For people who care about such things, Oprah’s weight is way up. Where are her gurus?
I don’t think people should be made fun of for having a weight or eating problem. However, since Oprah has set herself up as an authority on the subject of weight loss, and has pushed her stable of "experts" on us, she needs to be called out.…
Article comments
26 - Dee
Personally, I think that Bob Greene has a sound nutritional program. He also incorprates exercise and the motto "everything in moderation." The thing with Oprah is that for years she never really got into doing weights and the kind of consistent execises that will burn fat and develop muscle as well. Bob always emphasized the fact that you must burn more calories than you take in. On this new diet she was on, she couldn't eat the "white stuff." Well when you deprive yourself of the things that you enjoy it usually backfires on you. I have been on Weight Watchers and loss and gained. When I gained, it was because I wasn't following the plan, and simply put, I was eating more calories than my exercising was burning. Oprah needs to find a happy medium. Being middle aged really has little to do with it. Plenty of middle aged and elderly people lose weight, build muscle, and keep it off... she was middle aged when she started the diet and loss the weight. The problem with Oprah is that she needs to balance her diet with exerise, stop low carbing and eat normal food... "everything in moderation."
27 - sal m
the problem is that the everything in moderation doesn't work when people have a problem that goes beyond the issues that are normal. any fitness professional worth his salt should recognize that there are times where a client's problems go way beyond their abilities and responsibility.
28 - Rae
On the radio this morning, I heard that Oprah has landed the biggest book advance$$ ever for yet another book with Bob Greene, to be published in January 2007 (just in time to capitalize on the New Years' resolution crowd). So my guess is she'll be working hard to lose the weight (again) before the end of the year. Better for book sales if she has (yet another) success story.
29 - dee
Sal: the problem is that the everything in moderation doesn't work when people have a problem that goes beyond the issues that are normal. any fitness professional worth his salt should recognize that there are times where a client's problems go way beyond their abilities and responsibility.
Dee: I agree with that too... however, you never know whether he has bought it up or addressed it... there is also something called "denial". And although Ophrah advocates being true to yourself, she isn't "practicing what she preaches" so to speak... I was merely speaking up for Bob Greene and that fact that his regiment can work if it is followed and there are no underlying health problems. Still Oprah has a responsibility as well to address "her issues"...Hopefully she will be able to do that oneday.... dee
30 - sal m
Dee:
greene's only claim to fame and his only real "credential" is that he works for oprah. therefore, his plan needs to work for oprah. it clearly doesn't.
and his "plan" is nothing different from hundreds of other "plans" with the notable exception that his plan has oprah's endorsement.
31 - dee
Well, Sal, we will never agree... I feel that Bob's plan can work. It has sound ideas and the diet is healthy and not extreme. The bottom line is, that If people don't work a plan it won't work for them! Ophrah knows what her problem is, and she knows how to address that problem. But as all humans do, they sometimes fail and so you "try again"... it may take her more time to get it right, and maybe she never will. But what the so-called fitness/diet gurus do give Oprah is hope... Something new is always refreshing... Bob even got her to lift weights, something she hates to do; and she did this consistently, for awhile,. You have to give her credit for that.. So the foundation has been laid... Now all Oprah has to do is combine the best of all her fitness endeavors and figure out ultimately what will work for her... I have read his book and thought it "ok"... and some people need to put things in writing in order to devise and outline their goals. Just like Weight Watchers, keeping a food diary has kept me honest about what I eat. If I didn't write it down, I would be eating alot more than I should. Journaling and written commitments are just another way of being "accountable" and "committed" to your particular plan/goal. Maybe you don't need to do that,but some people do; and if it works for them, and it has, so be it.
32 - Peggy Byrd
Hi Sal:
I like your approach. I have watched Oprah gain, lose, and gain weight over the years. I am struggling with weight loss at the age of 52. I was always very, very thin, yet I exercised. Now, I exercise three hours a day, eat a low carb diet, and sometimes drink protein drinks. Have not lost a pound. Something is up with the advice we are being given. As for Bob Greene, I have heard that he and Oprah are putting out yet another book some time in January 2007. It is supposed to be the best non-fiction seller of all time. How can it be when it is obvious that she gained so much weight this year, but has only admitted to gaining 10 pounds.
Thank you.
