Violent J, of the Insane Clown Posse (ICP), has noticeably slimmed down over the years. His decision to lose weight came after suffering from serious knee issues, which were being exacerbated by his obesity. In this article, we will explore Violent J's health struggles, his weight loss journey, and also look at other inspiring weight loss stories.
Violent J's Health Struggles and Weight Loss Decision
In a heartfelt announcement onstage at the Gathering of the Juggalos, Violent J revealed he has been suffering from heart failure. While he didn’t reveal the cause of his heart issues, he described his struggle in detail in front of a crowd of Juggalos.
“For those of you that haven’t been to my house, the studio is probably 40 yards from my front door. I noticed walking out to the studio every day, by the time I got to the fucking studio, I was winded,” Violent J said.
After undergoing an ultrasound, doctors discovered that Violent J had heart failure. “They want you to go straight home, get in bed and they’ll call you first thing in the morning,’” he was told.
“They called before the birds even woke up and fucking told me to go to the hospital. They took me in the back and shit, and basically they just came out and told me I have heart failure. That scared the shit out of me.”
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Violent J underwent multiple procedures to treat Atrial Fibrillation but continued to experience an irregular heartbeat. “During atrial fibrillation, the heart's two upper chambers (the atria) beat chaotically and irregularly - out of coordination with the two lower chambers (the ventricles) of the heart,” the Mayo Clinic describes. “Atrial fibrillation symptoms often include heart palpitations, shortness of breath, and weakness.”
As a result, ICP will embark on a farewell tour next year, though the duo plan to continue playing one-off shows.
ICP's Future Plans
“We’re gonna do one more tour next year around the world,” Violent J announced. “We’re gonna do the United States, and then we’re gonna go to Europe, Canada, and Australia. It’s gonna be a farewell tour. That don’t mean we’re not playing. We’re gonna play every Juggalo weekend, every Hallowicked, every fucking [Big Ballers Christmas Party], every event. We’re gonna do a show somewhere every month - one show a month is our plan … I want to make it clear, making music is not affected in any way, shape, or form by anything going on with Shaggy or myself health-wise.”
We’d like to wish Violent J the very best in his health.
Inspiring Weight Loss Journeys
Violent J's weight loss is an inspiring example of how individuals can take control of their health. Here are a few more inspiring weight loss stories:
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Jeff Palmer
Jeff Palmer was always “the fat kid” growing up. After a violent encounter with bullies at school, he ran home crying. He eliminated overeating and junk food. In his early teens, he worked his way from 267 pounds to a healthy 140. Now 28, he maintains a lean 165-pound physique and works as a personal trainer and bootcamp instructor. “I have been where they are,” he says. “I have been through the struggle and understand what they are feeling and experiencing."
Sean Rosa
After being honorably discharged from the Army, Sean Rosa became depressed. His doctor told him that if he continued the same lifestyle, he wouldn’t live any longer than his father, who had a fatal heart attack at age 40. He also overhauled his diet: “I eat a lot less, but more often,” he says. Rosa dropped 55 pounds from his starting weight of 322 in the first few months. Now he weighs in at 195 with a size 32 waist and is stronger and happier than ever. He was overweight at 224 pounds and covered in acne. But then he started to plateau, so he joined a mixed martial arts gym-and dropped another 20 pounds of fat. Now he’s a lean 182 pounds and never feels more at home than when he’s in the gym. So he started small, giving up junk food and alcohol. In less than a year, Devic was down to 198 pounds. Now he feels an energy, drive, and confidence he never thought was possible.
Damien Grant
After serving in the military, Damien Grant landed a security job that involved spending a lot of time parked in a chair. In 2015, he went to a checkup with a new doctor. He stepped on the scale and weighed in at 295 pounds, which classified him as obese. He started wearing a Fitbit and taking walks after dinner. He dropped down to 183 pounds and 13 percent body fat. His advice? “Just start moving." He’d always been a “big kid,” weighing more than 200 pounds since middle school. He started his training by working out for about 5 hours every week. But by a few years later, during January of this year, Deidel was still 252 pounds and had 20 percent body fat. Now he preps four meals a day for every day of the week. His own results aren’t the only thing that keeps him going: His stepdad has lost 80 pounds, and his uncle has dropped nearly 200.
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