Oprah Winfrey, who has struggled with her weight for many years, doled out the worst piece of advice last week I’ve ever heard her give: She told Kirsty Alley, the now obese, former Jenny Craig spokes model/actress that she shouldn’t “set herself up” for failure by setting a date for her weight loss. I’ve never been so disappointed in a role model, and later it made me really angry. I LOVE Oprah. Everyone loves Oprah. But it made me angry that the richest woman in the world, and more importantly, the most influential woman in the world, would be so thoughtlessly irresponsible by offering advice in an area she’s failed at for years. You won’t hear this in the mainstream media because everyone’s afraid to tell Oprah the truth. It’s sad for her, but what about the 100 million impressionable young women she just told NOT to set themsleves up for failure by setting a date when they will be thin and healthy?
My new book, which is currently only available in ebook format (softcover will be out in July) tells the TRUTH about the psychological delusion fat people fall into that keeps them fat. You can read 5 chapters for FREE at www.diefatbook.com
After you read them, I’d love to hear your comments about this post. Steve Siebold (7:48)
8 thoughts on “Oprah is DEAD Wrong”
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I don’t know what kind of comparison you would make between your own mental toughness and that of General Norman Schwarzkopf, but berating those who have been unsuccessful at weight loss as lacking in personal courage might be missing the mark. I recently spoke with Col. Glen Frazier at a book signing. He is the author of Hell’s Guest, the account of his survival during and after the Bataan death march. Although you would call him overweight. I don’t think you would challenge his mental toughness.
I was wondering when you lost the weight. Mental toughness as it relates to weight loss is a temporary asset and people who lose weight gain it back. Yes, there are rare exceptions, but most people know of no one in their circle of friends who have lost 35 pounds and have kept it off for 5 years. My own doctor could not name a single patient of his who had managed it.
The National Weight Loss Registry has about 4500 members. Their requirement for membership is a 35 pound loss sustained for 5 years. If this were limited to the United States alone, that would be about 90 for every state in the union.
the Weight Watchers Organization did a study of their graduates and at five years the successful members had maintained a loss of about five percent of their body weight.
With the exception of the Subway guy, (Jason?) virtually all weight loss success stories center around people who have just lost their weight or are in the final stages of it. One of your first letters on this web page is typical.
Congratulations on your own success and I hope you can keep it off. One of the nicer benefits is to be able to scold people who are unsuccessful by pointing it out as their own fault. It ain’t your book’s fault, is it?
Perhaps you will post this version (typo fixed!)
I saw a review of your new book in the Metro newspaper in Boston and have found this blog as a result. Here is my story.
About a year ago I went to a world renowned hospital and paid big bucks for their 20 week weight management program because I weighed 284 pounds. I was risking serious health problems at that weight (I am a 5?6? female) and wanted recovery – badly.
The hospital program included a physician, psychiatrist and nutritionist. They spent 20 weeks basically talking about feelings, telling me I was fat because of genetics and the “only thing” that would work for me was gastric bypass surgery.
I disagreed.
In September, I joined Weight Watchers and … followed their directions about healthy portion sizes of nutritious foods and worked the program rigorously (including exercise) and 11 months later I have lost 75 pounds. I did this by rigorously adhering to the program, reminding myself about my strong desire to get fit and healthy and yes, setting goals.
My current goal is to lose an additional 5 pounds a month to total over 100 pounds off by the end of 2009.
Goal setting and mental toughness work. I am going to Amazon now to write a review for your book! Keep up the message – America needs it.
I saw a review of your new book in the Metro newspaper in Boston and have found this blog as a result. Here is my story.
About a year ago I went to a world renowned hospital and paid big bucks for their 20 week weight management program because I weighed 284 pounds. I was risking serious health problems at that weight (I am a 5’6″ female) and wanted recovery – badly.
The hospital program included a physician, psychiatrist and nutritionist. They spent 20 weeks basically talking about feelings, telling me I was fat because of genetics and the “only thing” that would work for me was gastric bypass surgery.
I disagreed.
In September, I joined Weight Watchers and … followed their directions about healthy portion sizes of nutritious foods and worked the program rigorously (including exercise) and 11 months later I have lost 75 pounds. I did this by rigorously adhering to the program, reminding myself about my strong desire to get fit and healthy and yes, setting goals.
My current goal is to lose an additional 5 pounds a month to total 100 pounds off by the end of 2009.
Goal setting and mental toughness work. I am going to Amazon now to right a review for your book! Keep up the message – America needs it.
Oh, I know what happened here… you were damn hungry from living on a diet solely consisting of mental toughness secrets for 4 days straight washed down with quotes from Proctor, Wilson, Nightingale et al, and you take start gnashing your teeth on the fat girl hoping to get a scent of blood to quell your hunger! Well, that just won’t cut it, tennis boy! Do you honestly think that a mere 2,000 years of real proof that goal setting actually works is something we all should believe just because it’s a fact??? Where do you get off? Come-on, just because setting dates to reach your goals works for nearly everyone who strictly and passionately works hard to achieve them doesn’t mean you’re right!
Oh, I hear what your thinking right now Elbow Man- “92% of the time IT WORKS EVERY TIME!” Well that may be true, but what about the other 8% that quite comfortably go through life with goals that have NO target date and they never hit them? Why should they be excluded from very successful talk-shows? Huh? Kirsty Alley is wonderful, and now there is even MORE to love! How can that be a crime? It could be worse… she could have vomited on the show. How would you like that on your conscience???
We’re watching you Seafoam!
Oh, by the way, great comment about Oprah!
Thanks for your comment, Mike.
You are absolutely being kind and right to Opra and anyone who hears you, Steve. On this one Opra took the warm fuzzy you’re ok rather than tough love look in the mirror take charge attitude.
My company also has a weight management program and one of the things I always tell people is our products work but not if you don’t. We take a holistic body, mind and spirit approach including exercise and diet along with the products – no discipline, no commitment, no vision of the end result no results.
You know when you tie something to time it doesn’t always work out perfectly on target BUT it’s a decison that makes all the difference in the world and there is no in between.
Mike
Re Oprah – you are 100% right Steve.
Someone needs to set her straight. My opinion is, you should be the one! I am grateful that I pretty much know your new ebook inside and out. What it is is a BLESSING to anyone who needs help in the fat loss arena.
I have lost 20 pounds already so far following the practical and healthy principles it contains. We need to spirit this book to the table right next to Oprah’s reading lamp!
And I for one can’t wait to see that look of wonder, humility, and astonishment on her face when she ‘gets it’– on TV you see it in her demeanor in her dealings with folks like Dr. Oz and Bob Green the great trainer. She’s suddenly no longer the powerful icon, she’s little girl Oprah soaking up the wisdom of the ones she looks up to through because of their wisdom and knowledge.
You will bowl her over, and who knows how many lives your work on this book will save once it reaches Oprah’s audience.
Whatever it takes, DIE FAT OR GET TOUGH deserves to be an option for all Americans battling with their weight.