Al Roker, the beloved weatherman from the Today show, is championing the launch of the new Start Today fitness app, reflecting on his own enduring health journey. At 70, Roker embodies the app’s core philosophy: making small, daily choices that contribute to significant long-term change.
“It’s about the smaller choices that you make every day that add up to the big things,” Roker, the app’s Chief Motivation Officer, explains. He emphasizes the importance of a positive mindset, encouraging users to avoid feeling defeated by setbacks and instead focus on starting fresh each day.
Roker’s personal experience underscores this message. He faced life-threatening blood clots and internal bleeding in 2022, survived prostate cancer in 2020, and underwent gastric bypass surgery in 2002. His journey has been marked by resilience and a commitment to ongoing health.
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A pivotal moment in Roker’s health journey came when his ailing father urged him to prioritize his well-being for the sake of his children. This promise led him to undergo gastric bypass surgery. While the surgery was a significant step, Roker acknowledges that maintaining a healthy lifestyle is a continuous effort. “Every day I work at this. You’re never quite done,” he says.
He compares the ongoing commitment to health to the enduring bonds of family. Just as one never stops being a parent or a friend, the pursuit of wellness requires consistent effort. Roker’s role in the Start Today community focuses on sharing his insights on nutrition and leading walks, his preferred form of exercise.
Roker emphasizes that finding time for fitness doesn’t require lengthy workouts. He often walks on the treadmill for 20-25 minutes before the show, incorporates 10 minutes of strength training, or simply walks home from work. He believes that “something’s better than nothing,” a philosophy inspired by his wife, Deborah Roberts.
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Ashley Codianni, vice president of content strategy at Today, reinforces this principle, stating that the Start Today app caters to all fitness levels. The app offers short workouts for busy schedules, guidance on healthy grocery shopping, and comprehensive resources for those seeking more intensive training. Users can access instructor-led workouts in walking, yoga, and Pilates, learn from various contributors, and utilize nutritionist-designed recipes tailored to different dietary needs. The Start Today app aims to provide a holistic approach to wellness, empowering users to make sustainable healthy choices, regardless of their starting point.
