Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Oprah Sucks...so does smoking

Sorry, but that title is honestly all I could come up with at this point in time. And once again, I must apologize to my mother for using the word (sucks). In her home, it is a word considered to be tacky, foul, crude, unladylike, etc. But, sometimes it's the only word that fits!

It is no secret that Oprah irritates me...and that's putting it mildly. As I have mentioned in the past, I do respect her charitable contributions. At the same time, I fully expect a billionaire to do what she does. In addition, I hope she does nice things for others when the cameras aren't rolling. In the spirit of Christmas, I will tell myself she does. Beyond charity (that may or may not be for the sake of self-promotion), I can't say she does anything all that admirable.

Her Messiah like following and powerful hold over women absolutely disgust me. She does put on a good show, I'll give her that...but, did you notice the word show??? She can work a crowd, excite people, and use the power of words. She does her job well. I understand that. But what continuously baffles me is why this is so impressive?!? I know at least 15 women who, if given the opportunity, could do Oprah's job just as well, or better than Oprah does. I am serious.

It scares me that women, many of whom proclaim faithfulness in God, if faced with a challenge might first ask what Oprah would advise, say or do. How to find strength and courage from within, praying to a loving Heavenly Father, looking to family and friends for guidance...these are all afterthoughts. Thoughts that may come only after reading Oprah's self-indulgent magazine, or watching her show. This is bothersome to me. The woman has no credentials. She is a journalist and entertainer. And, when she does have professionals on her show, she often interrupts and acts as though their thoughts/wisdom are her own. Strange.

I understand some women watch her show for sheer entertainment. I am not criticizing anyone's entertainment choices, as I am certain some of mine would baffle you. To each her own. So to all Oprah fans, I respect your entertainment choices. But, my opinions of her will stand firm.

Now, on to what this post is really all about. I read this a few moments ago:
Winfrey, 54, details her recent struggles with an out-of-balance thyroid and how the condition made her develop "a fear of working out." She says she's added 40 pounds to her frame since she weighed 160 pounds in 2006.

OH MY GOSH!! Look, I have a serious thyroid imbalance myself. In fact, I spent most of last spring in and out of doctor appointments, emergency rooms, etc. Some of this was attributed to my thyroid problems. I have, in fact, gained around 15 pounds in one year. What I wouldn't give to have the national stage for just one moment to say: "See the real reason I weigh 138 (yep, that's a pound more than when I last posted about weight) is because of my thyroid and I'm just so scared, I can't work out. That's why I am squishy and mushy in all the wrong places."

WAAAH, WAAAH, WAAAH, get over yourself. As I plead in my letter to Oprah, just TELL THE TRUTH, and I don't mean the half-truth. I mean the whole truth. I have noticed her truth changes depending on which version gives her the most mileage with her audience.

So you have a thyroid issue, millions of women do. But the complete truth is that you love food more than you love working out....me too. While a thyroid imbalance can set into play many random problems and annoyances, less food and more working out can counteract these. Oprah and I are alike in that we should have more concern for our health and less concern for how delicious that food tastes or how much we hate to work out!

In the past she has admitted her love of food and lack of love for exercise. But, how many times can she say things like this.....
She weighed as many as 237 pounds. By late 1990 admitted she had regained most of the 67 pounds, saying "I'll never diet again". In 1994, she finished the Marine Corps Marathon and by 1996 hired personal trainer Bob Greene, saying her "roller-coaster weight saga is over"....before having to come up with a new topic of discussion??? Her publicist must be thrilled over this new found thyroid disorder. It should make for several emotional, tear-jerking shows. Oooohh, and how about following her to have her bloodwork done, and take lots of pictures. That could be turned into on fabulous magazine cover.


As a woman dealing with a thyroid that fluctuates from hyper to hypo, back and forth, I can say it isn't pleasant. But, to use it as an excuse for inactivity and overeating is just pathetic and misleading. On the other hand, I know where she is coming from...when I first learned of my thyroid problem I felt better about my flab. But that was fleeting because I value truth over excuses. I prefer to focus on choices, not things that are out of my control. I choose to eat cupcakes and I choose to spend any free moment I have writing, reading, or cleaning...as opposed to exercising. The thyroid is somewhat out of my control, but it shouldn't be used as an excuse. Although, that would be easier than what I just did...admit to all of you that I am a lazy, good for little, overeater of sweets!

I have a difficult time respecting hypocrites and those whose version of truth changes with each new agenda. Oprah's BMI places her in the obese category, which obviously brings with it numerous health problems and costs to tax payers. Oprah's best buddy, Obama, is a smoker...well, on and off and on again....the bottom line being he participates in an activity that costs us billions of dollars each year. Both of them are advocates of universal health care. Ahhh, leftist, entitlement mentality at its finest. I'll do whatever the heck I want, and the rest of you can pay for it. I am irresponsible, but that's ok because the responsible people in my country will make it all better.

