonable BMI and admitting the problem is first followed by the inevitable question “what are my excuses?”.
Patrice, I am an RN too and I totally agree with you!!! Amen!!!
The negative comments are not appreciated on this site. Please leave this site if you have nothing nice to say. Cyber Bullying is not okay!!!!!
You shouldn’t spout ignorant bullshit and throw yourself a pity party if you can’t handle the backlash 🙂
Wow! So many bullies on this site. What sad people. I can’t believe how many upset people come to this site just to vent. Nikki….Are you being ignored at home? We will listen to you here. No worries. I feel your pain. I will never look like Maria. You will never look like her. No one will ever look like Maria, But you can still work out and eat healthier like her. Does that make you feel better Nikki?
She’s not spouting bullshit. Obesity is real; it is a problem, it is being normalized. It’s not a pity party-it’s a, “hopefully others will educate themselves and realize the truth.” Hate the truth then leave.
Going to a page in support of fat people, and unloading your “concern” for them isn’t cyber bullying?
No, it’s not. Just like when people unload their “concern” for thin models isn’t cyber bulling.
Maria,
As you know, genetics play a primary role in regard to how quickly and efficiently a woman “returns” to her pre-pregnancy body.
It was interesting to read more about you in your blogs after reading the recent headlines. And I believe you are having difficulty understanding why your statements regarding your mother’s hospitalization on your wedding day or asking “What’s your excuse” is considered judgmental.
When a person feels the world is against them and they are “misunderstood” it is time to look seriously inward.
One of the best things you can do for yourself right now, is find your adult voice. Literally. Get a vocal coach find your real register (it is naturally lower than how you speak now) and you will be taken more seriously. Women need to trust that they can speak in their normal voice and still be seen as pretty and appealing to men. The world will respond to you differently after you find and start using your real voice.
The voice advice above is very helpful. You need to work on that. It will change how others view you. On the blog, you are safe. Nobody can hear you. But once you are on television or on your workout video, people will wince. It is a high and screechy voice. You need to focus on maturing it.
Also, your “chummy” demeanor on interviews needs to be worked on. When you came out on the Today Show and touched Al’s shoulder….ouch. You were just “one of the hosts” in your mind. You were way too comfortable. Your hand lingered too long on Al. You should have never touched him to begin with. Don’t touch or be too comfortable with the people that are interviewing you. It makes you appear desperate. They are not your friend. They are doing a job. Act professional and appropriate.
With all of this being said, I know you can take this constructive criticism without being offended. You can dish it out and I know you can take it. I wish you luck in all that you do, Maria.
I know you don’t NEED the support of others, when it is obvious that you have been blessed with a husband that supports you. However, I want to express my support of what you are saying and what you are doing. I am a 37 year old wife and mother of 4 (15,15,10,4) and about a year ago I made a decision to change my life for the better. I want to enjoy every moment of my family. I don’t want to miss anything because of an unhealthy lifestyle. I became a Zumba Instructor and a Bootcamp Instructor (while overweight) and began to change my life and help women around me do the same. I’m on a journey to becoming the best woman I can be. I have to make changes to my diet, my schedule, and my whole life. Sometimes it means getting up early or staying up late. It doesn’t matter I have to get it done! Yes, I work, have a husband, 4 kids, work at my church, and whole lot of other stuff. I have to do what I have to do! I get what you’re saying when you say “what’s your excuse”? We ALL have something to do, but we ALL can do something to be better. It may take one person longer than the other, but we can all do something! Keep being doing what you’re doing! Remember Isaiah 54:17! Love YA!!!
So there is a lot of controversy over your picture. I am fairly sure you intended it in a positive way. More of an empowerment example rather than a calculated shaming.
Unfortunately it rubbed many the wrong way. Oh well.
You seem to be a self-possessed woman who is focused on her goals, good for you!
There are people in the world who are not ready to be like you, who don’t want to be like you. Even some who hate you for your accomplishment. They will try mightily to denigrate you. Unfortunately it will be necessary to ignore them. Responding and entangling themselves and their issues with you and your own issues (everyone has issues nuh?) will only drag you down. Live your life fully, as you see fit and makes you feel good.
Namaste!
Wow, the haters are in full effect here. I say you hit a nerve, Maria, which means you did something right. I’ve grown up with overweight family members as well. I have a cousin who died from morbid obesity. I just think its weird how people are so sensitive to the being called “fat” or accused of being “fat” when the fact is that they ARE. So we can’t state the truth now?
Sensitivity is shamed so much these days, you know if you’re not sensitive that means you’re insensitive, sometimes it seems insensitivity is what is appreciated these days. Most adults understand if something is the truth, that doesn’t always mean you should say it. It’s a sign of immaturity. You hear small children say things that could hurt others and cry, “But it’s TRUE!” This is not how adults should behave. Adults respect other people’s feelings.
You are not being oppressed because you can’t say whatever you want when you want to. You’re not being oppressed because people feel hurting others is wrong. You’re acting like a child in time out whining it’s child abuse. You need to work on acting like an adult. That starts with understanding upsetting people is wrong, that acting as if something is the truth, that means it’s okay to say it. These are things children have learned around the age of 10. What’s your excuse for behaving like a bratty child? Oh, should I havenot said that? Well according to you if it’s the truth, it makes it okay for me to point out your stunning immaturity.
Maria, you are the lone voice of reason in a sea of crazy.
So having an eating disordered mindset is sanity now? I wonder why Maria stopped her starvation based eating disorder, as having one of those is the new healthy now.
She doens’t have an eating disordered mindset by working out, eating healthy food everyday. Binge eating disorder, anorexia and bulimia are not similar to eating three healthy meals a day.-Apparently you are not aware of that since you accuse her of an eating disorder mindset.
She never said she was oppressed. Obesity does need to be talked about as it is a problem now. Adults know that certain truths need to be talked about when there is a problem. Adults fix problems, not hide/run from them. Children hide from them. There is such thing as beeing too sensitive. Don’t like what she posts, then avoid her fb, site, etc. You need to learn what an adult is before you comment on wether or not you think she is one.
My father will not see my wedding since he has passed due to cancer. His cancer was not brought on by lifestyle choices – he was the picture of health. It was due to a form of radiation received as a child in the hospital, which manifested itself later.
It is good to advocate a healthy lifestyle — props for that! I am healthy, I work out 1 hr, 6 days a week, and never eat fast food. Mostly greens, fish, and good carbs like quinoa.
However, there is such a judgemental tone when talking about your parents and others, could it be an underlying issue? (No amount of exercise will fix that)
Everyone’s situation is different. While advice is great, delivery of said advice is important.
this right here–when talking about the loss of a loved one, or about something catastrophic that happened to ourselves, for the matter, we shouldn’t have to clarify that it didn’t happen because of a “lifestyle choice”. I had a cardiac arrest about seven years ago and went into 3rd degree heart block. Had nothing to do with weight or lifestyle choices–I didn’t smoke, I ate healthy, I was well within the recommended weight range, and I exercised 5 to 6 days a week. But I was born with a problem with my heart’s electrical system, and so out of the blue, my heart stopped. (I’m sure my daughter was begging me to wake up, as she and my husband found me collapsed on the floor, actually. That can happen with or without a healthy lifestyle, apparently. ) And you know what? It sucks that total strangers feel entitled to demand what I did “wrong” that caused this to happen. It sucks that I feel I have to explain something that really isn’t anyone’s business, lest I be judged and lectured. And yes, it has happened. I’ve even been told that I must be lying, that cardiac arrest doesn’t happen to fit healthy people. And I blame posts like this. Sometimes people just get sick. They get cancer, or Altzheimers, or diabetes (type 1, at least) or kidney disease and it isn’t their fault, it’s just their bad luck. They won the wrong lottery is all. How sad that they and their relatives have to deal with nosy judgemental strangers, as well as the health condition that they really didn’t ask for.
And I extend that to the people who were talking mess about Ms. Kang’s mother on the FB page–both Ms. Kang’s supporters and detractors. She and her health problems are really not anyone’s business but Ms. Kang’s.
I am a little late to this party. I saw the link to your Skype debate on CNN New Day. As a mother, pediatrician, and healthy living advocate, I agree with and support your view. The unhealthy behaviors (sedentary life, poor diet) that lead to obesity result in the number one cause of death in the US (heart disease). The moment we start saying that it is OK to be obese, we are advocating an unhealthy lifestyle. By normalizing obesity, we are teaching our children that there is nothing wrong with with it. I understand you don’t have to be a size 2 to be healthy. We do need to have a healthy and realistic expectation of what our bodies should look like. But by celebrating obesity we stick our heads further in the sand about a dangerous and deadly issue. This is not a matter of appearance or ego. It is a matter of quality of life, morbidity, and mortality.
I’m overweight and I agree with you! Don’t let the haters get to you. They’re just jealous, lazy people with victim mentalities. You are fabulous! Your husband and kids are very lucky to have a Mom and wife who takes care of herself. You go girl!
Hi Maria! I have to say I don’t really know much about you as a person. It certainly sounds like you have accomplished things you value very greatly. Its amazing that you are willing to share your personal story. I keep seeing all these controversial things you have posted. I can’t help but wonder why your fitness and health are not enough for you and why you are projecting your passion onto other people in stating they should not be taking pictures of themselves because they are not fit like you. One of the things my faith has taught me is that my body is a temple. I do have a concern for people who are according to statistics obese or overweight, but what if they are happy that way? Do they have to feel not good enough because they don’t fall into the weight classifications society normalizes for them? Do they have higher risks for health problems? Yes, but if they are adults capable of making their own decisions, who are you to criticize overweight people for living the live they are choosing to live. What if they are not making excuses but happy to be where they are? It seems to me that you aren’t recognizing that as a possibility. Its great that you are happy about your body and passionate about your fitness. I think its entirely possible for someone to be overweight and be happy with themselves as a whole person and not sulking or lusting after a better body. We were created in all different shapes and sizes for a reason. One size does not fit all in that respect, otherwise we’d have all been created in the same size and shape. We should all be celebrating ourselves as human beings. We are all going through struggles physically, emotionally, spiritually, and mentally. Those struggles that we overcome should be celebrated and if someone is overweight or not perfectly fit and toned up to your standards and that is what you choose to focus on, you miss out on the person as a whole and hearing their story.
hi maria,
you should definitely get this post out to the media. it would help people understand you better. as is typical of the media, they have latched onto the most controversial point in order to attract readers. you need to get some positive press out there! (please consider changing the title, though. you have nothing to apologize for. simply explain yourself – that’s all you need to do.)
have a wonderful day,
beth
Hi Maria,
I think you are an inspiration. Me and my family have always been on the chunkier side my whole life and after i had my first child i was feeling very self conscious about my body. It is an inspiration to know that i can achieve my fitness goals no matter what the circumstance. You have 3 children and i only have 1 lol and i see this as a big wake up call that i need to take better care of my body regardless of my circumstances. I would like to thank you for being such an inspiration.
This is a continuation from my previous post… I just wanted to say again that you are a good role model and an inspiration and because you have inspired me i am leading a healthier lifestyle now. I am trying to incorporate exercise daily and i am on a diet now and i hope that i can get in shape :)! Thanks again for being a great inspiration to everyone! And don’t listen to the haters. there are way more people that are truly inspired by your accomplishments versus the ones who are jealous.
WoW! You make me want to get off my rear end and workout! I haven’t had one baby yet and I’m not as fit as you. You look great and you seem like a positive person. What an inspiration? Keep your head up!!
GOING GOING gone – posted a sad, shameful message. You can disagree with people without being rude or disagreeable.
Haters will unfortunately be haters – jealous, perhaps overweight, negative people who will never be successful in their own right due to such ill thinking. Obesity is not something to be proud of nor exploit as an acceptable norm in society. I applaud you for your courage to stand up and advocate strongly what you believe in re nutrition and exercise. It is the mentality of people that we need to change first. Keep doing what you’re doing Maria. People can either join you and your journey for a better healthier, fulfilling lifestyle or they can sink in their own misery facing future health complications and possibly early death causing pain, hurt and grief among loved ones. So I’d stand proud and say to all those overweight people what’s your choice? ? Better still, what’s your excuse?
Oh, how very original — “haters gonna hate”. So many of the people defending Maria just love to use this phrase when discussing the subject. So anyone who doesn’t agree with your point of view is automatically a hater? Time for you to leave Junior High, I think.
People who do not agree with Maria’s outlook on this topic are most definitely *not* all “haters”. Many of them just don’t agree with her about what a reasonably healthy lifestyle is.
