Oprah Winfrey is a household name for a reason. She was born into poverty to a teenage single mother, and while growing up she faced struggle after struggle, an all too familiar narrative in the U.S. Oprah’s narrative itself, however, is not necessarily a familiar one, in fact, it became a rare one. She persevered, and despite the odds became North America’s first and only multi-billionaire black person, breaking down racial and social boundaries that have been around for centuries.
Reasonably, then, Oprah is a legend. But she’s a legend that’s charming, likeable, and easy to identify with—traits that become radically apparent when she makes comments like the one she did on Wednesday in an interview with US Weekly, in which she admits her love for tequila and wine.
It’s crazy… she’s just like us! And that’s why she remains so cool. According to the interview, Oprah’s shed 30 pounds since October with the help of the Weight Watchers program. She claimed, “I am going to be in better shape by the end of the year than I’ve ever been in my life.” (And then probably told the interviewer to look under his seat for a free pair of Uggs!)
However, anyone who has been on a diet knows that cheating is very real, especially when you like to drink. You have just one glass of wine with your pal, and next thing you know, the bottle is empty and your beach bod has become even more unattainable. Or furthermore, once slightly buzzed from the wine you start eating the complimentary bread-basket. But Oprah, the same Oprah that lost 30 pounds, is 100% down with both of these vices, just in moderation. When asked what her weakness is, she answered bread, and then added without hesitation, “tequila shots or a glass of wine.”
Alcohol is typically a no-no for dieters, an easy way to knock back calories without realizing it [a shot of tequila is about 100 calories, a 6-oz glass of white wine is about 140 calories, and a 6-oz glass of red wine can have up to 200 calories]. But if Oprah serves a single purpose—let’s face it, she serves many—it’s to let us normal folks know that if she can do it, we can too. So if you are dieting this summer, it’s OK to have a glass of wine or a slice of bread, alright? IT’s OK. Indulging in moderation is good for the soul. And for god sake, we’re only human. Just ask Oprah.
Photo credit: Sam Aronov / Shutterstock.com
