Thoughts on Oprah

[CarbaholicJoe]

Re: Thoughts on Oprah

Umm, thats the whole point, this is about changing the way you eat, not diet and for someone who goes on and on about diet this diet that she should know better.

[PaulaMM]

Re: Thoughts on Oprah

i find this thread very disappointing, i know this may upset some people. Oprah is human just like the rest of us, many people here have been struggling to lose weight for years and years just as she has and we all have gone off the wagon etc. i don't think its fair that anyone here would down a person who fell off their choosen lifestyle plan simply because she is a celebrity.

I don't see anyone here who can throw stones. Just because you are doing good now doesn't mean you always did or have been or always will. How can anyone here expect a person to be perfect in their weight struggles when no one here can ever say they are perfect in theirs?

I would think instead of downing her, people would wish her support and route for her to get back on her plan and get to the gym etc.

i am sorry but this thread was very disappointing in its judgments and unforgiving attitudes. Celebrities struggle just as much as the rest of us with life issues including weight loss and maintaining a perfect image at times, i sure hope there are none on this board here for support in their struggle with losing weight after reading this thread.
Sher

The difference between celebrities and us is that they are compensated HUGELY for their "struggles". I feel that if one wants the benefits that come with fame then they have to take the negatives that come with it. That means being in the public eye and having your every move, weight gain/loss, and word scrutinized. No, it isn't always fair but that's how it is. I'm sure Oprah is crying all the way to the bank. LOL



I don't believe anyone deserved your condescending little slaps on the wrists for criticizing what they perceive to be hypocritical behaviour.

[Miss Phode]

Re: Thoughts on Oprah

The difference between celebrities and us is that they are compensated HUGELY for their "struggles". I feel that if one wants the benefits that come with fame then they have to take the negatives that come with it. That means being in the public eye and having your every move, weight gain/loss, and word scrutinized. No, it isn't always fair but that's how it is. I'm sure Oprah is crying all the way to the bank. LOL



I don't believe anyone deserved your condescending little slaps on the wrists for criticizing what they perceive to be hypocritical behaviour.

Thank you.

[cathyjobob]

Re: Thoughts on Oprah

I am not stating an opinion one way or the other...so please, no one attack me, I'm am very sensitive! LOL...


but I just wanted to chime in and say, this is probably the third thread I've seen about "vacation" and to cheat, or not to cheat? Whaaaaaaaat a sensitive topic...

I'm glad I already went on mine in August...lol!

[ttdriver]

Re: Thoughts on Oprah

The difference between celebrities and us is that they are compensated HUGELY for their "struggles". I feel that if one wants the benefits that come with fame then they have to take the negatives that come with it. That means being in the public eye and having your every move, weight gain/loss, and word scrutinized. No, it isn't always fair but that's how it is. I'm sure Oprah is crying all the way to the bank. LOL



I don't believe anyone deserved your condescending little slaps on the wrists for criticizing what they perceive to be hypocritical behaviour.

AMEN.

Betty

[dreamof145]

Re: Thoughts on Oprah

I totally understand what you are saying. I am not saying Oprah is not a nice person or that I don't understand her battle that she's had with overweight. Gosh, do I know that battle well. But, she's made her weight loss an example to the world that in order to lose the weight and be healthy...you must change your way of life. I've heard her say hundreds of time that we have to take responsibility and make the positive choices to achieve the success. I've always respected the way she brought in others on her show to teach the right way to lose the weight and get healthy.

I know we are all human...that is why it is important for us to make plans to go on vacation. Going on vacation doesn't mean we just forget our health and eat whatever we want. To me, it means making good choices that will allow me to have fun on vacation and still maintain my WOE. Yes, she's lucky she has planners and chefs and trainers that will help her get back on track. But I feel we are the lucky ones cause we have each other and we have learned how to plan and prepare for issues that come up in our lives.

I'm sorry that you feel this is ANTI-OPRAH thread. It isn't. I think it was an eye-opener for me to re-enforce the importance of planning and making the right choices even when you are on vacation. Oprah has always been open about her weight loss and I think she made bad judgment. I have no doubts that Bob Greene will whip her back into shape. She will lose any weight that she has gained on vacation. But the ones who follow in her footsteps might decide to go on a binge and not be able to quit after vacation.

[2big4mysize]

Re: Thoughts on Oprah

abstractillusions this wasn'tr a sneak attack from some news crew or the media following her.Oprah had complet editorial control over everything! she could have edited that out but she didn't so don't jump us for calling her on her bad behavior She said what she said and made a big deal about telling the person they had to workout cause she was going to lose weight that trip we would want anybody here calling us on it if whe posted we were going to work our Atkins cheat free and then posted the next day about the yummy illegal for our phase food we had eatten. that was what she did. said I am going to lose weight on theis vaction then says I can eat what I want cause I'm on vacation!

[abstractillusions]

Re: Thoughts on Oprah

Dream145, if you had said what you did above in the first place, i would have understood where you were coming from, but this whole thread seemed like a bash against Oprah because god forbid the woman has success and money and can't stay on plan to keep her weight off.

