>> announcer: from nbc news, this is "today" with kathie lee gifford and hoda kotb live from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. >> hey, everybody. you probably aren't too thrilled about it but we are. it's fun day monday, august 5th. hope you had an awesome weekend. >> yes. how was your weekend? >> not good. no, it was great. iffy weather back and forth, but, you know, good. we celebrated cassie's birthday on friday. frank, i don't know if we have a picture at all, but frank and cody were off in canton, ohio, for the 50th anniversary of the hall of fame. >> oh, my gosh.

>> which one is frank? >> the skinny one. the skinny one. >> yeah, but that's very, very -- that's slouchy behavior. >> sit up, cody. >> and then codes, yes. so they were gone -- >> that's great. >> -- most of the weekend. so it was nice and quiet. i had the bed and bambino all to myself. >> all to yourself. >> you like to spread out? >> yes, but i was really proud of him. a lot of people -- they know frank not just from football but from monday night football. >> frank is one of those guys if you say his name in any circle, you say frank gifford, all the men especially just take notice. there are a bunch of guys who have known over the years, every time you say frank gifford's name, it's a whole -- >> but anybody under 20 has no idea. if you know who justin bieber is, you don't know frank. >> let's look at this picture. let's live here. >> as i say every time i see that picture, my timing sucks. >> how old was he there? >> in his 20s.

>> wow. every time i say that he looks at me and says, mine, too. >> i love it. >> we are stuck with each other until -- when is it time to call it quits? >> why don't you -- >> i have no idea. no plans. well, he might. >> he's not going to. >> he put ups with me. >> i had a pretend birthday. >> i was going to ask you about you. how was your weekend? >> i had a pretend birthday in rehoboth beach. my birthday isn't this weekend, but -- >> this friday, everybody. >> i have other plans. so this was all of us sitting around at go fish having -- >> which is one of your favorite places. >> we did -- that was the birthday dinner night. >> both irwins are here. >> yes. >> she calls her brother and sister irwins. >> we sang "happy birthday." because you aren't allowed to show it -- >> you'll just have to take their word for it. so let's just watch it. and we dubbed in other music.

♪ happy birthday happy birthday to you ♪ ♪ happy birthday >> that's even better. >> your favorite kind of cake? >> it was delicious and it had trick candles. >> anna, go help her. go help her. >> one of those kinds. good for ella. where the heck is ella? they light again. they light again. >> did that just -- they just kept lighting. everyone was so excited. anyway, my sister is here with some of her friends. >> irwin. >> irwin's in the house. >> hi, sweetie. they've come to see new york. we're happy that they are all with us. >> actually, they came to see if history is going to be made and bud selig at the major league baseball is going to suspend ten players today. maybe a-rod for lifetime but they're saying maybe -- >> here's the headline in new york. you guys, this is all you really need to know. new yorkers are over it. they are over him.

here's the thing. major league baseball, today, at noon eastern time is going to announce what everyone expects to be the suspension of alex rodriguez. the weird thing is immediately when they -- if they suspend him, as people are speculating, he will file an appeal and that means -- >> it's ready to go. >> he can immediately play tonight against the white sox. >> he can play as long as the appeal is in process. >> that means he can play for a little bit. >> which means he can get paid. >> poor baby. >> if he -- >> let's talk about what he's getting paid. >> yeah. this is unbelievable. >> he signed in 2007 a $275 million ten-year contract. let's just say it again. that's $275 million. >> more than a quarter of a billion dollars. >> so if he's suspended, he'll lose $34 million. >> that's okay. the powerball is at $400 million and he might win that. >> let's subtract. so how much is that? 275 minus 34, 41.

