Oprah?

[Leo41]

Anyone see Oprah today (1/5) with her "new you" show? I watched to see what her spin would be on her weight issues, but it was more depressing than I'd imagined.

First, she totally ignored the thyroid thing and claimed to now be "cured." What bothers me most about this is that she claims to have seen several doctors who treated her symptoms without considering the thyroid--which I can believe. But having had that experience, why didn't she investigate this situation a little? A simple Google would have told her how women are poorly treated by the medical establishment for this, etc. I have been expecting her to devote a show to thyroid issues. Is it that she doesn't want to offend her pet physician, M. Oz, by talking about deficiencies in the medical establishment?

If she is "cured," I'd love to know the details, but this was completely ignored in this program. She could say that it was a mistake, and her other medical problems had mimicked thyroid, but to simply say, "Now I'm cured" is a disservice to all women who suffer from thyroid issues.

Then, although if you listened between the lines, it was clear that her gain was the same as everyone's--i.e., she stopped eating carefully, indulged in junk, and stopped exercising, the "message" of the program was that she simply didn't love herself enough, and her life was "out of balance." Please. I am so fed up with her new age gobbledegook that was annoying in the 1980s when it was the new thing in dieting.

In the meantime, she's preparing to launch everyone on a Bob Greene diet (pushed his new book, conveniently titled to go along with her theme--or was it the other way around).

Yes, I sympathize with her because of her weight issues (which I have big time), but this seems like an orchestrated plan to sell books and be the Queen of Weight Loss.

[Recluse]

I caught only the last minute and was glad to see Carnie Wilson looking so great....

[DiamondDeb]

More likely she has a doctor that either doesn't do correct thyroid testing or doesn't know how to read the results. I've got one of those myself. AFTER being diagnosed & treated by other doctors. Yep, I too am cured...

[MintQ8]

I read the magazine - and too was surprised to hear of her 'cure' - sure there are plenty of people here (and everywhere) - who would love to know how to get cured.

Maybe I'm being fascetious (spelling?) - and you really can be 'cured' - other people with more knowledge then I may be able to through light on that one.

Also - can you really go from Hyperthyroidism to Hypothyroidism (as claimed in the article in her magazine)? That is a genuine question.

[lori121]

Originally Posted by Leo41

First, she totally ignored the thyroid thing and claimed to now be "cured."

If she is "cured," I'd love to know the details, but this was completely ignored in this program. She could say that it was a mistake, and her other medical problems had mimicked thyroid, but to simply say, "Now I'm cured" is a disservice to all women who suffer from thyroid issues.



.

I was also interested in when she said she was cured. I would love to know. Maybe I can be cured too.

[CherryCola]

Leo your synopsis is dead on. I watched that show with half-interest, just because my options for that time-slot are Jerry Springer, Judge Judy, and some other Judge show. The woman is delusional! I suspect that once she stops her thyroid meds, she'll see just how cured she is.

Eating poorly, no exercise (especially since she admittedly used to work-out like a fiend), and bad sleeping patterns are a great equation for weight GAIN regardless of thyroid issues.

When they zoomed in on her meal plan, I cringed. Fat Free dressing.

[kristina]

Will be watching. It's on in about 20 minutes.

[kristina]

Maybe "cured" by taking meds?


She's pushing Bob Greene?

*puke* I can't stand that guy

[RealFoodLiving]

Yeah, I watched it out of curiosity and was REALLY disappointed!
She's "cured" from her thyroid disease? Really? I can see that she has gotten her disease under control, or that she's gotten her thyroid function optimized, but "cured'?

And her reasons for regaining weight were really strange to me.

BTW, I'd love to know what Carnie Wilson is doing, she's lost 50 pounds in 6 months. And she does look great, not to mention she is expecting baby #2.

Anyway, I wish her the best and I hope she finds the love she says she's "starving" for. I was thinking, poor Stedman!

[kristina]

I loved the opening...wanted to cry....now she's talking about the not sleeping...talking now about thyroid.

How can she say she's cured now? will be interesting...

She's saying it's not about the food. Yeah, it is. For me, anyway...