My question is this, how hypocritical is it for us to judge Oprah's struggle with her weight, when we all are here doing the same?

Many of you should be proud, you have done very well in your journey, but it seems many of YOU are forgetting the struggle, the fights with temptation etc that YOU had to go through and will ALWAYS have to go through to keep your success. That you can judge her so harshly. If she wanted to be hypocritical, you would have never seen her losing her battle with temptation, instead you would have seen her acting like it was nothing to run into the gym and work out. How many people say that on vacation all of the time?

I am not saying don't be disappointed, what i am saying is the complete utter negativity judgmental regarding it. The snide remarks about her money and how she can afford this and that. Is frustrating to hear is all.

I know Oprah has made herself a target with her weight loss but we all have gone through 23230272994230429048290 weightloss struggles. I respect and admire that she has made herself this target for people. But i find it hard when people who are struggling with their weight themselves can judge her so harshly. I agree she could have made better choices on her vacation, but she didn't, which makes her ordinary in a very big way. And its great to learn from it, to help you reinforce what you have enforced here, vacations aren't all fun and games.

I guess i am not explaining it right. But i guess i misunderstood it all.



Sher

[dreamof145]

Re: Thoughts on Oprah

Yes, I agree. I look at her vacation as a learning experience for myself. It isn't about money, popularity or anything else other than choices. Believe me, I will never forget my weight loss struggle (over 40 years of it). I apologize if I seemed to be bashing Oprah, I didn't intend to. I think it is important that we realize that 'being human' doesn't mean that we cheat and it is okay cause it is a part of life, to me...being human means that we all have temptations in life (regardless of our social status) which we need to be aware of and plan for. It was an example to me that I need to always be ready for anything that happens in my life. I need to be responsible for my choices.

[2big4mysize]

Re: Thoughts on Oprah

abstractillusions
I want to ask if you have seen any of the episodes? this wan't 2 friends on a trip and reporting back about what they did . She took her personal trainer on this triop too. this was in the Morning stock up on healthy foods for the trip to snack on at a grocery store yet some how decide hours later to go to DQ juat cause Oprah hasn't been in yrs and even with healthy choices she gets not the healthy for her eating plan choice but something else. it is like she is eating out of boredom not making good choices either from her potatodhip snacks.

I know she struggles with food issues but so far she is a textbook example of everything not to do except the stop for heslthy foods. her friend is egging her on to cheat, she makes poor choices even thought she has good ones and then makes flase excuses like i'm on vacation when she planned the vacation to include taking the trainer and eating healthy. I hope the next installment gets better

it was almost like what not to do on vacation if you are on a weight loss plan or have an overeating problem.

[Brook]

Re: Thoughts on Oprah

Feeling the need to chime in here. (I know. Several of you are shocked and dismayed. LOL!)

I, too, found her actions and dismissive mannerisms in the malt shop to be hypocritical and disappointing. She threw out a couple of justifications when her trainer walked in, laughed it off, and ordered away.

It's hardly a shining example of talking the talk and walking the walk.

Dream145, if you had said what you did above in the first place, i would have understood where you were coming from, but this whole thread seemed like a bash against Oprah because god forbid the woman has success and money and can't stay on plan to keep her weight off.

I believe you were the first person to mention Oprah's money and to say something about an inability to keep her weight off. The rest simply pointed out the obvious - she's talking the talk but not walking the walk.

My question is this, how hypocritical is it for us to judge Oprah's struggle with her weight, when we all are here doing the same?

Her struggle with her weight is the LAST thing I'm taking issue with. Her airing herself binging on garbage, however, is. It's not that the rest of us don't fall off the wagon, we do. Few of us are as flippant about it and none of us, that I'm aware of, are making bank off the struggles that come with fat loss and maintaining it. For this reason do I hold her to a higher standard? Ab.So.Lute.Ly.

Many of you should be proud, you have done very well in your journey, but it seems many of YOU are forgetting the struggle, the fights with temptation etc that YOU had to go through and will ALWAYS have to go through to keep your success.

Frankly, I find this statement HIGHLY offensive. I didn't get where I am, wage war against myself and the world for my success, and provide support for literally thousands of people over the last 4 1/2 years by EVER forgetting where I come from - and in the same token and for that same reason - I'll call a spade a spade when I see it. Fluffy words, hand-holding, and behind patting are not now, nor have they ever been my style.

That you can judge her so harshly. If she wanted to be hypocritical, you would have never seen her losing her battle with temptation, instead you would have seen her acting like it was nothing to run into the gym and work out. How many people say that on vacation all of the time?

Plenty of us.
Oprah has had no choice but to be seen losing and winning her battles with bulge - she's on TV 5 days a week.

I am not saying don't be disappointed, what i am saying is the complete utter negativity judgmental regarding it. The snide remarks about her money and how she can afford this and that. Is frustrating to hear is all.

