This morning on Good Morning America, and this month in the January issue of O Magazine, Oprah Winfrey is sharing that she has gained 40 pounds in the last year and now weighs 200 pounds.
Apparently when the magazine's staff met mid-year to talk about the
January cover, and talk turned to health, fitness and New Year's Resolutions, Oprah felt she couldn't participate in the discussion without being honest about her weight gain and doing something about it.
Oprah's best friend, Gayle King, who is also editor-at-large of the magazine, said that Oprah's feelings about the issue surprised even her. Oprah says, in a magazine essay, that she is "embarrassed" and unhappy with herself, that she was "talking the talk but not walking the walk."
I have weight issues too, as do so many of us. I can't imagine what it's like to have all eyes on you every day, as Oprah does -- every outfit, every pound gained or lost, every reaction right there for all the world to see. Perhaps it's fitting, then, that her mission for this January for health and fitness in her own life coincides with two weeks of "Live Your Best Life" shows, in which she will talk about her weight gain and ask her trainer, Bob Green, and Dr. Mehmet Oz to participate in the program.
Here's an article about Oprah's Good Morning America appearance and a video clip that is an excerpt from her upcoming Jan. 5 show:
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Diet/story?id=6431388&page=1
King said it was Oprah's idea to put her whole body on the cover of O next to a much skinnier picture of herself from 2005.
"We were trying to figure out what to do for January and she said, 'You know what I think we're going to do? We're going to take our cover from 2005 and shoot me the way I am now and put them side by side,'" King said." "She said 'I have eyes. Everyone can see what is happening to me. Let's put it out there.'"
Here's a shot of the cover of the magazine:
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Diet/Story?id=6431388&page=2
The reaction to Oprah's announcement has already been "really huge," King said. Viewers have emailed in with their own stories, thanking Oprah for putting this issue once again front and center in their lives.
What about you? What are your thoughts about Oprah's annoucement?
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That's a fascinating story. The thyroid issues, and how they connect with adrenal issues, is something that affects so many of us. And the diet issues, especially the amount of soy she was consuming, is of particular interest to me as I'm in menopause and am a vegetarian.
If you're reading this and you're on any dose of synthetic hormone and wondering whether you're at the right levels, it's worth your time to read this story. Lots of insight.
December 19, 2008 - 11:11amThis Comment
Mary Shomon, a thyroid patient advocate, has had a lot to say about the Oprah issue: http://thyroid.about.com/b/2008/12/10/oprah-200-pounds-thyroid-weight.htm What do you think about what she has to say?
December 19, 2008 - 9:39amThis Comment
I've only occasionally watched the Oprah show, and I found her engaging, respectful, sometimes a little silly. Her media power is unquestionable, and her appeal to her audience amazing. I personally admire her more for the fact that she ran and finished the Chicago Marathon in 4:29 - a heckofalot better than I've been able to do after nearly 4 years of training (of course, I'm older than she, too).
Over-dramatizing/doing/emphasizing - whatever - her personal battle with her weight? Maybe. What she is doing is making her personal issue another crusade for us slow fat runners - and other weight-challenged folks - to wake up and get/stay fit.
Frankly, I really don't care if she's making too much of her perennial battle or not. She has enough mass appeal and media power to inspire people to action - the Obama campaign a case in point.
I've only influenced a little over 190 slow fat runners this year. I'd love to be able to influence thousands to get off their duffs and get fit and healthy!
December 10, 2008 - 5:41pmThis Comment