[kristina]

She's talking about the pain of modeling for her own magazine.

why didn't she just use something ELSE on the cover?! I've wondered that for awhile...why does she have to be on every cover?

Great...here comes Bob Greene

[FloridaShell]

Originally Posted by kristinaInWa2003

Maybe "cured" by taking meds?


She's pushing Bob Greene?

*puke* I can't stand that guy

I don't care for Oprah either.

[hauermich]

Why doesn't she just admit she loves food? I love food. Many, many people love food and have addiction problems. All I heard from her was "wah, wah, wah, poor me, I took myself off the list, not enough time for me, wah, wah, wah" Hey Oprah, you gained weight because you ate and ate and ate....it happens to the best of us.

[lyn8070]

PS - She has also just "discovered" that resistance training will make a real difference in how she looks and feels. Why Bob hasn't clued her in long before this is a true disservice.

[Goldenrod]

Originally Posted by Leo41

the "message" of the program was that she simply didn't love herself enough, and her life was "out of balance." Please. I am so fed up with her new age gobbledegook that was annoying in the 1980s when it was the new thing in dieting.

I rarely watch Oprah, but made a point to catch the show today because I knew I would gain even more certainty that a LC WOE is the right one for me.

I agree with you that she focused on the spiritual side of things, and as you called it, "her new age gobbledegook," but I grant a certain leeway with that. I really do think you have to treat yourself well - body, mind, and spirit - in order to truly thrive as a human being. (You can be thin, fit, and "pretty," but if you're a total b*tch to everyone around you, and are negative about everything in your life, how much can you really enjoy being alive?)

Okay, new-age stuff aside, what irritated me the most was how she kept repeating that "it's not about the food." It's not ALL about the food, but it darn well has a whole lot to do with it!!

I completely agree that many people turn to food for emotional reasons, but there are plenty of people here at LCF who can vouch for the fact that those emotional dependencies on food are a lot easier to conquer when you free your body of the constant up and down sugar/insulin highs and lows, and THAT comes from eliminating or at least greatly reducing carbohydrate intake -- "white" or not. Whole wheat pasta is still pasta. Whole grain bread is still bread. They're better alternatives to the usual stuff, but you know what I mean.

I'm not going to lie. I still find comfort in certain foods, but I have come such a long way since I've been low carbing, I'm not even the same person inside. My face is the same, but my MIND has done a 180 regarding what, when, and WHY I eat.

People think they "need" certain foods, but that's only because their bloodstream is telling them they're hungry. They eat a bunch of sugar or starch, their BS goes way up, insulin goes way up to compensate, and when the BS goes back down as a result, their brain gets the signal that they're hungry, when, in fact, they just ate!! (I ask myself this sometimes: Am I hungry, or is my bloodstream hungry? Depending on my answer, I eat, or I don't.)

If Oprah could break that vicious cycle, I think she'd be amazed at what she'd learn about paying attention to her body's signals.

Sorry. I know I'm preaching to the choir, but I was so annoyed on that point.
For a lot of people, is IS about the food, but it wouldn't be if they could get themselves off the blood sugar/insulin seesaw.

[DwightSchrute]

At one point in the show, she was talking about viewers sending emails about her thyroid. I was thinking, Hello?? she has Dr Oz on EVERY WEEK, didn't he see something???? WTH???
Lo cal, lo fat diet =bingeing at some point.

[Goldenrod]

Slight threadjack:

Exactly what kind of doctor is Dr. Oz? I mean, what's his specialty? (Or does he not have one? He might be a general practitioner.)

I was just wondering, because he seems to give advice on everything from exercise to nutrition, to skin conditions, to sexual health.

I soooo wish Oprah would have Mary Enig on. Talk about a revolution...

[CherryCola]

Originally Posted by Goldenrod

Slight threadjack:

Exactly what kind of doctor is Dr. Oz? I mean, what's his specialty? (Or does he not have one? He might be a general practitioner.)

I think he's a Cardiologist...an all-knowing Cardiologist!

[DwightSchrute]

Originally Posted by Goldenrod

Slight threadjack:

Exactly what kind of doctor is Dr. Oz? I mean, what's his specialty? (Or does he not have one? He might be a general practitioner.)

