New York Times: Oprah Winfrey's ratings and popularity tanking out

[Laurent]

Originally Posted by NoDayButToday

I have a friend who keeps switching between hyper and hypothyroid issues. It's really hard for her doctors to get under control and keep under control so she'll yoyo like crazy. They'll get her on new meds, she'll stabilize, and then it'll switch over and she'll gain or lose a ton of weight at once til they get her on the right meds again. Its really frustrating for her, and I hate Oprah, but it's possible her problem is a bit more complex than a straight thyroid problem.

I freely admit I'm no fan of Oprah's, and think she's a self-important asshole, so my opinions about her are likely tainted by that. But the constant yo-yoing when you don't actively contribute to it would SUCK.

If that's the case, I might be forced to feel a shred of sympathy for her.

[mamaste]

I don't think Oprah is really that big. She seems close to a good weight for a woman of her age. If she does have hypothyroidism, that coupled with being in her menopausal years makes it very difficult to keep weight off.

Peach, I agree that Oprah is an elitist and is quite self-centered. That said, it's not all that uncommon for a rich person to buy million dollar homes while ignoring the less fortunate. As for the Hermes store incident, even Oprah said it didn't happen that way and gave Hermes a chance to explain the situation on her show. However, you are right about her talking over people because she did it to the Hermes guy, too.

If people quit treating Oprah like she's there personal god and Oprah stopped believing it, maybe they could learn to get along. I admit I watch her show sometimes. I've even bought things mentioned on her show (mainly books), but I don't care what Oprah does. I vote for who I want to vote for. I read books I want to read. I don't need Oprah to tell me what to do.

[Bellatheball]

Originally Posted by Sasha

She claims she was tested for it after suffering the symptoms for years. This part is credible, because both my mother and sister had to fucking demand the doctors test them for it. Many doctors have the attitude of "put down the fork and get some exercise" and think hypothyroidism is just an excuse women are trying to grasp at so they don't have to do what is necessary to lose weight. I admit my mother had a problem with doing that, but my sister had been eating right and exercising for years with no noticeable results. It's like trying to push a boulder uphill trying to lose weight with hypothyroidism. The medication regulates the thyroid which regulates metabolism. "Hypo" means the thyroid and thus metabolism is sluggish and you CANNOT treat hypothyroidism without meds.

It is total BS. Please, I don't even have thyroid and had to go off all of my meds after cancer surgery. I didn't gain an ounce and my TSH was almost 20 times higher than it should have been. Look through the studies. Hypothryroidism doesn't account for more than a few lbs gained at most.

[Sasha]

^^I didn't say it accounted for outright obesity. I said it can, and does, make your metabolism sluggish so that it's hard to take off pounds. That is a fact.

Common Hypothyroidism Symptoms

The most common symptoms of hypothyroidism are:

• Fatigue/exhaustion
• Serious difficulty losing weight
• Gaining weight inappropriately
• Depression/anxiety
• Low sex drive, or no sex drive
• Pains, aches and stiffness in joints, hands and feet
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Difficulty concentrating
• Memory problems
• Feeling cold, especially cold hands/feet
• Infertility
• Frequent miscarriage
• Stillbirth or premature birth
• Constipation
• Hair loss, hair thinning
• Hair loss from outer edge of eyebrows
• Menstrual irregularities (heavy, long, more frequent periods)
• High cholesterol levels
• Hoarse, husky or gravelly voice
• Strange feelings in neck or throat, for example, a feeling of "fullness," or pressure, a choking sensation, or difficulty swallowing, a lump or growth in neck area
• More frequent infections, or infections that last longer, especially sinus infections
• Snoring, sleep apnea
• Shortness of breath and tightness in the chest
• Puffiness and swelling around the eyes and face
• Swelling in feet, hands
• Swollen eyelids
• Heart palpitations, mitral valve prolapse

About.com

[KristiB]

I bet she'll end up having GBS and crediting her new vegan diet for the weight loss.

[hotncmom]

The thing is, if Oprah stopped worrying about looking thin, and just ate well and exercised and focused on her health, she'd be much better off. Nobody gives a shit if she's chunky. She should've never brought it up and it wouldn't have been an issue. She's the one who spent so many shows focusing on her latest and greatest weight loss regime and had Bob Greene on there touting his crap and putting her name on weight loss books and stuff. She has no one to blame but herself for the focus on her yo-yo weight.

