What's your excuse?

[Travis Munroe]

Originally Posted by Cowboy89

Different things motivate different people, and some things that motivate some, demotivate others and vice versa. I can definately understand your perspective that this can be inflammatory to some people, and that in many circumstances some overweight and obese people cannot fathom or imagine a world or process where that can change. To those people messaging needs to be completely a supportive or positive message.

However this message to me is actually inspiring. My issue is not that I don't believe it's possible to get into better shape. It's rather that I'm too damn lazy to put in the effort. Having this image of someone who keeps it together despite three more obvious roadblocks to fitness than my life currently provokes thoughts on how I can structure my day to day life and diet in ways that can be more constructive.

Couldn't have said it better.
Anyone offended by the headline would also be offended by the millions of motivational posters that call you out to be better.

[1stLand]

My excuse is that I am a busy Realtor. Working 16 hour days, 7 days a week

Not a great excuse. I could wake up at 6 am and go to the gym. It's just easier not to

[V]

That must suck so hard. 112 hour weeks every week.

[OffsideSpecialist]

This thread reminded me to sign up for a run in the spring. So I guess the picture has served its purpose with at least one person.

I've always been a fan of tough love though. If it said "you can do this too" I would look at it as some kind of sappy BS. Also this picture has gotten people talking, even if they think she is an arrogant bitch, so in that way it has served its purpose.

[flylock shox]

Exercise can be a means of purging for bulemics.

To turn this on its head then, perhaps the answer to the rhetorical question "what's your excuse" could therefore be "I don't have a potentially fatal eating disorder."

Edit: I initially posted this thinking it was just an interesting hypothetical to consider, but this suggests she is, in fact, not as healthy as her image suggests, and justifies much of the debate about the message she's sending and the place it comes from.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by flylock shox

Edit: I initially posted this thinking it was just an interesting hypothetical to consider, but this suggests she is, in fact, not as healthy as her image suggests, and justifies much of the debate about the message she's sending and the place it comes from.

Because she had bulimia a decade ago, the last 8 years of healthy living and eating doesn't count? That's bull####. It would be different if she was advocating an unhealthy lifestyle to appear a certain way but it's the exact opposite message she's currently trying to send about having a balanced healthy lifestyle and being happy with yourself. Are you suggesting because she had image problems of her own that manifested in an unhealthy habit a decade ago she can't talk about her past demons or current healthy fitness level? What a stupid suggestion. It's because of her own image problems that she experienced, her unhealthy lifestyle, her frustration with being overweight, her unhappiness with her own body, etc. that she drew the experiences from and why she's doing what she's doing. That, and probably likes the attention too.

[Buff]

Life is 10% of what happens around us, and 90% of how we react to it. You can't control the 10% of what happens but you can control how you react, adapt and take action.

You can't control the fact that she did the "What's your excuse" picture, but you can control how you react to it. Go ahead and be negative and hide behind your excuses and self pity, or take it in a positive light that if somebody else can do it then you can too.

Not everybody is going to present you the motivation in a way that is pleasing to you, but you can take their methods, analyze what they are trying to say and turn it into a positive affect on your life.

[polak]

My excuse is that I have to gain... which I find impossible.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by flylock shox

Exercise can be a means of purging for bulemics.

To turn this on its head then, perhaps the answer to the rhetorical question "what's your excuse" could therefore be "I don't have a potentially fatal eating disorder."

Edit: I initially posted this thinking it was just an interesting hypothetical to consider, but this suggests she is, in fact, not as healthy as her image suggests, and justifies much of the debate about the message she's sending and the place it comes from.

Even better IMO, she has a busy life, was able to over come an eating disorder...........Some people can pick fly sh*t out of pepper.

[flylock shox]

Bulemia isn't an "unhealthy eating habit."

It is also not something that appears to be in her past, as she is described in the article as a "recovering" not "recovered" bulemic.

Her own writing and life history (including her present behaviour) demonstrates an obsession with body image.

Unlike anorexics, most bulemics maintain a normal body weight and may appear healthy. Again, exercise can be a form of purging for bulemics.

All things that should maybe make one pause before going to their own wife and mother of 3 and saying "look honey, you should be like this chick, she's so healthy, what's your excuse?"

She may not be as healthy as she appears.

[polak]

She can read minds?

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by flylock shox

Bulemia isn't an "unhealthy eating habit."

It is also not something that appears to be in her past, as she is described in the article as a "recovering" not "recovered" bulemic.

Her own writing and life history (including her present behaviour) demonstrates an obsession with body image.

Unlike anorexics, most bulemics maintain a normal body weight and may appear healthy. Again, exercise can be a form of purging for bulemics.

All things that should maybe make one pause before going to their own wife and mother of 3 and saying "look honey, you should be like this chick, she's so healthy, what's your excuse?"

She may not be as healthy as she appears.

I have a mate that hasn't drunk in 10 years but still calls himself "recovering".....perhaps she still battles (successfully) with whatever caused her to has that condition.

[SportsJunky]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

Some people can pick fly sh*t out of pepper.

This is an odd saying that I've noticed a past forum member used on occassion. I won't mention the handle but am I right about you having a different user name before this one?

Just curious.

[Inglewood Jack]

I'm in ok shape, but I know lots of guys and gals that can run/lift circles around me, yet they don't have this Maria Kang's body because their genetics or whatever just won't let them. I think if anyone's having an issue with this so called motivational image, it's because the focus seems to be solely on her body shape rather than her health and fitness achievements.

I bet if the picture was her crossing the finish line of a marathon or swimming across the English channel or clean and jerking a couple plates, with the exact same "What's Your Excuse" tagline, it would probably help the message get through with less indignation.

