The Man Who Carried His Pain Now Carries a New Purpose—Jelly Roll Opens Up About Losing 200 Pounds. ML

When Jelly Roll told fans in 2024, “Next year when y’all see me, you won’t recognize me,” few realized how prophetic those words would be.
A year later, the “Son of a Sinner” singer stunned the world — nearly 200 pounds lighter and radiating a new confidence as he landed in Australia for his first headlining tour Down Under.

But for Jelly, born Jason DeFord, this journey wasn’t about vanity or fame. It was about survival.

“I didn’t become successful because of my weight — I became successful in spite of it,” he said on The Dumb Blonde Podcast. “I somehow managed to be this successful carrying 550 pounds. That’s insane.”

From 550 Pounds to Fighting Back

At his heaviest, Jelly Roll weighed 550 pounds. In 2022, he made a decision that would change his life: to “conquer the demon” of his lifelong weight struggle.
He began walking, overhauling his diet, and rebuilding his relationship with food. By 2024, he’d lost 110 pounds, much of it during his Beautifully Broken tour — where he turned his old habits upside down.

“There was a time when tour culture revolved around alcohol and drugs,” he told PEOPLE. “Now it’s about good eating, exercise, and emotional check-ins.”

Training for a 5K—and Winning His Life Back

One of Jelly’s biggest milestones came when he trained for the 2 Bears 5K alongside comedians Bert Kreischer and Tom Segura. What began as a joke became a mission.
“I couldn’t walk a mile in January,” he admitted. By May, he was running three miles a day — and crossing the finish line beside his wife, Bunnie Xo.

His training regimen included daily sauna sessions and cold plunges, a combination he says improved both his discipline and mental clarity.

Redefining Food, Fuel, and Freedom

Food was always the hardest battle. “Nobody in my house had a healthy relationship with food,” Jelly said. “I had to relearn how to eat after 39 years.”
He began working with nutritionist Chef Ian Larios, who joined him on tour to craft high-protein versions of his favorite meals — from Nashville hot chicken to Waffle House-style hashbrowns.

Jelly also chose to avoid Ozempic and other weight-loss drugs. “Every doctor told me it works,” he said. “But as a singer, I can’t risk acid reflux. That would destroy my vocal cords.”

The Road Ahead: Men’s Health, Literally

Now 39, Jelly isn’t slowing down. He’s still losing weight, still training — and has a new dream in sight.

“I wanna be on the cover of Men’s Health by March 2026,” he said. “That’s my goal — to have one of the biggest transformations.”

With his wife cheering him on and a renewed fire for life, Jelly Roll isn’t just rewriting his story — he’s proving that resilience can outshine even the darkest battles.