She is obviously not willing to listen, as she has not really become more reasonable in her response.
I think her post should be titled “Not sorry, never was sorry, never even considered being sorry, never will be sorry”.
What’s with all the people thinking others are jealous of an attention whore?
Sorry but this pretty woman doesn’t get it. She uses snide hateful words and then when the backlash hit the wall she two stepped to recreate her spin to say she is a workout guru and only thinking about the increasing number of overweight Americans (although it is not just an American trend) and that she is only trying to start the dialog and create an interest in this issue. That the media push addressing obesity and not her rude mouth is almost as eggregious, I think. Bull crap. She is trying to promote her own business and herself. Personaly I think it borders on fanaticism; this group that thinks about nothing but surface looks. I think it shows an ever growing shallow society and find them intollerant of anyone with more than their acceptable amount of body fat.
People dismiss unattractive, or plain or anyone slightly but especially extremely overweight; even considering them less intelligent, less talented, of less value or incapable of having anything to contribute to society. Her words are and were hateful and her ingnorance to that fact or ability to acknowledge so is proof to me that we got her message at the get go. I was not surprised reading about the ban from facebook. Doubt she will ever get it but think she needs to filter her words in future.
Dear Maria,
Thank you for writing this.
I totally understand and agree with you.
Still, we all have the chance to learn not only from our experience, but also from what we can observe in other people’s behaviour. May you use your expercience to be a healthy mum for your kids and therefore a good example.
Good luck, all the best! Silvia
Kiss my fat ass.
I don’t think she can’t take the year off to do that.
bitch.
You might be #sorrynotsorry but I bet your poor mother and father are sorry they got stuck with a spoilt, self centered drama queen like you. There’s no way in hell anyone of true substance can take your self absorbing behavior seriously. Work on your mental and emotional health the way you do on your physical, and then apologize to your parents, and then, maybe then, when you’ve grown up – women, real women, who have no time for excuses, might offer you the respect you are lacking.
It is unfortunate that there are so many sad, insecure people in the world that they feel they have to lash out to someone who is healthy, beautiful and honest about what she believes. As soon as those who are unhappy about their own lives find that vulnerable aspect of someone they wish they were more like, they attack. Real classy, going after someone’s heartache and making comments about her parents. I won’t stoop to your level, but you need to seriously need to look within your own sad life and make the necessary changes to find your own happiness, and stop trying to bring those who are above you down to your level.
Maria, be proud of who you are, what you represent and keep spreading your positive influence. Those who are capable of receiving it, will, and those who are too blind to understand, will continue to throw hurtful comments your way in an effort to make themselves feel better. Kudos to you. Forget the haters, they don’t deserve your time.
You dont have time for excercise but yet you have time to come onto a blog to make harsh comments to someone you’ve never met- maybe you should prioritise your time better! Everybody is allowed an opinion – you only find it confronting cos it refers to people like you – unless you suffer from a health issue that stops you excercising there is no excuse!!
A COMPLETE AIRHEAD!!!!!!! God help my Country The United States of America! and my freedoms of speaking up for according to Maria my fat ass. visit me at speaking for patriots..org.
I love your blogs. You are very inspiring. I have 3 kids and can’t wait to get my body back. I have about 10lbs to go. I hope to have a body like yours one day!
Maria,
The reason you are receiving so much backlash is simple. People are uncomfortable with being uncomfortable. You are forcing people to look at themselves and what they see isn’t an optimal self. We all need to improve ourselves in one way or another. However, our society of complacency has completely negated the need for positive change. If you are not seeking self-improvement, what are you living for? Additionally, self-improvement is not just physical but also emotional and spiritual. Thank you for taking the time to share your story and encourage those who do NOT believe in complacency. We have all the freedom in the world to improve ourselves, and hopefully the lives of those around us.
Beautifully put, Jena. ICAM.
I don’t agree, Jena C.
Honestly, I think people are uncomfortable with a woman that is concerned about how her eye makeup was ruined on her wedding day because her mother was in the hospital.
I think people are uncomfortable with the fact that this woman claims she has nobody to help her with her children, and yet she does.
I think people are uncomfortable with a woman who says things like: “I have a life that most people envy”, yet who would envy a woman who is frequently depressed and whose husband leaves her for weeks at a time under the guise of helping others. Help at home first.
I think people are uncomfortable with the fact that she looks up to her husband. A man that CHOOSES to only see his daughters from a previous marriage ONCE a year. What a poor excuse for a father and a human. I don’t care how much he volunteers or how much he lifts weights. He doesn’t fight for his two daughters. It’s just too hard. He has given up.
I think people are uncomfortable that a woman poses with a “What’s your Excuse” slogan and uses an airbrushed picture. WHERE are her stretch marks that she has in other pictures.
So, I think people are uncomfortable with the falseness of it all. It’s all a sham for publicity. Mentally stable people don’t look up to a person like Maria Kang.
Well put!
You hit the nail right on the head. There is nothing wrong with advertising healthy active lifestyles, in fact more people should be promoting this way of life, however Maria is not promoting anything but her own ego and it is pretty obvious to anyone with an ounce of common sense. Since when did shaming and bullying ever motivate anyone to get healthy and get in shape or do anything productive for that matter? Anyone who could publicly shame their own family member (likely without her knowing) seems to definitely have their priorities out of whack. Then again not too many women pose in a photo while using their children as mere props. The narcissism is strong in this one.
Wait…you still had your wedding even though your mother was in the ICU? Wow. I would have been at the hospital. Screw the pomp and circumstance.
Anyway, it’s one thing to promote health and another to be an attention whore about it. You are sadly the latter.
Her mother has had strokes, heart attacks, diabetes and a kidney transplant. The poor woman is sickly and I am sure most of it has to do with genetics more than her diet.
But Maria blames this poor woman for bringing it all on herself. In Maria’s eyes, it is her mother’s fault. She chooses to have all of these ailments.
My MIL is a gym rat and an all organic eater. As of last week’s doctor’s appointment she weighs 114. What should I blame her prior strokes and cancer on? Or do you only blame fat people for their own ailments?
I feel sorry for your Mum. I also feel sorry for your siblings that they don’t have the guts to stand up to you and demand you stop exploiting their mother the way you do.
I think you are selfish. Have you ever considered what you can do to HELP your mom rather than complain because she is unhealthy? Honestly this makes you no better than the fat person who whines because they are fat. Where is your help for your mom? Why do you just put her down and speak negatively when you could help her change?
You take your health seriously and that is to be commended for you and your family. But that doesn’t have to come at the expense of your mother’s feelings. HELP others. Find a way to promote a positive message and not negativity.
Hi Maria! You know I have been a big supported of yours from the beginning. I don’t know if you saw this but I say, “Hurray for more women coming out and showing off their hard working bodies!” Plus, you are on here too…
http://shine.yahoo.com/parenting/mom-under-fire-post-baby-body-selfie-215700858.html
xoxo,
Betty
I think what’s happening here is two people with differing views both trying to say the understand and accept the others point of view but still being totally stuck on their own opinion. Yes, obesity issues and resulting health problems are a big thing that needs to be addresses. I currently weight 140kg, don’t know what that is in pounds but I’m huge. I’m fat. I sure as hell care. But I’ve also done the weightless and exercise thing somewhat successfully. You really need to be in the right mind set to be able to go down the weight loss path and really mean to follow thru and get to your goal. One thing that people don’t seem to realize is that even after I had lost more than 20kg, I was stfat. I was publicly abused for taking up a footpath by apparently walking on the wrong side by a guy going for a run. I was told that I was fat, ugly an I should go for a run cos I’m going to die of a heart attack. I was walking home from a personal training session. I wanted nothing more than to run after him and explain that I was already doing what he think I’m not doing, and I’m doing it bloody well!!! No one knows the story behind people eyes. All that the lingere place was trying to do was promote confidence and self esteem. Once us fat girls have that, we fee like we can conquer the world. And when we feel like that, that’s when we feel comfortable enought and strong enough to start loving our bodies as we want them to be, not as they are. It really is a completely mind blowing experience being on the weight loss path. You, Maria, just need to realize that everyone’s story is different. Some are just writing the prelude, some are just half way thru. But you should always read the blurb before you presume you know what their real story is. Good luck on your path.
just be glad you don’t live in The U.s. we are a nation of bitchy, arrogant, hell people whom don’t care if you don’t cut in the Alpha club your not adorned. Crack pipes, women who stick their fingers down their throats and bastard men whom can’t understand why they can’t get that maggot sperm off their tip dicks. Maria hates white women in America. Just be glad your in the uk.
Maria –
First, let me say you are a beautiful woman who clearly has a lot of pride in herself, and I respect that immensely.
However, your experience with healthy (or unhealthy) lifestyles around you does not reflect the divers circumstances give us all a unique shape. Haven’t you ever known someone who works out, eats healthy, and still has trouble getting her body to look “ideal” – whether that is your standard of judgement on her body or her own?
It seems so narrow that you would attribute body diversity to food addiction and unhealthy lifestyle choices. I am sorry that you went through something difficult with your mother. Please reserve your blanket judgements – isn’t there enough hate out there?
As a side note, it seems you’re dealing with your share of internet trolls – both in your opposition and in your favor. I sincerely hope that this experience teaches you a little about compassion and empathy for others. By putting yourself in this position and speaking so loudly, you have invited the world to judge you as harshly as you judge the world. Best of luck to you and your family.
“I sincerely hope that this experience teaches you a little about compassion and empathy for others. By putting yourself in this position and speaking so loudly, you have invited the world to judge you as harshly as you judge the world.”
Very well said Thalia. That’s it. We all have a story behind our eyes and our shape. Mine was always the struggle to gain weight and the only curves I had were the curves of my scoliosis. I felt judged, in that I believed people saw me as having an eating disorder. In my relationship with God I’ve come to appreciate the value of God loving me right where I’m at and not where I think I should be nor what anyone else thinks. I want to be healthy. I want to be pretty. I want acceptance. We all do. It is the way of the world that the impression we make is first with our appearance but the impact we make is with the way we treat others with kindness and respect; with empathy.
Thank you Thalia for sharing your story. You have a beauty that is evident and I’m cheering for you in your road to a healthy and strong body; physically and emotionally.
YOU CANT BE FAT AND FIT.
Please read.
http://healthland.time.com/2013/12/02/you-cant-be-fit-and-fat/
thanks for making my day feel so warm and welcomed. What a sweet heart you are.
“Everyone look, I found an article that says what I want to believe is true, but instead neglected to read it. If I had, I’d notice the article downplays official current studies about weight in favor of dated studies. How silly of me to link you to an article written by some bitter grapes who don’t like that science is moving forward and not legitimizing their fat bigotry.”
I think you did the right thing. I also think you are a very strong individual to be able to do what you did on that day as well as everyday when you blog. I think you are motivational to those who want to change. I had not heard about you until all this negative stuff came up and then I went to check out what all the talk was about and have become inspired. I am starting my fitness calendar today and I am very excited to make a change. So keep up what you are doing, even with all the bad you are motivating more people than you think. Also to all the wonderful people who have nothing but negative things to say-remember this is a website, not the news or a newspaper that you see everyday, it’s something that you choose to go to and view, so if you don’t like it stay off it and if you don’t want to change then don’t.
but whom are you to dominate others and think you can tell people how to live their lives? If I want to get on a website and bash someone don’t you think it is my right? Since Maria can’t defend her ownself. Right?
Vanity is not attractive and maybe just MAYBE I DONT WANT TO CHANGE. I WANT THE INTERNET TO CHANGE I WANT A DAMN JOB I WANT EQUAL FAIRNESS JUST AS MARIA THINKS SHE CAN HAVE. HER EGO IS ABUSIVE!!!!!!!!! I am allowed to say do think fart take a doo doo do whatever the hell I want as before until her phillipino ass came knocking on my I get to tell you what to do ass! that’s the problem I have with Maria and YOU . I MIGHT BE OVERWEIGHT AND DON’T EVEN CARE ABOUT YOUR WORDS BUT LET ME SAY THIS ……. I REALLY DON’FOR PEOPLE WHO STICK THEIR FINGERS DOWN THEIR THROATS AND BRAG ABOUT HOW THEY LOOK TO MILLIONS OF WOMEN WHO HAVE A HARD ENOUGH TIME JUST MENTALLY DEALING WITH THIS SHIT WHEN WE EAT RIGHT AND TRY AND EXERCISE BUT WE ARE WORRIED ABOUT GETTING BETTER IN THIS COUNTRY. Don’t dictate to me! Maria and her hubby are suffering from some stress and it is effecting the environment around them. IT’S THE TRUTH!!!!!! WE MUST LIVE TOGETHER NO MATTER WHAT WE LOOK LIKE AND I’M NOT NEGATIVE I’M POSITIVE AND HAPPY just because I have a belly just tired of her double edged sword! enough let me take some mental pills and go find my own damn normalcy.