[Devils'Advocate]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

I have a mate that hasn't drunk in 10 years but still calls himself "recovering".....perhaps she still battles (successfully) with whatever caused her to has that condition.

Well, it's a fine line. And particularly difficult with bulimia vs alcoholism. With alcoholism, if you haven't had a drink, you know you are at least 'recovering', if not 'recovered'. But with bulimia, you never know....

In January of this year I was diagnosed as bulimic as I was binging on crap food, sometimes 2000 to 3000 calories in only a matter of hours... and then going for a 3 hour run; punishing myself for the binge. I have seen a psychiatrist and went for a follow-up with the head of the Eating Disorder clinic of the Ottawa General. In the follow-up, the doctor concluded that I was "no longer exhibiting bulimic tendancies but continued vigilance is required". But I constantly have to question myself. "Is this much food a binge? What crosses the line? Did I exercise too much today? What crosses the line of "too much"? For me the yardsticks are "Am I eating out of hunger or compulsion?" and "Am I exercising for health or is it so I can eat more or so out of punishment for eating too much already?"

Anyhow, all this to say, we don't know just how far into recovery she is. I'll give her the benefit of the doubt as I hope others would give to me. I have often questioned, vocally, whether I should be out giving speeches on healthy living given my past (and present).

-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Buff: Let's say a gay high school boy is being called 'fag' by the members of the football team. What is the proper course of action for the boy? Is the football team in the right or should they be called out for their actions?

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by flylock shox

Bulemia isn't an "unhealthy eating habit."

It is also not something that appears to be in her past, as she is described in the article as a "recovering" not "recovered" bulemic.

Her own writing and life history (including her present behaviour) demonstrates an obsession with body image.

Unlike anorexics, most bulemics maintain a normal body weight and may appear healthy. Again, exercise can be a form of purging for bulemics.

All things that should maybe make one pause before going to their own wife and mother of 3 and saying "look honey, you should be like this chick, she's so healthy, what's your excuse?"

She may not be as healthy as she appears.

What a terrible post. Unlike others who bring up valid points about what type of message she's conveying and how she's going about it, you're suggesting she shouldn't be taking serious because she's been open about her own struggles with an eating disorder?

It's obviously no secret she wasn't happy with her appearance. She struggled, she developed bulimia, she put her body at risk. After a long battle she was able to reach a point where she was healthy and happy with herself. You're stretching it into somehow she's advocating something she obviously is heavily against. It's a joke of a post.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by Devils'Advocate

Well, it's a fine line. And particularly difficult with bulimia vs alcoholism. With alcoholism, if you haven't had a drink, you know you are at least 'recovering', if not 'recovered'. But with bulimia, you never know....

In January of this year I was diagnosed as bulimic as I was binging on crap food, sometimes 2000 to 3000 calories in only a matter of hours... and then going for a 3 hour run; punishing myself for the binge. I have seen a psychiatrist and went for a follow-up with the head of the Eating Disorder clinic of the Ottawa General. In the follow-up, the doctor concluded that I was "no longer exhibiting bulimic tendancies but continued vigilance is required". But I constantly have to question myself. "Is this much food a binge? What crosses the line? Did I exercise too much today? What crosses the line of "too much"? For me the yardsticks are "Am I eating out of hunger or compulsion?" and "Am I exercising for health or is it so I can eat more or so out of punishment for eating too much already?"

Anyhow, all this to say, we don't know just how far into recovery she is. I'll give her the benefit of the doubt as I hope others would give to me. I have often questioned, vocally, whether I should be out giving speeches on healthy living given my past (and present).

-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Buff: Let's say a gay high school boy is being called 'fag' by the members of the football team. What is the proper course of action for the boy? Is the football team in the right or should they be called out for their actions?

And you're a motivational speaker, right? Probably draw heavily on your own experiences and struggles, not that I want to put words into your mouth or anything like that. So is her opening up about being bulimic a reason to question her like flylock shox is suggesting? I doubt that.

[GreenLantern]

I see a lot of people talking about no time for exercise in this thread, but are missing a larger portion of the picture. Her diet must be very strict, you don't need a diet that strict to be healthy but I would assume it is responsible for 70-80% of her look.

So what is the excuse for eating crappy? Again no time to cook a chicken breast instead of a Delissio pizza even though the breast will be done in half the time?

[Hockey_Ninja]

Originally Posted by polak

My excuse is that I have to gain... which I find impossible.

Same problem man. A lot of people would kill for my metabolism.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Devils'Advocate

Well, it's a fine line. And particularly difficult with bulimia vs alcoholism. With alcoholism, if you haven't had a drink, you know you are at least 'recovering', if not 'recovered'. But with bulimia, you never know....

In January of this year I was diagnosed as bulimic as I was binging on crap food, sometimes 2000 to 3000 calories in only a matter of hours... and then going for a 3 hour run; punishing myself for the binge. I have seen a psychiatrist and went for a follow-up with the head of the Eating Disorder clinic of the Ottawa General. In the follow-up, the doctor concluded that I was "no longer exhibiting bulimic tendancies but continued vigilance is required". But I constantly have to question myself. "Is this much food a binge? What crosses the line? Did I exercise too much today? What crosses the line of "too much"? For me the yardsticks are "Am I eating out of hunger or compulsion?" and "Am I exercising for health or is it so I can eat more or so out of punishment for eating too much already?"

Anyhow, all this to say, we don't know just how far into recovery she is. I'll give her the benefit of the doubt as I hope others would give to me. I have often questioned, vocally, whether I should be out giving speeches on healthy living given my past (and present).

-=-=-=-=-=-=-

?

I know he struggles still with not drinking, sometimes no worries and every is smooth. Sometimes though he still wants a drink. I would suggest that he isn't recovered. So maybe it isn't so different.