Oprah, queen of denial on her forty pound weight gain

December 10, 9:35 AMNutrition ExaminerCarol Bardelli

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Oprah Winfrey poses for photographers at The Hollywood Reporter's annual Women in Entertainment Breakfast in Beverly Hills, Calif., Friday, Dec. 5, 2008. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

 
Oprah says of her weight gain "I'm mad at myself, I'm embarrassed" Has Oprah been the queen of denial when it comes to weight gain? The answer is a definitive yes. Fans have watched all year as she slowly grew to 200 pounds. Sometimes our loyalty and love for someone blinds us, or causes us to overlook their faults and frailties. Several times, my husband has said, "Oprah's getting fat again." He's not one to mince words. I've repeatedly said, "I don't know, she's always been a big girl." Perhaps fans like me we're in denial also.

Oprah's trainer Bob Greene tells her "you're depressed." Oprah has gained 40 pounds in the past year due to upsetting circumstances in her life. Her best friend Gayle Greene, editor at large of O Magazine appeared this morning on "Good Morning America" to talk about Oprah's weight gain  and her issues with a thyroid problem and depression. Gayle says, "I see a sadness in her face."  Upset by the trouble that beset her girl's school in Africa, while strapped for time working on her show, magazine, and radio station, Oprah apparently has let herself go...again.

"How did I let this happen?" says the headline on the Janauary issue of O The Oprah Magazine. Oprah poses beside an older photo of herself on a 2005 cover with abs bared. The change in her weight is obvious. This upcoming issue of "O" is intended to get Oprah and her readers back on track with their weight loss goals. But there's an old saying "doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results is the definition of insanity." Perhaps it's time for Oprah and the country to take a good, hard look at their weight problem and what they should really be doing about it.

While health issues have contributed to her weight issues, she admits that's no excuse for overeatinng, exercising less, and packing on forty unhealthy pounds. "You haven't seen my body on the cover of my magazine much this year." They've shot her from tricky angles trying to hide the fact she's steadily gained weight. But most viewers knew she was steadily packing on the pounds and wondered how their icon for living "your best life" could be spiralling out of control.

Oprah even passed up a chance to dance on her show with idols Tina Turner and Cher. Gayle King saw in her face a disappointment. That day, Bob Greene, one of Oprah's closest allies noted she was depressed, and had been acting out with overeating and weight gain.

Despite having experts in health and weight loss at her disposal, like Dr. Mehmet Oz, author of 'You: On a Diet', permanent weight loss and maintenance continue to allude Oprah. Like many, staying in control of body weight has been the holy grail she cannot attain.  

What can Oprah do to get back on track? How can you also turn the tide in your weight struggles? Stay tuned to my column and I'll show you options for healthy and effective weight loss you can actually maintain.