Dear Oprah!

Come on over to 3FC. This is the largest group of loosers and MAINTAINERS I have ever encountered! We know what a struggle it is. No judgment here. We'll support you!
Jump right back on that wagon girl. Good Luck!

DJ

And, therein lies my problem. I keep waiting for life to get easier so I can tackle this weight. But, life never does seem to get easier or stay easier for long. I guess we all have to take a deep look at ourselves and decide if we are ready for this lifelong challenge..if we are so sick of the fat that we're willing to step outside of our comfort zone and do what needs to be done...forever. It's a daunting thought, but I keep holding onto what I've heard many of you say...nothing tastes as good as skinny feels. One day I'll truly understand that saying.

This is what I thought when I first saw the magazine!

I just admire her for bringing this out as an open discussion. We can all relate to her. She is just saying what many of us have said, "Why did I let this happen again?"
I still wish I had her resources, but she has shown that it has to come from within. Like Rhonda just said, there is never going to be a perfect time, a perfect scenario. This won't just fall into place. We have to make it happen. (Talking to myself at this point...)

Rhonda, I guess the way I think about it is that there are always going to be lifelong challenges, and sometimes we're lucky and get to pick which ones. For me, it really comes down to this: Do I want the lifelong challenge of (eventually) maintaining, or do I want the lifelong challenge of diabetes (and high blood pressure, and bad joints)?

Lisa

I'm not a fan of Oprah in fact I dislike her lol...but then again to me it is her private issue and I don't care if she is thin, fat, purple, pink, whatever. I mean we all have weight issues here and they never go away.

Fat doesn't make you who you are and if there are people out there judging her because she isn't "thin" then I think those people suck lol.

I think there are people who use whatever resources they use, Weight Watchers, the Gym, Personal Trainers, whatever, and when they get down close to goal they find themselves gaining back the weight because they find that maintaining is actually harder. You can't just diet, loose the weight, and then go back to eating all the things that negatively affected your body in the first place. I think the energy you put into loosing doesn't match the energy you have to put into living your life and maintaining your weight. As others have said, it doesn't get easier because there isn't a perfect time, perfect scenario and etc.

The most important resource is yourself. *i'm telling myself that too* lol

I'm not surprised that she has gained back weight and it doesn't scare me. The reason is that she is just another person out there struggling with weight issues. It makes me feel less alone and besides even though I may not like her, she still looks like a normal woman. Meaning, she isn't one of those super thin actresses or tv personalities running around. She has curves!

For all her fame and money she's just like the rest of us. If we are prone to put on weight as I am and so is Oprah and many more of us, we have to be willing to make a lifestyle change and even when we are successful it can become a drag. Why can't we be like people who never have a problem with weight ? Well, we aren't and we have to be willing to accept that. I understand what Oprah is going through. I've been there myself.

Part of it is just taking the responsibility into your own hands.

When Oprah would get thin, we all would say "Gee, wish I had a personal chef and personal trainer". Well - she did and still can't keep the weight off. It seems easy on the surface to say "Tell me what to eat and what to do". Don't we see this kind of post every day here on 3FC? People looking to be told how to lose weight and what would work best for them.

I think the key is, and studies and surveys show, that to be successful you have to come up with something that works for you. A modified "you" version that is something you can keep doing for your whole life.

May Bob Greene's eating plan isn't something that works for Oprah. Maybe she needs something that incorporates the food or style of eating she is probably surrounded by all day. I imagine she eats a lot of grab and go food, or nibble food.

I don't know if Oprah really puts herself first, you know? I mean her, and not her show, company, mogul image, or what have you, but Oprah the woman.

It IS a daunting thought. But how daunting is the thought of STAYING at an unhealthy weight any longer? They are both very difficult things. But at least the difficulty of getting to and staying a healthy weight has many, many incredible benefits. You MUST remember this.

Like Lisa so wisely pointed out, luckily, we DO get the choice of which daunting (challenge) we want.

Rhonda, I've been on both sides of the coin and I PROMISE you when choosing the challenge of losing the weight/keeping it off or remaining heavy, the first one is the better option.