I was just wondering, because he seems to give advice on everything from exercise to nutrition, to skin conditions, to sexual health.

I soooo wish Oprah would have Mary Enig on. Talk about a revolution...

He is a cardiologist about 30 mi from me and has a very good rep.

[Tammy2002]

I too was so disappointed in this show. I was heartened at the beginning when she said that it was the viewers who told her she had a thyroid issue. I thought for a split second that she may say that the viewers also told her to cut out the white stuff and that she listened... but oh no, back to low-fat and I don't love myself enough.

No, Oprah, it's the medical establishment and the old-world "nutritionists" that don't love us..... they keep pushing the same old tired low-fat mantra hoping we'll stay fat and unhealthy and keep making THEM alot of money.

So disappointed..

[LoraJR72]

IMHO, Oprah is

[Tammy2002]

Originally Posted by LoraJR72

IMHO, Oprah is

you know what, as annoying as she's gotten lately, I felt bad for her because she's heading down another wrong path...

[emug11]

Get off your high horses everyone and give her a break! I thought it was one of the most honest shows I've seen in a while! We are all here because at one point in our lives, we too have struggled with our weight, and still struggling. Low carb works for most of us but it's not for everyone. Just because she gained the weight back doesnt make her way any better or worse than the rest of us. At least she's honest and willing to work on it rather than giving up. I applaud Oprah for inspiring millions to get off the couch and get healthy again, even if it's for the millionth time.

[Tammy2002]

Originally Posted by emug11

At least she's honest and willing to work on it rather than giving up. I applaud Oprah for inspiring millions to get off the couch and get healthy again, even if it's for the millionth time.

two issues of her honesty that I question:

1) I think she weighs more than 200 pounds. If she's going to bring it up then she should REALLY be honest.

2) her thyroid issue is "cured". As far as I know it's never cured.

don't get me wrong. I'm not an Oprah hater. I actually really like her but this show was just alot of "hot-air" imo.

[melehundele]

First, unlike many, I admire Oprah; the woman has accomplished a LOT in her life, and is one of the most influential women in the world. She is in show business, and as a lot of businesses, that can include a lot of distasteful elements, but there you go.

I, however, purposely did not watch this show (I would rather watch Ellen and LAUGH for an hour in the afternoon) because it was going to be Bob Greene Day. I don't care for Bob Greene. Was it a couple years ago he was introduced on the show with the new "Best Life" program. He and O invited viewers to check out the O web site and sign up to be part of the new program. I did. But though I signed up, there was no follow-up for me as just a viewer, only pushes to join his pay-by-month program. I think that is almost as much O as Bob, but while I can see good in O, I haven't anything good to point to in Bob.

What really bugs me is the "Best Life" food rating system. Come now. Even if one goes with the idea, "everything in moderation" (which most here don't; some things are no good in any quantity), you can stick a BL seal on these processed packaged thingies and say "hey." But people get really fat if they go along and eat ONLY BL-endorsed foods. Most are carb- and calorie-dense. It is all so hokey.

And this is a grind with O as much as Bob: Could someone please explain to the good people at the Oprah show that the villain condemned by Oz, HFCS, is IN the BL-endorsed products and recommended by O? Bob on Monday, Oz on Tuesday...on Wednesday, I want to see a smackdown between Oz and Bob...I think THAT would be some good TV....

On the thyroid thing, I read about it in her magazine in December. She said she got palpitations and other hyper symptoms (thus her fear of working out strenuously; she thought she was stroking out), and then she went hypo (that CAN happen with Hashimoto's). From the time her thyroid issues hit the media, I could not figure out how O, with all of her resources, could not find a doc that would check her thyroid. And now, of course, I share everyone's confusion at how she is "cured." From her article I did not get the idea she was on meds. I'll betcha she is not cured but rather within "normal" range on the handy-dandy, "trusty" TSH scale (which means she is ultimately still hypo and is going to have her work cut out for her to lose weight). She probably would accept a doc's statement that "no treatment is required" at this point as meaning "cured," instead of understanding you need to get treatment until you are optimized.

