Showing posts with label Oprah Winfrey Show. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Oprah Winfrey Show. Show all posts
Friday, May 27, 2011
Lady Gaga As The Next Oprah...For Real?
I don't know if Lady Gaga is the next Oprah or not, but I know Oprah Winfrey has definitely left some big shoes to fill. Here, one last look at her impact, her influence, and her legacy.
Monday, February 14, 2011
How Calorie-Counting Changed My Life
Before January 10, 2011, I considered myself to be a fairly health-conscious individual where food, exercise, and overall well-being was concerned.
I tried to be smart about food choices (nothing fried, lots of whole grains, and very little sugar), I took my vitamins everyday, and incorporated a bit of exercise, at least, 5-6 days a week. So I felt confident that I was not taking advantage of the temple God gave me.
That said, I also had my weaknesses—cheeseburgers make the very top of that list, with IHOP's double blueberry pancakes sliding in at a close second—and there were many days where it was tough for me to pass up the opportunity to indulge myself in one or the other. However, at this point, I am finding that enough food alternatives exist that I can even keep those cravings at bay.
Quite frankly, there are more and more days where eating meat is something that doesn't happen at all. I don't crave it, don't want it, and don't miss it.
So, when I stumbled across an episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show, on my disgustingly overloaded DVR, where she challenged her staff to go vegan for one week, it intrigued me. The show offered the perspectives of both a full-on vegan in Kathy Freston, as well as that of a "vegan-ish" writer, the great Michael Pollan—who, coincidentally, changed my life with his book "Food Rules"—and I found that I fall squarely into the "ish" category at this point in my life.
While I still, occasionally, indulge myself in a meat-based product, I typically have found that I am perfectly satisfied eating tofu or a black bean burger instead. My new cereal topper is Almond Milk—which in my opinion tastes much better than soy milk—and those meatless soy crumbles you find in the frozen food section can make for one delicious fajita or taco.
Now, let me explain how all this came to be—quickly, of course, as I detest long-winded bloggery.
I won't say that I'll never eat another cheeseburger or chicken sandwich again—that Burger King Whopper is certainly a temptation that will strike me again at some point—because that's not realistic for me. However, I can say that I am a much more food aware person than I was 30 days ago and I like the change this consciousness has brought to my quality of life.
I tried to be smart about food choices (nothing fried, lots of whole grains, and very little sugar), I took my vitamins everyday, and incorporated a bit of exercise, at least, 5-6 days a week. So I felt confident that I was not taking advantage of the temple God gave me.
That said, I also had my weaknesses—cheeseburgers make the very top of that list, with IHOP's double blueberry pancakes sliding in at a close second—and there were many days where it was tough for me to pass up the opportunity to indulge myself in one or the other. However, at this point, I am finding that enough food alternatives exist that I can even keep those cravings at bay.
Quite frankly, there are more and more days where eating meat is something that doesn't happen at all. I don't crave it, don't want it, and don't miss it.
So, when I stumbled across an episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show, on my disgustingly overloaded DVR, where she challenged her staff to go vegan for one week, it intrigued me. The show offered the perspectives of both a full-on vegan in Kathy Freston, as well as that of a "vegan-ish" writer, the great Michael Pollan—who, coincidentally, changed my life with his book "Food Rules"—and I found that I fall squarely into the "ish" category at this point in my life.
While I still, occasionally, indulge myself in a meat-based product, I typically have found that I am perfectly satisfied eating tofu or a black bean burger instead. My new cereal topper is Almond Milk—which in my opinion tastes much better than soy milk—and those meatless soy crumbles you find in the frozen food section can make for one delicious fajita or taco.
Now, let me explain how all this came to be—quickly, of course, as I detest long-winded bloggery.
1. I was looking to drop about 10 pounds—those last 10 can be a stubborn beast.That's the cliffs notes version of a journey that began, roughly, four-weeks ago, and I am down better than ten pounds with a lot more muscle, a great deal more energy, and a more positive outlook on life in general thanks to the incorporation of yoga into my weekly routine.
2. The best way for me to ditch those ten appeared to be calorie cutting, which meant I needed to be more conscious of the foods I was eating.
3. Calorie cutting meant finding more foods that could give me a satisfying bite for less caloric buck.
4. Enter The Hungry Girl who often does that very thing and, voila, more substitutions in my diet.
I won't say that I'll never eat another cheeseburger or chicken sandwich again—that Burger King Whopper is certainly a temptation that will strike me again at some point—because that's not realistic for me. However, I can say that I am a much more food aware person than I was 30 days ago and I like the change this consciousness has brought to my quality of life.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Holding Her OWN—Oprah Makes An Impressive Debut
Let me go on the record and say I'm not one of those Oprah fanatics. You know the type—the ones that would buy a keychain made out of moth balls because she said it was the "best thing ever".No, I'm more of a casual Oprah fan. I admire all she's accomplished as both talk show host and philanthropist—but I'm not about to start funneling my extra money to the Angel Network.
That said, I did find myself intrigued to see what her new network, OWN, would bring to the media landscape.
I, for one, wasn't interested in seeing an inordinate amount of stories like those you often find on The Oprah Winfrey Show, which has seemingly become the place to go for some of the more troubling and depressing topics of this decade—particularly those centering around abuse and incest.
However, at the same time, I was willing to give her new network venture a chance because I fit her audience profile. I have become disillusioned with television's overall quality over the last five years and long for something better as an alternative. There is entirely too much reality television and not nearly enough substance to be found on the airwaves and it would be nice to have a choice.
So, when OWN debuted on January 1st, I tuned in to see what Oprah's next chapter looks like, and I was pleasantly rewarded with a refreshing brand of television.
One of the more standout shows was Oprah's Master's Class, on which Jay-Z was first up in offering his reflections on life and what it takes to be a success:
It was captivating to watch and it's a series that definitely seems to have legs with Condoleeza Rice, Maya Angelou, and Simon Cowell all appearing at some point.
Other shows with meat include, Searching For... and Kidnapped By The Kids, both center around the importance of family, and making connections with those most important in our lives.
The documentary covering her final season hosting The Oprah Winfrey Show is also entertaining. It's a bit like being a fly on the wall in her daily life—certainly it's a watered-down snapshot, but it offers enough of a glimpse that you get the idea of how much hard work goes into making her show the success it has become over the year.
OWN definitely has promise and I will be re-visiting the channel often—eager to see what else Ms. Winfrey has to offer.
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