DJ Mustard, the acclaimed producer behind numerous hip-hop and R&B hits, has embarked on a remarkable journey of health and self-improvement, chronicling his weight loss to inspire others. His commitment to breaking old dietary habits and embracing a healthier lifestyle has not only transformed his physique but also positively impacted his personal and professional life.
Documenting the Transformation: Social Media as a Source of Accountability
Since losing 100 pounds a few years ago, Mustard has chronicled his weight-loss journey to #HealthGoals. Through his social media channels like Instagram, his routine check-ins featuring him in the gym and getting active with famous friends have showcased both his progress and his mission to break old dietary habits. Mustard uses social media as a tool to hold himself accountable. His hilarious Instagram clips find him weighing himself to share his weight-loss journey with his supporters. “I do the Weight Check shit to keep me focused and shit, but I also really did it so people could hold me accountable for bullshit that I be doing like eating out,” says the in-demand hitmaker.
In one instance, the 32-year-old producer took to Instagram to share an old photo of himself at much heavier weight. “I look at sh*t like this everyday and get motivated! Smfh,” he wrote with pride in his Instagram Stories. The Los Angeles native followed it up with a video post of him lifting weights and the caption “Lowest weight I’ve ever been as an adult” while tagging his trainer. He posted additional fitness-related content, from the conclusion of his workout on a tennis court to him running on a treadmill. The GRAMMY winner also shared old photos of one of his friends and workout buddies, saying, “We not going back to this … this ain’t cool” before following up with a current photo of his friend, who appears much slimmer.
The Motivation Behind the Change: Health, Fashion, and Family
In 2016, Mustard also shared additional insight into why he began his weight loss journey during an exclusive interview with The Real. Mustard's weight loss journey has been years in the making. “I like dressing in designer clothes and it’s hard to buy them if you’re overweight,” he said at the time. “I got tired of going in stores and I couldn’t fit anything, and overall I wanted to be healthy. My son runs around the house and I want to be able to catch him.
He admitted his love for fashion was one of the reasons why he wanted to change. “I like dressing in designer clothes and it’s hard to buy them if [you’re] overweight. I got tired of going in stores and I couldn’t fit anything, and overall I wanted to be healthy.” He also listed wanting to be able to play with his son as another motive.
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Dietary Adjustments and Healthy Habits
Committed to his cause, Mustard has learned to substitute sodas for water and has increased his intake of vegetables and fruits, which could help to explain why he had already been introduced to a few items on the unique fruit menu XXL presented to him. “I think I had this shit before,” he says after tasting a rambutan. “I was overseas somewhere for sure.”
Teaming up with a doctor who specializes in weight loss, Mustard dropped over 100 pounds with a strict diet. “I did a lot of water. I did no carbs at all. Basically no sugar.” He added: “I didn’t really work out or nothing like that.
Overcoming Challenges on the Road
Although he's been on a winning streak in most areas of his life, one aspect in which he has had his challenges is perfecting a diet that works for his busy schedule. “When you traveling, that shit hard because I want to just eat,” he tells XXL, as he samples some fruit. “You don’t want to think about eating healthy.” Today, he opts for the fleshy sour and sweet varieties in front of him, but when he's on the road touring, sometimes his love for Jamaican food and fried chicken overrides his health conscious mindset.
Celebrating Milestones and a "Perfect Ten" Life
Life is good for Mustard, who is gearing up to join Future and Meek Mill for their Legendary Nights Tour, which kicks off in late August. The host of the forthcoming Summers Fest recently won a Grammy, scored another platinum plaque for the Migos-assisted “Pure Water,” welcomed another baby to his family, moved his sister to Los Angeles and watched as his artist Ella Mai become a star in her own right. Mustard admits he wakes up sometimes thinking, “Damn, this is just too good to be true.” His career and personal milestones have helped to curate his current vibes, while also providing inspiration for his latest album, Perfect Ten.
“I feel like my life is at a perfect 10-ish moment,” says Mustard, whose third album features “Pure Water” and the posse-cut “On God” with YG, Tyga, A$AP Ferg and the recently freed A$AP Rocky. On the music side, Mustard released his last album Perfect Ten in 2019, which peaked at No.
