Fat Joe Opens Up About His Incredible 200-Lb. Weight Loss Journey and Overcoming Depression with Determination

After shedding 200 pounds, Fat Joe is embracing happiness.

In a new interview for Men’s Health’s “Hip Hop Health” series in honor of hip-hop’s 50th birthday, the 52-year-old “Lean Back” rapper discussed his health in detail. Joe remembered weighing around 470 lbs. at his heaviest and explained how he shed 200 pounds. his life was saved.

After Big Pun, his best friend, passed away suddenly from a heart attack in his 20s, Fat Joe, whose real name is Joseph Antonio Cartagena, suffered from depression. He realized he needed to alter his habits after going to his friend’s funeral.

“When I attended his funeral, I had Ebenezer Scrooge-like feelings. Like, I saw me,” said Fat Joe.
“And I’m staring at his young daughter.
My daughter and she shared the same age.
“You need to lose weight, or you’re out of here,” I advised.
‘.

During the depressive phase that started following the deaths of Big Pun and other friends and family, Fat Joe compared his mind to “the most complex Rubik’s Cube you could ever, ever, ever try to figure out.”. He compared himself to Neo in The Matrix Resurrections, sitting in a bathtub with a rubber duck on his head.

According to Fat Joe, “that’s what depression was like to me.”. “You can’t build a wall high enough to protect yourself when you’re fighting yourself.
You cannot travel to an island.
Since you are battling your mind, there is nowhere you can go to escape from it. The moment you think about it after waking up, your brain sends you a message informing you that you shouldn’t be happy. And you immediately relapse into depression after that. “.

After losing so many loved ones, the performer said he can no longer “sit there and dwell” and that he must “push forward.”. Additionally, he modified his routines, which assisted in his recovery from this depressive episode.

“Once you recover, you should realize what brought you there and turn around. I immediately turn toward happiness when I’m unhappy, he told the magazine.

Even though he has everything he could possibly want at home, he enjoys himself more when he sees his mother.

Fat Joe remarked, “It puts the biggest smile on my face when I pull up to my mother’s home that I bought for her, that’s a modest home.”. And everyone is happy when I go inside, including her and my father. In her entire life, I never once said “no” to my daughter for anything. Yes has always been the answer. That gives me joy. I love movies a lot. “John Wick 4”. Air. I’m glad to hear that.
I love watching CNN.
You are so happy to sleep in your bed when you travel so much.
”.

Since discovering the science behind healthy habits, Fat Joe has been on a health journey.
He declared, “Your body is merely a computer.”.
It reads food in various ways.
“.

Every three months, he also checks his blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels because he is aware of how frightening it can be to believe you are taking the right steps but still have “higher than desired” numbers. Since he is not a younger man embarking on this journey, he is aware that you must “try new ways to figure out how to keep your stuff under control.

In another part of his Men’s Health interview, Fat Joe related the story of his driver, who told him that some people were disappointed he lost weight. As Fat Joe recalled, “I said, ‘Man, I thought you guys would be happy for me! Because I’m getting healthier.'”. “Nah, man, we feel like you left us,’ he replied. You’ve been telling us for years that being a fat guy is cool. The big boys, we got angry with you. ’”.

He felt conflicted after that conversation because he was aware of the confidence he had instilled in the men at the height of his fame and how they now felt abandoned by him. They were unaware that I was merely considering the fact that I wanted to stay in this place for a very long time, according to Fat Joe. “I really want to exercise. I aspire to good health. I wish I were here. “.

He compared Lizzo’s current brand of body positivity to his own, saying that it continues to inspire people. She declares, “I’m a big girl and I’m proud of it,” while embracing her beauty. I could jam with all of you big girls. I did that, too,” he admitted.

Although he may no longer be able to use his stage name, Fat Joe told Men’s Health that he has no intention of changing it. Even though I’ve become more health conscious, he continued, “it wouldn’t make sense to change it.”.
The brand is now mine.
It’s what I created. ”.