She's Back! 'What's Your Excuse' Mom Has a New Message

Maria Kang is an impressively fit mom of three. And if she sounds—or looks—familiar, it may be because she’s been impressively fit since since just months after giving birth to her third child in 2013. That’s when she came under fire for her motivational tactics.

Posing in a sports bra and shorts with her three young sons, Kang shared an image titled “What’s Your Excuse?” to encourage other moms to get in shape. It didn’t quite land the way she intended, being viewed as mom-specific form of body shaming.

Now, five years later, Kang is recreating the image. But she explains motherhood has changed her priorities and her regimen—now, her workouts are closer to 30 minutes instead of an hour.

“Fitness has always been a priority," she tells TODAY Parents. “Instead of it being number one, it’s probably number four but I still get it done.”

With that in mind, Kang felt the 2018 version of her photo required an updated caption.

“As I wrote ‘What’s your excuse?’ on top, it didn’t feel like it represented who I am today,” she says. “I do believe you need to address your excuses…but after that you need to find your reasons. What’s kept me going is really my reason. This represented me a lot better right now in stage two of my life, focusing on the why.”

For Kang, the “why” includes not only her family, but her non-profit, Fitness Without Borders.

Finding your ‘why’ is different for every mom. One place to start? By vowing to treat your body better, regardless of your shape or size.

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