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Following that initial interview, the music producer made headlines again last June after he revealed on social media he lost an additional 47 pounds by sharing a post celebrating his 30th birthday and the many milestones he’s accomplished in his life. He wrote in a now-deleted post, “I’ve debated on not posting on my birthday because of all that’s going on but then I thought to myself, do you know how hard it is making it to the age of 30 as a black successful man in this world!!!? I do, and today I’m celebrating 30 years of life! I made a promise to myself in January before the lockdown that I was gonna focus more on my health, myself, get off of social media, and ignore all the distractions that I didn’t need! “I look at shit like this everyday and get motivated! Smfh. “I do, and today i’m celebrating 30 years of life! I made a promise to myself in January before the lock down that I was gonna focus more on my health, myself, get off of social media, and ignore all the distractions that I didn’t need!
Inspiration for Others and a Positive Mindset
Mustard's positive outlook on his health makes him the perfect candidate to indulge in an assortment of exotic fruits in the latest episode of XXL's All You Can Eat mukbang challenge series.During Mustard's mukbang, an array of fruits from around the world, including cotton candy grapes, rambutans, lychees, passion fruit and lulos ("It's like a fake lemon") are laid out in front of him for the taking.
The star producer expressed that he's reached his lowest weight ever as an adult. Mustard expressed pride and happiness over his weight loss journey in recent Instagram Stories posted to his account. Moreover, he first posted a picture of him from a couple of years ago, presumably when he was just starting to make a name for himself as a star producer. "I look at s**t like this everyday and get motivated!" he wrote on the Story post. Then, he uploaded a video of one of his workout sessions, where he's clearly putting in some hard work. "Lowest weight I've ever been as an adult," the DJ wrote. Of course, many expressed support and congratulations for him online as he reflected on his journey. Furthermore, the Los Angeles native has been on this path for a few years now, and clearly to great success. Even though his recent divorce has taken up a lot of time and negative mental energy in his life, it seems like he manifests a positive mindset through this dedication. As many noted on social media, "health is wealth." With that in mind, it must motivate him to put just as much work into other projects and endeavors.
A New Man: Visual Evidence of Transformation
On Monday (April 3), Mustard shared on his Instagram Story a before and after video of himself when he was at his heaviest to where he is now at his lowest weight imaginable. In the clip, the California hitmaker is featured in an old photo that shows himself large and in charge. "I look at s**t [like] this everyday and get motivated! Smfh," he captioned the photo.
Next to the photo is a brief clip of Mustard working out with a kettlebell. It's clear that the producer has been putting in work at the gym and he's totally different as a man."Lowest weight i've ever been an adult," he wrote in the caption of the video.Mustard's trainer is Chris DeBonnett, also known as justrainchris. The physical trainer has several videos showing himself engaging in some intense workouts in the gym. Just look at Mustard's physical transformation, clearly, Chris' exercise regimes work.
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The before photo - timeline unknown - seemed to showcase the duo at their highest weight, while the after snapshot taken in May displayed the dramatic physical change over the years. Many fans began praising the couple as they viewed the significant difference between the two images. A few mentioned how they loved the timeless bond between DJ Mustard and his wife Chanel, whom he married last year.
Maintaining Focus Amidst Success and Challenges
Mustard is feeling so good about his health, he's in the studio working on new music. The 32-year-old producer recently announced on his IG page that he's in "ALBUM MODE."
However, sometimes, he will just let something slide and focus on more important matters ahead. For example, Hit-Boy recently mentioned him on the track "Slipping Into Darkness," along with other producers like Metro Boomin, Southside, and most scathingly Hitmaka. On the track, he wondered whether Mustard can "chop soul," using the 32-year-old as an example of his own versatility when compared to those beatsmiths. While the King's Disease producer only meant to diss Hitmaka and expressed that he has love for Mustard, the latter seemingly didn't even respond to the alleged diss in the first place. Given how much that track made a splash in the hip-hop world this year, it's impressive to see the West Coast producer shake it off. Of course, that's because there are clearly more pressing things on his mind. After helping out Roddy Ricch on Feed Tha Streets III, hopefully he drops some more hits sooner rather than later.