241. $241 million he still gets. >> well, he's got some of it because he signed it in 2007. he's probably spent all that. i don't think anybody is feeling sorry for him at this point. and it's interesting. the appeal thing is maybe just to keep working. just keep playing. you know what he's going to go through every time he steps up. and now from the dugout -- he's going to go through such harassment. >> yeah. he'll be booed everywhere he goes. i mean, here's the thing. this is what he said at a press conference when he talked about telling his kids about the controversy. take a listen. >> i plan to sit my girls down with cynthia, and we're going to have a lengthy conversation. and i'll have an opportunity to tell it all at some point. i'll have that platform. and when the time is right, i'll tell my full story. thanks, guys. >> okay. >> anyway -- >> he must have said something on friday that really irked the officials at mlb because -- >> he said a series of things.

he says he doesn't trust the yankees. he comes out every now and then and says things. here's the thing -- >> what's the thing? he doesn't trust the yankees. how can the yankees trust him? there's no taking ownership of anything except for the money. and that's the problem with a-rod is people, for some reason, people don't like him. and andy pettitte -- >> you think it's jealousy about the money? >> i think andy pettitte, they said, had an arm injury. took some drugs. wasn't supposed to. admitted to it and stopped using and went on the field and everyone loves andy pettitte because he's a lovable guy. >> i love him. i've actually met him. they are adorable. >> we had them on even. yeah. >> that's right. but at another event when he was being honored. salvation army honored him one year. >> yeah. but this guy for some reason, when he steps out there, there's sort of this arrogance, this hubris, this whole other vibe going. people don't like him. that's part of it. they're not rooting for him. >> if he comes back after the

season and a half of being banned, he'll be about -- he'll be 40. and his career will be basically over at that point. i mean, he'll forever have an asterisk after his -- it's really, really sad. >> it is. all right. so let's turn to the mets for a second, but not baseball, but this poor, unfortunate guy this happened. there's a muscle-bound guy trying to open a bottle of water innocently at the mets game. >> it can be hard. >> so one of the cameras was panning and caught this guy trying to open a bottle. it sounds like a nothing but let's watch. >> oh, come on. hey, all that working out and you can't open up a water bottle? oh, come on. >> what's he -- sir, i think you got the wrong workout program. >> oh, my god. >> are you kidding? he's still after it? >> he had to ask for help. >> oh. >> maybe it was a joke and somebody had superglued it or something. >> poor guy. >> that's not nice. >> that wasn't fair.

>> probably gave it to his girlfriend. there you go, honey. >> nothing. >> so good news if you love ellen degeneres. >> and who doesn't? >> she will be hosting the academy awards for the second time. >> seven months from now. >> she's always a fan favorite whenever she hosts. >> she's so natural. such a natural. and, yeah, so we would love to hear from you. which host -- she was emmy nominated last time she did it. we know she's good at it. it's interesting that seth macfarlane last year. he was controversial and brought in a younger demographic. but i think they want to play it a little bit safer. you know with ellen you'll get a nice rating because people love her. >> yeah. >> she's not going to be so controversial and a total pro. who was your favorite of all time? >> i loved when neil patrick harris hosts anything. >> he's never done that. >> i wish he'd do the oscars. >> who do you like? >> i adore billy crystal. billy crystal, in his real prime, and i used to love it when johnny carson did. >> yeah, yeah, yeah. >> you know. i am an old-timer. >> you like george clooney.

>> i would love to see george clooney do it. i think he will be amazing. and i would love to see hugh jackman do it. >> i love hugh jackman. >> i'd love to see hugh jackman do absolutely anything. i was going through my closet the other day cleaning out because there's just too much stuff and getting a big salvation army thing ready to go to give. and there it was. shall i bring that in so you can take a whiff? >> do you guys remember -- do you remember? it was -- we were at a broadway show, at his broadway show. he had a sweaty white form-fitting t-shirt drenched. >> muscle man t-shirted. >> and after the show was over, he held out the drenched shirt and said who wants to bid on it? someone stood up like a crazy person and waved her arms around. >> it was going to broadway cares. equity fights aids. >> that's not why you got it. okay. anyway, so -- >> it was part of the reason. it was deductible. >> do you remember. it was a bid-off between you and that other lady. >> some woman had the gall to

