Craig Melvin Weight Loss Secrets: Fitness Routine, Diet Plan

Today hunk Craig Melvin became a fan favorite on the program after joining the panel as a cohost in 2018. On a number of occasions, the broadcaster opened up about his early morning fitness routine and plan to lose weight. He shed 10 pounds in 2017 and lost half an inch off of his waist. The star later revealed the secret behind his weight loss.

“If we’re being honest, it came from having two children, two very small children, working long hours and eating pretty much whatever I wanted,” Craig said in an interview with Muscle & Fitness at the time about what inspired his weight loss. “It’s been one of those things where I do that for two or three years and then I recognize that I’ve kind of let myself go and then I turn it around.”

Each year on Today, the show launches fitness initiatives after New Year’s Eve to inspire viewers at home to stay active. Craig and his costars have participated in a number of fitness challenges and are committed to living healthier lifestyles. In January 2017, the TV personality enlisted the help of celebrity trainer Bob Harper to tailor a fitness routine that worked best for him.

“It was honestly a lot of high-intensity stuff, but it wasn’t the boring bicep curls and tricep pulls,” Craig shared about his workout plan along with meditation and changing his diet.

In January 2021, Craig buddied up with his younger brother, Ryan, who lost over 60 pounds amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The siblings did a series of virtual workouts together during a segment on Today. The fitness routine involved boxing and dancing, all from the comfort of their own homes.

The Pops author also enjoys being outdoors and doing activities with his wife, Lindsay Czarniak, and their two children, Delano and Sybil. The hardworking dad typically starts his day bright and early at 3:45 a.m. One of the most rewarding parts about going to work so early is spending time with his family when he finishes in the afternoon.

“When I get home and both kids and Lindsay are there and I get the ‘Daddy!’ and the leg grab or the hug and the kiss,” Craig told Parents in May 2021. “It never gets old.”

Keep scrolling to see everything Craig has revealed about his weight loss journey and fitness routine.

On Staying Fit

One of Craig’s favorite ways to stay active is going for runs around his Connecticut neighborhood.

“My favorite route is right in downtown Westport,” he previously told Westport Lifestyle. “I jog down Main Street and eventually cross the bridge over the water. It’s about 4.5 miles. In the winter, I’m in the gym. I’m an elliptical guy and I need 20 minutes of cardio, or I don’t feel like I’ve worked out sufficiently. I work out by the practice of low weight, high reps. I guess you could say I’m old school when it comes to the gym.”

On His Favorite Healthy Snack

The NBC star shared the healthy snack he likes to eat while at the Today office.

“I do not pack a lunch. I usually just eat something in the office or skip lunch,” he told Parade in November 2019. “I occasionally will have a bag of Skinny Pop popcorn. I’ll have that before my 11:00 show on MSNBC, my cable show. I’ll either have it before or depending on the day, I’ll have it right after. Only 100 calories per bag. Gluten-free, no artificial ingredients and non-GMO!”

On the Importance of Sleep

The South Carolina native stressed the importance of maintaining a healthy sleep schedule despite waking up before the sun rises.

“Catnaps whenever I can. Usually when I’m riding in the car and occasionally, I’ll catch a nap in my office,” he said. “I drink, what could be considered by most, an unhealthy amount of coffee, starting at about 5 a.m. I also once read that drinking a gallon of water every day will greatly impact your energy, so I do what I can to stay hydrated. I avoid big lunches because I can’t afford the afternoon sluggishness.”

On Managing Stress

Craig is a fan of meditation and mindfulness. While there are times his job and daily responsibilities can be very stressful, he revealed the technique that helps him decompress.

“I find that if I can find just five to 10 minutes every day of just quiet, I can be alone with my thoughts … That really helps calm me down,” he told Today in 2018. “And that calmness leads to happiness.”