For 17 years, Hoda Kotb greeted viewers each weekday morning as co-anchor of Today. After nearly two decades at NBC, the 60-year-old decided it was time for something new. She's now offering lessons in happiness with her app, Joy 101, which launched in May. This article explores Hoda Kotb's evolving journey, encompassing her career transitions, wellness pursuits, and strategies for achieving a balanced and fulfilling life, including her approach to health and fitness.
A New Chapter: Launching Joy 101
"I've had many transitions," Hoda says of launching her wellness endeavor, which was inspired by a life-changing breathwork session. "I've moved jobs and relationships, but this one for some reason just feels like it was right for me." That doesn't mean that it came without at least a little trepidation. "Pivots are risks because everybody needs insurance and a paycheck," she says. "I got some great advice from a friend: 'When you’re thinking about a new chapter, put 10 percent of your time and 10 percent of your money toward the dream, and keep your job so you can pay your bills. Grow it until you feel like you’re on solid footing and can make that pivot.'"
With a sense of optimism and excitement about what her future holds, Hoda shared some firsts and favorites-plus how she's focusing on her longevity-with Women's Health in a recent conversation.
Early Influences and Foundational Values
Hoda's journey has been shaped by key influences and experiences. Her mother served as an early inspiration, demonstrating resilience and determination. Hoda recalls, "When she turned 60, she ran the Marine Corps Marathon. She was drenched in sweat and delirious by the end. But I will always have the memory of her running up that last hill to the Iwo Jima memorial. When I need inspiration, I think to myself, If she could do that, then I can do this."
Her first job delivering The Washington Post at age 12 instilled a sense of responsibility and work ethic.
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Embracing Wellness and Longevity
Over the past few years, Hoda says she has also been focused more on feeling healthy mentally and physically, in large part so she can spend more time with her daughters, Haley, 7, and Hope, 5.
"When I feel good physically and solid emotionally, I'm like, oh, man you feel like you could live forever. And that's really at the crux of it. When I think of my little kids, I often think of longevity," she says. "I want to be there, so I'm not going to be worried about it. I'm just going to do all things in my power so that I get to see them walk down the aisle, have a graduation. I want to witness that.
Hoda prioritizes both physical and mental well-being. She incorporates indoor cycling and weight training into her routine, noting, "I’ve always done [indoor cycling], but now I’ve added weight training and I feel like my body’s changing…I joined a gym that’s the kind where you see beefcakes: lots of weights, and sled pushing.… I have more energy than ever before."
For mental clarity, she practices meditation, stating, "The clarity that comes after-I’m sharper and have good ideas."
The Intermittent Fasting Experiment
Hoda and her co-host Jenna Bush Hager are trying intermittent fasting, we’re seeing how it works. It’s supposed to help with not only weight loss but brain health, and energy and skin.
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Hoda said she’s already feeling the perks. "Yesterday, when I was coming home from work in the car, usually I’m kind of vegged out listening to something-I was weirdly alert," she said. "I was texting people, I was responding to things. I’m sure people here were like, ‘oh my gosh, is she okay?’ But I was like, ‘yes, I can do it, let me see the video.’ It was very unusual for me. So maybe it’ll help."
Addressing Body Image and External Pressures
Hoda Kotb had some things to say about an old employer who made some unsavory comments about her physique.
In the episode that aired on Monday, December 2, Kotb admitted that she could relate to the Wonka star, recalling, "I still remember I had just started working at a small market, and I played basketball in high school, so I always assumed I was in shape, even though literally after college and stuff, I wasn't." She continued, detailing an exchange with her boss: "I still remember my boss going to me, 'Hey, Hoda,' and I was like, 'Yeah?' He goes, 'Hey, I got an idea -- maybe you might wanna try to get on the treadmill.'""No!" her co-host responded, appearing shocked.Kotb replied, "Yeah, so I was like, 'What are you talking about?'" before adding, "But, if you don't fit, they want you to wear something a certain way, cut your hair a certain way, speak a certain way."
Weigh-in Reactions
Hoda Kotb said she was "mad" after weighing herself on Tuesday's episode of Today.
She said went to the gym after she weighed in on live TV at 158 pounds. "I was mad after our weigh-in yesterday," she said. "I was just sweating. They say that if you’re sweating, your fat is crying, right? So that’s what was happening."
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Jenna, who was 171 pounds at the weigh-in, also said she wasn’t thrilled with her number. "I was reminded why I don’t weigh myself yesterday," she said. "I was playing with my kids and I kept having that one number in my head. And I was like, no, no. I don’t want life to be controlled by a scale."
According to Hoda, the two won’t weigh themselves every day. Instead, they’re going to check their weight here and there to check on their progress. But Jenna said she thinks the weigh-ins are important for her. "I think I needed it, because I think I’ve been delusional," she said. "The thing is, we’re not saying we need to be some number to be us-we’re happy with us. But we just want us a little svelter."
Reassessing Life's Priorities
Hoda announced in late September that she will be leaving her role as TODAY co-anchor - but her efforts to reassess her life and priorities began much earlier than that, she explains.
In a recent interview with TODAY.com at TODAY's Making Space Wellness Weekend with Hoda Kotb, sponsored by Miraval Resorts & Spas, the journalist and mom of two said a simple trick suggested by her friend Maria Shriver helped her realize she wasn't spending her time how she thought she was.
"(Maria) goes, 'You need to reassess your life. … Go into your cabinets and get a platter,'" Hoda recalls.
"So I got a platter that I would serve cheese on or something. I got a piece of paper - we were on the phone - and she goes, 'Now start chopping it up into sections that identify parts of your life that require your time, your heart, your attention, your emotions, and start writing them out.'" Hoda says she then started cutting up pieces of paper representing her kids, her work, her mom, who wasn't feeling well at the time, travel, exercise, friends - "every little thing got a piece," Hoda explains. Then Maria asked her to make sure the pieces of paper were to scale in terms of how much time and energy each was requiring of her.
"What I realized was, when I looked at my platter, it was totally out of whack," Hoda says. "My kids had not as big of a chunk as I thought they did. If you total up the hours, my work had tons of time. Any me-time was buried. Exercise was shrinking over time, just because I couldn't find time for it, et cetera."
"So as I was looking at all those things, (Maria) goes, 'That is your life. Do you like it? Because that's the way you're living. You could keep marching this way, or you could reassess.'""I reassessed, and I think that's the magic: When do you stop and look at your life? You don't have time because you're too busy going to the grocery store, getting something from your kids. Someone has a fever. Your boss is mad. You can't sleep, so you watch some terrible show, then you wake up feeling cranky. You don't have time," Hoda continues. "That was very helpful. And I was like, 'Now I'm going to start making changes.'"
Hoda says that, after completing this exercise about two or so years ago, she decided to change how she was approaching work obligations.
"I decided that for work, there were things you have to do, things that you would be good if you did, and things that you choose to do," she explains. "So I just cut down on the 'choose to dos' because it wasn't serving anybody. I wasn't feeling good doing it. My kids were losing me while I was doing it. And then I kept thinking … why am I doing it? … Is there anything I'm gaining, or am I giving?"
"When your output is so much more than your input, then you're doing it wrong. If you're depleted at the end of every day and you're on empty, there's something you're not doing right, and it's on you. It's not like everybody's taking. It's not true. You're giving. … So then you decide this is what I need now," Hoda adds.
Personal Preferences and Sources of Joy
Hoda finds joy in simple pleasures. Her favorite vacation spot is near Cancún, where she enjoys "splashing and eating guacamole and finding shells" with her daughters. Her go-to mantra, "This, too, shall pass," helps her navigate challenging moments.