stand up and i looked at her and i said, you're going down. >> yeah, and you went -- and then -- >> we went backstage and he added another one. so he gave it to her, too. i got the real one drenched in real sweat. >> yeah, yeah, yeah. >> yes, and he signed it, and i have it. so if you want a woof and a whiff. >> how does it smell after? >> it smells just like him. oh, yes. even his sweat is pleasant, if you know what i mean. i love him very much. i love him for the exact opposite reason. >> right. >> i love him because he is incredibly talented, and he doesn't -- he's so modest. to me, modesty is the sexiest thing alive. let other people tell you how fabulous you are, you know? >> yeah, yeah, yeah. >> learn from that, hoda, because, really. >> i'm going to tell you how -- why am i on this show? >> tell us about the lady walking down the steps. yes, in rehoboth. >> i was walking down rehoboth

beach and there was this woman that looked a little wild. she has an ice cream cone in her hand. she goes, you look just like that lady on tv. oh, thanks. i had two kids in hand. what was her name? she kept screaming. what was her name? i'm yelling, hoda. immantatio like yelling her own name. people were like, look at her. no, that other one, kathie lee. i like her. all right. anyway, favorite things. >> what is it? >> here's my favorite thing. you have to look at this closely. hannah drew me a picture for my birthday. hold on. anyway, she drew it with ladybugs and it's my birthday picture. i stained it. don't look here or here. but minus the stains. and she wrote my name on the back. ♪ i wanna hoda on your kotb ♪ yeah yeah >> see, it's catching on. >> nobody likes that song. >> all right. my favorite thing is i adore, of course, rege and joy. regis and joy philbin. but they have two very, very talented daughters.

and this is joanna, their oldest daughter's fourth book already. >> my gosh. >> a terrific read. it says "rules of summer." two girls sharing one delicious summer. she's really, really talented. the other one, j.j., is a producer on, i think it's "new girl" or "two girls that are broke" or -- >> "two broke girls." >> something like that. it's a couple of girls. it's a big hit. >> very proud of her. >> congratulations. coming up, are you our biggest fan? >> probably not. >> not usually. >> don't walk away from your fan and your phone though. we'll ring you up. i am already missing sara. >> i am too. >> in case you missed all the hot celebrity gossip over the weekend, we've got it all covered in today's buzz. ♪

today we are back with "today's buzz." we're filling you in on all the juicy celebrity gossip you may

have missed over the weekend. if time warner stopped -- >> from new details and simon cowell's baby drama to the biggest box office hits, brian balthazar. >> we love him. >> from pop goes the week has your hollywood scoop. >> hello. >> well, well, well. >> look at this. >> with facial hear. >> i am liking the beard a lot. i'm into it. >> real mountain men just shot their television. >> looks like the alec baldwin commercial where he goes, men grow beards like cave men. >> that's the first thing she said. >> talk about simon cowell. >> he has a little bit of a baby drama. maury povich style. he's apparently reportedly the daddy to a married woman's baby. >> he has not confirmed it yet. there he is. he put the thumbs up, so he must have confirmed it. >> there are some things he'll clear up when the time is right but he's trying to be sensitive because there are feelings -- >> like a current husband that is not his. >> if that baby is born with a little v-neck shirt and british accent, we know it's his.

so apparently though now the pr war has begun. andrew silverman, the current husband, and lauren silverman, the woman in question, are kind of launching these -- they're not saying things publicly, but she's apparently saying he knew all along this was happy. >> minions. >> and then, of course, andrew is saying, of course not. he's trying to get sole custody of the child. >> she is saying -- >> who is trying to get sole custody? >> andrew is trying to get sole custody of their 7-year-old. >> i read in the paper today, and it's alleged that she he knew all about it all along and she shout she couldn't get pregnant. how about us knowing all that information. >> i can't get pregnant, you know -- >> neither can i. >> that's for sure. neither can you. but -- >> this is -- >> move over. it's over. >> it ain't over until it's over. >> weird, weird, weird. >> move on. we're done with that. leah remini. >> left scientology. >> and that is a big deal. now apparent ly

