Jelly Roll, whose real name is Jason DeFord, grew up in a challenging environment. Life was never easy for him.
He battled emotional stress from a young age, and as he grew older, this stress developed into harmful habits like emotional eating.
Food became a comfort zone for him—a way to deal with feelings he didn’t quite know how to manage.
He wasn’t the only one to face such struggles.
Many people use food as a coping mechanism, and that’s where problems can start.
By the time he was in his 30s, Jelly Roll’s weight had spiraled out of control.
At one point, he tipped the scales at over 500 pounds.
He wasn’t just overweight; he was dangerously obese.
But for a long time, he didn’t see it that way.
It took a wake-up call at a doctor’s office for him to realize that he was putting his life at serious risk.
Jelly Roll’s Turning Point to Weight Loss
Jelly Roll went to the doctor and found out he had some big health problems because of his weight.
The doctor told him he had high blood pressure and could get diabetes.
The doctor also said if he didn’t make big changes, he might not live to see his future.
For some people, hearing this from a doctor is scary, but they don’t always do anything about it.
But for Jelly Roll, this was the moment he decided to change.
He didn’t have to do it alone, though.
His wife, Bunnie XO, was there to help him every step of the way.
She cheered him on and reminded him he was strong enough to make the changes he needed.
Together, they worked on getting healthier, one day at a time.
And guess what? Jelly Roll has already done an amazing job!
In an interview on November 7, 2024, he said, “I’ve lost 120 pounds now. It’s crazy!”
Most of that weight came off in 2024.
But he didn’t stop there. On February 7, 2025, he shared another big win.
He said, “I hiked a mountain the other day. There’s no way I could have done that before, so it’s great to see how far I’ve come. And I’m still going!”
Jelly Roll’s story shows that with hard work and support from loved ones, you can make big changes.
He’s proof that even when things seem tough, you can turn your life around!
How did Jelly Roll lose weight?
One of the first things Jelly Roll had to confront was his relationship with food.
It wasn’t just about overeating; it was about why he was overeating.
For years, he had been using food to cope with emotional pain.
He ate when he was sad, stressed, or even bored.
This kind of eating is called “emotional eating,” and it’s a struggle that many people face.
Emotional eating can be tricky because it’s not about physical hunger.
Instead, it’s driven by emotions.
Jelly Roll realized that to lose weight, he had to address the root cause of his unhealthy relationship with food.
That’s when he turned to therapy.
Therapy helped him uncover the deep-seated reasons for his emotional eating, and it gave him tools to manage his emotions in healthier ways.
It wasn’t easy, though.
There were days when he wanted to give up, days when the old habits seemed too hard to break.
But Jelly Roll had a goal in mind: a healthier life for himself and his family.
Every time he wanted to turn back, he reminded himself why he started.
Changing His Diet: From Junk to Real Food
Another huge change Jelly Roll made was to his diet.
Let’s be honest: eating junk food is easy.
It’s convenient, and it’s comforting.
But it’s also packed with unhealthy fats, sugars, and chemicals that don’t do our bodies any favors.
Jelly Roll knew that if he wanted to get healthy, he had to ditch the processed foods and embrace whole, nutritious meals.
He began working with a dietitian, who helped him create a food plan that was tailored to his needs.
This plan focused on whole foods—things like vegetables, fruits, lean proteins, and whole grains.
These foods are rich in nutrients that help fuel the body, build muscle, and maintain a healthy metabolism.
One of the biggest changes for Jelly Roll was learning about portion control.
In the past, he would eat large portions without thinking about it.
Now, he measured his food, paid attention to how much he was eating, and made sure to listen to his body’s signals of hunger and fullness.
Jelly Roll and exercise
While changing his diet was crucial, Jelly Roll also knew that exercise had to become a regular part of his routine.
But when you’re over 500 pounds, working out isn’t exactly easy.
So, Jelly Roll started small.
At first, he couldn’t run or lift heavy weights.
So, he began with walking—just simple, short walks around his neighborhood.
It wasn’t much, but it was a start.
And as he continued to walk, day after day, his stamina improved.
Eventually, he started incorporating more intense exercises into his routine, like jogging and strength training.
One of the biggest challenges Jelly Roll faced was dealing with the physical discomfort that came with exercising at such a high weight. His joints hurt, and his body wasn’t used to moving in these ways.
But every time he felt like giving up, he reminded himself why he was doing this. He wasn’t just losing weight for the sake of it. He was fighting for his life.
As his body grew stronger, Jelly Roll pushed himself harder.
He started attending CrossFit classes, a form of high-intensity interval training that combines cardio with strength exercises.
CrossFit is no joke—it’s tough, and it pushes people to their limits.
But Jelly Roll embraced the challenge, and over time, he saw major improvements in his strength and endurance.
Celebrating the Small Victories
When people set out to lose weight, they often focus on the big numbers—how much weight they’ve lost in total.
But Jelly Roll knew that the key to success was celebrating the small victories along the way.
Every pound lost, every inch off his waist, every day he chose a healthy meal over junk food—these were all victories that added up over time.
Instead of getting discouraged by how far he had to go, Jelly Roll celebrated how far he had come.
This positive mindset helped keep him motivated, even on the days when progress seemed slow.
It’s a good reminder for anyone on a weight loss journey: the small wins matter.
Dealing with Setbacks
Of course, no journey is without its setbacks, and Jelly Roll’s was no exception.
There were times when he gained back a few pounds or when he felt like he wasn’t making progress.
But instead of letting these setbacks defeat him, he learned to view them as part of the process.
Weight loss isn’t a straight path.
It’s full of ups and downs, and setbacks are a natural part of the journey.
What mattered most to Jelly Roll was that he didn’t give up.
Every time he stumbled, he got back up and kept moving forward.
Mental Health: The Foundation of His Success
One of the most important things Jelly Roll learned during his weight loss journey was that mental health and physical health are deeply connected.
As he worked with his therapist, he realized that his struggles with food were tied to deeper emotional issues like anxiety and stress.
He learned healthier ways to cope with his emotions, like meditation, journaling, and even songwriting.
Music became a therapeutic outlet for him, allowing him to express his feelings in a positive and creative way.
This focus on mental health was crucial to Jelly Roll’s success.
Without it, he might have lost weight temporarily, but he wouldn’t have been able to sustain the changes.
The Ongoing Journey
Today, Jelly Roll is healthier than he’s ever been, but his journey isn’t over.
Weight loss is not a one-time event—it’s a lifelong commitment to staying healthy, both physically and mentally.
He continues to make healthy choices, stay active, and work on his mental health every day.
For anyone reading this who might be struggling with their weight or their relationship with food, Jelly Roll’s story is a reminder that change is possible.
It won’t happen overnight, and there will be challenges along the way.
But with determination, support, and a willingness to confront the emotional aspects of weight loss, you can transform your life—just like Jelly Roll did.
