The Picture that sparked A MILLION MAD MOMMIES!

Meet Maria Kang, a firm believer that motherhood can make you a better person, mother to three boys born back-to-back, wife, business owner, health and fitness motivator. Somehow it is the last title that seems to be upsetting for mothers everywhere. People were demanding an apology because of how they interpreted this poster. Yes, it was a bit open-ended but that was the point... It is meant to make you look at yourself and figure out what your excuse is for not being your OWN personal best and then break it!

My first thought when I came across this picture... I am a mother of three, my older two were born back-to-back, I own a business, I have a fiance and this lady is soo right. I should probably look at my eating (which I actively do) and hit the gym outside of work hours (which I rarely did). I never once saw this as negative. I saw an inspirational message. Even looking back at the past week alone I had an excuse for 2 out of 5 of my scheduled workouts. It was really just me being lazy and not wanting to workout. The kids were not bleeding, my house wasn't on fire, I wasn't dying. 

Maria like me has stretch marks.....

It is all about how you pose (apparently). This is a pic Mrs. Kang posted herself on her Facebook page.  So I looked at myself in the mirror. The stretch marks on my tummy and sides were road maps to motherhood, pregnancy war wounds, a badge of mommydom.  And though no amount of work is going to make mine go away it can diminish them. I am okay with that. I also did some research and learned why Maria is so gung-ho about health and fitness. I've journeyed down the path of bulimia as she did. It you take a look at my family you could say it is genetics, with a splash of hormones, a dash of a body image issue, and a pinch the pressure of media. I suffered a round of bulimia, I had starved myself, I picked up unhealthy habits like drinking and smoking thinking it would replace my emotional eating. I grew and developed faster than my peers and I got stretch marks before even being pregnant. It only added to my body image issues. I gave up on my love of dance because at the time you never saw over weight ballerinas. I did try other activities and I did well for a while but it didn't allow me the control that bad habits did. I even spent a portion of my summer visiting my friend who was working a summer hire job in the Naval base dietitian's office and I was so filled with pride that there I sat in his office and he didn't know I was cycling bulimia. I laughed at the fact that I could fool him...but I was the fool. I reeked havoc on my body!

I challenge myself every year but I really made health and wellness a priority in 2012. It started when my now fiance teamed up with my children and told me they didn't want me to die. IN THOSE WORDS! I was floored, I was hurt, I felt guilty, I got depressed, I hit my bottom. Then I realized I can only go up, so that is what I did. In 2012 I lost 41 pounds.

That was done by changing my eating habits and really learning what works for me. I can admit I did gain some back and I fluctuate. I am still clinically considered obese but I am educating myself everyday. For the longest time I wouldn't admit that because I have worked at a health and fitness center for the past seven years. I had no excuse! I have personal trainers and a full fitness facility at my fingertips. I have my dance background, I have my nursing assistance background and a constant thirst for learning. My background actually pisses one of my lead trainers off because he has overheard me speaking and motivating others but unfortunately my appearance doesn't match my advice.

I have decided to stop making excuses. Because of Maria Kang I am challenging myself yet again and I challenge my readers to find inspiration in what Maria has done, and to look at my before and after picture and know if you free yourself from excuses....as a mother, as a part of society, as a wife, as a sister, as an aunt, as a friend, as a reader to make yourself #1. If you don't take care of yourself, honor yourself, then you might not be around to accomplish much more, to see your children grow, to live your life!

Get rid of the self-guilt you feel by reading Maria's caption and let if fuel you to pack a healthy lunch instead of picking up fast food. Let the picture inspire you to get active, to chase you kids at the park, to wake up 30 minutes early to get a moderate workout routine into your day. 

To get a daily dose of inspiration and learn about Maria Kang visit her on her website. To learn about the fitness non-profit Maria Kang founded  visit the Facebook page here and see all the work that is being done in the community.