So Joanie, if you don’t want to change, why are you on this fitness site? this site is about fitness not being content with being a lard ass. Are you on the lard ass site contributing to fat discussions? Probably not, only this one. So it’s probably personal for you. One thing I do know you can’t be your happiest being a fat person, so saying you what you say either makes you :
1. Just lazy OR
2. ignorant.
That’d be fine, unfortunately we have to deal with people like Maria who harass us with their fear mongering and body obsession making it that much harder to live as secure fat people. Maria chose to go to a site celebrating fat bodies, and attacking them with her childlike rage at the thought people could love themselves without being thin. If she didn’t like it, all she had to do was stay off.
This is a website of a person who has inserted themselves into news media, she has made herself public. She and her supporters just can’t fathom others who won’t follow their fit religion, and then blame Maria’s victims for not avoiding her advocacy against fat people. If Maria was as strong as you all think she is, why does she need to go and tear down fat people? Do you find a tendency towards bullying inspiring?
Jackie,
I hope the best for you. May you know that am on your side emmensly. I however will no longer post and block myself from this beast and her arrogant husband whom promotes Asian Beauty or Blonde beauty. Thats it I’m tired of her she made me sick to my stomach.
Best of you Jackie and may WE (sorry i used a pronoun) continue our grace and tact as classy beautiful in our own peace. I will no longer participate in this woman making money AT MY EXPENSE.
best of luck and this fucked up world!
My issue with this, somehow people overlook is that this never about helping others. This about her insecurities, were you fat Maria at some point of your life? Why for love of god did let your self go like that, have you know self control?This about you trying to get fame and exposure to all you business enterprises. Be honest about you motives and people will respect you more. I m Asian and skinny and fit, but I don’t go around telling all the over weight Philippine people they need cut back on the swine. How about you focus on the over weight people on your community by explaining how immigrants and poor people have less access to better food. not mention less money to shop. Maybe do something about the inequality millions of disadvantage people have in America who do not have access to good food. because they live in a place were the only food available is from Kraft or Unilever. You look you never even lived, in places with out inaccessible resources. Instead blasting your insecurities on the rest of the world, why not keep it your self. You clearly lack confidence , even with all your gains as fit individual. You seem either deprived of something or not fully satisfied with your self.
People that are extremely overweight need to stop saying, “Be proud! Show it off! This is a REAL woman!” Will you be proud and show it off when you get diabetes, cancer, heart disease, etc? You shouldn’t be proud of stuffing your face with crap time after time! Just because you are too lazy to eat healthy and exercise doesn’t mean you can go around boasting about how proud you are to be “real!” Our “real” ancestors didn’t eat McDonalds, Twinkies, Doritos, Taco Bell, etc… They ate meat, vegetables, fruits, grains, the basics. Oh and one of my biggest pet peeves is saying, “Well Marilyn Monroe was curvy too!” When she was not obese, and the women that say that are almost always 200 pounds more than her! Just because Marilyn Monroe was a little overweight to today’s standards doesn’t give you a right to eat crap and get fat! America is so annoying trying to make FAT normal! And even though you act so proud, you know at the end of the day you are sad and ashamed of how you eat/look/feel. Nobody likes to have fat rolls, double chins, arm flab, etc. You can pretend all you want but stop attacking this woman for trying to help LAZY America get HEALTHIER!
Well said Bree!
Anyone can write a hysterical sermon meant to position fat people as the enemy, their statement wasn’t well written, unless you think the yelling and screaming of a child in a tantrum pleading that others must do what they want is well spoken. All they’re doing is using scare tactics, they assume to know how others feel, this is projection. They would feel ashamed for being fat, so everyone else should. They fetishize fat bodies, talking about them as if they are separate from people, they only know one language the language of bodies. They find others who are stronger than them annoying, those who don’t base their entire worth on the way their body looks.
Good writing is not parroting scare stories from the news in a state of manic paranoia. Good writing doesn’t make assumptions about their audience. If you think someone’s kicking screaming tantrum rant is good writing, you should try to educate yourself as to what good writing is. All Bree wrote was her child fit over other people who can love themselves at every size. You should be asking what kind of person would feel so threatened by others who don’t need everyone’s approval?
I agree, Bree
We need to stop feeding this troll. She is out to get attention and act superior to even her mother who was most likely genetically built for most of those health issues. She is taking aim at a group of people that is socially acceptable to bully. Hey, let’s bash the fat people! It’s easy cause I’m thin, right? lol! She said it herself, she’s not sorry, she even does this to her own mother people! Stop feeding this ignorant woman. She’s no Oprah…actually, she probably considers herself much better than Oprah cause she is thinner. Don’t you know? The value of a person is dependent on being thin.
Who’s the troll?
Clear answer here…
You are on HER page, and you are the one being negative as hell. Literally.
Nothing better defines the word than your actions. :/
Yeah I don’t think Elizabeth understands what “troll” means. She needs to put on a helmet before she hurts herself.
Please continue to plug your ears and lalala at the top of your lungs when someone tries to shine light on the obesity issue in America. The only troll here is you. The only ignorant one here, is you. There is no place in her post where she was bashing fat people. Are you mentally ill? How were you capable of taking a heartfelt post like hits and making it sound as though it were a malicious one? You are a vile poisonous creature and you do nothing for the overall health of this nation except to keep it down with your tongue wagging and finger pointing. Please go ahead and continue to be fat. No one is forcing you to lose weight and get healthy. It seems the only exercise you do is run your mouth on the internet. Too bad you can’t actually lose weight doing that, you’d probably quit the internet all the together if that were the case.
“Not willing to vomit yourself thin the Maria Kang way, you must be mentally ill!” So are eating disorders and eating disorder mentalities a sign of sanity now?
WHAT? Vomit yourself thin?!! Excuse
Me, but no. You clearly are completely ignorant. I eat more than everyone I know and I rock a six pack. Why? I eat HEALTHY. While you eat your cheesecake and fries, I eat sweet potatoes and fish.. I have healthier insides, a more attractive outside, and I’m getting my vitamins. Maria isn’t skinny, she’s FIT and you’re jealous that people like me and her have the willpower to make healthy choices and look better than all of you trolls who are complaining.
hey fat girl,
are you an idiot? People that look that way are usually healthy. Even if that was her message of ‘why don’t you look like me?’, it’s still a good message to me. What one man, ‘or woman’ can do, another can do. That’s an even better message if you ask me. If you’ve seen that movie the edge with Anthony Hopkins and Alex Baldwin, this is what this movie was about. Do you wallow in self-pity, and be content with unhappiness, or do you fight and KILL THE BEAR!
What she’s saying is 100% true and I come here to read this blog everyday. Reason being, the frequency and volume of the bs I am presented with on the daily basis, I need to counter that. Ideas like it’s OK to be out of shape and unhealthy. Why are we rewarding this? No wonder 2/3 of Americans are overweight. I don’t really care as I really have absolutely NO STAKE in anyone getting in shape, neither does she really, so it must be that she’s trying to empower others.
Just logic.
She’s just another Meme Roth.
“I thought the caption was fitting since I often saw posters of grandmothers running in marathons, paraplegics competing in the Olympics and even a father performing a pull up with three kids in tow – all with the same caption: “What’s your Excuse?”” Your inspiration photos showed people exercising and therefore sent a message, “what is your excuse for not exercising.” Your photo shows nothing, but you, your body, your coiffed hair, and makeup … and therefore the message reads more as “what is your excuse for not looking like me” It may seem like a fine line to you, but it isn’t. Yours is based on appearance only, comes across as incredibly self-absorbed, and sends a message that your body is an ideal. Your photo says nothing about health or healthy habits. Own your image, stop trying to pretend that it has anything to do with health. It doesn’t. It is solely focused on appearance.
As an unlicensed psychologist, I can clearly see the anger and frustration of dealing with being overweight and for once in your life, not wondering if people thought such things, or said such things about you behind your back, but actually to your face must be devastating. To go on this woman’s blog and write nasty, cruel things doesn’t show anger towards her, but yourselves. Love your body, by loving your body: exercise and healthy foods.
that is why your an unlicensed psychologist you don’t look within the problem . Just like the pe 0ple who preach it’s ok to fat bash and discriminate women whom don’t have what it takes. I can go and point my finger and say whatever the hell i want. I do love my body you just obviously don’t love you do you Rob?
time to start on the men because really sick of your double edged swords while MILLIONS of people are out of work. Maybe if you all would stop discriminating against overweight women we could get jobs and prosper and have the confidence to go and exercise instead of living in our own minds and be trapped by a vain bitch who won’t give us the mental capabilities to even WANT to better ourselves.
OK NOW I’M SATISFIED. BYE BYE……
You make me ashamed to even be a woman! Obviously you’re a feminist who tries to fool people into believing women aren’t given equal opportunities. You’re placing YOUR refusal to exercise on men…? That makes no sense whatsoever. I’m a college student. I’m pre med. I’m in a sorority many campus organizations. I do this all while teaching bootcamp at my college’s Rec AND working out/cooking my food. Yes there are excuses, and for moms who have you g children, that is usually a legitimate excuse. However do NOT blame an entire gender for discriminating against women. Maria is trying to make Americans healthier and prevent disease such as diabetes. If you don’t want to work out, don’t. But Maria obviously does and therefore has the right to show off what she works for. Fitness is a lifestyle. Abs aren’t easy to obtain, I would know. The same way an artist displays their paintings, an athlete should be able to display their hard work too. So quit your whining
Thumbs up to that Rob 🙂
All of these haters are ridiculous! I’m so tired of everyone being over sensitive about everything. Fat shaming? Really….. People keep over using these ridiculous terms.
News flash -As a Nation, we ARE obese!
Keep going and dont let these people hold you back….
Then you should be tired of the over sensitive fit addicts here, who shout and chant support whenever a fat person suggests they have a right to be treated like a human being. Maria is not a victim, she is a victimizer. She has gone out of her way to harass fat people, and all everyone here can do is shout “OBESITY IS REAL! OBESITY IS REAL! WHY WILL NO ONE BELIEVE?”, while trying to silence those who are able to function without having to play who’s the thinnest.
You need to learn when you assume fat people are unhealthy, you are not helping. That not everyone wants to live a life of self obsession over how their bodies look. Not everyone needs to be thin to function, and insisting they should is a sign of desperation to be accepted at the only thing those people can do, be fit. Spending all that time at the gym has clearly made many fit people intellectually still. All they can do is be fit, and the fear that the only skill they’ve spent time on understanding, might not get them easy benefits anymore.
So keep lashing out at fat people like frightened bully children. It says so much more about fit fanatics than fat people.
As another mom of 3, one of which is severely mentally disabled, I would love to have the opportunity to be so vain. We eat healthy, but to be quite frank, that is pretty much all I can manage. Exercising is just not on my list of priorities. Some days I am lucky to even get a shower. I am happy for others that have the luxury of being able to focus on themselves, but stop pointing fingers. Now, after being awake with my daughter since 2 AM and she is finally off to school for a few hours, I am going to bed so I can pull another all nighter again tonight. Have fun excercising your little conceited heart out while I am ‘being lazy’.
Why do you come on her website to post negative comments like this? If you don’t agree with her or what she has to say don’t visit the website. You’re also comparing exercising to being vain, which makes no sense.
Exercising is not vain….continually posting selfies of your Victoria’s Secret body and asking other’s “What’s your excuse” IS. I am just letting her know that more normal people DO have a legit reason for not being able to focus on being so self-involved. For a lot of people looking like that is unattainable unless you are just obsessed, which is just as unhealthy. There needs to be a happy, reasonable medium. The only reason I actually have time to read this crap is because I am passing time while my child tries to take a poop. Literally.
And you could be passing time doing lunges/squats or pacing the hallway. I have 4 kids, one is aspergers, I am lucky if I get 4 hours a night..I was morbidly obese for many many years. It IS indeed possible to lose weight by changing your food intake, it DOES take discipline, it does take effort and sometimes we are so exhausted we want to give in to what is easier… Don’t beat up someone else for calling it what it is…. And who the silly posts of grown adults calling names. Well no explanation needed, it stands for what it is. If your here on Fb, you could be exercising.
