Fat Joe knows how many times he could have flamed out over the years—or worse—but has been saved. He’s more than willing to share just how close to death he’s come and how he had to battle hard to win back his physical and mental health. The Book of Jose, the memoir he published last November, is a sobering portrait of survival, which, for Joe, now means being much more mindful about how he lives. At one point, he tipped the scales at 470 pounds. He’s lost about 215 of that over the past 15 years, first in a giant whoosh and then through more sustained progress, making practical lifestyle tweaks while learning the science of food.

These days, the hip-hop stalwart, who once celebrated his undeniable presence with a chorus that consisted mostly of “I’m livin’ Fat, y’all. I’m livin’ Fat,” is equally unapologetic about his inclination to substitute zucchini for spaghetti and about his favorite: sweet-potato mash topped with Splenda and I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter. There is no set fitness goal. Joe just wants to stay alive, and he’s altered his daily habits to fit this mindset, transforming his body by focusing on improving his net happiness with more than superficial gains.