Recently, the tabloids, news and Internet entertainment outlets have been inundated with stories of celebs and their weight battles. Melissa Joan Heart (who will always be Clarissa to me) dropped her baby weight and won a magazine cover.  Stephanie Pratt (yeah, I don’t care know who she is either) claims her TV stardom *ahem* caused her to become bulimic.  Kelly Clarkson is made fun of incessantly for her weight gain, and is SO refreshing in her response that everyone can just STFU.  Kirstie Alley has gained back all her weight and then some after being a spokeswoman and success story of the Jenny Craig program.

But, no one has had their weight, and their weight battles, discussed, documented and shared so intimately, usually under her own terms, more than Miss Oprah Winfrey.

Oprah owns the female race.  She’s extraordinary: she’s a self made billionaire entrepenuer that rose up from a horrific childhood to break so many gender and color barriers, while still keeping herself approachable, relatable and beloved. Women break down at the mere sight of her.  The screech of her audience is enough to bring planes down out of the air.  Women take her advice no matter how unfounded, unproven, or down right ridiculous (don’t get me started on The Secret).  She has the unheard of ability to be arguably the most powerful female in the world and an every-woman at the same time.

So when we see Oprah’s weight go up and down over the years on TV sets everyday, how does the real every woman react? How does the woman who sits at home everyday watching her show, struggling to make ends meet and raise a family, let alone get to the gym, react to this Powerhouse’s inability to keep the weight off.  Does someone with every possible resource at their disposal (personal trainers, nutritionists, personal chefs, the best doctors) and still can’t take off the weight motivate or discourage those women at home?

The feelings are mixed:

” When Oprah gained the weight back and said, “How did I let this happen?” I felt like this big star feels the exact same way I do. I’ve said the same words to myself more times than I can count. To hear someone like Oprah, even WITH all her resources, voice my thoughts publicly and struggle the same as we all do gave me a sense of comfort.” – Dori, from Dori’s Shiny Blog

“I think it depends on how positive you are in your health journey. If you’re struggling and you’re negative, you’ll see Oprah et al., failing as a sign that there is no way you could ever do it, therefore you should give up. If you’re positive though and struggling, you’ll see that everyone, regardless of their resources, struggles with the same issues and you’re normal.” -Gemfit from Staying On Course

“What I like about Oprah is that she is has been at different weights at all points of her road to success. She didn’t have to be skinny to “make it.” - Allison K of  More to Love…

“Oprah- I think it’s a total let down. I think she probably makes a lot of woman feel like fitness isn’t achievable. People probably say “if Oprah can’t lose weigh with a personal chef and a personal trainer and all the money in the world for the healthiest organic foods and exercise equipment how can I??” I seriously hope that’s not the case but I fear it is. “  – A of KubicleKitchen

Now it’s your turn to weigh in (ha, pun.) What do you think of Oprah’s public weight battle- motivating or discouraging?