Bellies and Babies Pt. 3

Maria Kang, a mother of three young boys is “apologizing” after causing an uproar on Facebook, and other social media platforms by posting a picture showing off her flat abs and asking other moms, "What's your excuse?"

Many people took offense to her picture and some even retaliated with their own. 

Though I hate Fox News, I saw that they gave her an opportunity to respond to the backlash and Maria says she was just trying to inspire people.

When asked if she was suggesting to other moms that in order to be happy, healthy and beautiful they need to look like her, Maria is quoted saying “No, that's absolutely not what I'm saying. I'm saying, what is your excuse for not working out? People can take it how they want to. My intention and where I stand my ground is, you know, if I can do it, so can you. Here I am with three kids, 3, 2 and 8 months. I'm able to make fitness a priority, maybe not my first priority. Maybe it's my fifth, but it gets done…”

I hear what she’s trying to say but I feel she could have gone about it another way. When I look at her photo I hear I have kids too, three of them, but I still found time to work my ass off, literally. This, to me, is not inspirational. You know what would have been inspirational…Let us see the pictures of what you looked like right after you popped those kids out, when your stomach was flabby and you maybe tried to hide it by putting on a body shaper. Let us hear how you felt about your body after you had your first kid; if you loved what you saw in the mirror and embraced your stretch marks or avoided seeing yourself naked because you didn't want to face your new mom body. Show us and tell us what it was like to be pregnant 3 times back to back. Let us hear about your struggles to find time to work out and eat well while working a full-time or part-time job, caring for three kids under 4, keeping a relatively clean home and maintaining your sanity. 

It’s not about feeling inferior, as she put it, it’s about feeling judged. No one is privy to all of the individual struggles that we each deal with on a day to day basis, so to sit back and ask moms “what’s your excuse?” comes off as judgmental and smug NOT inspirational; moms don’t need this crap they need support

Sorry Maria

Check out the interview  auto and transcript- Fit Mom of 3 asks “What’s Your Excuse?” 


Thanks for stopping by
Niki

 (If you'd like to read more about me visit my post on A Bit About Me).

Connected Posts:
Bellies and Babies Pt. 1
Bellies and Babies Pt. 2

“Paleo style” Chicken

So I’ve been seeing a chiropractor for about a month now to help deal with my ongoing rheumatoid arthritis pain, that’s another post all together. During my first visit he suggested that I try to change some of the foods that I’ve been eating and to drink more water, which I’m horrible at.

He gave me 2 gallon jugs of ionized alkaline / acidic water  with unlimited access to their filter during business hours and made a few food suggestions: less red meat, more veggies and try gluten free foods. My hubby called it Paleo style and I had no idea what that meant so I looked it up.

Turns out this “diet” is based on eating like our pre-agricultural, hunter-gatherer ancestors and it’s said to “slow or reverse progression of an autoimmune disease” along with a bunch of other health benefits. Right then I said "let’s give it a try."

Here’s my first Dr. Wayne approved “Paleo style” meal (easy peasy)

Chicken breast (cut into bite sized pieces and seasoned)

2-3 Carrots (sliced)

A bunch of Green Beans (cut of the tips and cut in half)

Broccoli spears (Keep as much or as little of the stalk as you like)

2 Bell peppers (sliced, color doesn’t matter)

A bunch of mushrooms (sliced)

Olive Oil

Salt & Pepper to taste

I use a wok for this dish but that’s only because I like to pretend I know how to stir it like a professional J

Start by heating the oil and cooking the chicken until it begins to brown

Throw in the carrots and the green beans and lightly season the veggies while they cook

Place a lid on the pan and let it sit for about 5 minutes

Throw in the broccoli, mushrooms and the peppers. Lightly season this layer and then stir. Place the lid back over the pan for about 5-7 minutes

Remove the lid and you will see that the veggies will have begun to soften and that a bit of liquid has started to form on the bottom of the pan (note: I don’t like limp broccoli or peppers so I don’t cook them down that much).

Turn up the heat just a bit and stir for a few minutes while the liquid evaporates from the pan. If you like your chicken with a bit of broth, don’t turn up the heat and after you stir it put the lid back on.

This can be served over white rice or pasta (NOT Paleo recommended foods) or by itself.

Enjoy!

Niki
 (If you'd like to read more about me visit my post on A Bit About Me).