He Lost Nearly 200 Pounds, but What Jelly Roll Gained in the Process Might Surprise You. ML

Jelly Roll has undergone an incredible transformation — shedding almost 200 pounds and embracing a completely new lifestyle. The country star, 39, began his weight-loss journey in 2022, after years of struggling with obesity and food addiction.

“I’ve been fat my whole life,” Jelly once told The Bobby Bones Show. “My mom called me Jelly Roll when I was a chubby kid — I spent 20 years trying to grow into the name.”

He’s grown far beyond it now.

From 550 Pounds to Fighting Fit

At one point, Jelly weighed 550 pounds. He told Music Mayhem his 2023 goal was to “conquer the demon” of his weight — and by 2024, he’d lost 110 pounds through consistent exercise and healthy eating.
During his Beautifully Broken tour, he estimated that 60 to 70 pounds melted off thanks to new habits that replaced his old, hard-living ways.

“Our tour used to revolve around alcohol and drugs,” he said. “Now it’s about exercise, good food, and checking in with the crew.”

Training for a 5K Changed Everything

Determined to push himself further, Jelly began training for the 2 Bears 5K with Bert Kreischer and Tom Segura. He walked two to three miles a day, five times a week, and lost over 70 pounds before the May 2024 race — which he finished hand-in-hand with Bunnie Xo.

To support his training, he added daily saunas and cold plunges, saying he spent “20 to 30 minutes in the sauna and six minutes in a cold plunge every day.”

A New Way to Eat

Jelly’s diet now focuses on high-protein, home-cooked meals designed by nutritionist Chef Ian Larios — including healthy Nashville hot chicken and protein-packed poutine.
“Changing the way I eat changed everything,” Jelly told PEOPLE. “Once that discipline kicked in, it was like an avalanche.”

He’s also been open about skipping Ozempic, not out of pride but fear: “As a singer, acid reflux terrifies me. It can destroy your voice.”

From Food Addiction to Freedom

Jelly has described his weight struggles as a lifelong “food addiction.”
“I had to fight that demon,” he said. “Once that little snowball started rolling, it was on its way.”

Now, Jelly plays basketball daily on tour — even facing off with inmates at a juvenile center in Houston. “They whooped us,” he joked.

And his next goal? “I wanna be on the cover of Men’s Health by March 2026,” he told his wife. “That’s my new dream.”

Bunnie’s reaction said it all: “That makes me so giddy.”