Oprah Winfrey is being upfront about struggling with her weight.
In a new cover story for People, the media mogul opened up about her weight loss and use of GLP-1s. Part of that journey meant viewing exercise as a lifestyle, abstaining from drinking alcohol, and not guilting herself when eating something as simple as a croissant.
“I would have been thinking, ‘How many calories in that croissant? How long is it going to take me to work it off?" Winfrey said. "If I have the croissant, I won’t be able to have dinner.’ I’d still be thinking about that damn croissant!”
Becoming sober was also a big deal for her. “I could outdrink everyone at the table,” she told the magazine. Now, she feels indifferent to alcohol. “I was a big fan of tequila. I literally had 17 shots one night,” she said. “I haven’t had a drink in years. The fact that I no longer even have a desire for it is pretty amazing.”
Elsewhere in the interview, Winfrey revealed her workout regimen, which involves moving her body six days a week for about two hours, hiking, doing cardio, or resistance training. “I don’t recognize the person who feels sluggish when she doesn’t work out," she said,
Ultimately, Winfrey said she feels free from the burden of constantly thinking about her weight. “I’m not constantly punishing myself,” she says. “I hardly recognize the woman I’ve become. But she’s a happy woman.”
Winfrey—who is approaching her 72nd birthday on Jan. 29—is also gearing up for the release of her new book with obesity expert Dr. Ania M. Jastreboff, Enough: Your Health, Your Weight and What It’s Like to Be Free, on Jan. 13.
“I thought [weight loss] was about discipline and willpower. But I stopped blaming myself,” she added. “I feel more alive and more vibrant than I’ve ever been.”
