It's been more than 20 years since then Al Roker He underwent gastric bypass surgery, but he still remembers what his father told him that inspired him on his weight loss journey.
“To be honest, I've struggled with my weight for most of my life,” 70-year-old Rucker said. the people In an interview published on Monday, January 6. “My father was very ill, and sometime towards the end, he made me promise that I would get back into shape.”
He changed the promise and his rude words from his father today View reporter's life forever.
“Look, we both know I won’t be here to help you raise your kids,” he said bluntly. “You have to be here for your kids,” Rucker recalls of his father's final warning. “That's what really stuck with me, which led me to have gastric bypass surgery.”
Rucker underwent gastric bypass surgery in March 2002 at the time She weighs 340 pounds. By the end of that year, he had lost 100 pounds.
Beloved today Cohost revealed in his 2013 memoir, Never Go Back: Winning the Weight Loss Battle ForeverHe gained 40 pounds after his mother died in 2011, but he managed to do so Skinny to 205 pounds By 2012.
“I used to use travel as an excuse to eat poorly. Now I don't go anywhere without my scale; I literally pack it with me,” Rucker said. procession In December 2012. “It gives me permission to have a bad day, or even just a bad moment. In the old days, it was like, well, I screwed it up; Maybe I'd better go into the wilderness.' Now it's[like]'OK, I made a mistake, let's get back on the wagon.'
Twenty years after his surgery, Rucker is still celebrating his health journey. He shared a photo of the size 54 Levi's jeans he was wearing when he arrived at the hospital. Writing on Instagram In March 2022, “It's still a struggle but I'll never go back.”
“I have setbacks and I struggle every day, but I never forget how far I've come,” the meteorologist, who says he's now trying to stay near the 190-pound mark, revealed.
It's been a fitness journey for Rucker, too Frustrating sometimes Due to other health problems. In September 2020, it was Prostate cancer diagnosis. After undergoing surgery to remove the prostate, lymph nodes and some surrounding tissue, Rucker was deemed cancer-free. His prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels dropped below 1 as a result of the surgery, meaning it was technically undetectable.
Two years later, Rucker suffered another health crisis that caused him to miss three weeks of work at the hospital today displays. He clarified in November 2022 that he was Admit to hospital He had a blood clot in his leg. According to a social media post Rucker shared at the time, “some clots” were sent to his lungs.
Rucker eventually needed surgery to repair the blood clots and was readmitted to the hospital After several days As a result of complications. He later reported that surgeons discovered two bleeding ulcers and removed his gallbladder.
He remained home, recovering until the end of 2022. Rucker returned to NBC broadcasting in January 2023.
“Al's recent hospitalization was very scary. (He) considers himself very lucky to have received quick treatment and knows that in the end he is lucky to be alive.” A source said exclusively Us Weekly at that time. “He has been so brave all this time, never complains or feels too sorry for himself, and always wants to know how others are doing even when he is at his lowest. He is now following all the doctors’ advice.”
Since his recent health scare, Rucker has refocused on his health journey. This month he became the chief stimulus officer for Start your fitness app todayproduced by today displays.
The app allows followers to get meal plans, daily motivation tips, fitness challenges, and more health help in one place.