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Courtesy Of Facebook/Mike Byerly Photography

'What's your excuse?' asked Maria Kang's controversial fitness ad. The mom of 3 bared her toned abs for a photo shoot promoting her fitness business. While Maria's muscles are totally enviable, lots of moms felt that she was dissing women who aren't able to get a physique like hers.

Maria Kang, 32, posed for a photo with her three sons – now ages 1, 3 and 4 — wearing tummy-baring workout gear to promote her fitness company. The photo's caption, "what's your excuse?" caused over 16,000 Facebook commenters to sound off on whether the pic was great fitness inspiration or a body-shaming dig to moms who don't have Maria's six-pack abs. What do YOU think?

Fit Mom 'What's Your Excuse?' — Defends Controversial Pic

Maria's abs are totally ripped — and they're even more remarkable considering she gave birth to her youngest son just 8 months before posing for the picture. Her photo went viral after Facebook users debated whether the photo was inspirational or promoting "fat-shaming."

Maria Kang Speaks Out After Controversial Photo Goes Viral

Following the public's messages of both outrage and support, Maria posted to Facebook:

Some [commenters are] saying I'm a bully, I'm fat-shaming and I need to apologize for the hurt I've caused women. I get it. SO here's my First and Final Apology:

I'm sorry you took an image and resonated with it in such a negative way. I won't go into details that I struggled with my genetics, had an eating disorder, work full time owning two business', have no nanny, am not naturally skinny and do not work as a personal trainer. I won't even mention how I didn't give into cravings for ice cream, french fries or chocolate while pregnant or use my growing belly as an excuse to be inactive.

What I WILL say is this. What you interpret is not MY fault. It's Yours. The first step in owning your life, your body and your destiny is to OWN the thoughts that come out of your own head. I didn't create them. You created them. So if you want to continue 'hating' this image, get used to hating many other things for the rest of your life. You can either blame, complain or obtain a new level of thought by challenging the negative words that come out of your own brain.

With that said, obesity and those who struggle with health-related diseases is literally a 'bigger' issue than this photo. Maybe it's time we stop tip-toeing around people's feelings and get to the point. So What's Your Excuse?

Maria maintained that the message behind the photo was more than sculpting abs. "It never feels good not being liked. I think people hiding behind their keyboards think I'm not human and I don't have bad days. … That I don't struggle with my weight and cravings and PMS," Maria told GoodMorningAmerica.com.

"In this picture, to them, I'm just this person that's never experienced any hardship. I grew up with an overweight mother and saw her struggles and that's what inspired me to stay fit," Maria shared. "My mother was admitted into the ER for health related reasons on my wedding day. She really inspired me to take care of myself."

What do YOU think, HollyMoms? Do you think Maria's photo is inspiring or hurtful?

– Kristine Hope Kowalski

More Fitness Moms News:

1. Pregnant CrossFit Mom Weight Lifts 2 Weeks Before Giving Birth
2. Jennifer Love Hewitt Shares Her Pregnancy Fitness & Snack Cravings
3. Hilaria Baldwin: Her Fitness Tips & Advice To Other Pregnant Women

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