Oprah Winfrey, 72, Shocks Fans With Weighted Plank Hold for 'Over a Minute'
- - Oprah Winfrey, 72, Shocks Fans With Weighted Plank Hold for 'Over a Minute'
Jane LaCroixFebruary 18, 2026 at 2:52 AM
0
Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images
At 72, Oprah Winfrey is proving that strength doesn’t have an expiration date.
The media mogul recently stunned fans after sharing a gym video documenting her fitness evolution—from barely holding a plank for 10 seconds to powering through a weighted version for more than a minute.
The clip, posted to Instagram on Monday, February 16, included a throwback to her very first attempt on August 10, 2024, where she visibly struggled before dropping to the mat at the 10-second mark.
“As we age—and you want to age well—one of the things I've learned is that flexibility and strength is the most important, particularly for women and our bones,” Winfrey said in the video. “And so I started strength training.”
View this post on Instagram
Fast forward to today, and the difference is dramatic. After hitting that original 10-second milestone, she confidently adds, “I can go 20 more seconds,” before the video cuts to footage of herself planking while lifting weights. “That was the goal!” she says, shaking her fist at the camera in victory.
“Planks are the most challenging exercise for me. My first one in 2024 lasted 10 seconds. Now I can do them for over a minute, with weights, and whatever creativity Trainer Peter throws my way 💪🏽,” Winfrey wrote in the caption of the video.
🎬 SIGN UP for Parade’s Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬
Her renewed commitment to strength training comes amid a broader health transformation. In a recent interview with PEOPLE Winfrey opened up about beginning GLP-1 medication in 2023 and how it reshaped her relationship with her body—and even alcohol. “I feel more alive and more vibrant than I’ve ever been,” she said. “I was a big fan of tequila. I literally had 17 shots one night,” Winfrey admitted. “The fact that I no longer even have a desire for alcohol is pretty amazing.”
Reflecting on the emotional side of her journey, she added, “I thought it was about discipline and willpower. But I stopped blaming myself.” Now, she says, she feels “liberated from the struggle”—and, judging by that weighted plank, stronger than ever.
This story was originally published by Parade on Feb 18, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
