I’ve been tracking the Oprah/Weight Watchers story closely, because I’m fascinated by our diet industry, and I’m obsessed with the relationship that women have with food and their body.

So, I want to offer you a look at this issue from three perspectives.

1. The Money
2. The Message
3. The Magic…or “hidden” gift in Oprah’s diet

So first:

THE MONEY ISSUE:

Let’s look at the money angle with the perspective that the diet industry is a $60 BILLION industry. There is a LOT of money to be made in the world of helping (or promising to help) people lose weight.

Oprah’s involvement in this biz is best summed up by one of my favorite teachers, Marion Nestle professor of nutrition and food politics:

““It’s a classic conflict of interest — she’s flacking a company in which she invests. The more she flacks, the more people join, and the more money she will make.”

OK, so that can feel unsavory for sure. When it looks like one of the wealthiest people in the world is trying to sell us weight loss, it can feel icky.

I’ve heard the word “disappointing” a lot used in this Oprah conversation. People are disappointed that Oprah would feel the need to sell us something – especially something in which the intrinsic message is – “ you aren’t ok the way you are – you should change”…ugh!

THE MESSAGE ISSUE:

The message in Oprah touting Weight Watchers is that THIS is the answer to all our unwanted weight issues.

Oh dear…let me tell you: if Weight Watchers was THE answer, I would not be a Health and Psychology of Eating Coach! I was on the Weight Watchers plan on and off for about 10 years in my 20’s, and it did not help me create peace with my food and body.

The thing is… DIETS DON’T WORK! Yes, they can help you lose some weight – in the short run – but it most often does not stay off.

The statistics on weight gain after weight loss via diets are staggering: 95% of folks who lose weight, gain it back within 2 years.

The cycle kind of looks like this:

• Feel unhappy with your weight
• Diet
• Get excited about your new diet
• Lose weight
• Be unable to stick with your diet
• Gain weight
• Feel like a failure
• Gain more weight
• Feel unhappy with your weight
• Start again.

YOUCH! That does not work…ON SO MANY LEVELS!

1.    Wouldn’t you rather do something else with your energy than be obsessed with staying on a diet?

2.    Aren’t you tired of taxing your body and compromising your health with “extreme” eating swings?

3.    Would you like to be LOVING yourself – no matter what size you are – and from THAT place, make food choices that enliven you?

And to get back specifically to Oprah, I find it a bit disappointing that someone who has empowered millions and millions of women would choose to promote a program that inherently makes us feel like our worth is tied to the number on that scale.

THE MAGIC: OPRAH’S HIDDEN GIFT

OK, so what’s the silver lining in all this for you?

Here are 2 ways you can benefit from Oprah’s new, VERY public diet strategy.

1. KNOW YOU ARE NOT ALONE!  NO ONE IS PERFECT! THERE’S NO IDEAL TO LIVE UP TO!

Even though Oprah is amazing, amazing, amazing, she is a person too! She has struggles just like the rest of us. She is trying to be as healthy as she can be. She also wants to help other women be healthy too. That’s great (although I think her specific method here, is a bit off). But the lesson in her doing Weight Watchers, is that we should just stop putting other women on pedestals and making them “right” or “better.” It’s time to let the compare and despair mindset go, and know that we are JUST RIGHT as we are.

Sure, we are always evolving and growing as women – we are always experimenting with how to feel most at ease and healthy in our body – but there’s no “there” to get to. SO RELAX, you are awesome!

2.  DON’T BE SHY ABOUT WANTING TO PUT YOURSELF FIRST

That’s the thing about Oprah – she does everything BIG! Her spiritual life – BIG! She made talking about your inner world and spiritual world totally normal. So she’s going big on this one. She’s saying “I WANT TO FEEL GOOD IN MY BODY ” – and saying it loud.

Again, I don’t love the approach, because I think Weight Watchers gets too hung up on the rules and the scale, which ultimately does not foster our own trust and listening to our body (which we need, to create sustainable healthy practices). And also, I don’t think losing weight is THE only way to feel good in your body. It’s a bit backwards actually.

When we nourish ourselves well, focus on doing things that make us feel good – then often our weight rebalances. Basically losing weight is the icing on the cake of loving yourself and deeply nourishing yourself

So, if Oprah can step up to the plate and say “I want to feel good AND deserve it”, so can you! Declare with all your might that you want to love yourself – be nourished – and feel great in your body.

Like she’s saying in her ads:

“I’m ready, are you? Come join me!”

So what are you ready for?

• Do you want to feel good in your body?
• Do you want to be eating food you love, that loves you back?!
• Do you want to stop criticizing yourself for your size or shape?
• Do you want to be loving yourself more?

All this is possible – WITHOUT A DIET!

So, yes there are some downsides to Oprah selling weight loss and underneath that, telling us (implicitly) that we are better if we are thinner (negative message!) – but the big benefit I see in Oprah’s campaign and really in her in general – is GO FOR WHAT YOU DESIRE – and get support! She’s not doing it alone!

I would, of course – given my Nourished Woman approach – go for what you desire in a way that gives you great pleasure and joy in your life. But don’t hold back, don’t wait for the right time or ‘til the stars are aligned.

Claim your awesomeness now, don’t let anyone else define it and go for what you want!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~