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Jelly Roll Reveals He’s Lost 200 Lbs. and Shares the Diet, Exercises That Helped Him Achieve It
Jelly Roll revealed he’s been “inspired” to start “focusing” on his health, and he’s been open about losing 200 pounds. In light of his impressive weight loss journey, Life & Style breaks down his diet and exercise secrets.
Jelly Roll Announced He Lost 100 Lbs, in October 2024
Jelly Roll announced he was “officially down a hundred f–king pounds” in October 2024.
“It’s been all food. I’m working out, I’m walking. But what I’ve learned is as I’m losing the weight … by nature I just want to go walking and do more stuff cause I’m lighter. I feel better,” Jelly, 39, — real name Jason DeFord — proudly explained during an October 11, 2024, appearance on “The Joe Rogan Experience” podcast.
The “Save Me” singer had the help of his band members and crew when it comes to weekly exercise, as they’ve been on tour playing at numerous NBA arenas.
“We’ve been playing basketball three days a week now,” Jason said of his favorite new activity.
Calling it the “coolest act of love,” the CMA winner got emotional when he revealed, “My whole band has watched me fight addiction … they’ve watched me figure my life out slowly and they knew the last mountain for me was food.”
Jelly Roll Credits Dieting and Exercise for His Weight Loss
Jelly has been “working out every day walking around the arenas,” and he and his bandmates are “having full blown tournaments.”
In addition, the Nashville, Tennessee, native has been “going to the gym now.” When it comes to his health, Jelly gushed, “I’ve never been more dialed in. I’ve never cared more about it. I’ve never been happier.”
Jelly plans to keep losing weight after experiencing noticeable body changes, revealing, “I feel this good just losing 100 pounds. I’m 420-something now. I’m walking around different, talking different, my shoulders are setting different, I’m moving different.”
In addition to exercise, the “Wild Ones” singer hired a “real nutritionist. I’m only eating his food.” Jelly’s daily diet now consists of only eating twice a day with a “fruit snack in between.” He’s also doing a full 24 hour fast once a week and practicing intermittent fasting when able.
Jelly Roll Has Been Open About His Weight Loss Journey
Jelly became emotional when he shared that at his largest, “I was up to 557 pounds. I was having to weigh myself at meat places.”
Describing himself as a “lifelong food addict,” Jelly recounted how his entire mindset has now changed.
“Like a drug addict, I would scan the room and make a count of everything I could eat,” he recalled about how he used to immediately look for food when entering rooms.
“The other day I was in my green room, and somebody picked up a piece of candy and said, ‘Do you want one of these,’ and I didn’t even know the candy was in there. And that was the first time I was like, ‘I’m onto something. Like, I’m f–king winning right now.’ I didn’t even scan for candy. It’s not even a thought now when I walk into places. That used to be literally one of the first things I’d look for. I’ve had to make so many different small habit changes,” he shared.
Jelly revealed in 2018 he was still struggling with overeating, which caused him to gain back 60 pounds he previously lost. The country star decided to “start over and fight my lifelong demon again.” He hired a health mentor and began posting weekly weight loss results on YouTube.
“I’ve been obese since I was a small child. All I’ve ever known was being fat, and I’m f–king miserable,” he wrote on Instagram. “I wanna sky dive, bungee jump, ride a bull, parasail, ride roller coasters, I want to LIVE a normal life and have a normal relationship with food. I fight addictions and alcoholism everyday.”
Jelly Roll Announced He Lost 200 Lbs. in April 2025
Jelly shared another update about his weight loss journey during an interview with Pat McAfee in April 2025. “It looks like you lost a person,” Pat told him.
“I started at 540 pounds, and I was 357 pounds this morning, baby,” he proudly responded when asked where he was at weight-wise. “I’m gonna lose another 100 pounds and go skydiving with my wife in Sweden.”
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