Throughout his musical career, Jeezy—real name Jay Wayne Jenkins, and former name Young—has become synonymous with hustle. For well over a decade, his triumphant punchlines and gravelly ad-libs have served as a bottomless source of motivation for millions of fans, whether they're preparing for a big game, attempting a new one-rep max, or just heading to the office on a Tuesday morning.
The studio isn't the only place in which the rap legend has been grinding, though. Jeezy, who will turn 41 in September, has shed 60 pounds by recommitting to the gym, cutting out certain beloved staples of his diet, and falling in love with distance running. On July 4, he'll run alongside Atlanta mayor Keisha Bottoms in the AJC Peachtree Road Race—the largest 10K in the world—to raise money for charities that include the Atlanta Track Club's Kilometer Kids, his own Street Dreamz Foundation, and the city's Youth Scholarship Program. We caught up with Jeezy after a recent workout to learn how he managed to transform his body—and how he rewards himself after completing another successful week of it.
GQ: How have you been preparing for this race?
Jeezy: Running—sprinting and long-distance running every day. I box three times a week, and do some other form of training two times a week. There’s the mental part, too—eating right, and keeping hydrated and rested. This is my first 10K, so I just want to make sure that I’m going into it 100 percent.
Did you reach out to anyone for tips and advice?
I talked to some people, but to be honest, I’ve been training for this since the day I decided to get myself in order. If I hadn't started working six to seven years ago, as far as eating right and getting my body right, I don’t think this is a conversation we'd be having. Even back then, I was training for something like this. I like to put myself in a position where I have to produce.
Watch:James Marshall Takes on Marathon de Sables, a 140 Mile Race Through the Sahara DesertWhen you started losing weight, did you have a certain number in mind, or was your goal just to feel better?
To get to where you want to get to in life, you have to be present, and health is a big part of that. You have to be careful with what you put into your body, and how you use it and take care of it. It wasn’t about losing a certain amount of weight. It was just about getting myself together, and weight was a big piece of that.
What did some of those changes look like?
Eating right, resting right, and really understanding what I was eating. I feel like we were all taught to eat until you’re full—Grandma or your momma would cook, and we really weren’t educated on food. Diabetes and so many different ailments have to do with good eating habits. If you want to remain healthy, you need to know what’s good for your body. The goal is to be here for as long as you can and live the best life you can possibly live, and I’m all for that.
When you’re on the go, you’re going to eat whatever you can get. I had to become disciplined enough to cut a couple things out. Right now, I don’t eat any beef, pork, or chicken. I don’t eat any fried foods, and I don't eat too many carbs. That sounds crazy, but over time, it’s all about mental focus. I grew up on fried foods, so when you're able to cut those things, it gives you a sense of self-control as well.
I thought it was going to be hard, but it made me go harder. Now, I find myself doing a lot of things that I couldn’t do before, and I can still rest up and be ready for tomorrow.
Were those shifts difficult to implement, especially with your demanding schedule?
If you find yourself getting too far left with something, you have to get back right. I know where I came from, and when I was up 60 pounds and I had to get it off, that was a struggle for me. I promised myself I would never get back there. That's what keeps me focused—just knowing that it can happen. If I’m off for two or three days, I feel a way. [laughs] You have to keep that focus.
With athletes, it’s mandatory to stay in shape, because it’s work. But for me, if I treat it like work, I might not want to get up every morning and do it. I just try to keep it in my head that it’s a lifestyle—it’s a part of my life that I enjoy. So when I get up and work out, that’s my time to be in my zone. I listen to the music I want, and I do my thing. When I’m done with that, then it’s time to go to "work."
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What are your favorite methods of staying in shape?
I love to run. Running is a stress reliever. It gives me time to think. On the track, the road, or the treadmill, it's almost a sense of freedom, especially for someone who is always on the go and among other people. Running is like my downtime. I love boxing, too. It’s the hand-eye coordination—getting that to a science is a task in itself. Running is my favorite, and boxing is right behind it.
What prompted you to want to be active in raising public awareness of these charities, as opposed to just donating to them?
I've always believed that you lead by example, and I’m all about being hands-on. For me, the race is a challenge that I wanted to do, but for a cause—for my city, and for the children. I think it’s a good thing for kids to see me run, and for the city to see me as an example, because of the individual I used to be. It's easy to give money, but it’s better to use your work to get other people involved, too.
On a day that you can be home with no business obligations, what’s your typical routine?
For breakfast, I love salmon and egg whites. Lunch would probably be a dope tuna salad. For dinner, fish and vegetables. I'll switch it up, though, because I don't like to eat too much fish.
On Sunday, that’s my cheat day. If you go hard all week, and everything is right, on Sunday, you can kind of do your thing—in moderation. My thing? Bloody Marys and pizza. If my week was great and I did everything I was supposed to do in the gym, I deserve a Bloody Mary and a slice or two of pizza.
This interview has been edited and condensed.
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