Are you serious? Squats in the hallway? Dear Lord. I believe in eating healthy which my family does. I believe in moderate excercise and having as active a lifestyle that is practical for your personal life. I DON’T believe in pointing fingers, thinking you know what is best for everyone else. I am done with this. My point is….Real women are beautiful. A woman with stretch marks is beautiful. Or a woman who had an emergency c-section and had to be cut vertically instead of under the bikini line. Or a woman who is missing one breast, or even two due to breast cancer. Or a bald woman from chemo. Ms. Maria decide to make a public blog, therefore opening herself up to criticism, the same criticism she is dishing out saying “What’s your excuse?” BTW… Dealing with a child with Asperger’s would feel like a vacation for me so I would probably be doing freaking jumping jacks in the hallway all day long. Instead of worrying about getting my squats in for the day, I revel in the simple fact that my child laughed out loud. I feel blessed each night when she does go to sleep and I hold her precious hand to keep her from hurting herself while she sleeps with tears in my eyes feeling so much love. I am blessed and do not think that obsessing over exercise is the right avenue in my life. I am also very comfortable in my own, healthy skin.
You should get more sleep.
Don’t mind the complainers Misty, they’re just upset that you are able to give your life to helping someone else, instead of being obsessed with themselves and their bodies. Seems fit people find those who can do threatening, because they know self obsession is lifestyle of those who can’t.
Maria, I support you 1000%.
As a person who lost over 200 pounds myself, I can tell you being obese is not healthy, but you already knew that. Its great for a mother of children such as yourself can do and look like with dedication and determination.
America has a huge obesity problem and would rather shoot the messanger than look in the mirror and admit they need to change. I did, you did and so can everyone else.
Stop the excuses and finger pointing people and make your own change.
Hi Maria,
I just wanted to take a second and send you some love. I think staying healthy is incredibly important, unfortunately, you can’t buy your health (with the exception of certain instances), it is something you have to look after. I completely, 100% agree with the message you were trying to express on Facebook. I am sorry that so many people attacked you, it is really unfortunate that so many people harbor anger and negativity towards people who are trying to motivate others in positive ways. You seem really strong, but don’t let the negativity get to you. Best of luck!
Dear Maria,
I am an extremely unfit and obese woman.. AND I SUPPORT YOU! Not because I know what you said on every post you’ve made.. As I don’t have the time or energy to spend stalking you or your post’s.. But I do want to applaud you for telling the truth. I watched your video http://youtu.be/3wOOrGcQnhg
And I have to agree with you. I have let myself go.. I do need to want more.. and I do want my sons to have a mother..
I appreciate your message!
Hi Maria,
Just popping by to say that I 100% understand and support your message! Ignore the haters or those who misunderstand you! We need people like you! It might not be easy to face the confrontation for some, but the most important thing is that confrontation with our bad habits may lead to positive change which is the clue here! Stay strong! And focus on those that will be positively encouraged by you!
How did you lose your job??
All I am saying is that I got completly offended by someone telling me that she can take away from my mental abilities. I am so effin tired of the insults and then this “cheerleader” says she experienced mean girls. YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT PEOPLE BEING MEAN TO YOU. Walk in my shoes and then MAYBE i CAN be welcomed in your world. I am so sick of you and YOUR HUBBY!
This article was such a waste to read. I like some good drama, but this was pathetic. “Boohoo, I’m being victimized for being a vain, ignorant, fat-shamer; I’m sad because my family is fat!!” You superficial idiot. You’re right. No one understands you. I cannot even fathom what your whole life is about. You sound like my aunt who was obsessed with looks and “healthy” appearance and eventually shamed me enough into an eating disorder! I’m sorry, but you sound like you really need some professional help! Narcissist.
this whole drama is pretty funny. Alot of American women are in denial and think that being morbidly obese is sexy and normal. Newsflash, it isnt, its unhealthy and unattractive. And for certain women to hate on Maria Kang for her grind just shows how ass backwards we are in America.
NO she doesn’t even think for herself and WANTS to insult people. It’s not backwards it is holding a stick in front of someone with the end of a hotdog while stripping people and saying ha ha look at me.
Tired of it and she is a vain bitch – just like the devil if not him himself. good luck … Out!
I applaud you for promoting a healthy lifestyle. You are 100% correct that American society is trying to normalize obesity. We are the most obese nation in the world! There is no such thing as “fit fat or healthy fat”!
bull shit …. what about the smoking baby in Indonesia? huh? what about him?
Wow Maria . . . . hang in there. What you’re getting is a very jealous, fearful backlash from women who are convinced they can’t change and have given up.
Take a deep breath . . . you’ve been hit hard.
Get your bearings and carry on,
Mom of 9 :))
whatever it’s only me doing it. and i’m not jealous just sick of you bitches. Why would I be jealous of a stupid bitch and her scar fucking husband
wow I will never stop amaze me how many hateful people is out there. Maria is doing a good thing, if you don’t like don’t read it! Simple! And stop being jealous , because that what is really is!
well aNndrea. You like to ride on Peoples rollercoasters just as much why don’t you take care of your fuckin kids?
and I didn’t ask for 80 percent of the Country to not have Healthcare. That’s the reason for the obesity problem is not because people can’t eat healthy and try moderate exercise. It’s because we have a fricken generation gap where no one is working or if so it’s only for a couple of weeks. AND it causes stress and I will say it again again again and again. It’s because of food shortages or welfare for inflation and the economic problems. So yes if your poor you gain weight and if your at the age of 40 up metabolism and medication and genetics. Coping for overweight people is hard and when so many people take away compassion it gets very discouraging. If you never walked in someones shoes then you don’t know whom you offend. Sometimes it might be the wrong person. That is all i’m saying just a little fed up because to call someone obese or overweight DOES NOT MEAN THAT PERSON IS TRYING. GOSH .
and at least I own up to my body and whom am unlike someone who dishes it out but has billions of supporters ruining one type. Thought we were getting better wtf? right?
you’re not owning up to s***, you’re making excuses.
whatever…. been done with this reteric for days…. F.R.E.E.D.O.M !!!!!!!!!! BYE BYE.. FLUSH!
You’re speaking your mind and it’s awesome 🙂 I’m a mom of 3 and say the same thing you do “what’s your excuse?” Stay healthy and keep encouraging women and people in general to be healthy or start being healthy now.
You know what would be cool? If you took half the energy you are using to lick your wounds in the press over being so misunderstood…add to that the remaining energy you use to squat and bend and backflip all around the house…and go help in the Philipines You are half Philipino, right? You’d like it there. Lots of people desiring food yet amazingly losing weight daily. I think its called starving? While you have been clawing for your 15 minutes of fame over something as mundane as your appearance , there was this storm in the Philippines – a rather large one – that’s a wee bit more important. Shame on you for having the opportunity to do something worthwhile to help your own lineage and instead just piss and moan about bellies, boobs and the size of asses. You are as one dimensionsal as a cartoon. Dismissed.
Dear LaughOutLoud,
You must be here in the Philipines helping. You are 100% human being, right?
Maria, you are an absolute champion! I first saw your pic and tagline that everyones making a fuss of on tv and didnt take offence at all. My first thought was what an inspiration. I have 3 boys under 3 and am well out of shape and have struggled with weight in the past (both over and under) and found i am now motivated to shed the kilos in a healthy way. Well done and dont worry about people putting you down, you cant please everyone.
I think you just have a perspective issue – I think it’s great what you do and you should champion your own discipline and encourage others. But a lot of these women who you say are “encouraging the trend to embracing unhealthiness” are not securely married women like you with the opportunity at a solid income, they can’t just spend their extra time going to the gym and eating organic groceries. I totally agree that if EVERYONE HAD YOUR LIFE CIRCUMSTANCE, they should put that time into improving themselves. But some mothers have to make the choice to put their families before themselves, or come from much poorer families, and as a result they look the way they do. And those women should also love themselves, their bodies and be confident about the people they are. When you put words out IN THE PUBLIC like you did, you risk not just offending but seriously hurting some women, and that IS messed up. If you genuinely cared about the health of others, there’s no way you would even want to make comments like the ones you did. It seems to me that you care more about putting yourself on a pedestal and preaching from above than encouraging women to pursue healthier habits.
Are you kidding Allison? Low income is just ANOTHER excuse for not living healthy.. You don’t have to have money to be healthy. A gym is not the only place to exercise and organic food is not the only healthy food to eat. Walking in your own neighborhood is fine, working out in your living room for 30 minutes rather than watching TV is a healthier choice. Grilling a piece of chicken rather than getting McDonald’s is ALWAYS a better option. No more excuses, seriously I hear them all day at my job, but low income is probably the most ridiculous one Ive heard. Part of the problem is our children learn by example and the example being shown to kids is terrible. Get up and get active.
Maria,
I think it’s great what you’re doing. Everyone has their own story to tell and you happen to use this website to share your thoughts and reach out to people who need inspiration from people like you. I think it’s all blown out of proportion that you “fat-shame” people. I’m a registered nurse so how could I tell people to get healthy, if I’m not healthy myself? I’ve seen so many people come in and out of hospitals because of poor health decisions they’ve made during the years. It’s not about being “skinny”. It’s about being fit. People like to take the easy way out these days and don’t know what hard work even means. Or even commitment. I don’t think people understand your message and just portray you as being shallow when really.. it’s all in their mind because it’s already programmed in their heads to think that way when your message is simple: Results happen with hard work and commitment. And this is just your story. People will never understand what you did to get here. They only see the results and won’t understand the struggle and hardships you went through to be here. It’s unfortunate that you get negative publicity, but that’s just how the media works with everything. Once you accept that, the sadness will go away.
Maria, you’re absolutely right! I’m glad you are brave enough to speak out about this.
My Dad is in the hospital currently with inoperable heart cancer. He was always good to me and my brother, but I do remember he smoked cigarettes and was somewhat overweight when I was younger. And to this day, he continues to eat Cheetos, despite my pointing out how terrible they are for him.
My Dad made his own sickbed and now he has to lie in it. I have refused to visit him or to answer his phone calls (but I told my brother to let him know why I have taken this stance). It’s time to take a stand against people who do things we dislike, or even people who just look ugly to us, by cutting off all communication, even if they are family members.
Tough love! Thanks Maria!
You are a sad excuse for a son, in fact a sad excuse for a human being. You should be ashamed.
Stick it to the old man Marky boy!
I actually don’t think your father really made his sick bed. It was a different generation and they grew up on cigarettes and Cheetos. If he smoked in the past and was a little overweight but stopped all of that and his worst crime is eating Cheetos? He tried to get healthier it appears. I’d visit him and tell him you love him before you regret not being able to do so. I’m 100% against leading an unhealthy life but watch some Mad Men, you will see how it really was just a way of life and the docs were as unhealthy as the patients.
so, let me understand this. You refuse to see your father in the hospital because you told him not to eat Cheetos and he didn’t obey you? That’s the big crime that forced you to cut off all communication with him? I really, really hope that this is a trolling post. Because cutting off family because “they just look ugly to us” is pretty horrid.
Hi Maria, been following you on facebook for about a year and I think you are an inspiration to mothers!! Keep up the good work!!
Lost my mother in law for several of the reasons you mention in your post. 70 years young and obesity and medication after medication to treat symptoms, not the problem. And, talk about a horrible, prolonged passing. 3 months on a ventilator, in and out of conciousness etc. Maria is right. Stop making excuses, put down the fork and just move. I tried to help her over the years but it never worked. Still sad and will get on my high horse about this issue to anyone who asks. It’s just that important.
because YOU TRIED TO HELP HER. Maybe she didn’t want your help just love. AND quit telling people to put down the fork. So I can tell you to quit knifing people with your words. You see how that works?
You really have a difficult time with the English language, don’t you? I’m embarrassed for you.
Maria,
I really admire you. You are totally right. America is normalizing being fat. It all boils down to hard work. I am overweight and it is basically my fault. I need to work harder. Obesity is a condition that needs to be addressed. I am trying to change my life and you are an inspiration in more ways than one. Don’t give a %$&& what the haters say. These women are just jealous. I know that for sure.
I hope you go on a flight of steps and miss one. 🙂
going down….. and feel how your heart is so heavy on others. And your supporters too.
What a terrible thing to say! Why are we so opposed to this woman saying what she wants?!?! It’s a BLOG! It’s her choice to say whatever she chooses. If you don’t like her or what she has to say – then stop reading it! Stop following her blog! Unfriend her on facebook!!
While you are all posting negative comments, think about all the situps you could be doing….just saying. So much negativity….and we wonder why there is so much hate in the world.
