“If I can do it, you can do it, too!”
I read this article a while ago and it got brought up again and I’ve just been stewing…. It’s just bullshit. I’m sorry. Not the woman, not her mission, not her intention. Just this phrase infuriates me. I hate, with every ounce of my being, when people say that. The article quotes her as saying, “I wanted to inspire people,” she explains, adding that the “What’s your excuse?” part was simply a borrowed, popular phrase that’s been used in various “fitspiration” campaigns. “I wanted to say, ‘I know you think you don’t have time if you have kids. But if I can do it, you can do it, too.’”
So, here are my “excuses”:
We have not had the same struggles.
Our background is totally different.
We do not have the same DNA.
We do not share the same hormones.
We don’t have the same schedules.
We don’t share employers.
Our support systems are different.
Our health is different.
Oh, here’s the main one: I am not you.
Maybe this is illogical on my behalf, but I just get so angry when I try and compare myself to someone else. I am not in the cookie cutter mold and I have never followed typical patterns. I know that about my body. I know that the week I had my biggest loss I had also partied at a wedding and drank and ate like nobodies business. I’ve gained weight in the weeks I’ve been Perfect on Plan. When I try and compare myself to the “If I can do it, you can do it, too!” assholes I get frustrated and disappointed with myself.
Kuddos to her though. She looks fantastic. I would only be so lucky to look like that after 3 kids. Hell, I’d be so lucky to look like that WITHOUT 3 kids. But the truth is, I can never recall having abs, or a toned body, or fit arms, or tight skin or any of those luxuries. What I can recall is busting my ass for hours in the gym. Training for triathlons. Running until I vomit. Never wanting so something so bad and not giving up. Crossing the finish line and nearly collapsing after my first 5k. Crossing the finish line and feeling incredible after my last 10k. What I can recall is working hard, making time and doing the best I can. I can recall having the same principles as Maria Kang, but not the same results, and that’s okay. I am not you.
Her struggle was with bulimia, my has always been with obesity and binge eating. Studies have shown that yo-yo dieters, or even people that have lost weight previously will have a more difficult time taking it off the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, so on and so forth go round.
I’m not jealy or being a hater, I AM JUST NOT YOU. And that’s okay.
Shit, maybe I’m just hangry and need to go eat breakfast…
Damn girl, that's a lot of fattitude 
Haha I’m sorry but I laughed really hard when reading some parts of this entry!
You are absolutely right though. We shouldn’t compare ourselves with others, we can only try to get some inspiration out of others who have shared the same journey as we do. That’s all there is to it!
Now grab some breakfast 😉
omg – best cereal ever.
I completely agree with you and I hate it when people act as if they can speak for all of mankind
Exactly!
So true. We all have very different metabolisms. Muscle tone comes easy to some and never seems to develop for others. We all have different tolerances to certain foods. The best thing we can do is listen to our bodies. I’ve worked out my body feels great when I eat mushrooms, bananas, lamb liver or salmon. Not so great after pork, prawns or bread. Who knows why. Just have to go with it 🙂
Exactly! This is why some people do well with Weight Watchers and some do better with Atkins. Everyone’s body is different. What works for one may not work for someone else.
So so so very true!
Others don’t have the exact health issues that I do, they don’t live my life, they haven’t had my experiences, they don’t have the same baggage that I do. My biggest ASSUMPTION that I hate….
Everyone who is fat… overeats.
I have a work associate who has done wonders on Weight Watchers and I applaud her for it. However, every time I see her, she says, when are you going to stop overeating…. if I didn’t have to be professional at work, I would turn to her and say, BITCH… would you like to look at my food diary? You will see I eat 1000 a day. Now back off and let me do things the way my doctor has told me to! But instead, I have to be professional, and just say, “I’m working with my doctor.” Of course her closing statement as she walks out is, well do WW its the only thing that works, what your doing isn’t obviously.
Everyone is different. Its just sad that people have to have the thought process that there is only 1 way to lose weight successfully.
It’s true – Different things work (and don’t!) work for different people. Everyone is different so it’s not very motivating to hear someone saying that if they can do it, that means it’s going to be the same way for you.
I completely agree…I am not a fan of when people say that to me. I find it to be quite condescending.
Indeed.
I couldn’t handle reading about that article. The problem I have with this phrase is that it is so degrading and exclusive of any one else’s circumstances. It’s packed full of shame and judgement, all in less than 10 words!!!
Yes, definitely. It’s based on one person’s experience and success – ultimately degrading someone else’s “failed” efforts.