People On Instagram Are Accusing This Fit Mum Of Fat Shaming Others. Are They Right?
The super-fit mum has come under fire for "'fat-shaming" women - after she posted a photo of her six-pack along with her 6-year-old daughter on Instagram.
By Sadho Ram — 23 Jan 2015, 01:10 PM — Updated over 9 years ago
SAYS readers may remember Maria Kang, a fitness enthusiast who was accused of fat shaming after she posted an aspirational picture of her post-pregnancy ab muscles with the caption, "What's your excuse?" While few found it inspiring, many were angry at her. Now, a similar story is being played on Abby Pell.
Abby Pell is a 33-year-old UK-based nutritionist, trainer and mother of a 6-year-old girl. She frequently posts photos of her super fit body on Instagram along with motivational quotes.
"➡️it WILL take time! ➡️it WILL require sacrifice! ➡️it WILL be worth it! ❤️✌️"
Image via instagram.com/superabsAbby manages to maintain her fit figure while raising her daughter and juggling between running her nutrition business along with her other responsibilities
The 33-year-old firmly believes that motherhood is no excuse for poor health and says that she uses her platform to advocate this message after struggling herself to lose the baby weight
"It doesn't matter if you're overweight, if you have a busy lifestyle and kids to look after — if you want to do it then there's always a way," she tells the Mirror.
mirror.co.ukBut Abby has been ripped apart online for a photo she posted of her with her daughter on Instagram that read: 'I have a kid, a six pack and no excuse.' The photo was originally posted in February 2014, but it resurfaced recently after Abby was placed 4th in a World Beauty Fitness & Fashion bodybuilding competition.
Daily Mail reported that Abby's posts were flooded with comments calling her "shameless," with one person even saying, "This is fat shaming, pure and simple. Exploiting your motherhood to show off is despicable and shameless." Another added: "This is so demeaning — I bet she doesn't have to work for a living."
After the vitriol against her, Abby reposted the photo on her social accounts, explaining why she decided to share it in the first place
Defending the photo, she said that her objective wasn't to belittle, but to encourage, adding that she sometimes wants to spend her nights snacking and watching TV, but that it's all "about priorities"
After struggling to lose baby weight herself, Abby tried a handful of weight-loss plans that left her feeling starved. The Uk-based mum then got into weight training and saw results.
“I decided to have just one last push, so I started lifting weights, and I was astonished at the results that came so quickly,” she said. “My bum was firmer, arms more defined and my abs were showing. Now going to the gym is where I have my ‘me-time,’ which all mums know they need.”
buzzfeed.com
Despite the hate, Abby says she doesn't regret posting the controversial picture, which she says was inspired by her daughter, Bella. Bella said she looked like Wonder Woman.
In an interview to People, she said:
"On reflection, I can see why it caused a little controversy," she says. "I could have picked a different caption, true, but would I have reached as many people if I did?"
people.com
Acknowledging that "not everyone wants a six-pack," she does feel like she made a point. She's also sticking to her guns that you can be a busy mum and still find time to exercise.
"My extreme transformation was a good advert for an underlying message that if you have a fitness goal, whatever it might be, being a mum won't stop you from achieving it.
An hour's workout is only 4 percent of your whole day, and when you look at it, that's not hard to fit in somewhere," she says of staying committed to exercise while being a busy mom. "I usually go straight after I drop my daughter to school; otherwise I go in the evenings."
people.com