“They Melted Me!” Al Roker Stuns Fans With Reveals About His Wax Figure’s Post-Weight-Loss Makeover — and the Unexpected Twist No One Saw Coming.QN

Al Roker wasn’t the only one to undergo a gastric bypass surgery, of sorts, in 2002.

The 71-year-old Today show weatherman revealed on Friday, Nov. 21, that after he lost weight, his Madame Tussauds wax figure did as well.

“They had to redo mine because I lost weight,” Roker told his co-hosts while discussing actor Jeff Goldblum’s recent wax figure unveiling.

“Wait, you have a wax figure? Could you be more iconic?” Savannah Guthrie teased.

“Yeah, I have a wax figure at Madame Tussauds,” Roker confirmed. “There was one of me at 300 pounds, and then they melted me down.”

Guthrie quipped in response, “You didn’t even have to microdose!”

Madame Tussauds provided insight into the decision in a statement to PEOPLE, confirming that Roker’s new figure was made in 2003.

“Madame Tussauds figures reflect a moment in time, and Al Roker has long been one of New York’s most recognizable icons,” Senior Communications Manager Brittany Williams tells PEOPLE. “His figure was replaced after he met with our studio artists at Madame Tussauds for a sitting in 2003, where they took detailed measurements.”

Roker’s figure can currently be found at Madame Tussauds New York in the “Seasons of New York City” section of the museum.

As for what happened to Roker’s first wax figure, Madame Tussauds has kept it in the museum archives.

Roker has been open about his health journey through the years. In 2002 he underwent a gastric bypass surgery to shrink the size of his stomach.

“To be honest, I struggled with my weight for most of my adult life,” Roker told PEOPLE in January. “And my dad had gotten very ill, and at one point toward the end, he made me promise that I was going to get in shape. And he said, point-blank, ‘Look, we both know I’m not going to be here to help you raise your kids. You’ve got to be here for your children.’ And that really stuck with me, and that led me to do a gastric bypass.”

And while the surgery helped Roker shed a significant amount of weight, the meteorologist has made a point of noting that his weight loss journey didn’t end there.

“It’s a means to an end, but it’s not the end,” he explained. “It’s not the final thing. Every day I work at this. You’re never quite done, and that’s okay because anything [good] in life is worthwhile.”