Oprah's Not The Only One Packin' On the Pounds

Oprah's fat again, and - ahem, not to mention any names - but a few of the rest of us have porked up right along with her.

America's favorite yo-yo dieter has fallen off the wagon again.

But instead of wrapping herself in a mu-mu and ignoring it; which she could certainly do, because let's be honest here, who's going to call Oprah out? She's outed herself and is inviting us to join her as she works to reclaim her health.

At fifteen, OK twenty, pounds over myself, you better believe I've got the Tivo set for those shows. However, aside the from much-needed, and always quickly forgotten, guidance in self-care and nutrition, I think Oprah's weight issues hold some important lessons for anyone struggling with their own Achilles heels.

I'm not talking about the fact that brown fat looks better than white fat. Or that skilled stylists and tailored clothes flatter a full figure. While those us of us trying to cram our blubber into cheap polyester are only making things worse.

Those things are certainly true. But I think the larger lesson we can learn from Oprah's weight challenges is that everybody has something, and maybe its OK to cut yourself some slack. It doesn't matter whether you're a global icon, or a middle-aged actuarial clerk, nobody is perfect at everything.

The brilliant scientist hasn't mastered interpersonal communication skills; the fun-loving mom can't keep the kids on a schedule; the strategic thinker forgets to pick up the laundry, and the queen of talk succumbs to the siren call of jelly donuts.

Such is the dichotomy of the human condition. We are both flawed and fabulous, at the same time.

Oprah's weight issues show us that you can be an empowering thought-leader, a life-changing philanthropist, and propel the entire planet towards the greater good, yet still struggle with your own internal junk.

Sure, she could come up with all kinds of excuses. She's busy, no time for exercise, all those high-cal galas and banquets. But the bottom line is, she's just like the rest of us, a human being who is a work in progress.

Which is great news for all the overweight, time-challenged, procrastinating slobs out there (speaking just for myself of course).

Oprah is living proof that your flaws don't have to detract from your fabulousness.

You're fat? So what? You can still be creative, brilliant and loving.

Terrified of public speaking? Who cares? You can still make the best Halloween costumes on the planet.

Awful at time management? It doesn't mean you can't be an empathetic boss.

Sure, your flaws may trip you up. After all, if you gain too much weight you won't be able to leave the house.

But you don't have to let your flaws define you.

How often have we held ourselves back because we felt like we were fakers, somehow not good enough to go out there and make things happen? We're deathly afraid that the world is going to discover our shortcomings. As if somehow we're the only person who has any.

So, once again, I'm gearing up to join Oprah on the road to better health. But in the meantime, I'm not going to let my ab flab or any of my other many flaws, keep me from liking myself.

Lisa Earle McLeod is an author, keynote speaker and syndicated columnist. Her books include Forget Perfect and Finding Grace When You Can't Even Find Clean Underwear. Her expertise is humor, spirituality and business, an unique combination that helped hundreds of companies make more money, find more meaning and laugh.

Follow Lisa Earle McLeod on Twitter: www.twitter.com/lisaearlemc

Comments

[benne]

No real science supports that 10 or 20 pounds overweight hurts your health. What does hurt is yo-yo dieting. So why not focus on your health and not on your weight?

[FdeBear]

Oprah looks fine! She's a mature, healthy woman with hips. Adolescent boys are the only ones without them. You can't hold back the inevitability of genes and time. Her appearance is impeccable and tasteful. What else do people want? With her dough she could live a fabulous private life and not be hassled. My words to her "Enjoy!" Your LIFE is more important than your scale.

[peonyharp]

I love it!

Finding grace...yeah, that's me.