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Oprah Winfrey celebrated her 72nd birthday with 72 minutes of hardcore cardio.
The media mogul took to Instagram Thursday to post a video of herself completing a grueling 72-minute fitness session at her home gym.
“I never thought I’d spend my birthday doing a workout, let alone a 72-minute one!” she captioned the impressive footage.
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Oprah Winfrey celebrated her 72nd birthday with a 72-minute workout. oprah/Instagram
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The former talk show host posted a video of her cardio challenge on Instagram Thursday. oprah/Instagram
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“But as I get older, I am fully aware that it’s a privilege to have a body that can do the treadmill, the bike, the climber, the ski machine, and every machine Trainer Peter throws my way,” she said.
Winfrey made sure to thank her fans for sending her sweet birthday wishes and cheekily concluded, “Now let me go find a book to read!”
Winfrey — who was dressed in a white long-sleeved workout top and navy blue leggings, white sneakers and a black headband — began her workout by running on a treadmill.
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She started out by running on the treadmill. oprah/Instagram
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At one point, Winfrey was so winded she couldn’t talk. oprah/Instagram
“Come on. Let’s go! This is where it all starts!” she shouted enthusiastically.
She then focused on her cycling skills by hopping on a stationary bike.
“You better work!” someone off-camera shouted as Winfrey put the pedal to the metal.
Thirty-two minutes into the sweat, Winfrey was seen walking breathlessly on the treadmill.
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She also used other machines. oprah/Instagram
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“I never thought I’d spend my birthday doing a workout, let alone a 72-minute one!” she captioned the post. oprah/Instagram
“Minute 32 of 72. Checking in,” the person filming her said, though Winfrey was too winded to respond.
Despite her exhaustion, Winfrey hopped on the climber before finishing off strong with the ski machine.
Her gym buddies sang the lyrics to Stevie Wonder’s 1981 song, “Happy Birthday,” as she triumphantly reached minute 72.
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Winfrey joked that she didn’t know her name after working up a sweat. oprah/Instagram
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“As I get older, I am fully aware that it’s a privilege to have a body that can do the treadmill, the bike, the climber, the ski machine, and every machine Trainer Peter throws my way,” she wrote. oprah/Instagram
The video ended with Winfrey catching her breath before she joked, “I don’t know my name.”
In a separate post, Winfrey reflected on her ever-changing self, writing, “Life at 72 is looking different than every 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,” she explained. “I can’t say I’m ready for the Olympics like Adele but I sure feel stronger 💪🏽 So in honor of another trip around the sun for me, go try something new. You never know where it will lead you.”
The former talk show host has been open about her health journey over the years and has addressed her weight fluctuation throughout her career.
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Winfrey has been on a years-long health journey. oprah/Instagram
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She admitted to taking GLP-1 medication for weight loss in 2023. Getty Images
In 2023, she looked significantly slimmer — prompting months of speculation that she turned to Ozempic for weight loss. That December, she admitted to taking GLP-1 medication to manage her health.
“I’m absolutely done with the shaming from other people and particularly myself,” she told People at the time, adding, “I now use it as I feel I need it, as a tool to manage not yo-yoing.”
She has since focused on getting healthy in other ways, like cutting out alcohol from her diet.
“I literally had 17 shots one night,” she previously admitted. “I haven’t had a drink in years. The fact that I no longer even have a desire for it is pretty amazing.”
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Winfrey constantly struggled with her weight throughout her career. Getty Images
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The “Color Purple” actress detailed her workout routine in 2024. Getty Images
In 2024, Winfrey detailed her workout routine during her ABC special “Shame, Blame and the Weight Loss Revolution.”
Along with “hiking three to five miles a day,” she also goes on runs and does weight resistance training.
Last year, Winfrey gushed about how longtime partner Stedman Graham has been there for her through her body-image struggles, sharing, “He has absolutely been nothing but supportive through all of it.”