she's said she's going to write her story, her memoir. and now it's being reported she's going to get big bucks, like in the millions for it. because not only is it a celebrity story, scientology is very secretive, they are saying. tina fey got $6 million for her autobiography, which was very funny, but she is going to probably fetch upwards of that. and basically -- >> she has to drop a lot of secrets for that kind of money. >> she will, and there's a big risk because there's a process in scientology called auditing where they kind of confess everything. >> an e meter. >> and they have everything on her. >> right. and there are maybe some concerns they'll say everything you've ever thought and confessed. it could be an issue. this is her opportunity. >> that would also make people lose any credibility in scientology. to me. -- >> if they would do that to somebody. >> when katie holmes left, she came out smelling like a rose. i think leah is coming out smelling like a rose. >> katie holmes wasn't a lifetime scientologist. >> it's weird how they shut down. all the people turn off from you. i did a whole "dateline" on scientology.

and it was one of those things when you hear about the e-meters and what they have to go through and how when you're out, you are completely out. >> several celebrity friends are being told, she's done. cut contact with her. >> how about russell brand making fun of katy perry. >> we like him but this is not nice. >> as you know, russell brand and katy perry were recently divorced. and he was performing in london recently. july 31st. he said a couple things. first of all, he said after he divorced her, he considered becoming a monk because monks can't have sex with anyone. marrying someone you have sex with one western. that's not too bad. and then he said when he was having the relations with her he'd say, think of anyone, anyone else. and that's his idea of being funny. >> we liked him when he was on. >> yeah. there's a great charm to him. but that's always also -- hugh jackman wouldn't do that. >> never. >> maybe in the context of a comedy stage, maybe if it was working, people were drinking. everything seems a little more

suitable to say. >> it's a big world. >> internet, baby. >> what have i told you. >> that's right. you've told me. >> brian, go get it shaved, buddy. one of our biggest admirers is about to get a huge surprise. >> we're dialing up our fan of the week coming up right after this. eating lunch isn't exactly hard work. so why do you feel so tired afterward? instead of refueled and focused, you're foggy and sluggish. it's that 2:30 feeling again. so how do you get your clear, alert feeling back? get a coffee... then another? do this instead. take one 5-hour energy. in minutes foggy and sluggish is gone... hello clear and alert. 5-hour energy. take it after lunch. be clear and alert for hours. you know, "what are you thinking?" oh, i had a knot in my chest. i didn't really want her to go but...i knew she could do it. i felt like there were bigger and better things for me to do. [ mom ] she took what she was doing seriously.

[ hosmer ] my self-confidence just went through the roof. [ dad ] it was awesome to see her transform from a girl, in a small town, to a soldier. [ male announcer ] you made them strong. we'll make them army strong. talk to your son or daughter about joining the army. find out how at goarmy.com/parents.

it's monday. you know what that means. >> it's that we get to announce our fan of the week.

who is it this week, hoda? >> we'll spin the globe and find out. drum roll, please. our winner is jenna elkins from jacksonville, florida. >> stop it. i love her. >> oh, my god, she watches us on wlv on channel 12. i think we have jenna on the line. are you with us? hey. >> hi. i'm here. >> oh, my god. are you excited? >> you don't sound excited. >> i am very excited. thank you guys so much. >> i don't believe you, jenna. >> i don't either. >> well, would you like to hear why you love us so much? >> yes, please. >> all right. this is why you love us so much. and if the prompter will roll, i'll tell you. okay. you try to avoid taking conference calls while the show is on. >> i like it. >> so you can watch the full hour without being interrupted by rude people. >> underscore this part here. her favorite part is when hoda plays a song from her ihoda play list. and tries to get me excited about it which almost never happens. >> she feels like we're her good

friends and she gets to drink coffee with us every day. check out the glasses she made. jenna and her hubby even took a trip to new york to see the "today" show before he left on deployment to japan. >> great. >> all right. jenna, are you excited to hear where you're going? >> i am. >> she doesn't give a rip. >> not at all. >> you and a guest are headed to the beautiful gateway canyons resort in colorado. it is gorgeous. where you'll enjoy a three-night, four-day stay. you'll also receive a $500 adventure report credit for activities like whitewater rafting, rock climbing and horseback riding plus a a $250 dining credit for the paradox grill and restaurant. >> now are you excited? >> it's furnished by the gateway canyons resort.

