Oprah Winfrey proudly displayed her noticeably slimmer figure while departing from a gym in the Santa Barbara area this past Friday. The iconic former talk show host, who is approaching her 72nd birthday on January 29, was captured on camera strolling towards her vehicle following an invigorating fitness session.
A Multi-Faceted Approach to Wellness
In 2023, Winfrey candidly revealed she had utilised weight loss medications, such as Ozempic or Wegovy, describing them as a valuable "tool" in her health arsenal. However, her strategy extends far beyond pharmaceutical aids. The media mogul has embraced a comprehensive healthier lifestyle, committing to rigorous exercise six days a week.
Rigorous Fitness Regimen and Lifestyle Shifts
Her workouts are diverse and demanding, incorporating treadmill running, hiking, and weight lifting. "I don't recognize the person who feels sluggish when she doesn't work out," Winfrey confessed in a recent interview with People magazine. This transformation represents a significant shift from her past struggles.
In the early 1990s, Winfrey's weight peaked at 237 pounds, a period she has openly discussed. While her current weight remains private, she has expressed a goal of reaching 160 pounds. A pivotal moment in her journey was moving beyond self-blame. "I thought it was about discipline and willpower. But I stopped blaming myself," she expressed. "I feel more alive and more vibrant than I've ever been."
Complementing her fitness dedication, Winfrey has also eliminated alcohol from her life. "I haven't had a drink in years. The fact that I no longer even have a desire for it is pretty amazing," she explained, marvelling at her own evolution. "I hardly recognize the woman I've become. But she's a happy woman."
The Role of Medication and a Personal Revelation
Winfrey's relationship with GLP-1 medication has been one of experimentation and understanding. She recently recounted on the Today show how she deliberately stopped the medication last year to test prevailing theories. "I was off of the medications all last year, and I gained 20 pounds because I wanted to test it," she recalled, aiming to challenge assumptions about inevitable weight regain.
Despite maintaining a healthy diet, she found the weight creeping back, along with the persistent "food noise" – constant thoughts about eating. This experience solidified her view of the medication as a crucial management tool. "I now use it as I feel I need it, as a tool to manage not yo-yoing," she told People in 2023, describing the prescription as "relief, like redemption, like a gift."
A New Perspective on Weight and Willpower
A profound personal epiphany reshaped her entire outlook. Discussing her journey on The Jamie Kern Lima Show podcast, Winfrey described the moment she realised her weight struggles were not a moral failing. "I was like whoa it's not even my fault - all these years, all those diets... I'm not my fault," she emotionally shared, pinpointing 2023 as a turning point.
This revelation was further explored in a conversation with Dr. Ania Jastreboff on her own podcast. Winfrey explained that taking GLP-1 medication helped her understand that what she perceived as a lack of willpower was actually the presence of "food noise." "One of the things that I realized the very first time I took a GLP-1 was that all these years I thought that thin people had more willpower... they're not even thinking about it. They're eating when they're hungry and they're stopping when they're full."
Public Steps and Personal Freedom
Her public journey has included significant steps. After disclosing her use of weight loss medication, Winfrey resigned from the board of WeightWatchers in February 2024. She continues to share her story, most recently in her co-authored book, Enough: Your Health, Your Weight, and What It's Like to Be Free, which was released on January 13.
Dressed in fitted blue leggings, a white long-sleeved top, and comfortable sneakers during her Santa Barbara gym visit, with her hair pushed back by a thick headband, Oprah Winfrey embodies the vibrant, healthy life she has passionately built. Her journey stands as a powerful narrative about combining medical science with personal lifestyle transformation to achieve wellness and self-acceptance.
