Al Roker Remembers When He Wore Size 54 Jeans: 'I Never Forget How Far I’ve Come'

NBC's "Today" weather anchor Al Roker is a well-versed journalist, and TV personality who often co-hosts the news program "3rd Hour Today."

Roker has previously undergone several surgeries, including a knee replacement in 2001 and 2016, gastric bypass surgery in 2002, and a back operation in 2005. 

The gastric bypass surgery enabled him to lose 100 pounds after eight months, and he recently took to Instagram to recall his overweight days when he wore size 54 jeans.

About twenty years ago, the renowned weather broadcaster was 340 pounds, and he proudly shared his achievement in maintaining his now slight figure.

Roker posted photos showing the size 54 jeans he wore to his bypass surgery in 2002. He wore the jeans in two of the pictures, which significantly differed from his present size.

The journalist captioned the post, "Hard to believe it was 20 years ago today, I wore these size 54 Levi jeans to my #gastricbypass at 340lbs, and here I am today." 

"It's still a struggle, but I'm never going back. I have setbacks and struggle every day, but I never forget how far I've come," he continued.

Thousands of fans, including celebrities like Savannah Guthrie, Carson Daly, Molly Hager, and Epatha Merkerson, were proud of his inspiration. They also appreciated his encouragement even when he had his battles.

A few years after losing weight, Roker wrote an essay for "Today" where he opened up about the impact of his obesity on his physical health and his marriage to Deborah Roberts, a journalist for ABC News.

According to Nicki Swift's report, the weather anchor detailed, "My wife is a size 4; she runs, she works out, and it became a problem in our marriage. She was upset about it, she was frustrated, she was angry."

In the essay, Roker further ranted about how nagging and pleading do not help obese people in a relationship where the partner is of lesser weight. 

He stated that something had to click within the overweight person to discover they were fed up with their lifestyle and needed a change.

When Roker was about to go through gastric bypass surgery, he was embarrassed to tell his coworkers so. Instead, he lied about having his gall bladder removed.

He believed that his admitting to needing surgery was "the ultimate admission of failure." The author thought so because of his past failed dieting efforts, including Scarsdale, Atkins, Weight Watchers, and Jenny Craig.

Roker revealed that the failed attempts led him to gain back the weight he had lost with extra five to ten pounds. 

After the surgery that reduced his stomach, the 67-year-old eventually knew that he needed to change his view of food, particularly limiting his rations.

He told U.S. News & World Report, "I used to look at a pint of Häagen-Dazs and call it a serving size. Now I know that I can have a couple of spoonfuls, and I'm done. I'm more in control - and I'm controlling food."

In November 2020, Roker returned to the "Today" show after his successful prostate cancer surgery. He announced his diagnosis about two weeks before the operation, whereby he mentioned his prostate would be removed.

USA Today reported that the expert weatherman felt pretty good at the time for the care and support he received from his family, health professionals, coworkers, and fans.

He previously appeared on the "3rd Hour Today" show to give a health update and express gratitude to hosts Dylan Dreyer and Sheinelle Jones for sending him get-well-soon gifts.

Roker felt very lucky as the doctor checked him and told him there was no cancer. However, he would have to get tested every six months for the following five years.

The broadcaster mentioned that lymph nodes were removed around his prostate, and he did not feel sore, but the surgery caused swelling around his midsection.

As the news outlet revealed, the prostate cancer diagnosis came about after his regular physical checkup. He updated fans to let them know the condition was treatable if discovered early.

Roker shared his journey to educate people, especially men, on how to protect themselves and not for people to pity him.