What's your excuse?

[Joborule]

Originally Posted by Devils'Advocate

My opinion is that “What’s Your Excuse” is absolutely nothing but cruel. It is meant to be demeaning. It is scornful. It’s not “Look. I did it. You can too.” It’s “You lazy slob... just making excuses....”

No it's not. People are choosing to make that the context when it wasn't the lady intention. If she wanted to insult and truly bully the offended audience, she could've said much more blatant that would be interpreted as an attack by majority. Instead of posing with her young children with an energetic, positive pose, and a challenge quote, she could've used a photo that would've have the message moreso of "haha, I'm not fat but you are, you lazy slob."

The issue here is that people are interpreting the context incorrectly. Could she have used a more encouraging quote that's more along the lines of "if I can do it, you can too"? Sure, but the original one doesn't have a flaw unless you strive for it to be one.

[Devils'Advocate]

"What's Your Excuse?" is inflammatory.... More inflammatory than "Your excuse is invalid." It is accusatory. If it were not inflammatory, this wouldn't be an issue at all and this thread would not exist.

[habernac]

I disagree. Own your out of shapeness (yeah, I know shapeness isn't a word). I am the king of making excuses to not exercise. This isn't offensive. She may be bragging a bit, but I might be, too, if I looked that fit (in a masculine way of course).

[flamesfever]

Originally Posted by Devils'Advocate

I am not going to repeat my credentials here... most know my story... but I will mention that I have been a motivational speaker on health and wellness conferences and meetings many, many times and have sat down with many weight loss support groups and worked with them.

My opinion is that “What’s Your Excuse” is absolutely nothing but cruel. It is meant to be demeaning. It is scornful. It’s not “Look. I did it. You can too.” It’s “You lazy slob... just making excuses....”


When out speaking, I talk to them about the health risks of not exercising and not eating right – diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol... But I also tell them about having more energy, being able to do more physically than you could ever dream, being more confident, being in better shape both mentally and physically... People are motivated by HOPE, NOT SCORN.


Some people are sadists and just like finding people to hurt. Others think they are being cruel to be kind... I can tell you NOTHING can be further from the truth. This is bullying. Insulting people make them reject your message and makes them feel bad about themselves. You think making people feel bad about themselves will be the impetus for them to change? Let me tell you that nothing is further from the truth. Particularly with women.


My interview is here: http://www.halfsizeme.com/082/ and it starts around the 9:55 minute mark of the podcast. In there I talk about how the insults and bullying only made me more depressed and made me eat MORE. My impetus to change was out of HOPE and KINDNESS, not out of people being cruel. That does not work.


I would *NEVER* go on stage and tell people “Look at me. I did it. What’s your excuse?”. Compassion works where contempt does not. I always end my talks with a photo much like this one because I want people to know that it will take time and effort, but that the rewards are so awesome.

I thanked you for what you are doing. However, as for what was in the girl's heart when she made her photo, I believe is debatable.

[GGG]

I find this message inspiring as a guy who could lose 20lbs. For those with a small amount to lose seeing a regular person who can find time to get in shape can be inspiring. I see whats your excuse as a challange not as an insult.

Now I can see the other side that a person who has battled and struggled with weight seeing this as just an attack on them. And that if your weight problem is psychologically based it making the problem worse.

But for lots of people in honestly is as simple as eat vegatables for snacks, eliminate sugared drinks, get rid of the processed foods, and excercise a bit. For the people that it is just a simple lifestyle change the whats your excuse is a good challange and a motivator.

[V]

Going by the crazy amount of fat people out there these days, and especially all the fat kids, I think this world could use a little more fat shaming. Good for her.

[WilderPegasus]

Originally Posted by Devils'Advocate

"What's Your Excuse?" is inflammatory.... More inflammatory than "Your excuse is invalid." It is accusatory. If it were not inflammatory, this wouldn't be an issue at all and this thread would not exist.

It's an issue because the truth hurts a lot of people. A lot of people would rather make excuses instead of working hard. And they're too damn sensitive. But this woman's picture made the face the cold hard truth that for most of them they're excuses are invalid. That's why they're offended. Except for that woman with fibromyalgia. She's just stupid.

[SportsJunky]

Originally Posted by Devils'Advocate

"What's Your Excuse?" is inflammatory.... More inflammatory than "Your excuse is invalid." It is accusatory. If it were not inflammatory, this wouldn't be an issue at all and this thread would not exist.