Brandi? whatever…. I’m allowed to reiterate and I don’t NEED YOU … SEE YOU! TO TELL ME WHAT TO DO. now why can’t Maria defend herself? She and you can dish it for several years barking up someones tree then why can’t you woman up? It’s mean but don’t you think what others are saying about overweight women kinda rude? You have to look at this from ALL ANGLES. add all sides and see how the unbalanced nature of this woman or her husband are USING people to benefit their lives. aND YOU CAN’T TELL PEOPLE “why do you read this then” it’s HER BLOG. Nope it isn’t the internet has a capability of storage and it is clearly being used. Sorry but I defend my own peace whether you like it or not. I just wanted to see how far could push the envelope and make people whom look down on others see what its like. Since so many of us are offended through the silence of a woman whom can’t defend herself she uses time and her own freedoms to piss on so many of us. YOU SEE? Educate your own be happy with you …. a double edged sword through prejudice. Civilities need to change to benefit EVERYONE not just Maria needing selfish money. Now who is the mean one now? what’s your excuse?
You are obviously fat and miserable.
your obviously skinny and a fag ha ha!!! Merry whatever you celebrate NI66ER
HAPPINESS is a virtue not just given to certain people you fucked up devil.
Instead of spending time to write garbage such as the above, why don’t you go out and do something positive? Go for a walk. Learn about eating a better diet. Get some education so you can get a better job.
As Crossfit champion Rich Froning notes, so many anonymous cowards hiding behind their PCs attacking people who are successful and making something of themselves.
Get a life. Maria obviously did. And by the way, there’s nothing SELFISH about money. Socialism only works until run out of someone else’s cash…
and theres EVERYTHING SELFISH ABOUT MONEY WHEN HALF OF THE COUNTRY HAS MONEY AND THE OTHER HALF IS WITHOUT JOBS. I KNOW ABOUT SOCIALISM …. IT MEANS STEREOTYPES , STIGMAS AND SUCKS FOR YOU! YOUR THE ONES WHOM OBVIOUSLY SUPPORT BARRACK HUSSEIN OBAMA SO GO SUCK HIS DICK AND LEAVE MY life alone. I will call my local police as telling me to go get a life by more than one person and will report you for internet abuse. I know where to go. and i might not have a life but have existence and if you want to fuck with me you better have amo buddy …. so sick of egocentricism. I know how to add, divide and multiply fucker
and for you to say get a better job your meaning healthy and fit right to look like everyone else in the office?
I AM NO ONES BARBIE DOLL NOR DO I WANT TO BE. I will make it on my own and live somewhere other than where a persons happiness has value. tell me i have to live up to beauty standards to work in this Country THE UNITED STATES. Mr. wonderful. Alpha dog.
and I’m not going to do sit ups when I can lean up against the wall and count my chump change while lunging.
b.i.tch! it’s below freezing outside anyways. dummy!
Wow, “you suck” sure does have a lot to say!
However, I will answer your question (although, I did have a hard time reading your paragraph).
You asked: “now why can’t Maria defend herself?”
Why does she have to. This is her blog. The purpose of your own blog is to write what you want. Similar to a diary. You can read it and comment on it (yes, because it is on the internet), but she does not have to defend her own beliefs and writings, especially to someone as uneducated as yourself. Perhaps you should go back and actually read some of her blog posts. If you fully read and UNDERSTAND her posts – you will see that she is not just talking about “fat people” vs “skinny people”. It’s much deeper than that. There is a lot of grey area.
You may very well be offended by Maria’s beliefs, comments – yet you still continue to come back to her blog (that you find offensive) and post. And your posts – well that is an entirely different story.
And for the record, please tell me what this means: “b.i.tch! it’s below freezing outside anyways. dummy!”….. I am at a total loss for what this statement even means or what you are referring to.
well well Brandi aren’t you smart ms. fucker. give me your e-mail address so you and I can continue.
I WANT TO MAKE YOUR DAY UNHAPPY 🙂 LOVE JENNIFER
YOU probably stick your fingers down your throat that’s what you mean huh?
well….. let me tell YOU I eat vegetables and do exercise YET have to deal with the hell of getting older and WORKING TWICE A HARD AND THEN HAVING TO HEAR SOMEONE TELL ME I’M NOT GOOD ENOUGH NO THANKS. AND bye bye Brandi. You suck !
It was Maria’s choice to say things, however she doesn’t get to choose whether what she says has consequences or not after saying them. She should’ve been able to seen that going after fat people would have consequences.
The firestorm of controversy that resulted from your criticism of Curvy Girl should prove to you what studies have shown: criticism does not make people eat (or want to eat) less. In fact, criticism from others often amplifies the internal self-criticism of overweight people and makes them eat more. Miss Kang, you are obviously a dedicated, disciplined, caring and intelligent advocate for fitness. You must find a way to carry your message that does not antagonize and alienate the very people you want to help.
I don’t care anymore Brandi …. I don’t wish that for you no more than Maria. So I’m a woman and not really good at cattiness. So you caught me. Have a Merry Christmas and you too Maria.
And to all the fat people of the world love your bodies and dress classy and carry yourself with dignity. May words be of water and life made of substance. I will leave and let you make a crap load of money. As I will not support your business or you blog as hoping for better civilities in the workplace. Cause I’m tired of listening to it. so bye………………………. bye!
OK was done with it until your boyfriend started humanly insulting me. I said my peace and he started shit. I’m serious will put down any negative comments and start proceedings on internet bullying through fascism. If we want to go there?
Can’t believe, reading through the posts, there are people born and raised in America with such cowardly attitudes.
READ AND LEARN, PEOPLE: http://www.sealfit.com/blog/uncommon-resolve-part-3/
OK was done with it until your boyfriend started humanly insulting me. I said my peace and he started shit. I’m serious will put down any negative comments and start proceedings on internet bullying through fascism. If we want to go there?
yeah right those are obstacles not able to achieve for 40 year old woman wtf? l’l l stick to my work out ball.
I hope we get better as sandy hook aniversary will be coming up as people will not have their kids for Christmas. your horrible to tell me to get a life. that is the most horrible thing to tell someone.
‘cowardly attitudes’ is human behavior. it exists where human exist.
you obviously seek out the people whom have their own ways to defend their self esteem. Leave me bee. I noticed you’ve replied to a couple of other comments of mine. If you want to start with me please do so cause i’m effin tired of it. Don’t tell me what human behavior is I’m old enough . Blame game that’s all it is Rosy.
Sorry (actually sorry) that you’re having to put up with the absurdity of all of this. I can’t understand this backlash at all. You’re proud of something that you’ve worked hard to achieve. And you’re trying to encourage others to work toward a respectable goal. I don’t understand what the backlash is about. I get that we don’t all come in one size. That some of us have to work harder to stay in shape. I don’t get why people are so upset about that being pointed out. Anyhow, Maria, keep doing what you’re doing. You’re a beautiful person that shines despite life’s adversities. 🙂
Dear Ms. Kang, I don’t know if you have time to read all the comments on your website as you obviously have a very busy life, but I wanted to take a moment to tell you that I find you incredibly inspirational. I had never heard of you before you started getting this bad press and I recently visited your website our of curiosity. I think your website is beautifully done and you seem like a lovely person who works very hard, loves her family and enjoys getting the most out of life and wants to help others by providing inspiration. I’m surprised that people are having such a negative reaction to you as it appears to me that you simply want to motivate and help people to live their best lives. Please be strong and do not let other people’s negativity stifle your expression of our passion for health. You are an inspiration to many. Have a great day, and many blessings to you and your family.
It doesn’t help when you say that your sorry but not sorry and in the next breath talk about living life in the same way as a noble leader. Anyone who makes themselves and others feel better by downgrading someone else is a “BULLY”. Most women are not as blessed as you are that you can make your time to excercise a priority. Many of us-me included- have to work, run businesses, tend to family, help children and grandchildren, help aging parents (without complaining) and still find time to spend with a husband and friends. In all honesty trying to be a size 0 is not a priority. But living a good life is- its not how you look on the outside- there are many beautiful women who have the meanest and most spiteful,petty hearts. Its the person’s heart that counts. If all you can remember is how heavy or unhealthy your mother was and not how much she loved you or did for you than I truly feel sorry for you. And in case you haven’t heard of these instances ,how many young and supposedly “fit” atheletes, friends, neighbors, and family members have died young because of a sudden illness or condition they didn’t know they have. I have known of too many friends and family members who have died and were supposedly “fit” because they were thin. Today I don’t remeber them because of their body image-I remember them because of the person they were. If you don’t want to be classified as a bully then live your life and let us real women live ours. I truly hope you resolve whatever issues you may have with weight and size. As for me and my loved ones, we will keep loving my curves and theirs!
Uhm wow! You feel sorry for her? I feel sorry for you! Maria is right about obesity being a health epidemic and who are you to even be hating on her. Let me tell you a little bit about myself and why I believe she’s right:
I used to weigh 150lbs at 5’5, I now crunch the scales at 211lbs. I work a very strenuous job that is physically demanding. Over a year ago I quit smoking, I no longer cough and wheeze and but I replaced cigarettes with food and that is not good. At my physically demanding job I have to bend and kneel, but getting up I have to count to three to lift myself up. But when I do I am in excruciating pain. I do not like living like that! It’s humiliating when my fiance’ has to help lift me off the couch some days. I didn’t have this problem when I was 150lbs. And hey, I almost forgot mention that I now dread going up stairs because my knees hurt and I can barely breathe after making it to the top. Didn’t happen when I was 150.
And BTW I don’t buy that crap about how fit people you knew died, they died due to something else. Obesity is serious, if you don’t believe me look at this link:
http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/physician-resources/public-health/promoting-healthy-lifestyles/obesity.page
And to attack Maria because she wished her mother was healthy, that makes you a BULLY! And you say you’re a real woman, but would a real woman come on this page and do slut shaming like you have done? I don’t think so! Maybe you should look at yourself before throwing judgement at someone else. If you want to love your obesity and your declining health, that is your choice. As for me, I plan to get my body back! So you can go ahead and hate on me too!
Oh and BTW when I get back down to my weight, I will posting a before and after pic and posting the exact same thing:
WHAT’S YOUR EXCUSE?
WHAT’S YOUR EXCUSE? For being a fitspo bully?
She’s not attacking Maria for wishing her mom was healthy, she’s saying she’s a bad daughter for speaking about her mother as if her illness was all there was to her. It points to Maria’s inability to relate to people, and only relate to the language of bodies. Good children love their parents through sickness and health, bad children use their parents imperfections as excuses for their behavior. Maria is a bad child grown up. I’m sorry you’re too busy proselytizing how you lost weight, as if everyone is just like you to notice.
Narcissism is common among fitspo types, as they cannot relate to things like emotion, all they know is a cult like devotion to having the perfect body. They see people living a different life than they do as a form of hate, as it contrasts to them who only have one identity, being fit. Fitspo people cannot respect anyone they see as flawed, they see perfection as a religion. They play the victim when people suggest there are things more important than their obsession with being fit. They lash out, cry, and bully when they hear that being skilled only in one area isn’t enough to be a whole person.
All you just like the rest of them do is testify to how the religion of fitness saved you, and point to being fat as being the devil. It’s the same thing every single time, you’re all just a part of a hive mind. You’re forever threatened and persecuted in your mind by those who can do, because you know all you can be is fit, nothing more.
these people really a thousand times over need to find the Lord. done with them and their
mentalities to abuse. sick!
I couldn’t have said it better.
Nobody knows what Marias childhood was like with her mother but Maria. I think what she may resent is that her mother had choices and she never chose to get healthy. how difficult it must be to be a child to a chronically ill person especially when better choices could have helped tremendously. Same with a child of an alcoholic, they choose alcohol over getting sober and being a sober parent. Maybe Maria wished her mom wanted to get healthy so she could live a long, healthy life with Maria and be a grandmother to her children. Its apparent her mothers choices had a huge impact on Maria, but kudos to her for not succumbing to “Well my mom was over weight, It runs in my genes” etc etc. she has made a decision to live healthy and to be an example to others.. Hopefully her message will get through to many. You look awesome Maria.
Go find your bully friends then, your kind isn’t wanted here.
guess what?
I begin to work my body after i woke up and still on the bed.
Exercise just means to move the body. You can move your body anywhere … I’m older and have life long chrnic illness and I excessive wherever I am. Just move that body!
