Singer Jelly Roll has lost over 200 pounds since starting his weight loss journey in December of 2022. Since losing the weight, he's been an open book about how the experience has impacted him both inwardly and outwardly. He's since gone skydiving, participated in a wrestling match, and run a 5K, among other things. However, he's also the first to admit that sometimes dealing with such a drastic change can still be challenging at times.
Videos by Wide Open Country
"I think that people who become as big as I became, when they lose the weight, they're kind of ashamed," he said in an interview. "They're so ashamed that they go hide and lose the weight, and then they come back out and they don't really know how to interact with the world."
According to Jelly's health coach, Gary Brecka, when the singer came to him about losing weight, it was at a time when he had no other choice. Brecka shared that, at his peak weight, Jelly Roll would often sleep on his side so that he didn't suffocate overnight. "Every morning that he would wake up, he said, as soon as he would wake up, he would thank God that he didn't die that night. Because he felt like he was gonna die every night when he went to sleep," Brecka shared.
How Gary Brecka Changed Jelly Roll's Life
Gary Brecka is a biologist and longevity hacker, known for founding The Ultimate Human, a platform where he shares his knowledge through podcasts and various media. "I got a DM one day from him and he said, 'do you work with fat people?'" he shared on the Bussin' With The Boys Podcast. Brecka had worked with celebrities and athletes like Mark Wahlberg, Cristiano Ranaldo, and Dana White, but someone like Jelly Roll was a different case entirely. Brecka shared a little bit about his first time meeting Jelly on his plane on a trip to Vegas.
"I'll never forget that flight. It was actually very sad, because I could see this guy's heart. He's a good human. But he could barely fit in this private airplane seat. And he started talking to us describing what it was like to go through a day in the life of just being him at his weight." Brecka shared how, even while driving in the car, Jelly Roll would turn the volume up on his radio so he wouldn't have to hear himself wheezing.
Jelly Roll was seriously in a place where he was "ready to commit to changing", and needed someone like Brecka to guide him along the way. Now, at 200 pounds lighter, the singer continues to be an inspiration to many, including his health coach. "He is one of the most genuine human beings, and to see that transition right there is just amazing."
Image via: Getty / Joshua Applegate
