Oprah 'embarrassed' about weight gain

Oprah Winfrey opens up about her recent weight gain in an  eight-page package in the January issue of O. The coverline reads: “How Did I Let This Happen Again?”

Winfrey writes about how and why she has gained 40 pounds in four years, now reaching 200 pounds. That's right. 200.

“I’m mad at myself. I’m embarrassed.”

She goes on, “I didn’t just fall off the wagon. I let the wagon fall on me.”

According to WWD, Winfrey posed for O in January 2005 when she was at 160 pounds, in her workout wear and an evening gown. “I want to repeat the cover with who I am now and what my story is,” Winfrey says.

Of the challenges that led to the weight gain, “This past year, I took myself off of my own priority list. I wasn’t just low on the list, I wasn’t even on the list.” 

The media mogul has thyroid conditions (oh, that old saw!) that also slowed her metabolism. After missing meditation, workouts  and eating junk food, the weight piled on. Winfrey was reportedly so upset by her weight gain (but not enough to stop eating) that she didn’t allow any full-body covers of herself, only headshots or poses that hid her expanded body.

Remember those photos of Oprah eating her way through Italy? She really was! See the photographic proof here.

Coincidentally (we’re sure) Winfrey’s O story will launch a weeklong series on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” beginning Jan. 5, “Oprah’s Best Life Week,” which will give viewers thorough advice on health, spirit, money and relationships to guide them through the new year.

Is this a case of "Do as I say, not as I do?'

Hey, you don't think Oprah gained weight just so she could take it off again for ratings and magazine sales, do you?

Hmmm....

Photo: O magazine

Comments

[Sabrina]

When will Oprah FINALLY get over herself? She thinks because she weighs 200 lbs it's the end of the freaking world! Good grief...who cares? Lots of us weigh more than that and it doesn't stop us from having full, happy life. If Oprah should be "embarrassed" about anything....it should be her self-centeredness!

[Rodrigo]

Sorry Sabrina, being obese is a health risk and its increasingly becoming epidemic in our country and with our children. She should be calling attention to it.

[kimberly]

i have to say she still looks more athletic now than in the 80's. she is a beautiful, wise woman whose looks healthy. I hope I still look as beautiful as she does and as healthy as she looks and as wise as she is when I reach my absolute potential.

[edna barker]

I agree that Oprah seems to be full of herself these days, but as a person whose weight fluctuates(like many people who fall off the wagon!) I can feel a little sorry for her. It is embarrassing to get all the attention for losing weight and to feel so good about yourself only to gain it all back and then some. Losing weight is not "rocket science". Having the motivation to keep it off, seems to be the key.

[Nikki]

She looks better with the weight ON, anyway!

[Joe the American]

She needs to gain another hundred pounds so the public can finally say, "She's gross, let's forget about her."

Oprah, have you seen Jenny yet?

[Erika]

I find it hard to take anyone overweight seriously. If you don't care enough to take care of your own body, why should I trust you to take care of anyone else. It's the sign of typical American gluttony and laziness.

[Noreen]

I give Oprah credit, everyone was talking about how she has gained weight. She has choosen to share her struggle with the viewers and everyone is still being nasty. People always want to hate on others. It's sad.

[AKK2]

Oh my...how did she let it happen?!?!

Hey Oprah...THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU DON'T PUT DOWN THE FORK.

If she can't figure THAT out on her own, she's clearly not as brilliant as she thinks she is.

People are losing their homes and jobs, and being sent off to war. But once again, she needs to steal the spotlight for her own issues. What a glory whore.

[Zack]

BORING! We've heard this before and we don't care. O is looking more like the stock market these days (up 40, down 35, up 80). How about cutting on the liquor and junk food? How about stopping to write about yourself on the cover?

[Zaidi]

Dear Oprah: Please, please stop obsessing about your weight and accept the fact that you are a big, beautiful woman who has made herself a success, and is loved the world over, including yours truly, for your many, many positive works, and for showing all of us what can happen when you believe in yourself! So go on and enjoy your success!! You deserve it girl!!!

[Jane]

Oprah.... what a self rightous, ego-maniac you are!

[Wynne DuBray]

Oprah has a narcissistic personality. Notice she has her picture on every copy of O magazine. Does she need to be reminded of who she is?

[Bob]

Thanks for the comment Sabrina, you hit the nail on the head!

[whoknows]

Just because your happy being fat does not mean she has to be. It is now about how much she weighs, it is about how we stop taking care of ourselves. For some of us, being heavy is uncomfortable and we continually strive for more. If you wer really happy, you wouldnt attack Oprah. Your miserable.

[Judybird]

Oprah, you will never read this, but my heart goes out to you. Like you I have had a problem with my weight since childhood (good Italian food). The last time I gained almost 50 lbs. my doctor told me to get used to being heavy. Oh no, not me. Started cutting back on food and lost 42 lbs. but it took almost one full year. Never be ashamed, we all have our demons and one of mine is food. It's hard to stay a size 6 now and some days I want to devour the refrigerator. My mind keeps reminding me that I don't want to go through the hell of losing the weight again and again. It is so hard. Stay brave and do what you feel you msut do. No matter what.....you are still beautiful.

[michele]

I congratulate Oprah for being so honest. So many of us have this problem. We're up and down and mostly up instead of down. Bravo to Oprah for being so honest. Oprah inspires me; regardless of where she is with her weight.

[deborahsue1]

Oprah is still pretty.

[eva]

How Did You Let This Happen Again?
Uh, you're human--that's how.
Humans come in a variety of sizes.
Move on.
Ugh.

[VickyC.]

Give the girl a break! She's only human.
When I heard the diet she and Bob
Green had her on, it was obvious it was
not a live long habit, but a short term
torment! How about taking the middle
ground Oprah, health and yes, wishing
a 10 or 20 lbs. less, but overall a way of
life possible to maintain!

[megan]

You know, with so many images of skinny women out there all the time with NO comments attached (like, "I keep this body by eating four grapes and smoking 45 cigarettes a day") I'm aplauding Oprah for talking about what most of us NORMAL middle-aged American women ask ourselves all the time: How can I have become this fat woman? Give Oprah some credit for bringing yet another real issue to the fore for regular women. I'd like to see if all of you snarky bee-atches who are so high and mighty look better than she does when you're her age! And when you're all media moguls, you can dis her all you like. Right now, while you're working at the bank (or whatever you do), you can just shut up. Thankyouverymuch.

[allforchange]

Who cares anymore. She's an adult. All the problems in the US and the world and all she can talk about is her weight? Just stop gourging yourself, Oprah. Be fat or skinny, but leave it be. Grow up, You're becoming tiresome.

[Violet]

Wow. Some of the most horrendous and mean spirited comments I've ever read. And for anyone that thinks having a thyroid condition is an excuse that people use because they eat too much - I would dare you to spend a week in my shoes.

Oprah was brave enough to admit that she stopped working out for hours every day, and went back to trying to live like a normal person. She isn't making excuses for the weight gain, she admits she dropped the ball. What she isn't talking about is how it gets very tiring to have to work twice as hard, eat half as much, and still never look as good as you want to. I don't blame her for being frustrated, I know I am, every day.

It's so great to work out three hours a day, live on salad and protein shakes and still be overweight because my metabolism doesn't function. Oh and I get to enjoy taking several kinds of thyroid hormone replacement for the rest of my life and yes - still be fat.

[Red Sky]

Oprah goes up and down with her weight.No more carbs and more protien for 2009.

[Mark]

Thyroid condition? Is that the same as "glandular problems"?