Jelly Roll Drops 200 Pounds: The Powerful, Untold Reason He Shared His Weight Loss Journey Publicly

Ever wonder what it truly takes to drop 200 pounds and keep the applause coming? Jason DeFord—better known as Jelly Roll—just delivered a mic-drop moment not on a stage, but right in the locker room of the Tennessee Titans. Yeah, the same guy who blends country, rap, and rock into soulful anthems about struggle and strength is now serving up serious weight-loss inspiration that has the NFL buzzing. Picture this: a Nashville native telling the Titans, “I lost 200 pounds” and throwing in a cheeky promise of a contract if he trims another 50. It’s the kind of bold talk that makes you stop and think about what’s possible when grit meets goal-setting. From shunning popular weight-loss meds over his prized voice to racing 5Ks and embracing saunas and cold plunges, Jelly Roll’s journey is as raw and real as his music. If you’ve ever struggled to shake off the weight—literal or metaphorical—you’ll want to dive deep into how Jelly Roll rewrote his story. Ready for the full remix? LEARN MORE

Jason DeFord, also known as Jelly Roll, has inspired fans with his genre-bending music across country, rap and rock. His songs, like Amen, carry a message of strength in vulnerability. Recently, the musician took his knack for inspiring people out of the studio and into the locker room. In a Tennessee Titans X video posted on August 6, Jelly Roll opens up about his impressive 200-pound weight loss to the NFL’s Tennessee Titans team.

“My name is Jason ‘Jelly Roll’ DeFord. I grew up right here in Nashville, Tennesse. I’m super proud of that,” he said. In his speech, the singer talked about the importance of community, his weight loss and his future health goals, which he joked could land him a spot on the Titans’ roster. “I lost 200 pounds,” Jelly Roll said. “I told coach I’m getting a contract if I lose another 50.”

We’re taking a look at Jelly Roll’s journey, including the strategies he used, why he decided not to take Ozempic and how he wants to celebrate when he reaches his weight-loss goal.

Jelly Roll is down 200 pounds 

In an April interview on Pat McAfee’s show Big Night AHT, DeFord shared how much weight he’d lost so far and how spending time with his wife was keeping him motivated to lose the rest. “I started at 540 pounds, I’m 357 pounds this morning, baby,” said the singer, who’s since lost even more weight.. “I’m going to lose another 100 pounds and go skydiving with my wife in Sweden, baby!”

Pursuing his weight loss around a specific goal is an effective strategy, says Meghan Garcia-Webb, MD, a triple board-certified physician in internal medicine, lifestyle medicine and obesity medicine.

“Setting an activity-based goal can help keep the focus on why someone is losing weight,” says Dr. Garcia-Webb. “Many people get very tied to being a specific number on the scale, but it’s important to remember what that number actually means. What can someone do now that they couldn’t do at a previous weight? How will they feel during their day to day activities?”

Why Jelly Roll didn’t use Ozempic to lose weight 

While many celebs have turned to GLP-1 medications like Ozempic, Jelly Roll was worried about potential side effects. In a December 2024 episode of the Dumb Blonde Podcast hosted by his wife Alyssa DeFord, also known as Bunnie XO, he said “We’re not against Ozempic or any of that stuff. Every doctor I’ve talked to is for it. They said it helps. I just was afraid of it.” 

His hesitation came down to one thing: his voice. “As a singer, few things scare me more than acid reflux,” Jelly Roll said. “Like, you’ll watch me get up out of a bed, I’ll burp and wake up panicked and go take something for it. You know? Because that stuff will just rip the vocal cords.” 

His worries are not unfounded. “Acid reflux can be a big concern for people on GLP-1 medications,” Dr. Garcia-Webb says. “When movement of food is slowed through the stomach, it means there is also more of a chance for food and stomach acid to escape back up the esophagus. For singers, acid reflux can be particularly damaging for the vocal cords.”  

Jelly Roll struggled with weight loss for years 

In a 2018 Instagram post, Jelly Roll shared that his struggle with weight began in childhood. “I’ve been obese since I was a small child,” he said.. “All I’ve ever known was being fat, and I’m f–king miserable. I wanna skydive, bungee jump, ride a bull, parasail, ride roller coasters, I want to LIVE a normal life and have a normal relationship with food. I fight addictions and alcoholism everyday.”

The singer isn’t alone in his struggles. “When people have had a lifelong struggle with food, it can be like fighting with one arm tied behind their back,” says Dr. Garcia-Webb. “They just don’t have the perspective of what a healthy relationship with food has ever looked like. That’s not to say that it’s impossible, though.”

According to Prevention, Jelly Roll shared he was kicking off his weight loss journey in December 2022.  

“I did this publicly for a reason,” he said. “I wanna be honest about my struggles with it with people. I wore it for so long. I think that people that become as big as I became, when they lose the weight, they’re kind of ashamed. 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 looking different or feeling different.”

The keys to Jelly Roll’s weight loss success 

In May 2024, Jelly Roll competed in the 2 Bears 5K in Los Angeles. Leading up to the race, Jelly Roll told People “I’m doing two to three miles a day, four to six days a week. I’m doing 20 to 30 minutes in the sauna, six minutes in a cold plunge every day. I’m eating healthy right now.”

While we know the impact of cardio like running on weight loss, you may be wondering if cold plunges and saunas can also help.

“There is a small body of research to suggest that cold plunges can help with bodily inflammation, stress, immunity, sleep quality and quality of life,” says Dr. Garcia-Webb. “There is also some evidence showing that sauna use may boost the effects of other healthy lifestyle changes. For my patients, as long as they are being safe about these activities, in general I think they will only help with their health goals.”

He changed his relationship with food too

While Jelly Roll now says healthy eating has been key for him, in a November 2024 interview with People, he admitted he previously struggled with overeating. 

“The battle was with the food addiction, changing the way I’ve looked at food for the last 39 years,” he told People. “I’ve never had a healthy relationship with food, so that was the hard part. But once you get into that discipline and commitment, it’s like an avalanche. Once that little snowball started rolling, it was on its way.”

If you’re wondering what kind of foods have helped Jelly Roll in his weight loss, an April interview with Jimmy Kimmel revealed the answer. “I’ve been thinking of ways to make it sound cool, but I can’t,” he joked.. “I’m eating a lot of protein, vegetables and walking. That’s what I’m doing.”