♪ i'm alive hoda says i'm supposed to read this. we're back on this monday fun

day with more of "today," and it's certainly a fun day when actor mark feuerstein is here. >> he's back. playing hank lawson. he's always giving his patients one-on-one attention if you know what we're talking about. >> stop it! >> one on one. >> well, well, well. >> i just joined hoda when we first had you on the show because it was the dawn of the new series. >> you helped launch us. >> we did. >> the very beginning. >> did you even fathom then you'd have such a hit on your hands? >> no way. i could never have imagined i'd be in my fifth season with expectation to have a sixth season. >> you're not only starring in it. you guys really hit the jackpot on an episode that you, mark, directed. >> yes. >> that had to feel pretty good. >> it felt great. >> tell everybody what she's talking about. >> well, last week, wednesday night's episode, which i was very proud to have been able to direct that episode, we had our highest ratings of the season. i was very proud of myself and taking credit. then i remembered last year when

the episode i directed, the ratings weren't the highest of the season. everyone said, no, you blame the week before because the week before determines whether people come back. but i'm taking full credit. >> full credit. good for you. >> tell us about your role for this for people who aren't aware of this. you play a doctor obviously in the hamptons. >> my character, dr. hank lawson, was an emergency physician in brooklyn and when he decided to treat both the poor kid and the rich patron of the hospital at the same time against the wishes of the hospital, he got fired and his brother brought him out to the hamptons where they've set up shop with hank med and we have my brother. and to watch the characters evolve over five years, the writers do such a brilliant job. and my brother's character is married and dealing with his first year of marriage. >> what about your character? >> my character? well, i was like jason bourne at the beginning of the season. i went to board pest wherever we shot this amazing episode

running through the streets of budapest. this season i've been dealing with a little chemical dependency issue, which we're going to resolve in the upcoming episodes. >> imagine that. a doctor with one of those. >> just a little. he's still very responsible. >> do you shoot any of this in the hamptons or in l.a.? >> once in a while we get to go out to the promised land, as i call it, the hamptons. but other times we shoot more in the middle of long island. but beautiful homes and always great people. italian families, jewish families. they always welcome us. >> everybody. and your family still lives in l.a. so on weekends you are still doing the commute thing? >> yes. i fly back like every weekend. >> oh, my god. look at that group. >> my beautiful wife and three kids, lila, frisco and addie. they are all coming on friday, and i will be -- my wife is running a tv show called "friends with better lives" which will be on cbs this coming season. she's sending all the kids to me and i'm going to be mr. mom for the next two weeks. >> so you won't have to get on a plane. >> i won't have to get on a plane. i'll just be running around the city with them. >> do your kids want to get in the showbiz?

>> one of them has the bug, right? >> i don't know if any of them is necessarily going to be in show business but they are all quite active. lila just did three different roles in "annie" in her summer camp. >> oh, wow. so who knows. that's lila right there. >> precious. >> and frisco is a ham. and addie is just 4 years old, running around like crazy. >> we're really happy for you. and your success on the show. >> i like it when nice people as opposed to some others that will be nameless. >> thank you. >> you have one of the greatest smiles. >> yes. >> oh, thank you. well, you guys make me smile because it's always -- >> give us one. >> here we go. here it is. >> there he is. "royal pains" airs wednesday nights at 9:00, 8:00 central on our sister cable network usa. >> we're very proud. now we find out for better or for worse. don't we? >> but how worse does worse have to be before you call it quits in a relationship. coming up after this.