No it's not. It's meant to be motivating. It is only accusatory if you look at it as such but why would you?

Also, is fibromyalgia a thing now? I thought it was debunked.

[kipperfan]

Now being openly proud of being healthy is considered "fat shaming"? This entire topic is making my head spin.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by SportsJunky

No it's not. It's meant to be motivating. It is only accusatory if you look at it as such but why would you?

Also, is fibromyalgia still a thing? I thought it was debunked.

FYP

It has been around for years.

[Devils'Advocate]

Originally Posted by V

Going by the crazy amount of fat people out there these days, and especially all the fat kids, I think this world could use a little more fat shaming. Good for her.

And as per my interview, this is the attitude that brought me to nearly killing myself.

I have never, NEVER, in my life heard "What's Your Excuse?" said in a constructive manner. It's almost alway accusatory. "I was able to get my work done despite the constant interruptions... What's your excuse?" It suggests that the other person should have been able to get THEIR work done if they really wanted to. And maybe that is true ... But even if it is, the "what's your excuse" was meant to be a dig at the other person. Like I said, in my entire life I have never heard that phrase used constructively.

[troutman]

Fibromyalgia – Is It Real?

By Dr. Steven Novella

http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/...s-it-real.html

So – is fibromyalgia “real?” So far no one has established a specific discrete pathophysiological etiology that is fibromyalgia. Further, many of the symptoms of fibromyalgia are nonspecific and are highly co-morbid with other disorders that might be causative. From that point of view fibromyalgia does not exist as a specific disease or etiology.

However, fibromyalgia can be a useful term to describe the complex web of comorbid symptoms described above – chronic pain, fatigue, sleep disturbance and cognitive symptoms. It needs to be recognized, however, that this is a very heterogeneous group and different patients may arrive at this symptom complex in different ways.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by habernac

so the ones with the pictures of amputees with prosthetics who exercise with the "Your Excuse is Invalid" are bullying as well? I think you're being too sensitive.

Speaking of which, this man would be a great candidate for that:
http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/sport...227642901.html

16 hours 46 minutes to finish his marathon especially impressive considering 1000 people didn't cross the finish line at all.

As for Devils'Advocate, obviously welcomed to your opinion, but while it may not be the most tactfully way done I don't think there was any malice in her slogan. I'm sure you know much better than I do about how great a motivator positive messages are but that doesn't mean there isn't room for anything that isn't "sunshine, rainbows and puppies." It was a simple question to get people thinking, that was far from the first time we've seen it, if people want to over-analyze the context or intention that is on them, not her. And besides if it changed even 1 person's attitude than it was a success as I believe anyone who reacted negatively about it were out of her control.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by troutman

Fibromyalgia – Is It Real?

By Dr. Steven Novella

http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/...s-it-real.html

So – is fibromyalgia “real?” So far no one has established a specific discrete pathophysiological etiology that is fibromyalgia. Further, many of the symptoms of fibromyalgia are nonspecific and are highly co-morbid with other disorders that might be causative. From that point of view fibromyalgia does not exist as a specific disease or etiology.

However, fibromyalgia can be a useful term to describe the complex web of comorbid symptoms described above – chronic pain, fatigue, sleep disturbance and cognitive symptoms. It needs to be recognized, however, that this is a very heterogeneous group and different patients may arrive at this symptom complex in different ways.

In other news, water is wet, fire is hot and the Oilers suck.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by flamesfever

I thanked you for what you are doing. However, as for what was in the girl's heart when she made her photo, I believe is debatable.

I prefer her in her old profession.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by nik-

I prefer her in her old profession.

explain please?

[jar_e]

My excuse is I am a man and scientifically can't give birth.

[DuffMan]

I'm hungry.

[rotten42]

Originally Posted by kipperfan

Now being openly proud of being healthy is considered "fat shaming"? This entire topic is making my head spin.

This is my point when I said "we are doomed". Again, i think it is more people projecting their own insecurities or failures rather than this person being malicious. It’s not like she is pointing her finger at the camera and saying, “fatty, fatty, fatty”. She is trying to demonstrate by her own actions that people can accomplish “their” desired goal.

[Nyah]

Originally Posted by kipperfan

Now being openly proud of being healthy is considered "fat shaming"? This entire topic is making my head spin.

Only when you're female, hot, and an attention whoring former beauty queen. Apparently.