33 - Shaheen
I thought your article was interesting. I agree that we should be weary of celebrity diets. The one good thing about having a vast variety of them, is to be able to choose which is best for you and what works for you. I personally like Dr. Phil's plan. High Fiber, low fat. And he has his food guide of High Response High Yield foods that are good for you and filling. I read Bob Greene's book and thought it wasnt filled with much information. Most of it was filled with stories and pictures of exercises. And the exercising takes about 2 hours a day.
As for Oprah, I think someone needs to be there with her when she actually does lose the weight. Bc that is when she gains it all back. I have yoyoed also for awhile. The moment I would get down to a certain size, I would start gaining weight. Now I've finally realized that I get really bad anxiety and panic attacks when I drop the weight. I'm hoping to deal with this and this'll be the last time I have to yo yo.
34 - Maximus
I think Dr Sears Zone is pretty sensible: do you have an opinion on this Sal?
35 - sal m
the existence of the zone diet, and the fact that dr sears has sold over 5 million books, illustrates just how little people know about how to feed themselves...it's actually quite depressing.
anyone who grew up before the days of mass nutritional confusion - and abject laziness - ate a balanced diet and scratches their head in amazement that this is the kind of info that people would pay for.
both of my grandmas would have appropriate, italian sayings to sum up how silly it is that people buy this kind of advice.
and now there are zone products that you can waste your money on to boot. very depressing indeed. but dr sears has made millions....more power to him.
36 - prince kufe
my name is prince kufe. i come from ghana i'm 14 years of age. pls oprah i realy need your help i like playing football, my father is poor and can help me with this imlike waching your programme pls can u bring me to your place adn let me archeve my aim of becoming a footballer.
no one can help me only u can do this for me.pls GOD will richly bless u my money is not working my father is a security and he do not have money pls i no u can help me thank you may GOD bless u bye...
37 - Maurie Bayfield
Ihave been a yo yo dieter all my life and have come to the conclusion that whatever reason you put on weight the body then insists on maintaining the status quo.Whatever you do to trick your body into weight loss cannot be kept up indefinitely. The body then takes over demanding massive carbohydrate intake to get back to the status quo as soon as possible.
38 - zoe
One thing that people should know is that no everythng is working for everyone,i'm a size 6 i don't watch what i eat i eat alomst everything that looks & smell good and i don't gain weight.
So please people you need to put this in your minds what works for me it might not help you, you are beginning to sound as if you have a personal verdetta agaist Oprah pitty she can't answer for her self.
But i must tell u one thing Oprah is not going down instead she going up becouse of people like u who like to critisize other peolpe maybe you people are jelous of her.i know some what people can't stand to see a BLACK PERSON so succeful with money.GET OVER IT.
39 - judybird
Imagine having all the money in the world and all famous restaurants hoping against hope that you'll drop in tonite, it must be such a challenge for people like Oprah, who dearly loves to eat, to have the strength to get thru several days without slipping..
I noticed Oprah gaining some weight back, but it's certainly not because Bob Greene's program doesn't work, it's simply because she didn't work off ENOUGH calories for what she ate; I'm sure she enjoyed the heck out of it, probably not worth it to her now, I love her and hope the best for her.
40 - Marcia Grchan
A body that is out of balance will either be too heavy or too thin. To loose weight you must balance your body by balancing you food and balancing you life. Eating less will just starve off fat, but will not balance your body. Excess exercising will burn up fat, but will leave a person exhausted. To be healthy, you must think healthy and in balance
41 - Njiah
You are all idiots before you go running your fat mouths about Oprah please know what the **** you're blabing about. She has a thyroid problem that is contributing to her weight gain. You all suck. Overall this article sucks because the author is UNINFORMED.
42 - Leeann
I happened to come across this site while looking for information on people who gain weight after weight loss. My philosophy is "it's not what you eat, its how much you eat...and move your body". And you are correct, it doesn't sell.
But I am also interested in getting people to STOP dieting, figure out why they are overeating, and move forward. I guess I'm throwing my hat in the ring with the non-diet approach to weight control-we'll see how it goes.
I did appreciate your comments-and the fact that you aren't trying to sell anything.
43 - Alison
You're wrong about Oprah gaining 60 pounds. According to your information, Oprah would have weighed 135 before she gained 60 pounds. She has clearly stated on her website that her weight was 165 pounds. This was way before she gained her recent weight. So she's gained 30 pounds. She has a thyroid problem. Show some compassion! Don't you have anything else to write about?
