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Q&A with Katie Couric

Daytime's newest star on her weekly yoga classes and Hello Kitty bike.

After her marathon run on the "Today" show, stints on "ABC World News," "Nightline," "60 Minutes," "20/20" and "CBS Evening News," Katie Couric is finally taking a break. We caught up with the former anchor to see how she's spending her time before her talk show, "Katie," starts next fall.

This week's workout:
Hot yoga, a regular yoga class, Pilates and several walks around the Central Park reservoir. I generally try to spin three times a week, but I had a terrible cold, so I took it easy.

How she finds time for herself:
When I worked at the "Today" show, I often had a lot of the afternoon free. Anchoring the evening news allowed me to work out in the mornings. I work hard, but if I’m doing it twenty-four-seven it makes me crazy … unless there’s an important news story (like the earthquake in Haiti) that requires that.

Favorite healthy meal:
My latest is black bean burgers. They're high in everything you need — fiber, protein, etc. and really good! I also love the egg white, goat cheese and spinach omelet at Sarabeth’s, but I always tell them to go easy on the goat cheese. My daughter, who is a vegetarian, loves Candle Café. I also love the tuna tartar at Fresco.

Ultimate decadent meal:
I love a great steak. Porterhouse in the Time Warner Center has a beautiful view, delicious food and the chef, Michael Lomanico, is an old friend of mine. I also like BLT Steak, but try to stay away from the popovers!

The best part of her new schedule:
For the first time in 20 years, I have some flexibility when it comes to planning my day (until my show goes on in September), and that is really, really nice.

Best insider tip:
Drinking water does wonders for your skin, digestion and energy level. Often when people think they’re hungry, sometimes they're just dehydrated.

Where she feels most at home:
I bought a house in the Hamptons about six years ago, and every time I walk in the door it feels like home. It’s homey and comfortable and pretty, not stuffy. It has a vegetable garden where I grow things like squash, tomatoes, eggplant and rosemary, cilantro and chives. Sometimes I go all Martha on you out at the beach! It’s also where I keep my pink Hello Kitty bike, which always gets admiring looks.

Latest obsession:
I just bought some persimmon-colored cords at J.Crew, which I can’t wait to wear.

Her style icons:
Katharine Hepburn, Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly. I interviewed both Hepburns, but never met Grace Kelly.

Health hero:
My friend Kathie Dolgin, aka “High Voltage.” She’s older than I am and looks even better than Helen Mirren in a bikini! But what I admire most about her is the work she’s doing with inner city girls through her Energy Up! program. Childhood obesity is such a horrendous problem, and she’s tackling it head on. She's a rock star.

Biggest vices:
Chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream, which is why I don’t keep it around. My nephew used to say he knew I’d been in it when it was just vanilla ice cream because I had burrowed through the carton and eaten all the cookie dough. My other vices are "Curb Your Enthusiasm," "Entourage" and "Sex and the City" reruns.

What she's totally over:
Nasty people who talk trash on the internet. I feel like I’m back in 2nd grade, especially when they start yelling at each other. I’m also over phonies. But I guess was never into them — now I have less tolerance.

All-time favorite city:
I love Paris. How cliché. It’s so gorgeous.

Most surreal career moment:
Mountain biking with Tom Cruise; getting a tour of the palace by the king of Saudi Arabia; flying in a helicopter over Baghdad with Bob Gates, the former Secretary of Defense; having Hugh Jackman sing to me; interviewing Sully Sullenberger after he saved all those passengers. I’ve had some pretty amazing experiences. I feel very lucky.

Three things on her bucket list:
Learn Italian, climb a big mountain — but not Mt. Kilimanjaro — take my kids on a safari, live in Paris for a year, become a great cook and learn to surf.

If she had a time machine:
I'd go back to the Revolutionary War. They were such principled bad asses.

Books on her bedside table:
Unbroken and This Beautiful Life. I haven’t started either.

What relaxes her:
Bubble baths, classical music, going to a really good movie, getting a pedicure, having my back scratched, holding a puppy.