Okay Maria is not a bully. As a girl who was bullied in middle school and, high school it is offensive to call her a bully. Insensitive yes but bully no. Maria didn’t mean any harm, she was just being honest. If you think curves are in the mid section you are wrong.
sorry she’s a bully who gets other people TO SPEAK FOR HER! I experienced the bullies either with words or without and I KNOW WHAT THE EFFECTS OF A BULLY ARE! 41 YEARS OF HUMAN EXPERIENCE. Maria needs to stop being eh hemmm A BITCH!
Seriously? I’m so fed up with plus size pictures being put up all over the internet and people cheering that person for their bravery. Yet when a fit person puts up a picture and is proud SHE’S suddenly a “bully”? It’s no bloody different than reverse racism and I’m so sick of it!!!! If you’re miserable being fat then do the work and get fit. If you’re happy being fat then you wouldn’t be here accusing someone you are obviously jealous of, of being a “bully”. I have five children, a full time job, and I volunteer! Guess what? I am fit and I MAKE time for exercise. I am a positive role model for my children who are also all active. Quit with the excuses and the whining and the “beauty is all on the inside” because if you truly believed that you wouldn’t be accusing someone you don’t know of being a bully simply by her appearance!
You can argue and make excuses all you want. Your arguments are all weak and your excuses are nullified..but I’m not speaking with emotion, nor an emotional spin. I will tell you why it is so simple… physics. Add a little bio chem.. guess what, energy comes from somewhere. It is not created nor destroyed. If you put in more than you burn then it’s on you, not your doctor, not your lawyer, not your cheating husband or whining children etcetera, whichever excuse applies. While some things make it difficult to lose weight and easy to gain, there is no way you will remain fat if you burn more that you take in on an ongoing basis. NonNegotiable and end of story.
Well said
I hardly would call the cheer chanting of a fitspo, well written. It might be inspiring, but it’s completely scientifically ignorant. Maybe Shaun would like to find himself some poms poms and a cheerleader skirt though, and go cheer the men at the gym.
I’m sure Shaun wouldn’t mind. At least he’d be burning calories, he’d be a positive influence, and he wouldn’t be whining and making excuses about his weight now would he? Scientifically ignorant? lol. He’s bang on. It’s basic physics. The kind you learn in middle school.
yes, and in order to eat / work out in balance, one has to get to the root cause…
that root cause could be one’s husband, lawyer, doctor, whining kids.
I’m am overweight and working on losing it. I find Maria dead on right. If we normalize being overweight- it makes it OK. I’m not saying that bigger can’t be beautiful but it’s just not as healthy. With the rising costs of healthcare (a field I work in), I see every single day people that could be so much better off but CHOOSE not to be. I used to be one of them, but am fortunate that I work for a great and positively motivating company that invests in their employees’ wellness. It’s an all around win- costs the company less for insurance, costs employees less for insurance and increases their overall health, better attendance, etc.
I appreciate Maria’s attitude and find her motivating. I’ve been at it just 5 months- and I’m down 3 sizes with 3 to go to get to my goal. Watching calories and exercise is all I do, which makes me realize how sad my past excuses have been. I’m pretty damn busy but carved out half an hour per day to work out at home on an elliptical and simply take in less calories than I use. Boom. Weight disappearing, no magic formula other than I’m putting effort into it. I feel fantastic- back pain almost gone, energy levels skyrocketing, easier to do the simple tasks that never should have made me tired in the first place. For most of us, our size is our choice.
If you consider someone encouraging you to be healthy and fit as ‘bullying’ because you’re overweight- take a long look in the mirror and ask yourself who it is that you’re actually unhappy with, and what you’re willing to do about it.
keep at it Lori.
Menopause nearly killed me .
I’ve lost 10 lbs so far. 20 more to go.
F em all. You’re 100% right. Kudos for your awesome choices in life.
The thing that bothered me was that you were dressed immodestly, flaunting your body and demanding us all to explain ourselves for not looking like you. You seem to need a lot of attention. If you really felt great about yourself, you wouldn’t need to; A. Flaunt It, nor B. Put other women down. (not to mention, inevitably, encourage young women to either flaunt what they DO have, or feel badly about what they DON’T).
The other thing is, she had her stretch marks airbrushed out. So she was not being very honest.
I don’t see it as a demand. A rhetorical question.
She’s dressed immodestly ? Have you been to your local community swimming pool lately ?
Maria keep doing what you’re doing. I didn’t interpret the photo of you and your boys negatively at all. I see it as a challenge to unhealthy people. Everyone can find the time to live a healthier life, people are just full of excuses as to why they cant. If your posts are able to help just a few people get healthy than that’s a few less who are inevitably headed down a path to hypertension, diabetes, heart disease and several other conditions. You look amazing and you should be proud of your hard work, and good for you for wanting to spread your knowledge and encourage others.
I love this quote. “If you wake up without a goal…Go Back To Sleep” says Maria Kang. Ok, I need to take a nap…. and think about this.
Scientifically, you burn more calories sleeping than doing nothing when you are awake. But that also slows down your metabolism if you sleep too much.
I have never read so much ignorance. Maria I am sorry for the hateful posts. For all of you who say you’re happy being fat, fine that’s great, but don’t make excuses. Don’t use having kids, or working, or being busy, or genetics or a handicapped child blah blah blah. Just say you enjoy being overweight and you know that you run the risk of suffering from multiple disease processes after years have not taking care of yourself. If you’re ok with being overweight then obviously Marias picture and her “what’s your excuse?” was not referring to you. Maybe there is an overweight person or two out there that isn’t happy with their weight but cant seem to get motivated and constantly are making excuses. Maybe they were motivated by Marias post. Stop assuming every overweight person is extremely happy with their weight and doesn’t need nor want Marias help. If you don’t agree with her, stop visiting her blog. Pretty much common sense if you ask me.
Good Evening-
I have read the post and this website. I am a doctor of nursing practice- family nurse practitioner. I do feel it is inspirational and bold. I do agree and research shows that in the USA obesity is one of the etiologies which contribute to the leading cause of death in American women, heart disease. I too am a mother of three ages 17 months, 3 years, and 4 years old (girls). I started have children at 35 years old and while completing my doctoral degree. I have now viewed this web paged and see this as an inspiration and challenge to become more healthy and meet my fitness goals for the future. Thank you for the post. Maria Kang.
So you’d be willing to go up to a mother of a handicapped child, and tell them “Don’t worry about that burden, you should get fit!”
I would never consider any handicapped child a burden. But that child is not a legitimate excuse to eat unhealthy food and not get some form of exercise a few days a week. If you have the desire to be healthy you can make the time, and if you don’t care to be healthy just admit it and don’t make excuses. That’s what my point is. I hear excuses all day long as a nurse in the bariatric field of medicine, and they are just that, excuses.
I saw the picture of you and your three boys on a Facebook post with the text “What’s your excuse?”.
My initial thoughts were that you were physically fit and that you had three boys with their ages also in text.
My first interpretation of what this picture said to me was “Hey, I am a mom of three young boys and I still make it a priority to keep fit. What is your excuse or higher priority that is keeping you from being fit?” That was a really good question and one that I thought about and still think about. But that was a question that I created from the picture and not anything you said.
Non-verbal communication is NOT an exact science, I looked for more clues that could be interpreted. The “Gold Medal Training” on the boys shirts added to my first interpretation. I also noticed the “Mike Byerly Photography” promotion, the http://www.mariakang.com promotion, and the “www.facebook.comMariaMKang” promotion on the picture.
Then I started to think about all the other ways that the picture could be interpreted by people and started reading some of the posts about what you were ‘saying’. Sadly, there are a lot of people that believe the way they experience life is the right way and everyone else that doesn’t believe as they do are wrong.
Like any form of art you have ‘meaning making’ supporters and critics. I am sure that there are art teachers already asking students to write down what the picture says to them…
Thank you for posting some ‘art’ that influenced me to think about my priorities and excuses regarding fitness and health for myself and my family. I was emotionally and logically moved by the experience of viewing it.
It’s funny how you bully others for their body when you are so average. 5’4″ 125 lbs – average. Short stumpy legs (this is why you wear 5″ heels in bikini shots and avoid full body shots). Plain face. Reality check: you’re not a model or an athlete. You are the kind of person who has no accomplishments and takes out her insecurity by shaming others. A bored housewife looking for her 15 minutes of fake. Get a shrink.
I think Maria should get mental health help too, but why when our society likes to pretend thin people are the poor pretty babies are the victims of their privilege.
No you are just really sensitive. Stop using the word bully. This is not what bullying is. How about you get a shrink.
She can say whatever the sam hell she wants! why can’t people whom speak the same issue but in a different way say what they want? Your no Angel by the way!
You should feel proud of yourself Maria, you should feel proud that you have the guts to tackle the obesity epidemic head on, rather than sugarcoat it. If people actually bothered looking up hard facts, statistics show a huge jump in obesity cases. It is unfortunate for those, that have real reasons for being unable to change their lifestyles, but there is no way that all of these obesity cases are due to those conditions. It is plain laziness which is the cause. You are completely right about society trying to normalize obesity these days, it is a new growing trend which grows each day. Keep going strong!
It doesn’t take guts to support the diet industry, and medical and pharmaceutical industry that has monetary interest in promoting thinness as natural for everyone. You keep wearing your tinfoil hat, and try to convince people thin people are the ones institutionally discriminated against. Everyone knows you have to be delusional to think in a society that praises thinness at every turn that thin people are suffering from anything besides an abundance of prejudice destroying their minds.
I think “guts” would be posting a NON altered picture in her “What’s Your Excuses” ad.
Please go look at her latest Facebook pics. Loose skin galore. Why isn’t she being HONEST in her What’s Your Excuse picture? Why did she have the loose skin and stretch marks airbrushed out?
I would respect her more is she would be truthful. I don’t trust phony people or liars.
So what is your excuse? [insert picture of my children with (non-fitness) books I’ve written, patents I’ve been granted, kids I help at church and scouts]
I exercise, am about 10 lbs overweight but I spend that time required to have washboard abs making the world a better place (but not necessarily adding one more self-image obsessed body).
You go girl!!! Don’t listen to those haters! I’m a big supporter of yours! Go on and show America what STRONG and healthy women are supposed to be. We have been conditioned to thinking that fat and deadly sick is good and a part of life, when indeed it is not. We have to stand up to this nonsense and reject it! You go girl!
Maria, it would have been wise to consult with someone, anyone before posting an ad like that. It might have made you feel confident and beautiful however it diminished the struggle of thousands of women. “What is your excuse? Here are a few
Single mothers with few supports
mothers living on the brink of poverty
mothers working a schedule that makes it difficult to exercise
mothers with physical disabilities
Everyone has a different body type, although I am physically fit I will never be as small as you nor do I want to be.
Physical fitness is not impossible, it is more challenging for some than others. If you seek to empower women, mothers to strive for health and a positive body image then say that ..not ” What’s your excuse” which implies that any other mom is lazy, misguided or lacks the strength that you do.
Natasha,
beautifully explained! Thank you.
Maria, I think you have a beautiful body and you probably work hard for it or maybe you don’t, I have 5 children and I’m fairly fit and try and work out when possible with my schedule and routine. I did feel a few seconds of outrage when I read your post, but went away straight away, but I do understand if other women felt bullied and attacked, I know a few people that struggle with loosing the baby weight and I feel as women we should be more supportive of each other, it feels as mothers we are always under scrutiny, from other mothers. We need to chill a bit and enjoy life in the way we found it more enjoyable, be the ice cream we eat or the 1 hour on the running machine. Live and let live. Good luck with everything. You have cute children.
Rose
I’m sure u stopped reading these but don’t worry haters seem to have lots of time online. Maybe you should run with it and try to help moms trying to get in shape. My excuse is working 9 to 5 and commuting 3 hours a day. I am always late to CrossFit and feel guilty because I haven’t seen my son 11 hours on a work day. Yea and I eat the wrong things on the weekend. Help!
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Maria, unlike many others who are shaming you for your drive and ambition, I am proud of you. You are right in your “what’s your excuse”. Many of us COULD have bodies that are lean and trim, but we choose not to. There are many excuses such as jobs, children, spouses, etc. However, I know many people who get up at 4:45 to work out at the gym and then go to work at 8:00… work until 6:00, fix dinner and get the kids to bed, then fall into bed after 11:00. It’s not easy for them, but they do it because they want to look and feel better. Good job!
My initial response to your post was omg what a B! After reading it again and other articles relating to it, I agree with you. People these days aren’t motivated to take care of themselves like previous generations were. We are a lazy unmotivated nation who thinks a magic pill or wishful thinking will make us look like a super model. What we forget is that super models don’t just sit on their rumps. They work hard to maintain their physique. As should everyone.
