Jelly Roll talks about the moment he realized he needed to change his life and why his 200-pound weight loss journey became a fight for survival.
The 41-year-old singer shared the emotional turning point during his appearance on The Joe Rogan Experienceremembering how close he felt to losing everything.
“I felt like I was dying,” he admitted, describing the fear that gripped him as his 39th birthday approached.
He said he looked closely at his condition and the number on the scale, adding, “I don’t think I’ve ever met a 40-year-old weighing 500 pounds.”
That thought alone triggered a level of urgency he could no longer ignore.
Jelly Roll explained that he felt like he had “already cheated the game” after surviving “several heart problems” and knew he wouldn’t have many more chances.
“I was like, man, I should really start trying to figure this out,” he said.
What followed was a two-year transformation fueled by determination, vulnerability and a desire to help others going through similar struggles.
He said he never expected to lose weight, but hoped talking about his experience could encourage people who feel stuck in their own battle with obesity.
He remembers the first day he committed to walking 10,000 steps, a moment he describes as life-changing.
His wife Bunnie XO and daughter tried to dissuade him because it was pouring rain, but he refused. “In my mind, I was like, ‘No. I’m out. I’m done lying to you and I’m done lying to myself.'”
When he returned home, drenched by bad weather, he collapsed when he saw his family cheering him on.
“They had every reason not to come and support me,” he said, explaining how years of broken promises about his weight had worn them down.
But that moment made him realize how much his food addiction had impacted not only his health, but also his relationships.
Jelly Roll said the trip forced him to confront painful truths, including how being seriously overweight had affected his marriage and intimacy.
Therapy helped him uncover the emotional roots of his eating habits, and over time he built a healthier relationship with food.
“Now I just feed myself what I need,” he said.
Today, he feels “really, really good,” after downsizing his clothing size and even changing his Oura ring size five times.
Fans have noticed her slimmer face and energetic presence in recent months, visible signs of a transformation that began with fear but transformed into hope.
And for Jelly Roll, the message is simple: if he could do it, anyone can do it.
