Television journalist Katie Couric shared with the September issue of Good Housekeeping what she does to keep in good shape at the age of 55, her going through menopause, and relationships with family, friends, and faith.

“Being in the last half of your life is very scary.  Turning 55 was more of a wake-up call for me than 50 was. I’m very aware of getting every drop of joy from the present.”

Being 55, Katie is learning to deal with the changes that menopause brings on, but one of them she is fighting off through committed exercise and healthy eating:

“I kept hearing, ‘Your weight is going to re-distribute, you’re going to get thick in the middle.’ So I decided I needed to be more committed to exercising,” says Couric. “I’ve always done exercise, but I’ve never really committed to it. I’m not very good about pushing myself physically.”

Katie’s favorite exercise?  Spinning.

“I like it because for 45 minutes you just have to keep going,” she says. “Even if you don’t go at the same speed as your neighbors, or you’re not Lance Armstrong in drag, it’s just intense exercise.”

Katie jokes about keeping either her “chipmunk cheeks” or butt in shape:

“I always had kind of a fat face,” she says. “Now I can see my cheekbones for the first time. You know, they say as you get older you have to decide between [maintaining] your butt or your face,” she jokes. “Clearly, I’ve made my choice.”

Well we think Katie looks great!

To read the full interview, visit www.goodhousekeeping.com.