Al Roker celebrated a physical milestone this week following his life-threatening health scare, sharing that he walked over 13,000 steps on his ‘bum knee’ before his knee replacement next month.
The Today host, 68, took to Instagram on Monday to post a photo of his Apple Watch to show that he clocked in a whopping 13,667 steps during his morning walk over the weekend.
‘Yesterday was the #bestdayyet when it comes to my steps on this #bumknee before my #kneereplacementsurgery in late April,’ Roker wrote in the caption.
The weatherman also thanked the Start Today ‘family’ who patriciate in the show’s 30-day walking challenges for their support.
Al Roker, 68, celebrated walking over 13,000 steps following his life-threatening health scare late last year. He is slated to undergo his third knee surgery in late April
The Today host took to Instagram on Monday to post a photo of his Apple Watch to show that he clocked in a whopping 13,667 steps, saying it was his ‘best day yet’
On Tuesday’s show, Roker explained that he was able to reach his step count with a combination of walking outside and walking on the treadmill in his dressing room while prepping for the broadcast.
He had shared on Instagram a week before that he was happy to be walking over 10,000 steps again as he faces his third knee surgery in two decades.
‘Before my left knee went south, a 10k+ step day was no big deal. Today was the first day, I felt good walking this much,’ he explained after hitting 11,184 steps. ‘But the knee replacement of this 22-year-old knee replacement is just around the corner.’
In 2001, Roker needed surgery on his left knee due to a car accident and ongoing struggles with his weight.
‘Due to complications, I was in the hospital for 11 days,’ he told Today. ‘And after some tough rehabilitation, back on the air after a month.’
Roker also had his right knee replaced in 2016, his hip replaced in 2019, and shoulder surgery in 2021, among other procedures.
Roker shared on Instagram last week he was happy to be walking over 10,000 steps. ‘But the knee replacement of this 22-year-old knee replacement is just around the corner,’ he added
The Today star had his first knee surgery in 2001 after a car accident and struggles with his weight. He underwent bariatric surgery in 2002 (pictured)
Roker has been candid about his weight loss over the years, and he celebrated the 20-year anniversary of his gastric bypass surgery on March 15, 2022
The father of three faced a life-threatening health scare late last year after suffering from blood clots and internal bleeding.
He underwent a nearly seven-hour emergency surgery to treat two bleeding ulcers. Doctors had to resection his colon, remove his gallbladder, and fix a tear in his duodenum, the first part of the small intestine that connects to the stomach.
Roker made his triumphant return to the Today show on January 6 following his two-month medical leave, which included a total of four weeks in the hospital.
‘My doctor said the physical condition I was in because of the walking — because of the cardio — that probably helped save my life,’ he explained.
On March 15, 2022, Roker marked the 20-year anniversary of his gastric bypass surgery, saying he will ‘never forget’ how far he has come since losing more than 100 pounds.
Roker endured two hospital stays and a seven-hour surgery to treat his life-threatening health issues after suffering from blood clots and internal bleeding late last year
Roker (pictured with his wife) made his triumphant return to the Today show on January 6 following his two-month medical leave
He marked the occasion on Instagram by sharing photos of himself with his old jeans to show how he was half the size he was two decades ago.
‘Hard to believe it was 20 years ago today, I wore these size 54 Levi jeans to my #gastricbypass at 340 lbs and here I am today,’ he wrote in the caption.
‘It’s still a struggle but I’m never going back,’ he added. ‘I have setbacks and struggle every day, but I never forget how far I’ve come.’
He also shared footage of himself trying on his old Levis, which slid up easily without being unbuttoned. The jeans were so big on him that it looked like they could fit another person.
Roker has continued to keep the weight off with regular exercise, including power walking, and healthy low-carb meals.
Last June, he shared that he had lost about 45 pounds by combining a daily walking routine with a low-carb diet.
‘Exercise, and not extreme exercise — we’re doing that 30-day walking challenge — that improves, I think, your mental health,’ he said on the show.
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