this week's "people" magazine takes a look at a married couple that's been in the spotlight. anthony weiner and huma abedin. and the reason why she's standing by her man. >> when we walk down the aisle we promise to love oure vows ca constant challenge. >> here to talk about all this is "people" magazine's sandra and with hal runkel. marriage and family therapist. >> hello. a little insight, i guess you guys have, into huma and what is motivating her to stay with

anthony weiner. what do you think? >> i was there last summer, july 2nd when we did the big photo shoot of how they'd gotten over this problem. and you saw then a genuine attraction between the two of them. she really fell in love with seeing him as a dad. so fast forward a year, or actually at that point it was september, from july to september, she confessed in september that he'd fallen off the wagon and she didn't know if she was going to stay. she was telling friends, she told her closest family she was out of there, she was packing bags. and he talked her into going into therapy, and it was the idea she couldn't pick up that little boy and walk out the door with him that got her into therapy. >> what do you say about a man like that who then decides then to drag his wife and child into the spotlight again. he could have disappeared, gone to work for some charity and earned his way back. but something as public as running for mayor of new york? >> that's going to make his recovery infinitely more

difficult, right? and that may be the issue. choosing to stay, well, no therapist was surprised when you hear that he continued the behavior even after negative consequences because we've all done that. but willing to go back into the fray, like you said, to have that microscope on you. i don't know how many marriages can survive that. >> what about staying for the kids. i mean a lot of people say, i want to stay for the kids but does that set a bad example for the kid if later on you realize what had happened? i mean sometimes don't you have to sort of stand up for yourself and say, because of my children, i am not going to tolerate this kind of behavior. >> sure. sure. here's the difficult -- obviously, marriage is difficult. news flash. but the difficulty is i'm going to commit for life and at the same time i'm going to have some deal breakers. and i encourage couples, spouse, have some deal breakers. >> nonnegotiable. >> i know i raise a fist to my wife, i'm gone. >> unless you are going -- which i've seen you do. >> i have done. >> that is weird. >> on the flip side, hoda, one

of her friends said that huma told her, i didn't want to ever have jordan say to me, why didn't you give dad a chance. why didn't you help him when he needed you. so, you know, it's what kind of example she wants to leave for him. >> but it all depends on what chance you are actually giving. >> are you just enabling them? >> right. and are you doing -- whether or not he falls off the wagon is not the problem. it's how you're working the program? are you going to therapy? are we going to continue to work on this? >> did you say he didn't really go to therapy the last time? >> can therapy unring that bell? is it one of those -- >> sure. really? are you sure? >> i'm a therapist. i'm a therapist. you know i believe in my profession. >> she's always told friends it's ongoing and she expects it's going to be work for a very long time. >> what do you think is going to be the end story? each of you guys, what do you think? >> you know, if he fades off into political oblivion and they remain a family. >> that's what you think is going to happen.

>> you'll hate this answer but ethics prevent me from speculating on a couple that's not my client. >> wait a minute. somebody with ethics. are we on? somebody tape this moment because i think -- >> they did. >> thanks, guys. we appreciate that. >> i guess you have none at all. >> thanks, hon. she went from never exercising at all to running a 5k. >> our newest joy fit club member tells us what motivated her to drop 137 pounds. wow. good for her. right after this. kyla grogan from the weather channel with a look at the next seven days. looking out for the possibility of severe weather. minneapolis you'll be included so talking about the low chance of a tornado but certainly gusty winds and hail. from there into parts of missouri and even heading over to st. louis, also rainy again in the southeast. we'll see that eastern seaboard deal with more rain.

temperatures, very mild for this time of year, august, boy, the 70s in boston, new york city and washington, d.c. 80s for you in chicago and minneapolis. 90 in denver so we're pretty warm there. salt lake city look at a high of 98 degrees. now we're going to get into our wednesday and we're going to see we have rain in the eastern third of the country here so it's starting again to kick up in the northeast and the southeast and our temperatures again staying relatively mild. you see denver, though, look at this drop in temperatures, from a high of 90 to 72 in houston, 100 degrees for you so very hot down in dallas, all that have high pressure that's holding out. as we get into thursday, again, a little rain for you in boston, starting to clear out south of there so new york city looking pretty good. washington, d.c., you, as well, but atlanta, here comes the rain again right down into florida. look at that heat in dallas, 104 for your thursday. 80 degrees in denver. 80 in seattle looking nice and clear out on the west coast, friday heading towardsed weekend. if you are on the eastern sigh of the country it's going to be rainy throughout the ohio valley