I am a mother of 4 and am not where I want to be with my body at 13mo post pregnancy. The first 2 pregnancies were easy to bounce back from. The third took me 2years to recover from and then I found out I was pregnant. It is not easy and I applaud your hard work and commitment! Don’t let these fat asses get to you! Everyone is intitled to an opinion and yours is more than valid.
Keep doing what you are doinga you look awesome and THANK YOU FOR THE MOTIVATION!
You shouldn’t feel that you should have to be the one to tell others how to live her life. Be done with it. Either your a Jezzabel or not. Which one are you? No woman has the right to control another NO ONE!
I wonder if the caption had been “No excuses” or similar, rather than “What’s your excuse”, how different the reaction would have been. I like the “you” involvement of the viewer. Your (Maria Kang’s) goal seems to be motivating others to put excuses behind them. People create their own reality, and when a truth such as “a mother of three young children can be fit and healthy” directly challenges their false reality that excuses can’t be overcome, those who are not ready to wake up to the truth that they can overcome said excuse feel threatened and/or get angry. Those who are actually trying to overcome the difficulty (because it is definitely a struggle getting back in shape after having a child) and are heading in a POSITIVE direction took the photo as encouraging and inspiring. I’m just glad all the publicity led me to this site! Thanks for the clean eating recipes and great posts! 🙂
so your saying that Maria HAS A RIGHT to target a group of women to feed her illusion of what Healthy is? I don’t think your taking into consideration what overweight adult women go through and how the way this person thinks to want to feed her imagination as to WHAT IS PERFECT. You think I don’t know it’s called social prejudice. Just to hide the pain. An illusion wake up please while I eat my carrots and poot out Brocolli. You can’t have it all on a silver platter and NEITHER CAN I.
also one last thing. what is it about women who have eating disorders to always THINK and I stress again, again and again to be able to verbally use this as an escape to just point the finger and use this as to deliberately taking the majority and pushing onto a woman whom is aging and think of her social advantages just because she starves for a day or sticks her finger down her thoat to be perfect? No such thing. If overweight is average then I’m glad I didn’t get her job.
Wow! So much animosity. Why do people take a positive comment and spin it into something negative? It boggles my mind…
Maria, you are rude. To claim that women who aren’t skinny after childbirth are making excuses is just absurd. How dare you make those kind of assumptions. If you look at pictures of women throughout the world and all throughout history, it is more “normal” to be what our society would consider “chubby”. In fact, it was those women who were sought after and those women who are still sought after in nations that aren’t obsessed with material success and “appearance”. To say to someone that one has to “work”their body to be something it’s not then maybe we should all stop to consider if that’s what’s normal or not. Women all throughout history have not worked their bodies to the bone yo be skinny and it was ok. Why isn’t it now? Because the media says so? Because you say so maria? No. Just because a woman isn’t skinny after childbirth doesn’t mean she is a pig or lazy. I was a size 16 before I had my 4 children, I’m a size 16 after and you can pose in your half naked workout clothes trying to be better than anyone you want but women have been all shapes and sizes all throughout thistory of the world, why should that change now to fit an image? My time is better spent with my family and serving homeless, and volunteering at various places than focusing on how skinny I am after pregnancy. Because in the end of life, what is left? Our bodies? No. If a woman is healthy and isn’t “skinny” then who cares what size she is? For example, I know a woman who is a size two, 112 lbs but my blood pressure, and lab work is better than hers and I am a size 16 195lbs. Goes to show size doesn’t mean a whole lot…stop pputting yourself above others.
I think you have completely misinterpreted the message she is trying to get across. She’s not trying to say women that are not skinny after childbirth are lazy are making excuses. She is simply proving that you can have a career and a family and still embrace fitness and look healthy and there are no reasons why anyone else can’t achieve their goals.
She is not trying to shame women that don’t have a six pack and 100% agree with what she is saying. Although we should love ourselves we should not promote the idea that obesity is ok! It’s not right not think that being overweight and unhealthy is ok. It’s no different than tobacco companies trying to sell the idea that cigarettes are good for you!
Maria, I think you are an inspiration to all women out there. Keep up the good work!
no. She isn’t misinterpreting Maria’s message. I agree with her be well Mother of 4!
She’s obviously not new mom shaming. There was no time frame of “you must be in shape quickly, or you’re lazy.” In fact, she has posted quite transparently of her life for a long time, including the difficulty of getting back into shape after having a child and including pictures of herself. http://www.mariakang.com/2012/04/11/mommy-fitness-my-core-workout/
It seems people are the ones who are quick to assume – such as the comments about how she must be “naturally skinny” or that she’s “fat-shaming” because she has never had to work at it. This is untrue.
people have different opinions. I can have my own. I’m allowed laugh out loud!
I really think you are misinterpreting what she is saying. The whole time i’ve been following Maria i have never seen her focus on being “skinny” rather more on being healthy and fit. Numbers and size don’t really matter, but if you are 5 ft AND weight 200lbs or size 20 there obviously an underlying health issue, but if you’re size 16 and tall then there probably isn’t. I go to school, work. volunteer , help the homeless, mentor younger children and also focus on my fitness. Saying that you don’t because of the other reasons is an excuse. Because even though you do spend time nurturing your family, if you don’t take care of yourself, your children might see you go before its time. This isn’t about being skinny. This is about being healthy and fit. Take care of your self my friend, for you and for your family
Stick with it! I am proud of you standing up! Lately I have seen more and more of this unhealthy acceptance of obesity and lack of health. I do not want people to feel shame about who they are but at the same time health is an issue. I lost 80lbs in high school and come from a heavy family (mostly lifestyle choices). It is difficult for me to remain lean and healthy but I do and do not make excuses (most the time). Acceptance of unhealthy behaviors are increasing and it is frustrating! It is not just about being lean but healthy! The consumption of overly processed GMO foods is a problem for both the earth and the people living on it.
PROUD ??????? Why can’t you just say your HAPPY for her?
Sounds like some more excuses. My mother had 8 children and got herself COMPLETELY back into shape up until child number 7&8. The reason why? She started to eat less healthy and exercise less.
Go and visit other countries. You will not see NEARLY AS MANY as severely overweight and obese people (if any at all lol) there. As one Iranian refugee told me after bouncing from multiple countries in Europe, “I have never seen people as fat as yours!” 🙁
wow. everything is a choice. the moment you wake up, you make the choice to be positive, or negative, to “eat clean” or junk and chocolates, to find a space to work out or not…life IS hard. and life is also AMAZING and wonderful. the image of you with your three babies, oh man I wish that were me! LOVE IT!
as a mother of two, and someone who recently suffered from sub-acute thyroiditis, I must say that HEALTH is wealth and I so appreciate having the ability to move all my limbs and be free of physical handicaps.
that being said, I am sorta fit, definitely in the healthy range, and fully understand the sacrifices and dedication to get myself to that next level of fitness. I could be healthier if I wanted to be. and stronger. or less. it is all up to me as it should be, we are all capable of making choices in what we put in our bodies and how active we are.
to each his or her own. whatever makes you happy. I eat clean on some days. and other days I’m really really indulgent! but I am happy with my progress and seeing that lovely image with your 3 boys IS inspiring to me.
its really disappointing and rather sad to read some of the comments in this blog….everyone IS entitled to their own viewpoint and beliefs but the vitriol and the hatred and nastiness??? jeez…it’s pretty horrifying how rude and disrespectful people can be! and I’m sorry you have to take so much negativity with the good stuff.
stay strong! and know you have many many supporters. I am surely one of them and enjoy the helpful recipes you have on your blog!
its really easy to get overwhelmed by life. just seeing little helpful tips, seeing how you can juggle so much…it makes me feel like I can do more and be more proactive. THANK YOU! =)
Hi Maria, I thought quite a bit about this photo. I’m also glad I read more about you and your background. infamous image, without the caption, made me think “wow, good for her, I bet she knows what she is doing. She obviously works hard” If it had simply had contact information as an ad for your business, that would have been great and you probably would have gotten quite a bit of business out of it. BUT, as you know , those three little words were – OUCH. My first thought was “get over yourself” followed by some not nice words. Not motivational. I didn’t think of it so much as fat shaming, but worse, new mom shaming. If I had come accross this in the height of my post partum depression it would have been crushing. As a mother yourself, I’m sure you understand. I do realize that this was not your intent, and I hope after all of this you might think to hire a PR person to help with your future promotions.
I do wish you much health, happiness and success going forward.
Here’s a piece written about new moms and accepting a changing body. In it the author expresses how her body changed, she lost weight, and why she isn’t ashamed about the fact that it will probably never be the same.
http://weseekjoy.blogspot.com/2013/12/babies-ruin-bodies.html?m=1
Lovely post Lorien – I’ve had 3 kids and even though I’m easily back at my pre-pregnancy weight each time, the loose skin and the stretch marks are mine to keep – forever…No amount of excercise and diet will get my skin to be not loose!
I am at present 20 lbs. overweight. I bought a Wii Fit and a bike just recently and am learning to love exercise (I was that bullied kid in primary school – no coordination and severe inner ear/balance issues, so sports have always been hellish for me). I am starting a new routine, a new life, and loving it. I feel so good. I will get there.
I almost cried when I saw your image. There are a lot of us who are at present changing our lives, and the fact that you need to shame your fellow woman to try and make a point (deliberate choice of words – you chose something ridiculing your fellow mothers instead of an empowering ‘you can do it too!’).. please, please don’t teach your children those values. 🙁
Maria, I’m single with no kids, when I saw your picture, I got tounge tied. Coz I got no excuse not to be fit. I have no kids, no business to run etc. I’m not obese but got diagnosed with high blood pressure and was told that I need to be more active. Whenever I’m feeling the post exercise pain and feeling lazy, I look at your poster to keep myself going. You’re an inspiration!
Dear Maria,
I came across your post on Yahoo and I must say it is inspiring. I work in the health industry and obesity is overwhelming. I saw a 12 year old kid a while ago who had Type II Diabetes and had to be prescribed metformin as the diabetes was uncontrolled. This is ridiculous. I was so angry when I saw the file. Type II can be controlled with diet and exercise – a 12 year old should not need drugs for this.
I do not think that bigger people should be named and shamed but overweight and obesity issues should not be ignored either.
Children are developing bad eating habits because parents are not encouraging “clean eating”. Doctors are worried to tell parents that their 3 year old kid is heading towards the overweight range. Doctors only notify parents when the kid is obese. Telling parents their child is heading in an overweight direction is too sensitive and too difficult as parents are in denial and get terribly upset.
My 18-year old sister is quite undisciplined with her eating and does not exercise and I was lecturing her on her eating habits when friend of mind overheard. My friend told me off — she told that I had to be delicate with young girls and cannot tell my sister to watch her food, if not she may turn anorexic. This is being too precious!!! Is it better that she becomes obese?
Yes, real woman have real curves. But being overweight should not be normalised. It is not about image or how you look. Even skinny people should exercise and eat well.
This is about being healthy — not having to deal with diabetes, heart attacks, joint issues from overweight bearing. It is teaching your children to be healthy. It is about living till 90 years old and still being able to go for walks, play with your grandchildren and live in your own home.
Omg – I really hope I never come across you in health care. I have a low BMI. I excercise – a lot – 10-14 hrs at week. I’ve always had a healthy diet. Yet I’ve had gestational diabetes in all 3 pregnancies. Simpley because of genetics! I have a bad insulin production. Were I overweight, I’m sure I would have full blown diabetes – but I’m honestly so freaking tired of people making the assumption ‘fat people unhealthy’ ‘skinny people healthy’ ‘diabetes is a fat-disease’. ‘Gestational diabetes is because you’re fat’. No it’s not (and I’m a living proof of that) It has a lot to do with GENETICS. I know several obese people who are not anywhere near getting diabetes.. even during their pregnancies, whereas both my sister and I who are both skinny (BMI 20 and 19) and no, we do not have extra belly fat, we excercise and have healthy diets had GDM. I know people who are like me who suffer from high blood pressure, or high cholesterol -simply because of genetics. It is true that with exercise and a healthy weigh/diet that your RISK of getting these ailments is smaller. But that does not mean that it is non-existent. So what you mention ‘not having to deal with diabetes’ etc.. that can surely happen to skinny, healthy people too! I’m a living proof of that. Several of my overweight friends did not have to deal with this issue. If you work in health-care, you should also know that diabetes is a progressive disease. Initially (depening on the person and the state of the pancreas) it MIGHT be treatable only by diet and excercise but it will eventually progress to needing medicine, and very often end with insulin. Simply because one is getting older. I am so fed up with ‘professionals’ blaming the individual, when a lot of it comes down to.. genetics. I did not choose a family with type 1 diabetes (which probably caused the bad insulinproduction) but people like you are choosing to blame me for a condition that has nothing to do w ith me… That’s nok okay. You should get your school money back. That being said, obesity is not healthy for anyone, but individuals are different and some will handle it better. Also, many americans (I’m from Europe) does have extremely bad eating habits but perhaps that’s what you guys should be working with, instead of a ‘blame the victim’ strategy whick I’m sure (well I know) won’t benefit anyone.
