Ringing in her 72nd birthday, Oprah Winfrey is not slowing down.
Instead, she’s showing off her new physique and strength in an Instagram post after losing 50 pounds through strength training and hiking.
Adding Strength Training
The Instagram post features Oprah Winfrey in workout gear, performing a deadlift with careful inhales and exhales.
In a portion of the video, Winfrey chuckles, recalling a time she “didn’t know” what a deadlift was. “I remember Adele told me she was deadlifting and I didn’t know — I pretended to know — what she was talking about.”
Her explanation was followed by the 2021 interview of the pair. In the November 2021 interview, Adele talked about her weightlifting skills to Winfrey, even saying she felt like she “could be in the Olympics.”
Today, Winfrey called back to that interview, writing in the caption: “Life at 72 is looking different than ever other decade. Two summers and two new knees ago, I decided to add strength training to my workouts because we all need to maintain muscle as we get older. I can’t say I’m ready for the Olympics like Adele but I sure feel stronger.”
Winfrey’s strength training is a great complement to other types of exercise, including her favorite, hiking, which she refers to as a “metaphor for life.”
The Benefits of Deadlifts
There are plenty of benefits to incorporating deadlifts into your workout.
Deadlifts fall into the strength training category, which is essential in workout routines as we age. This is because we naturally lose muscle mass, and preserving what you currently have is paramount.
It allows you to stay stronger for longer and allows you to move with more ease. Strength training also helps with long-term bone health.
Deadlifts are particularly useful, as they work several major muscle groups, including the quads, hamstrings, and glutes. It’s important to note that beginners shouldn’t dive right into this workout, as it requires control and skill throughout your body, such as your core and back.
There are several variations of deadlifts, and all are great for your physical health as you age.
Making the Change
Oprah Winfrey decided to make the change and prioritize her health after her knee surgery.
“After [the surgery], I started hiking and setting new distance goals each week. I could eventually hike three to five miles every day and a 10-mile straight-up hike on weekends. I felt stronger, more fit, and more alive than I’d felt in years.”
This change was prompted by her knee surgery, but also due to years of being shamed by the media.
“I have blamed and shamed, and I blamed and shamed myself,” she said in an interview with People about her body insecurities. “I was on the cover of some magazine, and it said, ‘Dumpy, Frumpy and Downright Lumpy.’ I didn’t feel angry. I felt sad. I felt hurt. I swallowed the shame. I accepted that it was my fault.”
Now, Oprah Winfrey is speaking out about her weight loss journey and newfound strength, leaving her fans with one last message in her Instagram post.
“So in honor of another trip around the sun for me, go try something new. You never know where it will lead you.”