I have a plan: Oprah, you get your health under control. Have your pal Obama get his stinky habit under control. When your own backyards are nice and tidy, then I might listen to what you have to say about healthcare. But until the time that you two can get your own acts together, please save your self-righteous, fake do-gooder attitudes.

I won't sit by quietly, head stuck in the sand, while people preach down to those of us who could very possibly end up paying for their poor choices. If I did, I would not be staying true to the woman I am. And then, I would suck too.

13 comments:

SWILUA said...

my favorite "sucks" alternative is "sux."

means the same thing... looks *slightly* less bad... ;-)

Unknown said...



I was just thinking the same thing about Obama this morning. And...I always think that of Oprah.

Anonymous said...

touche on Oprah! I can't even remember the last time I watched an episode. Is she still on?

Anonymous said...

Several thoughts:

(a) "FEAR" of working out....I am so feeling that one! I have just developed a "FEAR" of doing laundry, scrubbing toilets, cooking, definitely cooking, I mean the stove gets all hot and everything...Wow....little did I know that "Fear" could serve such a useful purpose!

(b) as a 20 year "fear suffering thyroidette" I wish someone would have told me as I continued to drag my potentially gianormous rear end up the stairs to my gameroom to face another encounter with the gosh awful treadmill that if I could only feel and express "the FEAR"I could trash the idea........dang it! I am ALWAYS the LAST to know everything!

(c) If Oprah only weighs 200 lbs., I will personally eat my feet!

(d) as for me and my house we just say,
"NO-PRAH to OPRAH."
(goes great with "NO-Bama!")

Natalie.."stinks" (preferred word) Oprah "stinks"...and of course,as any proper belle would, you could always add, "bless her heart.!"

love, mom

Shauna said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Shauna said...

I just keeping thinking how amazing it would be if she could use her power and influence in a positive way!!! She needs to get over herself! It scares me how out of control she has become lately. Her and Obama belong together. I cant even watch anymore. There is nothing that makes me more crazy than when people don't accept accountability for there actions and play victims.

Susan Anderson said...

I used to like Oprah in the early days because she was down to earth. (These days, not so much!)

It's funny you should write about her here. My sister and I have spoken a few times recently about the changes we see in Oprah. For us, she has become living proof that too much power and influence can create real problems for a person. She seems, at this point, to have fallen for her own publicity!

(One thing hasn't changed...She picks the most dismal, depressing, disheartening books on earth!)

Rachel Mohat said...

LOL to your moms comment. Bless your heart is my most favorite saying in the world. I am always blessing my heart as well as those around me. But I digress...
Onto your blog. Bravo as always. Its so much easier to make excuses for why we are the way we are, rather than just accept that maybe we just aren't perfect. Everyone has a reason as to why we don't look the way we want to. But plain and simple it all boils down to we just don't want to put the effort into it. While I agree thyroid issues can contribute to weight, it just means you gotta work that much harder. It bites, I can imagine you don't want to do it. Especially Oprah. She has such a "busy" life, spreading good will and cheer to all. *snickers* RIGHT! She just shows up, does her show and goes home and sits on her butt all day and wants a medical condition that explains why she is the way she is.

"A man told his doctor that he wasn't able to do all the things around the house that he used to do. When the examination was complete, he said, "Now, Doc, I can take it. Tell me in plain English what is wrong with me?"

"Well, in plain English," the doctor replied, "you're just lazy."

"Okay," said the man. "Now give me the medical term so I can tell my wife.""

Kathy said...

Natalie, today I was recalling how fun it was to be your visiting teacher. Your fabulous wit always brightens my day. I feel the same way about Oprah. I had seen a couple of her shows lately because I like the Drs. she has on her show, cannot remember their names. But I had noticed she has put on weight. I also laugh at her magazine, because she is so vain as to always have her picture on the cover. Have you ever noticed her covers? She always looks so good. Better even than on her own show. Can you say photo shop? So I wondered if something was going to be said about her weight gain any time soon. How funny. You know I have a sil who has thyroid problems and a bil who had his removed. I have never once heard them blame their thyroids on anything. Except my sil who stated she the doctor was worried about her weightloss and she did not want to up her meds as she like the weightloss. :) Thank you for being so honest and funny about things that really do bother me too. sucks and cr-ap are words I try not to use either but sometimes it is the way I feel. LOL :) you rock.

Shauna said...

I'm new here! What a great blog :)

Em said...

LOVE your blog. so glad you liked my "running" post. i must say i do love oprah, but not in the "i think you are god" kind of way;-) more in a "oh my gosh, i'm such a paranoid parent b/c i just saw this show on oprah" kind of way, haha, maybe i should stop watching!

La Yen said...

I wish Oprah would give me some of her money. And then put a pie in her hole and be done.

little jill said...

I want to know--who still watches her? I think I'm in the Oprah demographic and not me nor my friends watch her. So who is?

Apparently not you

Cheers to that!

p.s. I've always been annoyed at how she cuts off therapist sort of guests and inserts her two cents. Does she have a degree and several years as a therapist. Um, no she does not.