Jelly Roll Lost 275 Pounds Without a GLP-1 and Here's the Simple Workout That Started It All
If you're a fan of Jason DeFord—aka Jelly Roll—you may know that the country music star lost an extraordinary 275 pounds. The extra-impressive part? He did it by implementing major lifestyle adjustments—and we're here to share all of his secrets. The celeb now lives a "dramatically different world" than before, according to Men's Health. Here are the steps Jelly Roll took that helped him lose more than 200 pounds.
At the Age of 39, Jelly Roll Weighed Over 500 Pounds
At 39 years old, Jelly weighed over 500 pounds. He developed serious health issues, including "super high" insulin, cholesterol, and A16 levels, according to Men's Health.
His Mental Health Took a Toll
In addition to his physical health, his mental wellness suffered as well.
"It was never-ending sadness. And anger. I was a prisoner to my own body … Washing myself properly was a problem. Getting in cars. Every decision I made in life had to be based on my weight," Jelly told Men's Health.
He Sought Therapy
Jelly started seeing a therapist to treat food "like an addiction."
He told Men's Health, "Even before I got into getting my blood work done, I went and got mental health therapy about my overeating. I started treating my food addiction like what it was: an addiction."
When Setting Solid Fitness Habits, He Started Small
In addition, Jelly optimized his workout routine—but he started small. The celeb linked up with Gary Brecka, founder of The Ultimate Human, for some solid insight (via EatingWell). Brecka suggested Jelly begin his fitness journey by simply walking to his mailbox—then his neighbor's mailbox the following day. It was all about setting a solid foundation.
He Prioritized Cardio
Jelly finished his first 5K—the 2 Bears 5K at Pasadena's Rose Bowl Stadium—in May 2024. He continued to prioritize cardio in his routine ever since.
He Started Running
Jelly will typically run the first mile and a half, then walk a half-mile. From there, he'll alternate between two-tenths running and two-tenths walking, according to Men's Health.
"When this journey started, I couldn't get a full mile in in that 30 minutes. Now I could put on a pair of tennis shoes, walk out that door, do a mile loop around Hollywood Boulevard, and be back in 12 minutes and 25 seconds," he told the outlet.
He Boxed and Played Basketball
Jelly's cardio habit didn't stop there. Even when he was crushing it on his Beautifully Broken Tour, the celeb stayed diligent to his fitness. He boxed, walked around the arenas, and played basketball (via Men's Fitness).
He Does Hot and Cold Therapy
Jelly rounded out his wellness routine with some time in the sauna. He typically carved out 20 to 30 minutes for the sauna, then six minutes for an invigorating cold plunge.
The benefits of hot and cold therapy can't be underestimated. In fact, research shows that using a dry sauna can torch major calories.
If you're looking for more weight-loss inspiration, check out Here's How Oprah Lost 50 Pounds on a GLP-1 and Finally Ended Her Lifelong Battle With Weight.