44 - Katy
If Oprah had a thyroid problem, the doctors could give her Thyroxine which would make her lose the weight she has put on, if that is really the problem.
I don't think her thyroid is the problem. I remember one nutritionist saying "after every diet there comes a binge... whether that's a two day diet and bingeing cycle or a 3 year cycle".
I have lost and regained so much weight, I am 31 years old and a single girl, I am 230 pounds, I feel like absolute crap. I wish I knew what to do.
45 - LorraineB
Kudos to "Beth" who actually GETS IT. Eating less and moving more works, but when you fall off the wagon, it comes back and then some. The majority of people cannot sustain it forever. It's up and down. Beth is SO correct when she said that Oprah does not set herself up as a diet or fitness expert, but quite honestly has exposed herself as a person who struggles with her weight. Oprah had a very bad year. I sense intense sadness and disappointment in her. Her sadness caused her to take comfort in eating. Her mental outlook removed her drive to get out and exercise. It's called depression. I am not home to watch Oprah because I work, however, I was home early today and did watch her. First I was surprised at how much heavier she looked, but then I noticed that much of her 'spark' seemed missing to me. I am turning 60 in a few days. I know what going through menopause is like. I know how grueling it is to work hard every day. Oprah is younger than I am, but I can still recognize the hidden issues that are going on with her. You sometimes get in a place where you don't give a rat's behind about dieting and exercise and use food to get over it. Things will turn around for Oprah, I guarantee it, and I guarantee that she will once again get into a regime. She just needs to get into a happier place right now. She's human and she's sad right now. Lay off, she'll get there. And as far as Bob Greene and others she has launched into success, so what? They've done nothing wrong and neither has Oprah. Remember that there are celebrities on TV right now (Greta Van Sustern to name one) who were launched by OJ Simpson murdering his wife.
46 - sal m
the biggest problem with oprah is that she refuses to accept the reality that she is what she is, and has an incorrect notion of what diet and exercise can do for a person.
you cannot control your eating habits by external means, nor should you look at diet and exercise as a way to reshape, sculpt, mold your body.
as a result she sends the wrong message those folks in the same boat that she's in.
47 - bj
Has anyone considered that her problem is simply that she loves to eat? How do you resolve a problem like that? She will have to struggle with that for the rest of her life.
48 - pat
I think it may be a love issue?
49 - Monica
This was a great article that I just happened to stumble upon. I'm not sure what is going on with Oprah but it seems that for the years she's been on TV her weight goes up and down. I don't pay attention to her "experts" on losing weight.
In July it would be 5 years that I started to exercise and make better eating choices. I have lost 120 pounds and kept it off for 5 years. I refuse to follow a "diet" plan. I've learned that exercise and watching what you eat is the key. I hate to exercise but I do it not so much for fear of gaining weight but because it makes me feel 100 times better. I'm no longer depressed or suffer from anxiety attacks and through exercise my chronic insomnia is under control. Not to mention that it's the best stress release after a long day at work.
I think that many folks are looking for the easy way out by following these so called diet plans instead of understanding that you need to do the work.
50 - Laura
Sometimes keeping the weight off is half the battle. Give the lady a rest! It gets harder and harder as you get older I hear and her main focus may not be in on her weight now. However she did lose the weight and I am sure she could do it again if she wanted to. It's all about what you want for yourself.
51 - Roni
doesn't her weight gain have something to do with her thyroid condition which is a medical issue? I think you're leaving out a big piece of information here.
52 - willis goldman
GREEN IS STEALING HER MONEY. SHE CONTINUES GETTING FATTER, AND AS SHE AGES IT WILL BE A REAL HEAL ISSUE. WITH ALL HER MONEY,ONE WOULD THINK SHE'D GET A PERSONAL TRAINER AND NUTRITIONIST, AND TAKE MATTERS UNDER CONTROL.
53 - brainpowre
Seeing the dietary advice on Oprah's homepage I am not surprised that she can't lose weight let alone keep it off. What is advertised there is the lowest of low-fat diets and definitely unhealthy, full of vegetable oils (inflammatory, suppress the immune system) soy product (definitely toxic) and very little else. If Oprah keeps this up she will either blow up some more or become sick.