heading into the northeast. nice and clear behind that, though, denver, you should see a high of 81. do have a little rain happening. monsoonal moisture coming in. seattle, gorgeous. san francisco, 60s. a little cool, 69 in leaks but still nice towards the weekend. northeast, beautiful on saturday. in earnings. a little rain in the mid-atlantic area of the country. that includes d.c. looking pretty good in the southeast finally catching a break from the rain there, 96 in salt lake. 80 in seattle. we'll have all the weather information you need every weekday morning, 5:30 a.m., "wake up with al." one day, i want to win the science fair. and? and then go to college and study science. way to stay focused! and then i'll become a scientist and change the world!

the world? now you're talking! [ female announcer ] packed with whole grain fiber and a taste kids love, frosted mini-wheats helps keep them full and focused. and when they're full and focused every day, who knows what they may become some day. that's what i call chemistry! [ female announcer ] kellogg's frosted mini-wheats cereal. help feed their full potential. now with kellogg's family rewards, you can get even more from the products you love. join today at kfr.com.

we're back with "look at me now: the joy fit club." and our newest member who went from being a self-described couch potato to running aks. >> gail michaelson decided to get her eating under control.

she lost 137 pounds and was even featured in "fitness" magazine. we'll meet her in just a moment. first let's listen to gail's story. >> my name is gail, and i used to be a compulsive eater. i didn't always struggle with my weight, but, like many college students, i put on the classic freshman 15 and then some. after college, i lived alone and worked a desk job which made me even more sedentary. my eating activities consisted of watching tv and overeating while lounging on the couch. i even made a permanent dent in my sofa. but eventually i became tired. i was tired of getting winded walking up one flight of stairs. i was tired of buying the same shirt in five different colors so i wouldn't have to go shopping, and i was tired of avoiding all my friends. my turning point came from a photo taken in 2010 at an easter party. seeing a 272-pound picture of myself was my wake-up call. i came across an online advertisement for jenny craig and decided to give it a try.

i met with a consultant who taught me what a true portion size looked like and how to be more active. after 18 months i slimmed down to a size 6. and three years later, i am now the fittest and most confident that i have been in my entire life. and it's true. i always feel better after a workout. i feel honored that i can share my story and hopefully i motivate others to get off the couch, too. >> good for her. and joy bauer is here. she's today's nutritionist and the leader of the joy fit club. >> this is a remarkable story of determination and self-discipline. i think like so many people struggling with their weight, gail's achilles heel was eating gigantic portions. so cooking was a real problem for her for two reasons, one, she hates it, and two, she lives alone. so she'd make the effort to prepare a recipe. it would yield four to six servings and then she'd eat the whole entire thing. thousands and thousands of calories, so she has mastered it now that she's down 137 pounds. this is what she does.

she finds a low cal slimming delicious recipe. this is from hungry girl called their funkadelic chili mac. >> ooh. it looks good. >> she portions it into the appropriate amount of servings and puts them in single serving containers and stockpiles it in the freezer. there are a lot of things that freeze great. burgers. it's a win/win. a healthy meal. the right amount. but stockpiles future meals for busy nights. >> let's meet her. shall we? let's take one last look at gail before. >> all right, gail. come join the joy fit club. ♪ makes you stronger stand a little taller ♪ >> oh, my god! wow. >> i am sorry. oh, yeah. she knows it. wow. >> of course she does. >> that's amazing. good for her. >> jenny craig worked. was that the key for you? >> yes, definitely. they helped with portion control, which was my biggest issue. >> and how did the running start? how did that begin? >> very slow. >> one step at a time.

