Fat Joe weighed over 400 pounds in the early '90s
American rapper Fat Joe, whose real name is Joseph Antonio Cartagena, began his music career as a member of the rap group Diggin’ in the Crates Crew (D.I.T.C.) in the early ’90s. A few years later, he pursued his solo career and established his own label, Terror Squad Productions, in 1997. Those who have known the hip-hop icon might be aware that he once weighed over 400 pounds in the past decades.
The rapper’s dramatic weight loss has shocked his fans, and many wondered how he managed to cut down a significant amount of pounds. His weight loss journey was very impressive, and what’s more fascinating about it was that he chose to follow a different method. He didn’t undergo any weight loss surgery or try traditional ways to lose weight.
At one point in the ‘90, Fat Joe weighed 460 pounds. His weight gain is primarily due to an unhealthy lifestyle, such as binge-eating and not getting enough exercise. His success has also contributed to his weight gain, encouraging him to over-indulge. Back then, he didn’t think of the consequences his body may face.
“I think I weighed about 450, 460 at my heaviest,” the rapper said in a 2011 interview with CNN Medical News Senior Producer Ben Tinker. “[I thought,] I’m rich now, I can go to Mr. Chow’s and eat me all the lobster and steak I want… And I always took pride in being fat, that’s why my name was Fat Joe.”
But that was before because the rapper has now learned to take care of his health. He avoided the bad habits he had and followed whatever was necessary in order to slim down. In 2000, he decided to make a lifestyle change when his fellow rapper MC Big Pun died from a heart attack. He revealed to the publication that six of his friends — all around his weight — died of heart attacks.
Fat Joe's Weight Loss Tricks
The main keys to Fat Joe’s successful weight loss:
- He let go of his unhealthy habits
- He worked out with a trainer to get endurance and stamina
- He advised to walk 20 minutes every day for a month at the start of weight loss journey, then make in 25 minutes the next month
- For his diet, he avoided high-carb foods like pasta, rice, and potatoes
- His usual meal consists of fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and whole grain
Related Weight-Loss Posts
From more than 400 pounds, Fat Joe lost 100 pounds in the past decades
Fat Joe, who’s been married to Lorena Cartagena for over a decade, let go of his unhealthy habits. He hit rock bottom after the news about his six friends dying due to a heart attack and it led him to re-assess his lifestyle. There were a lot of realizations at that time. He thought about his daughter seeing him in the casket – if something bad happened to him – and realized she had no father.
“I realized at a certain point, all my big people were dying,” he said. “I couldn’t see a clearer picture, what’s the difference between me and him, of me being in a casket?”
Afraid that he might be next and would leave his family too soon, the rapper began his weight loss journey to live a healthy life. The first thing he did was work out with a trainer to get endurance and stamina. After that, things were easy for him, and even called himself a “gym rat.” His weight loss became apparent after a few months of working out.
Fat Joe said that his heaviest weight was around 450/460. Although he took pride in being fat, he realized that his big people were dying. He admitted how much he loves food, saying that he could eat everything in the world if only he wouldn’t catch a heart attack. However, he knows that was too much to ask. He learned to put his health first to take care of his family.
“I can’t leave my daughter behind,” he said, per Daily News. “I want to be here for her; I don’t want to die on her.”
In 2011, the rapper became successful on his weight loss journey as he revealed that he had lost more than 100 pounds. It was groundbreaking news for him since he was diagnosed with diabetes when he was 14-years-old. Losing weight was a huge milestone for him, and he wanted everyone to know that his weight loss was all because of healthy living.
Fat Joe’s weight loss body is evident on his Instagram page as he posts photos of himself, unintentionally flaunting his new figure. On March 24, 2023, Joe posted a photo of himself lying on a bench on a yacht. He was just wearing a plain and simple white T-shirt and boxing shorts.
Looking closely at his legs, it’s much slimmer than before. His tummy is also not as big as it used to be. He captioned the post, “All work, some play 🌴.”
On March 30, 2023, Joe posted another photo of himself, which is a full-body shot. This time, the rapper is wearing clothes that fully clothe him. Still, despite not showing much skin, his slim body is noticeable. He captioned his post, “WE SET THE TRENDS 🌊.”
What is Fat Joe's diet and exercise?
Fat Joe told the “heavy people” that they don’t have to go to the gym to lose weight. He suggested going on a 20-minute walk a day in the first month of your weight loss journey, then 25 minutes the following month. He advised to make it “30 minutes a day at least five times a week for the months that’ll follow.” The bottom line is that you have to stay active and keep your body moving.
Since he started his journey, the “Drop A Body” rapper has been continuously dropping weight for years. In 2012, he was reportedly down to 263 pounds, and his weight loss journey has inspired a lot of people. He even shared that he attended an event, and people started coming up to him, telling him they lost pounds because of him.
“I was at a party on New Year’s Eve, and, no lie, at least 10 different people came up to me. One guy was like, ‘I lost 30 pounds because of you,'” Fat Joe told MTV in 2012. “So people just coming up to me, I don’t know these people — random people. And if Fat Joe lost that weight and I was ‘Juan,’ I’d lose that weight [too].”
While he’s been an inspiration to many, the rapper was inspired by another TV personality. He revealed that he used to watch Oprah Winfrey and often wondered what she does to lose weight. Eventually, the South Bronx native learned that “it’s all about education and knowledge.” He added that people should watch out for what they eat because “too much carbs is what gets us fat.”
For everyone who wants to lose weight, Fat Joe said that, aside from working out, high-carb foods like rice, pasta, potatoes, and bread should be avoided – or be consumed in smaller portions. He added that laying off these foods would make you healthier. His meal consists of fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and whole grains.