I would like to say that this is not a very good apology! You say you are not a hater and yet you blame everything on weight! Eating unhealthy is not good! Not your weight! Some people are just blessed to be skinny. I have a friend who is just as skinny as you with better looking abs and yet she is not the healthiest person! I bet if she actually went to the dr her cholesterol would be through the roof and her liver would say help me! You put entirely too much focus on a person’s weight instead of just eating healthier! And some people no matter how hard they try will still end up with cancer or bad kidney’s or diabetes! Some of it our choices and some of it is genetics…so please get off your high horse.
Maria is a compassionate person who has been deeply impacted by her experience with her parents health struggles. When I saw her What’s Your Excuse poster (before the big fuss) I was not offended and was in fact inspired to take my own fitness routine to the next level. I don’t think her message was anything but encouraging.
I grew up in a community where women had children and then let themselves go. I have seen the health of many mothers negatively impacted by weight gain and self neglect. I think the biggest obstacle between many women and fitness is the fatalistic idea that pregnancy and the demands of motherhood make real fitness impossible. This simply isn’t true. Maria’s envy inducing shot of her fit figure and young children should indicate that fitness is an achievable goal for any determined lady with half 30-60min. A small fraction of the time most of us spend watching TV and surfing the internet would suffice. Anyone who takes the time to investigate should be able to see that Maria is not a “Fat Shamer”. Her pro fitness message is no more abrasive than the average gym ad. People need to get an grip on their own insecurities and be more objective.
Maria nay have been deeply affected by her parents’ health issue -excuse me, is there ANYONE out there who is OK with a dying parent? My father is 78 years old and dying of prostate cancer. He has less than 6 months to live as of today. Other than the cancer, the man is a monument to good health. Exercise every day, extremely strict with himself re: diet. A runner’s pulse, no blood sugar problems, no cholesterol concerns and a heart as strong as a 20 year-old athlete. And yet I will lies him in 6 months or less. Life is unfair. But I do not “boo-hoo” myself over a situation that will visit us all in our lives and I don’t use my pain at my father’s imminent death and my mother’s old age problems as an excuse to turn off my self-censor button and just let any hateful thought that crosses my mind to come spewing out of my mouth. I showed your “fabulous” EXCUSE photo to my 19 year-old son, the kindest of gentlemen on this planet. His reaction? “If she really cared and wanted to be an inspiration, that photo would read ‘You can do it too!” instead of ASSUMING women would feel they HAD to make an excuse for not looking like her. ” Out of the mouths of babes come wisdom. Out of the mouths of grown adults who should understand the definition of COMPASSION, come hatred and vitriol. There are 2 people in this world who PITY you.
I offer my deepest sympathies for your father’s poor health. If you read Maria’s post carefully, you would have read that much of her pain originates from the knowledge that her mother’s health problems could have been prevented with better lifestyle choices. I doubt your father had any choices which could have prevented his cancer. Any person, healthy or not, fat or slim, can have a heart attack. Yet it is far more likely in a person who does not exercise, has a poor diet, and is overweight. Why not give ourselves the best possible chance at a healthy body? I might get hit by a car next week. I’m not going to stop exercising (What’s the point if I’m going to die anyway?) on the off chance that I do.
So in refusing to apologize you glossed over a great opportunity to focus on real health issues. You could have not apologized and focused on the real challenges and perils of poor diet and not enough exercise, and the way that everyday people can improve their lives. That would be positive and beneficial thing to do. Instead you chose to focus on yourself and explain through a series of stories why your actions and words are justified. You know what that is? AN EXCUSE. Pot, meet kettle.
Just another self-absorbed person trying to make it into the societal spotlight. Why can’t we all just enjoy ourselves where we are in our lives without seeking public attention and accolades?
Maria:
I saw all this crap on Facebook over the last few months and realize, as human, we sometimes let stuff get to us and all I can say as a retired military guy is “Get Over It”. Ask yourself the big question, WHY, WHY, WHY did you ever get onto Social Media? Why did you join Facebook? I will tell you why, because like ALL fitness professionals these days, you want to spread the love of fitness and a healthy lifestyle to as many folks, in your case, as many MOMS you can….which is very commendable, but “At What Cost”?
Prior to you jumping on Facebook and social media, nobody knew who Maria Kang was. Look at your husband, a wounded veteran and a war veteran just like myself trying to do great things with his Non-Profit and helping others, just like you, but don’t see anyone blasting him on social media, do you? I think it’s because women are critiqued more in life by other women and when guys get blasted on social media, we just act like asses to one another and then get over it, but that’s just me on that point.
The key to your fitness business and entrepreneurship going forward should be -Get the Hell of Facebook.
If people want to follow you, they can do it by visiting your blog, which you created to INSPIRE folks. Be the best mom possible, don’t try and become the next big fitness mogul, just focus on Faith, Family, Friends, and Fitness, but do it without all the social media like Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. If you really have to stay on the NET and do biz, have your blog and email and website….Keep it Simple, just like the way you follow a simple plan of working out daily and eating right.
In the end, life isn’t about focing our views onto others or listening to people belittle one another and become slaves to technology like we have, it’s about enjoying what I stated, Faith, Family, Friends, and Fitness…..even when you get bogged down with work, remember those four areas and you will never, ever let this crap get to you and you will be much happier in the end.
If anything I stated above isn’t what you want to apply to your life, then all I can say is “Be Careful What You Wish For”….. the more famous you become or more notiriety you get, the more scrutinized you and your life will become. We all want to have a happy and successful life, but at what cost to your mental, physical, emotional, or spiritual well being? Only you can figure that out….Good Luck.
Regards,
Tom
btw, I am a size 4 to 6 and am 5’8″. I’m quite fit. But I don’t feel any need to hold that over other peoples’ heads as if being fit is a good ruler by which to judge people. Yes, people can always improve their health: mental and physical. You’ve got one, way to go, now work on the other.
Most overweight people I know are successful, happy and have strong, supportive relationships in their lives. I know TONS of hyper healthy people who never seem to find real contentment in their lives and relationships. This is why being hyper healthy has been entered into the DSM as an emotional disorder. It is highly associated with anxiety, much like bulimia. So are the hyper healthy people with emotional disorders healthier than someone who is overweight just because they have defined abs? Moreover, neither group needs to be derided and treated like they are failing. When you were struggling with bulimia, would it have been helpful for people to berate you? Sometimes desparately focusing on one aspect of yourself is a way in which to hide from the parts of yourself that scare you. Your writing is all very self-serving and self-aggrandizing. This says a lot in my mind about how you really feel about yourself.
Wow! Sarah, I’m assuming since you referenced the DSM, you are a health professional?
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So forget about facebook and come over to Google+ instead.
People like you use to make me me feel bad about myself. I resented people like you. I looked at my life and thought, my weight hasn’t stopped me from achieving all the same things they have… I have a nice home, a husband, kids and a growing business. After years of repeating this to myself, my Dr. said I was diabetic. In that moment I had a choice…I could continue to fool myself and go on the way I was living, or get real and take an hour a day for myself. I chose the latter. It has been almost a year and through diet and exercise I have been able to lower my levels to almost normal without medication. I sometimes have to remind myself that returning that email, or making that call is not as important as being present at my children’s future weddings. More importantly, people like you know longer intimidate…I know how much hard work and discipline goes into what you do. I know look at you for inspiration. I also think people underestimate the other benefits that come along with daily activity…emotionally able to handle more and much more productive and an all around feeling of empowerment. Physically I am far from a supermodel, but in my head I am unstoppable.
I think your problem was the way you worded your thoughts (or at least thats what I try to believe) By asking “what is your excuse?” you imply that those millions of women and men who are overweight are because they want to and they just find excuses to be… Without thinking that maybe, just maybe they have health issues you do not have to deal with or do not even know about. Yeah… Words have a very powerful effect on people. You do not know their lives or struggles. Do not expect them to understand where you got your thoughts from, for them you were harsh on them. You do not deal with what they have to deal with everyday just as they do not understand the struggles you have to deal with either.
Zatskya, If everyone stopped making excuses for people who eat too much,
We would have less of an obesity problem in America. A very, very small percentage of people are fat and don’t overeat/eat the wrong things. For that small percent, we’re giving excuses to all overweight people? Be reasonable! Congrats to Maria for speaking the truth. It’s time we all face it
Fuck fat people
I would like to thank you– after 2 years of kind of wanting to get into a healthy diet and seeing the results you have accomplished- I now have a sense of I CAN DO IT– I have 6 children- yes 6–and I was always able to maintain myself at about 100-115 lbs– now I am at 155– I was horrified– to me that is FAT- I am 4’10” and should be 99 lbs– I am so sick of all the overweight people who take offense but hey– its reality you may not like the word FAT- but that is what we are– unless you are healthy weight… Thank you for encouraging me to start this routine all over again and lose my weight- I know I can do it– and your right what is my excuse…. 🙂
I was a fat kid, I stopped stuffing my face with Pringles and started eating carrots and going to the gym, guess what, I lost weight. ALL of my school mates weigh more than me including the girls (been out of school 25 years). I have no problem with fat shaming, too bad it does not work. I fatty needs to wake up and realize that the box of Klondike bars will only provide a temporary satisfaction high, taking care of yourself and having self respect is much more satisfying. BTW, don’t throw the “I can’t help if I’m fat excuse”, the doc tries this on me as a kid, stop eating, start sweating.
Hey fatties, stop eating, start sweating. Put your shoulders up and have some self respect, Maria, good job!
Maria, In this ridiculous day and age of political correctness and baby-ing everyone’s sensitive little feelings, it is so nice to see someone publicly stand up for something they truly believe in and not apologize for it. Thank you!
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I would like to know what you eat every day. Do you follow a diet or just eat healthy?
gracias por todo , es buena nota .. les agradezco mucho ya que la salud es algo primordial que debemos saber cuidar para una vida mejor y nada mejor que conociendo como alimentarnos bien .. doy gracias a dios por tener en la vida dos personas que han sabido guiarme lo mejor posible en ello cada día..
Encouraging your followers to call overweight people “fatties” is the definition of bullying.
Trying to push shame on overweight people is the very definition of bullying.
Claiming that genetics play no part in weight or health maintenance when you’re not a geneticist is the very definition of bullying.
Maria Kang is an internet bully.
There is no way around that.
If she wants to inspire overweight people she needs to stop trying to alienate them, make them feel stupid and ugly, and also she really needs to stop shaming them. Guilt trips should NOT be how one aims to inspire.
The fact that the fitness community is so torn over her is a great example of how she’s BAD for the community overall. I’ve never seen anyone rip the fitness community a new one quite the way this Photoshopped model has.
If a parent shamed their child for being fat, called them a fatty, told them that it’s their fault they are ugly and that they need to lose weight otherwise they have no right to be proud of their body….that would be labeled abusive. But because Maria Kang does it to everyone (adults and children alike)…it’s called “inspiration”. That’s evil.
No one should support that. It’s really sad that people do. People who are prone to guilt trips and living their lives for others are obviously going to support her because they NEED abuse to get them motivated, or they themselves are bullies. She’s feeding off people’s insecurities and their psychological issues and it’s kind of disgusting. You can see it throughout these comments. The word “fatty” is not a kind term…yet look how many people she “inspires” to use it.
There are ways to inspire people and help them choose health without being a bully. Maria Kang likes to hurt people though. That’s why she’s never actually sorry for hurting people. She blames them and says they deserve to be hurt anyway because in her eyes overweight people are less deserving of love and attention.
There is a lot wrong with treating people like they are less deserving of love and respect because of something you perceive as “wrong”.
This site is coded terribly too. I typed “Shannon” as my name and it added a “us” on the end when I clicked the space below to add my email. I deleted the “us” and it re-added it when I posted the comment.
My excuse is I take medicine that makes me fat and if I didn’t take it, I would die. Is that a good enough excuse?