Personally, I think for the most part, except when she was at her most obese, Oprah looks good, as does Queen Latifah. I even think Star Jones looked better heavier. Some women are just not meant to be thin, and Oprah is one of them. She needs to stop obsessing and just do what's healthy.

[mamaste]

Originally Posted by hotncmom

Personally, I think for the most part, except when she was at her most obese, Oprah looks good, as does Queen Latifah. I even think Star Jones looked better heavier. Some women are just not meant to be thin, and Oprah is one of them. She needs to stop obsessing and just do what's healthy.

I totally agree with you. Great post.

[GaPeach]

Originally Posted by sparkly

What?! I thought she believed in Jesus too. How intolerant of her to attack someone on her show for having a different belief.

go to youtube and type in oprahs religion - she darn mean. She used to talk about her Christian faith then suddenly she's new age. We all are Gods.. sorry I know me, even on my best day I'm not God.

About her weight. Everytime she lost weight it became a " I LOST weight and so can you" It's always a "do like me" OK people are not dogs but my dog had a thyroid problem and she was heavy through no fault of her own, with her meds she is actually thin. Last I heard Oprah is on a veggan diet.

coming clean
I don't like her because...
her attitude towards Christians
her sell out pro Tom Cruise
playing the race card... even with the O.J. thing
turning into a snob

btw Steadman is supposed to be coming forth with a tell all.. haven't we heard that before?

[dolem]

Originally Posted by Palermo

I refuse to buy her magazine, anybody that has to have a huge picture of themself on every single issue has issues.

Seriously, how vain do you have to be to have yourself on EVERY single cover?

I was beyond annoyed when she made such a massive deal because Hermes didn't open for her. I don't believe Oprah is nearly as popular is mainstream French media as she is in America so it's very likely they didn't know who she was. Plus, the store had closed early for a function, they had every right to refuse service to her or anyone else.

Just because you are wealthy doesn't mean you are entitled to treat people like crap and pull out the race card because you weren't allowed into Hermes whenever you wanted.

I also refuse to buy a book if it has her stupid "O" on it. I hate it when her book club "steals" a good book that I had been eyeing because now I can't read it. I know that's completely stupid but I don't want to support her idiotic book club.

[buttmunch]

I did so a long time ago, but people are getting sick unto death of her sanctimonious attitude. It was only a matter of time.

Ever since she did that show last year announcing her hypothyroidism she's REALLY been on my shit list. My mother and sister both suffered this disease, and all she and that quack doctor she had on talked about was how it was your fault for not expressing yourself. As if O had a problem with that. They recommended R&R (O said a month at her Hawaiian retreat CURED her. Riiiiight bitch). and eating right. Well yes, but they never talked about crucial meds and how to talkto your doctor. Many, many doctors (including "Dr." Phil on past O eps) have the attitude of "you are just fat, stop looking for excuses" and O did nothing to help change that attitude.

Now look at her, all fat again. Funny how that works-she's suffering hypothyroidism and not taking any meds, if you are to believe what she says on her show.

And just to add to that, they kept hyping SOY products, which many experts believe contribute to hypothyroidism. Hey O? You might want to look into that and stop listening to shills for Soy products.

Is this for real? I don't watch her but as a long time sufferer of tyroid problems I can tell you that it is not controlled by diet and rest. I nearly died from my problems. I hate Oprah more than ever. Next thing you know she'll be telling tinytom he can pray the gay away.

[Sasha]

buttmunch-yes it is true.

An open letter to Oprah's viewers about Thyroid Disease: Your Thyroid Condition is NOT your own fault:

[buttmunch]

For fuck's sake, St. Bloody Oprah has really lost it. I cannot even believe she's embracing that 'it's all your fault' shit. Put this woman out of her misery. Better yet, send her on a spiritual quest around the world, one in which she cannot make any contact with teh world for at least 12 solid fucking months. She's like a snake oil salesman these days. Cow.

[Beeyotch]

The reason I doubt her thyroid issue is because I remember how in one of her weight loss books she went into detail about how obsessed she was with eating. She loved eating fattening food, and she loved eating a lot of it. The simplest, most common scenario, and it's a hard one to change for good, I sympathize with how hard it is because I'm the same way. But I don't think it's hypothyroidism.