Like I say, in general, I like O. Though I wonder how she can seem to lack the curiosity to probe deeper into her own medical conditions, I can certainly understand how she may be getting a wrong steer from the medical field. People who are tops in the field and "establishment" frequently do not recommend what patients have found to be better ways of managing endocrine conditions (and it is as true for diabetes as thyroid, and probably other things). I think Oprah, the institution, probably has a CEO style of management, which can be very effective in many things: you do not need to, or care to, know everyone, but you do need to know who to ask. She has some pretty well-credentialled people on her team, "experts" in the mainstream medical arena, but they don't necessarily "get it." And she doesn't recognize they don't.

Sometimes with the best intentions we get bad advice. The problem with people who AREN'T mainstream, in any area, is they are often crackpots. So it is tough to break away from that "safe" medical society.

On the 200 lb thing, I think she probably has a little more junk in the trunk than that. But I also think Kirstie Alley, who debuted on her show in a post-loss bikini, maxed out quite a bit higher than 228 or whatever it was. Or maybe it is my own basis for comparison that is wrong; is booty fat just lighter than belly and boob fat? Maybe they figure 200 is enough to horrify the majority of the population so they spare themselves announcing the additional pounds?

I don't blame her for gaining weight, and I don't blame her for putting it out there on her show again. She had some health issues, and I know firsthand how those can derail diet and fitness programs, cause depression, bring on feelings of hopelessness. If this all helps people get going, good thing. I just wish she would get some other experts.

But, yeah, took the afternoon off from watching Bob Greene's newest things get pimped.

But Ellen was a hoot today.

[biglosser]

Originally Posted by FloridaShell

I don't care for Oprah either.

I can't stand Oprah..she is a joke!

[sugarless4life]

Ditto. She's way too sold on herself for my taste.

Betty

[maizenbluebabe]

Originally Posted by emug11

Get off your high horses everyone and give her a break! I thought it was one of the most honest shows I've seen in a while! We are all here because at one point in our lives, we too have struggled with our weight, and still struggling. Low carb works for most of us but it's not for everyone. Just because she gained the weight back doesnt make her way any better or worse than the rest of us. At least she's honest and willing to work on it rather than giving up. I applaud Oprah for inspiring millions to get off the couch and get healthy again, even if it's for the millionth time.

emug11, I feel sorry for Oprah: she gained the weight back because she did not get really wise advice from all these so-called medical experts and she leads a very stressful life where food is probably a comfort to her as well as a source of guilt.. And like someone aid, "she is headed off on the wrong path again!" how sad! Worse yet, she is taking millions of women with her!

BUT I dont applaud her current approach to the subject--at least, not yet.: She is doing a terrible dis-service to women with thyroid issues by just brushing it aside and saying, "Oh now I am cured." She is CURED? HOW? When did this "cure" take place? How was this thyroid thing diagnosed as the cause of her problems? What KIND of thyroid problem does she actually have or is this something one of her new-agey experts told her she probably has.

We have all known people with weight problems who have said, "oh, it is glandular" or "I think I must have thyroid trouble because I gained weight" Oprah has an opportunity to educate people about a very complicated and difficult-to-treat medical problem which is of special importance to millions of women and I think much of the impatience you see in this thread is based on her superficial (so far) approach to one of the most important parts of the human body. And she seems to be using this opportunity to push Bob Greene and Dr Oz AGAIN!

If you think this negative reaction to Oprah's new program is unfair, just check in with NonstickPam and a few of her fellow-sufferers and they will provide an idea of what REAL thyroid disease is all about. (And by the way, it is usually NOT curable easily or in a short timespan of a month or two.)

[kristina]

Originally Posted by Tammy2002

you know what, as annoying as she's gotten lately, I felt bad for her because she's heading down another wrong path...

I know I was very emotional during the times when she was talking (evidently during an interview) She's struggling like we all have...it's very sad.

[Andrea78]

Originally Posted by CherryCola

I think he's a Cardiologist...an all-knowing Cardiologist!

Wasn't Dr. Atkins a cardiologist? what's that got to do with Dr. Oz's credibility? guess I'm not getting the snark here, or seriously misinterpreting your post...