I kicked yesterday’s ass. What’s your excuse?

I’m sure many of you have seen the inspirational fitness picture that has half the internet in a uproar by now. Fitness entrepreneur Maria Kang is posed in a bikini top and barely-there shorts with her three young sons looking more fit than most of us can ever dream to be. Sorry, it’s not that I’m offended. It’s just that if looking like that were my fitness goal I’d likely find myself basking on a mountain of cream puffs instead.

But some people are upset. They think the poster is a form of fat shaming and the message that Maria is sending out is that we could all look like that if we would just stopping making excuses for ourselves. I’m inclined to give her the benefit of the doubt and assume she set out to inspire and motivate mothers who really do want to look and feel better about themselves. The “What’s your excuse?” line is directed at those of us who do make excuses and not those of us who are happy with our slightly less than She-Ra-esque bodies.

That said, I can see why some people might take offense. It is ridiculous to suggest that anyone should look like Maria after having three babies in four years. That’s especially true if working out and being fit is not part of your greater career aspirations.

So I really hope nobody feels belittled by the following pictures. I was simply inspired to celebrate my own day-to-day accomplishments and thought I should share them with you so that you can be motivated in turn. I’m not shaming you for accomplishing less than me, I’m just showing you what’s possible.

I folded some laundry.
I didn’t finish, of course. There’s still a pile of clothes on that chair.

I ordered takeout for dinner.
Cooking is for people who don’t have to cut and paste a basic family tree for show and tell.

I enjoyed a hot cup of tea in my dirty kitchen while I waited for the takeout to be ready.
This is easily the greatest accomplishment of my day.
I don’t always get in a hot cup of tea.

More forms for the kids.
On it!
Booyah.

I came back from running 3.5 km at an incredibly slow pace.
DYING here.

Try not to be jealous.

You too can have all of this if you just stop making excuses.

I mean, first lower your expectations because then it’s way easier to quit with the excuses.