Por Valentina Cerda
9 January, 2018

Si ella pudo, ¡nosotras también!

Para esta madre de 37 años nada es imposible. Con tres hijos de 8, 7 y 6 años, Maria Kang, conocida en redes sociales como “Mamá Fitness”, recreó tras 5 años una particular fotografía que le costó miles de críticas. Tiene un gran mensaje que entregar.

Fue en el 2013 cuando Maria decidió subir una fotografía a sus redes sociales. En ella aparecía la joven madre de 32 años en compañía de sus tres hijos de 2 y 3 años, y su bebé de 8 meses. El problema no fue la foto en sí, sino la leyenda de ésta que decía: “What’s your excuse”? (¿Cuál es tu excusa?)

Instagram/ @mariakangfitness

Las críticas no demoraron en caer, y luego de volverse viral, la fotografía desató una gran polémica. Muchos la tildaron de “odiosa”, “falsa, y hasta de “mala madre” . Además la acusaron de avergonzar a las mujeres con sobrepeso y promover un estereotipo de belleza poco realista.

A long time ago in a far away galaxy, I used to apologize for my success. I told people all the the things I was thankful to have (and still am!) and said with a little bit of work, they can do it too. These days, I'm a bit more realistic when I advise people. I don't want them to give up because a "little" work really meant a lot. I don't want to sugarcoat the discipline needed when attending birthday parties, the persistence necessary to train after a long day, the faith it takes when the scale doesn't move and the focus required when you want to procrastinate on tasks. You can't grow without being challenged. It will hurt when that muscle fiber tears from pushing through your last reps. It will hurt when your "friends" outcast you because you start to look healthier. It will hurt when you feel guilt for not being with your kids, but need to carve out 30 mins of exercise for your heart, your happiness and your health… Success hurt – it wasn't easy to stay on path. Not in my business, not in my health and not in my marriage. Each morning I have to write down my list and arrange my priorities. I had to seek my dreams in the long-term, not just satisfy my wants in the short-term. I had to work for it. #noexcusemom #mariakang #workforit

A post shared by Maria Kang (@mariakangfitness) on

Pero si ella pudo, ¿por qué nosotras no? ¡Querer es poder!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BStaBvGl_IB/?taken-by=mariakangfitness

Ahora, 5 años después, esta madre recreó la criticada foto, pero con sus hijos mucho más grandes y con una leyenda más amable que dice: “What’s your reason”? (¿Cuál es tu razón?):

Instagram/ @mariakangfitness

Tras la bullada polémica, Kang promovió el movimiento “No excuse mom”, un proyecto que ofrece apoyo a aquellas madres que quieran ejercitarse y escribió el libro “Dieta de no más excusas” que incluye calendarios con imágenes de mamás fitness como ella, demostrando que todo es posible, si tienes ganas.

 

“Todavía me encanta la palabra ‘excusa’, es parte de lo que soy, pero crea una barrera para las personas que no están preparadas para abordar los problemas de salud y sentir vergüenza por ellos. Todos tenemos excusas sobre por qué no estamos saludables, pero una vez que las identificamos, necesitamos razones para mantenernos saludables”

Maria Kang

Motivation Monday: As the holiday season soon approaches I can’t tell you how much anxiety it once brought me. I was a closet binge eater. I was either starving or feasting. I ate when no one was looking and “punished” myself by over-exercising. I gave myself unachievable goals like eating just 20g of carbs a day or losing 10lbs in one month (which is a lot for my frame). I would tell myself not to eat ANY Halloween candy, but the moment I caved into “just one” mini size snickers, the “all or nothing” person in me began to aimlessly binge on 10+ more Butterfingers, Reese’s and Kit Kats. It was a vicious cycle – a mental war that I would experience for years before I began to truly love my body. Keep in mind, I didn’t love my body with a hashtag or when it was at a desired weight. I didn’t love my body because I pretended to or because someone else began loving me. I loved my body because it ran 26.2 miles, it trekked through beautiful countries and it miraculously created three children. I didn’t love it more because it gained more “likes”, attracted more men or won more pageants (because it didn’t!) I loved it because it was MINE and the only thing I truly owned in this world. If you look at me today (this pic was in Hawaii last year!) and think you have to measure every morsel and remove carbs, think again. It is possible to enjoy a piece of candy, drink a glass of wine and keep bread in your daily diet and feel great. The first step to creating external change is to make that first internal choice… To stop the hate. Love yourself and love your body however it manifests through a balanced diet and moderate exercise. #noexcusemom

A post shared by Maria Kang (@mariakangfitness) on

 

Esta mujer no duda en compartir su experiencia, para que muchas madres al rededor del mundo sepan que querer es poder.

One of my favorite quotes is, "there is nothing constant but change". Whatever season you are in, whether it's up or down, know that nothing will stay the same – everything will evolve, grow and change. To be honest, right now I'm in a very busy season in my work, nonprofit, travel and children's schedule. I find it hard to be motivating to others when I often feel defeated and rundown by the end of the day. There is very little in my daily life I feel like I actually WANT to do, versus have to do. It's moments of frustration when I make that CHOICE to empower myself by owning my thoughts and therefore my actions. No one is making me manage my carehomes, plan #noexcusemom events, complete paperwork, clean house, post online, exercise or cook dinner. I CHOOSE this route. I choose Excellence and detest mediocrity. I don't have to be fit or have an online presence. I don't have to run a successful business, be in a marital partnership or raise a healthy family – I WANT TO! We choose our routes in life. So right now life is a little hard. I don't have much time for Netflix or Ellen. There is not one minute in my day not efficiently used! But that's ok! There is nothing constant but change. What's most important is we recognize this perfect and unrepeatable moment – and be empowered by our ability to manifest any destiny we CHOOSE. #thoughtofday image by @elarrywong

A post shared by Maria Kang (@mariakangfitness) on

No sé ustedes, pero yo ¡me motivé!

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