>> she didn't like exercise in the beginning. >> i didn't exercise at all in the beginning. i started with walking and just building up to it. and a couple of friends talked me into a 5k. so the first time my goal was just to complete it. >> we're happy for you. she looks awesome. stunning. >> congratulations. >> thank you. >> congrats. terrific. are you still waiting for those last-minute back-to-school sales? >> we're going to tell you where to get amazing deals. >> i like how you said that. i like it. >> amazing. they really are.

start of a new school year is just weeks away. parents are getting ready to do some back-to-school shopping with their kids. but all those new clothes can cost a fortune. >> so we're going to help you out. "teen vogue" is celebrating its second annual back-to-school saturday. this saturday, august 10th. it's when major stores across the country offer the huge discounts on all the hottest trends. hoo and here with the deal is "teen vogue's" editor in chief. >> tell us what stores are offering these. >> all the stores you love in every mall. aeropostale, express, top shop, american eagle, h&m, macy's. great stores. huge savings. 15% off, 30% off. >> just for this day? >> just for that saturday. >> it's going to be a mob scene at all those stores. that's great. >> my kids have to shop this saturday. that's when they are getting back-to-school

clothes this saturday. >> we have lucy. lucy has an all-white look. >> this is a great look. white is not just for summer anymore. get these great jeans and a lot of wear out of them, spring, summer and into the fall. pair them with a little sweatshirt. this is an express sweatshirt which this weekend goes from $50 to $34.90. so great savings. h&m jeans. they're offering 15% off. and her aeropostale little wedge sneaker gives her a little wedge but is appropriate for school. those shoes go from $40 to $27. >> good discount. >> lucy told me she wants them. >> they are comfortable. >> let's bring out haley. she has a cute skirt going. >> a little skater skirt. it's a fit and flare. it looks good on all body types and it's school appropriate. >> yeah, but she'll roll it up the minute she gets -- she'll roll that thing up to her thong. >> don't roll that up. that is teen vogue for m style at macy's. the macy's discount is 20% off. so it goes from being a $40

skirt to a $32 skirt. we paired it with keds and a pac sun sweater which went from $33 to $17.95. can't beat it. >> very cute. >> let's bring out victoria. tell us what victor has going. >> victoria has the necessary motorcycle jacket. >> of course, she does. >> great piece. every kid loves it. victoria herself told me she loves this piece. it's collection b. it is normally $68. it can be yours for $54 on saturday. victoria wants it. she is wearing an h&m tank. h&m is 15% off. pac sun leggings. they go from $19.50 to $4.50. >> nice. >> everyone likes this. >> the way it's styled on her, it's very cute. as opposed to being not cute. >> thank you, hon. >> let's bring out michael. michael is coming out with a grunge trend. >> it's back. it's so cute. >> you have seen bieber wearing this.

>> michael looks school appropriate. interestingly, michael told me also he'd love to have these pants. and he should have them because they are going to go from $60 to only $48 this weekend. >> i love that shirt on him. >> yeah, he's wearing a shirt around his waist, that's h&m. h&m, it's a great discount, 15% off. >> thanks, michael. >> a cute hat. >> a cute beanie. >> and now dante. >> oh, yeah. >> dante normally has to wear a uniform in school so he's rocking it today in his camo. but, you know, camou not in green. you don't want to look like a soldier. >> that's cute. >> i thought those were fish. it's just my eyes. camo. >> camo. take notice of the vans. every kid wants them. they go from $55 to $35. >> all right. big round of applause. >> yeah. nice job, guys. >> thank you very much. coming up tomorrow, susan lucci is going to be with us. and how to deal with separation anxiety with your

dog. >> every time i leave hodie on the weekend. >> good-bye. good-bye. jeff: a big brother's drive and compassion. >> at the time i knew that it was going to be hard. jeff: sports illustrated sports kids of the year. of all the kids, they recognize you and your brother. a son's protective instinct. >> she got kidnapped. i wanted to help. jeff: two stories of some amazing kids. >> i'm not a hero. jeff: doing the most amazing thing. wow. these are your kids. >> i'm very proud. [ applause ] jeff: hello, hello. roll it! all right. a little about me. i'm recently married. i work with my wife on this show. and i'm learning how to be a dad to two amazing kids in a blended family. i'm hosting a talk show 'cause