"I’m mad at myself,” Winfrey writes in an upcoming issue of O magazine. “I’m embarrassed,” she says. “I can’t believe that after all these years, all the things I know how to do, I’m still talking about my weight. I look at my thinner self and think, ‘How did I let this happen again?’”

No coincidence that I read this article online Tuesday morning, and the night before in my tele-support group some of the participants were talking about their frustration with themselves re: having lost weight, knowing how to do it, understanding when and why they overeat, yet still sabotaging their long term weight loss success. One woman having lost nearly 100 pounds with Weight Watchers gained close to 30 pounds within the last 6 months. She was saying how angry and frustrated she was with herself and she couldn’t believe she let this happen. This prompted me to go on a bit of a spiel about the need for self love and compassion, trusting that you are exactly where you are meant to be, accepting what is, living in this moment, listening to your inner voice right here, right now, and acting on it’s guidance in terms of what you need to do in this moment to honor your highest good. That means not beating yourself up about the last moment or worrying about your ability to succeed in the next but rather learning to be a non judgmental witness to your behaviors and their consequences and evaluating their effectiveness in supporting you in living your best life. The words we speak to ourselves are powerful. I believe that what we say to ourselves in this moment creates our experience/reality in the next moment.

Isn’t it amazing that even Oprah would be angry and disappointed in herself? Even with all the access she has to the world’s most powerful spiritual teachers on some level she still struggles to truly/unconditionally love herself. More than anything this proves the point that we are all the same, we are all connected, we are all human.

On a very positive note Oprah has said that being thin is no longer her goal, but that she wants to be healthy strong and fit. Like I wrote in my last blog re: What Motivates You? I do know that chances are slim (pun intended!) that you will maintain your weight loss if your only motivation is the number on the scale. Motivation must come from the inside out!

Some things you may want to affirm for your life:

I listen to and trust my inner wisdom.

I treat my body with kindness and respect.

I listen with love to my body’s messages.

I say only kind and loving things to and about myself.

If you have any thoughts or comments about this blog or would like to learn more about my tele-support groups please do not hesitate to contact me at Louisa@louisalatela.com , www.louisalatela.com or 856.429.9799. Also you can read my column "Soulful Living" in WLS Lifestyles Magazine (www.wlslifestyles.com )

P.S. Thank you Oprah for speaking your truth and sharing your story. Your words resonate deeply with millions of people and serve to motivate positive change in the world. You are a most precious gift to the universe!

Edited December 11, 200817 yr by Louisa

I quit Oprah years ago, so excuse if Im behind but what is her excuse for not having wls? As much as she has a phobia about weight(always has) what is her hold up? She is putting off the inevitable, we all see it(superstar). I feel she could conquer the beast once and for all with surgical help, trainers, chef, psych, and psycholigist who could help her.

Just my 2 cents.

amanda

let me say that oprah is definately not an example to follow anyway!!!! Look at her lifestyle, she's miserable. It's going to take more than "spiritual teachers" and "inner voices" to straighten her out. Until she comes back to her roots with "jesus" she will be headed for disaster on every path that she takes. Wake up oprah!

amen!!!! Amen!!!!!!!!

Oprah may speak for millions but she doesn't speak for me and she never will.

I quit Oprah years ago, so excuse if Im behind but what is her excuse for not having wls? As much as she has a phobia about weight(always has) what is her hold up? She is putting off the inevitable, we all see it(superstar). I feel she could conquer the beast once and for all with surgical help, trainers, chef, psych, and psycholigist who could help her.

Just my 2 cents.

amanda

I dont think anyone or Oprah has to have an "excuse" to not have WLS . Its not for everyone , I get that. She should not have to come out and say why she is not having it . BUT she should not come out and say why others should NOT either.

if she choses not to have it that's her own deal. Just dont tell me you have found the CURE for being fat because your on TV.

Certain people feel differently about surgery . im not one that thinks because i had it and it worked EVERYONE should.

I do however think that WLS should not have to be a last resort , desperate measure like others do and push .

Just my 2 cents

Mindy

Im not debating it, but she keeps going on and on about it and surgery is out there, so why not if it helps? It does help many and an alternative to being fat for O too. I personally wouldnt want to live "fat and Happy" as I have told myself that lie for years, but may be truth for O, we dont know. I gained/lost the same 50/60lbs she is combating 4 x until I just became exhausted. If she needs band, its available. maddy

She could probably get the band and no one would even know. She could just say she is on another one of her diets. I actually thought she might have gotten it this last time she lost weight because she kept it off for so long.

One of the tabloid magazines says Oprah's going to have gastric bypass, but those mags are wrong as often as they're right.

I hate the attitude that by having WLS you're taking the easy way out, that you're not "earning" your weight loss. As if putting up with 100 extra pounds for 20 years isn't "earning" it. People who don't have obesity problems look at it like cosmetic surgery.

I received the mag yesterday, and I have to say the caption was very honest and self-degrading. I don't think she is full of herself at all. I think it takes courage to get up there and post a pic of yourself on the cover like that. What bugs me is that fact that she always has to pose for a cutesy pic on the front cover. I think deep down she does not like herself at all. It's actually very sad and a good point that was made that with all her resources she still strugges.

Lets not forget she is in the entertainment field and she had to write about SOMETHING every month, so just take it as is and get over it.

Who cares? In the end it is "me" getting on that scale every morning and Me that I have to answer to. My business.

ILets not forget she is in the entertainment field and she had to write about SOMETHING every month, so just take it as is and get over it.

Lol, no she doesnt. She could always just shut up.

Sorry, but I have to agree-- she's no better than the rest of us, but- she does prove that lots of money and a team of weight loss guru's can't stop that thing we all, including Oprah, have in us that eventually makes us gain back the weight we worked so hard to loose. So, it just validates my desire to have a band- She should consider a band herself.. one thing is for sure, if her insurance won't cover her surgery she'll have no trouble with self-pay.......

i was thinking the exact same thing !

Oprah is about the best example of narcissism in our society as I have ever observed. She tries to make up for her self-perceived "flaws" by over-compensating. She shows off her "generosity" as much as possible, yet has no real connection to actual REAL LIFE. I live in Chicago; I have been watching her for years. It's all an act, and she does it to make herself more money.

The issue with her weight is HER issue. She has to deal with it the same as the rest of us. The biggest difference is that she somehow thinks that she's SO wonderful that if she "speaks out" about her issues, that it will somehow "help" all of us poor, unfortunate souls, who have nothing to live for.

I haven't watched Oprah since I was in college 10 years ago. She is a hypocrite and is out for herself.

Why does she always put herself on the cover of the magazines? It looks like she could put some plus size models or some real people on the cover.

I quit her years ago and I live in Texas, but was happy to see she came out on top with ranchers/meat battle as she did no wrong to anyone. Beyond that shes O,O, OPRAH, all about herself. I got tired of her so she was easy to quit.

She doesnt want to deal w/fat issues, but the rest of us do?

Quit complaining, get band(if you need it) and show other obese people a new way , nothing wrong with being spokesperson for new way of life living at appropriate weight. Happy, Happy O

Why does she always put herself on the cover of the magazines? It looks like she could put some plus size models or some real people on the cover.

good point ! i mean, martha stewart has her own magazine, but she's rarely on the cover.

Amen to that!