I know Oprah has made herself a target with her weight loss but we all have gone through 23230272994230429048290 weightloss struggles. I respect and admire that she has made herself this target for people. But i find it hard when people who are struggling with their weight themselves can judge her so harshly. I agree she could have made better choices on her vacation, but she didn't, which makes her ordinary in a very big way. And its great to learn from it, to help you reinforce what you have enforced here, vacations aren't all fun and games.

She made a bad choice. Not only did she make a bad choice, she did so with a smile on her face and broadcasted it to the world. While this DOES make her "ordinary in a big way", it also puts her in a position of being called out. The good with the bad, I guess you'd say.

It also seems to me that the judgements are going both ways. As I would say to my kids and I'll say to you... "Hello pot. This is kettle."

No one here is making fun of her. No one here is judging her as a person or her contribution to all of everything. What was said was that her choices were disappointing and for someone who has spent as much time talking the talk over the years, it's hardly surprising that we'd expect her to at least broadcast the walk.



Fair enough?

[abstractillusions]

Re: Thoughts on Oprah

Dreamof145,

Thank you for trying to get what i was saying. Oprah's journey is one we have all seen in our own lives, utilizing the actually watching of it is a benefit of sorts because if you learn a lesson of planning and remember it the next time you go on vacation, then it has benefited you. Thank you for putting more explanation into it and what you came away with from watching the show.

[julirama723]

Re: Thoughts on Oprah

Interesting thread.

I really don't like Oprah because I think she's a phony.

But I also really don't care what she does with her life. I have my own life to worry about, and I think that's the key here. Each of us has free will, weak or strong, and each of us is responsible for our own decisions. I'm responsible for being 60 pounds over a healthy weight; it's not because Oprah went to DQ. So if Oprah wants to go eat ice cream, good/bad for her. She's just showing the world her decision, whether it's right or wrong. I will give her credit for showing a weakness, rather than editing it out and just showing "good" behavior. But should she have ordered the tempting treat? The debate rages on.

Another sub-point--seeing Oprah order that treat made a lot of people think, right? Maybe about how they misjudge others. Or maybe about how they need to step their game up, dietwise. It made us think, huh? Not to quote Martha Stewart, but thinking is a good thing.

Gawd, I rambled on and on when all I had to say was...


I'm never ordering a milkshake on vacation.

[ladyhairg]

Re: Thoughts on Oprah

Here's an interesting spin on this discussion. What if we were talking about an alcoholic in recovery for ten years, who decided to have a couple of beers while on vacation? After all, it's vacation! Shouldn't he be able to kick back and have a little fun?

The answer, of course, is no. It's an addiction, just like our unhealthy eating habits are an addiction. One step off the wagon can lead an addict back down the wrong road.

We all make mistakes, we all screw up and blow the plan from time to time. Heck, I'm the Queen of messing up and eating all the wrong stuff. The problem with this whole Oprah issue, it seems to me, is that she talks out one side of her mouth about making lifestyle changes instead of being on a diet, all the while stuffing unhealthy foods in the other side of her mouth. "I deserve it; I'm on vacation" is just a few steps away from "I deserve it; it's Christmas" and "I deserve it; it's been a bad day at work."

[CoSteve]

Re: Thoughts on Oprah

You know ... it's discussions like this that make me think I don't belong here. I agree with a lot of the above, but ...

A "food" disorder is a lot different from being a smoker or being an alcoholic. IT's harder to beat.

Thankfully I never had to beat alcohol, but I did beat nicotine. And I can tell you this ...

While trying to quit smoking I tried many times to become a "part time" smoker. You know ... convince myself I can just smoke 1 or 2 cigarettes a day. But while I could do it, it was worse than not smoking at all. I had to constantly fight not to smoke too much, and generally I always ended up smoking full time for some stupid rationalization after a couple of days of prolonged suffering from only 2 - 4 cigs a day.

Finally, I just had to draw a line in the sand and say ... "no matter what, I will NOT smoke again." Since drawing that line (plus a couple of weeks help from the patch/gum) I have been a non-smoker for better than 10 years. I went from 2 packs a day to no cigarettes, perfect record, 10 years.

But food is different.

I can't just stop eating. I HAVE to control food, not just block it out.

And sadly ... some food tastes better than others. And chocolate shakes taste really, really good. I won't list all the other foods so as not to sabotouge anyone ... but I'm sure we can all come up with a list.

Food is a very real pleasure; as real as sex. And we all have to deal with the list of foods that we love.

For those of you who draw a line in the sand ... more power to you. But for some of us, that just does not work. Eventually we'll fail, and because we coudln't maintain the "line in the sand" we'll fail utterly (isn't it funny how screwing up and having one shake can lead to a whole weak of eating garbage?).

For me ... I control this through planned cheats. For the most part it will be a single meal one day every other week or so. It might be an entire vacation, though I haven't done that yet (except when I was gave up on staying in shape for the last year or so).

But don't judge Oprah -- or me -- too harshly. We all are just doing what we have to to get along. And Oprah seems to be doing pretty well (seen her maybe once a year for the last few years).