Country star Colt Ford's weight loss journey is an inspiring story of resilience, self-discovery, and the power of lifestyle change. From battling an autoimmune disease to surviving a near-fatal heart attack, Ford has faced numerous challenges that ultimately led him to prioritize his health and well-being. This article delves into the details of Ford's transformative journey, exploring the motivations, struggles, and triumphs that have shaped his path to a healthier life.
The Turning Point: Myasthenia Gravis and a Heart Attack
Ford's commitment to bettering his health came in 2022 when doctors diagnosed him with myasthenia gravis, an autoimmune disease that causes muscle weakness. This diagnosis served as a wake-up call, prompting him to re-evaluate his lifestyle choices and take proactive steps towards improving his health.
However, his health became even more serious when he had a near-fatal heart attack in April 2024. Ford had just played a show in Arizona on April 4, 2024 when he collapsed on his bus and was rushed to a local hospital. In his first post-attack interview, the singer said he flat-lined twice and had to be moved to a larger hospital that had the facilities and medical equipment he needed to recover. Ford says his near-fatal heart attack last April helped kickstart a weight loss journey that's now trimmed him down by 60 lbs.
This life-threatening event served as a major turning point, solidifying his resolve to make lasting changes. "It was life-changing," Ford now tells People. "My doctor said, 'I have no idea how you survived.'"
From 340 to 250 Pounds: The Initial Transformation
Leading up to his heart attack, the singer says that he was a "terrible eater" and that Mountain Dew and fried chicken made up a big portion of his diet. He started making changes in 2022 after being diagnosed with an autoimmune disease called Myasthenia Gravis, and by the time his heart attack struck, he'd gone from 340 lbs to 250 lbs. Notably, Ford started focusing on his health in 2022 after being diagnosed with myasthenia gravis, an autoimmune disease that makes muscles weak.
Read also: Weight Loss Journeys: 90 Day Fiancé
Ford was already working on losing weight and feeling great. Then all of a sudden, he recounts his heart attack.
Embracing a Healthier Lifestyle: Diet and Exercise
Following his heart attack, Ford committed to an even bigger lifestyle change, revealing he has since given up fried food and soda, and has begun walking more. He gave up much of the fast food that was formerly among his favorite meals. "I've changed everything. If I go by a Whataburger, I'll eat a grilled chicken sandwich," he says. "I don't do all the fries and stuff … McDonald's used to be my s--t, and I loved it but I haven't even craved it."
Ford went on to share that he has not had a sip of soda or eaten any fried chicken since his health scare, explaining, "I'm eating a lot healthier. He tells People that he sees his health crisis as an opportunity to make a major lifestyle change."I'm looking at it as a blessing," Ford explains. "I'm going to be healthier than I've ever been."
He says he also regularly uses a treadmill his wife Megan bought him, and that sometimes, he puts on TV and doesn't even realize he's walked eight miles.
Breaking the Habit: Saying No to Waffle House
Ford shared that he knew he had successfully given up his fast-food addiction when he was able to turn down his wife's offer to go to Waffle House to celebrate his 55th birthday. When Ford celebrated his 55th birthday last August, he knew he'd made a lasting change when he didn't even crave a special treat.
Read also: Henry Ford's weight loss methods: A critical look.
"When I woke up, my wife Megan goes, 'I'll take you to Waffle House.' and I said, 'Nah, I don't want to go.' That's when I knew I had won," he recounts. "I broke the habit."
The Mental Game: Overcoming Self-Doubt
Country songwriter Colt Ford knows this crippling self-doubt well. There's also a ton of self-doubt that comes with radically changing your self-image. Recently, Ford spoke with PEOPLE Magazine for an interview. There, he candidly talks about his weight loss journey and how he went from 340 pounds to 190.
During a recent interview with People, Ford revealed that he and Jelly Roll hung out backstage at one of the "Save Me" singer's concerts, where they discussed the complicated feelings that come with trying to live a healthier lifestyle when so much of your public image is associated with weight. Shedding light on Roll’s weight loss journey, who has lost over 100 lbs, he noted, "Jelly has lost a bunch of weight.”
Ford revealed he told the Wild Ones singer that "You start to think when you're a big guy like that and people love you, 'What if I lose weight? Are they going to still like me?' And I'm like, 'No, bro. I thought that for so long. No, no, no. As long as you're who you are, and you're authentic and good to people, sh***, they don't care."
A Shared Experience: Bonding with Jelly Roll
Ford said it is nice to be able to offer advice to people like Jelly Roll. Country star Colt Ford shared that he and Jelly Roll were able to bond over what it's like to be the "big guys."
Read also: F-150 Luxury: Massage Seat Feature
Jelly Roll has also been open about his journey to a healthier lifestyle, sharing in November 2024 that he had lost 110 pounds. He debuted his slimmer appearance at the 2024 CMA Awards, where he walked the red carpet alongside his wife, Bunnie XO, and his 15-year-old daughter, Bailee Ann.
He went into detail about what the process has been like for him on a December 2024 episode of his wife's podcast, "Dumb Blonde," explaining he went through it "publicly for a reason." "I think that people that become as big as I became, when they lose the weight, they're kind of ashamed," he said. "They're so ashamed that they go and 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, you know? And they kind of got to find their whole new way."
Moving Forward: Music and a Healthier Future
Now, Ford is getting back to business as a musician. He's planning a tour for 2025, and on Wednesday (Feb. 5), he revealed plans to release a new song with Michael Ray called "Hell Out of It."
He tells People that the song was written pre-heart attack, but it's even more special now. "It has a whole different meaning," he says. "I'm going to be down here just living and loving the hell out of it. Just everything I do."