'What's Your Excuse?' Maria Kang Responds to Critics Who Accuse Her Fat-Shaming (Photo)

Physical trainer Maria Kang caused quite a stir after she published a picture showing off her rock hard abs while posing with her three young children and a message that reads "What's your excuse?"

The 32-year-old fitness enthusiast uploaded the controversial photo of herself on her Facebook page which has since went viral and garnered tons of negative feedback.

Critics accuse Kang of fat-shaming and being self-righteous. Other women left comments on the picture noting that their "excuse" was cancer, full-time jobs or not wanting an eating disorder. Mom and Chicago-area blogger Jenna Karvunidis published a blog explaining that women with bigger bones, chronic illnesses or whose bodies made too much skin during pregnancy have legitimate reasons why their bodies don't look like Maria Kang's. The writer continued stating, "Moms whose hips don't retract after childbirth can do squats until menopause and not be Maria Kang. These are facts, not excuses."

In response to the negative remarks, Kang reposted the photo with an apology on Facebook stating:

"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?"