Tekashi 6ix9ine is opening up about his dramatic weight gain and, perhaps even more dramatic, his weight loss.
The formerly imprisoned rapper shocked his fans last week when he posted an Instagram in which he looks significantly heavier than he'd ever been. In the series of pics, he also posted images that showed him slimmed down.
During a new chat with TMZ, 6ix9ine revealed that he weighed 134 pounds when he was released from prison in early April 2020. No longer behind bars, he started eating… a lot.
"I was eating Chinese food every day, twice day on house arrest," he told the website. His weight quickly shot up to 204 pounds by September 2020.
At the time, Tekashi, who is tremendously active on Instagram, suddenly stopped posting to social media. In fact, for five months his Instagram had no activity. Then, in a Feb. 24 post, he returned and indicated that he stepped away to work on his health.
Now, he's down to 146 pounds.
In speaking to TMZ he said his method was simple, albeit not recommended: "Starve yourself and work out."
"People who don't want to lose weight make a whole bunch of excuses. Starve yourself and work out," he said, noting that he cheated on his diet every three days to treat himself to Gushers candy.
On Instagram, he added, "I told myself to put the music to the side and focus on myself and here I am today 60 pounds lighter at 140 … ALL THIS TO SAY … – IN LIFE everyone needs a break, in the chaos of everything that is going on in your life, tell yourself 'I control what happens in my life' do NOT let anyone tell you that things you want it's not possible, that's FALSE!"
In late December 2019, Tekashi was sentenced to two years prison after pleading guilty to racketeering charges and testifying for the government against his former gang associates.