On Monday, Al Roker celebrated the 20th anniversary of his gastric bypass surgery by saying he “will never forget” how far he’s come since losing over 100 pounds.
The 67-year-old Today weather anchor marked the occasion on Tuesday, March 15, by sharing photos of himself in his old jeans to show he was half the size he was two decades ago.
“Hard to believe it was 20 years ago today, wearing these size 54 Levi jeans on a 340lb #gastric bypass and here I am today,” he wrote in the caption.
Al Roker, 67, celebrated the 20th anniversary of gastric bypass surgery on Tuesday.
On the day of the operation, Roker weighed 340 pounds and wore size 54 jeans. After the procedure, he lost over 100 pounds. He is pictured in March 2001 (left) and February 2022 (right).
“It’s still a struggle, but I’m never going back,” he added. “Every day I fail and I struggle, but I never forget how far I have come.”
Rocker’s post received a lot of love from his Today show family, including host Savannah Guthrie, who praised her longtime friend for his hard work and dedication.
“You are so inspiring. Every day. Every minute,” she blurted out.
“You are Yoda to my Uncle Skywalker Al!” Carson Daly commented, while Jenna Bush Hager added, “Come on Al!!!”
The rocker also shared footage of him trying on his old Levis, which slips on easily without unzipping. Jeans were so big for him that it seemed that one more person could fit into them.
The Today weather anchor shared photos of himself in his old jeans to show he’s half the size he used to be.
Rocker admitted that maintaining his weight is “still difficult” but he “will never forget” how far he’s come over the years.
Rocker’s candid anniversary post got a lot of love from his Today show family.
In a follow-up post, he shared a video of himself sweating out on his home treadmill, explaining that while times are tough, it’s important to prioritize your health.
“A ball of disorder, that’s what the world is like today, but you can take care of yourself and those around you,” he said. “Make sure you do it.”
Rocker opted for bariatric surgery in 2002 after years of unsuccessful dieting and weight-related health issues. The gastric bypass helped him lose weight to 190 pounds, but it was not a panacea for his eating problems.
It wasn’t until he gradually gained around 50 pounds that he realized he had to rethink his diet and fitness for good.
The Today star spoke candidly about his struggles with overeating and weight loss, and how it affected his life, career, and marriage to television journalist Deborah Roberts, in his 2012 book Never Go Back: Winning the Battle to Lose weight forever.
The turning point in Rocker’s health journey came after he promised his dying father, Albert Lincoln Rocker Sr., that he would lose weight and prioritize his health.
Rocker (pictured in January 2001) detailed his struggles with overeating and weight loss, and how it affected his marriage to television journalist Deborah Roberts, in his 2012 book Never Go Back: Winning the Weight Loss Battle forever”.
Rocker (pictured with his wife in December 2002) dropped to 190 pounds after surgery but gained about 50 pounds, which made him realize he needed to reevaluate his diet.
“My wife is a size 4; she runs, plays sports, and this has become a problem in our marriage. On Saturday she got up, dressed for a run, and I sat on the couch or cooked breakfast for the children and was quite happy with our choice. She, on the other hand, was not,” he wrote in an essay for Today in 2013.
“She was upset about it, she was upset, she was angry,” he recalled. “She thought, ‘Why don’t you take care of yourself enough and why don’t you take care of me and our relationship enough to change?’ And I said, “Look, this is not about you. It’s about me”.
In Roker’s memoirs, he explained how the turning point in his journey to health came after he promised his dying father, Albert Lincoln Roker Sr., that he would lose weight.
“I don’t know if you have ever had to make a deathbed promise to someone you love, but if so, then you know what guilt and great responsibility I felt at that moment,” he wrote.
Rocker continues to maintain weight through regular exercise, including power walking and a healthy diet. In 2019, he lost 40 pounds on a high-fat, low-carb ketogenic diet.
In a follow-up post, the Today star shared a video of him working out the sweat on his home treadmill, explaining that while times are tough, it’s important to prioritize your health.
Rocker (pictured with Roberts in February) continues to lose weight through regular exercise and a healthy diet. In 2019, he lost 40 pounds on a high-fat, low-carb ketogenic diet.
Rocker has vehemently defended the low-carb eating plan after former Biggest Losers coach Jillian Michaels insisted it was a “bad” diet for “a million reasons.” They are pictured in 2013.
The ratio of fat to carbohydrates and protein is 4:1 on the keto diet and the goal is to lose weight by achieving ketosis, a natural state in which the body burns fat for energy rather than carbohydrates.
While there are many proponents of this diet, there are other health experts who warn against it as a weight loss plan.
Rocker has vehemently defended the low-carb eating plan after former Biggest Losers coach Jillian Michaels insisted it was a “bad” diet for “a million reasons.”
In a scathing tweet, he accused her of promoting “on camera bullying, deprivation, manipulation and more” as a trainer on a weight loss show.
“What works for you works for you,” Rocker later clarified on the Today show. “On both sides there is science that says it’s not a good idea and science that says it’s a good idea. I think it depends on the people – their doctor, their health worker – [to make their own decision].’