I've battled my weight for decades now, like many people with type 2 diabetes. I might win a skirmish here or there, but there doesn't seem to be a victory or even a ceasefire in my near future. It's hard to understand why I can't conquer this when I've conquered smoking and other bad habits. It's even harder to forgive myself for failing repeatedly.  

That's why I was relieved (delighted is more like it) to see Oprah all over the news this week "confessing" to her weight re-gain. If you watch her show or read her magazine or even scan the tabloid covers at the supermarket, you already knew she was gaining again. But she came forward to talk openly about it, perhaps partially to boost her New Year's week ratings. I also believe it was to help herself and others. As Dr. Phil says, you cannot change what you don't acknowledge.

I don't wish Oprah any harm; she seems like a pretty cool human. But I am so glad that one of the richest billionaires in the country, with access to private chefs, famous trainers, doctors, masseuses, etc and every option money can buy, can't seem to win the battle either. That seems very small of me, but it's true. It's very comforting. Especially since aside from the money, she's obviously very smart, hard-working, disciplined and has all those "good" qualities that I tell myself are lacking in me and the cause of my endless fight.

When my copy of O came in this week, I read the article first thing. One part of it really struck me the wrong way. Oprah talks about being on 3 prescriptions about a year ago, mostly as a result of thyroid issues. She told her doctor "All this medicine is making my life feel like a flat line". So the doctor slowly weaned her off them, except for an aspirin a day. She does warn not to stop meds without your doctors approval and/or help. She credits the choice to get off meds as the beginning of her road back to health. There are millions of us who are on meds for life, mine don't make me feel "flat-lined" at all. I know she was just speaking of her own experience, but it felt as if she were feeling a little superior or something. It's a big part of the less than 2 page article.

Oprah's regular feature "What I Know For Sure" in the back of the magazine also addressed the weight gain. I thought this was very revealing. She says that as far as falling off the wagon, the first things to go were meditation and gratitude journaling. These are very important tools in my own food struggle. As Oprah has said before, and does in this issue, is that she treats food like an addict treats their drug of choice. I have the same problem, and the answer is not strictly in diet and exercise, it's a whole-body, spiritual and mental answer too.

I hope Oprah's public discussion of this failure helps other overweight and obese people. At the very least, maybe it will convince a few people that the answer is not in the expensive, late night informercial pills that are hawked endlessly in this country. I often feel like buying my own 30 minute show to say - "Hey, if the solution could be purchased - don't you think Oprah would be thin???"

I've already set up the Tivo to catch the first week of Oprah in the new year.  Perhaps it will inspire me to continue changing my body.  For 4 months I've been working out 3-4 times a week, and it's starting to show, and I can't wait for my next A1C.  Now.... if I could only get the food reined back in.