For country music artist Trey Lewis, life has always been a race—but for the longest time, he was running in the wrong direction. Today, the Alabama-raised singer, best known for his viral, chart-topping hit "Dicked Down in Dallas," is finding that his greatest performance isn’t occurring on a stage, but in the quiet, disciplined hours of the early morning. Following a 19-year journey of sobriety and a hard-fought battle against a lifelong addiction to food, Lewis has emerged as a picture of physical and mental renewal.
As he prepares for a weekend performance in Bristol, Tennessee, fans might be surprised to see their favorite country star engaging in a high-intensity workout or banging out pushups between guitar riffs. This is no longer just a gimmick; it is the manifestation of a total lifestyle overhaul that has redefined what it means to be a working musician in the modern era.
The Main Facts: A Life Reclaimed
Trey Lewis’s current reality is a far cry from his youth, where he self-identified as the "fat kid" who could only manage a slow walk around the track while his peers lapped him during gym class. Today, the 38-year-old artist maintains a consistent weight of 225 pounds, a milestone reached through a partnership with Nashville-based performance specialist Justin Todd.
Lewis has successfully navigated two major life transitions: the first was achieving 19 years of sobriety, and the second was breaking the cycle of disordered eating that had caused his weight to fluctuate by over 100 pounds on two separate occasions. His transformation has not only improved his physical longevity but has also acted as the engine behind his professional momentum, which includes a Sony Music Publishing deal, high-profile cuts with legends like Tracy Lawrence, and a steady stream of new music.
A Chronology of Struggle and Breakthrough
To understand the current version of Trey Lewis, one must look at the path that led him here. Growing up in Alabama, Lewis was raised on the foundational sounds of Hank Williams Jr. and Lynyrd Skynyrd. However, he did not find his musical voice until he put down the bottle for good.
"I didn’t write songs when I was out there drinking and doing all that stuff," Lewis recalls. "I didn’t get a guitar until I got sober. So music, in a way, became my new addiction and kind of my drug of choice."
The First Wave of Sobriety
Lewis’s sobriety journey began nearly two decades ago. Initially resistant to the idea of recovery programs, he eventually found that the community he once viewed with skepticism became his lifeline. "It turns out, it ain’t such a bad thing I ended up in AA," he says. "I always say that when I got there, I thought that place was for losers… and it changed my life forever."
The Food Addiction Trap
While the battle with alcohol was won, the struggle with food persisted. Lewis describes his relationship with food as his "first addiction," dating back to his childhood. In an attempt to address his weight, he joined an Overeaters Anonymous program, which initially yielded a 100-pound weight loss. However, the rigidity of his regimen—eating the same meals for three years—left him without the necessary tools for long-term lifestyle maintenance. When life stressors mounted, he inevitably reverted to old habits.
By the time his 2020 hit "Dicked Down in Dallas" launched his career into the stratosphere, the pressure of touring and the chaos of newfound fame saw Lewis reaching for convenience foods—pizza and chicken fingers—leading him to peak at over 320 pounds.
The Catalyst: From Ice Baths to Iron
The turning point in his second, and ultimately successful, weight-loss journey was as unorthodox as it was effective: a cold plunge. While hosting a podcast focused on substance abuse recovery, Lewis experienced a moment of profound realization. He was speaking to guests about health and spirituality while physically neglecting his own body.
He struck a deal with performance coach Justin Todd: if Todd could get a cold plunge tank, Lewis would commit to training with him. What followed was a masterclass in behavioral psychology and physical conditioning. Todd, who has worked with athletes and artists like Kameron Marlowe, understood that for Lewis, the "grind" of the gym had to be sustainable and engaging.
The Methodology of Success
Todd’s approach was not to overwhelm Lewis with heavy compound lifts immediately, but to build a foundation.
- Movement Assessments: Identifying mobility issues caused by hours of hunching over a guitar on a tour bus.
- Engagement Strategies: Using basketball, pickleball, and disc golf to make movement feel like play rather than punishment.
- Consistency: Adopting the mantra that showing up is the only non-negotiable requirement.
"We weren’t concerned with throwing a bunch of weight on the bar," Todd explains. "We weren’t going to find our success in that with Trey."
Supporting Data: The Metrics of Change
The results of this collaboration are quantifiable. Lewis went from being unable to perform a single pushup to consistently hitting 20 reps. His bench press has moved from the empty bar to 165 pounds, and his cardiovascular health has improved to the point where he can run three to four miles without fatigue.
More importantly, the psychological metrics have shifted. Lewis has traded his 2 a.m. bedtimes for a 6 a.m. wake-up call, followed by a disciplined routine of exercise, sauna therapy (20 minutes at 200 degrees), prayer, and meditation. This shift has eliminated the "all-or-nothing" mentality that plagued his previous attempts at health.
Official Perspectives: The Coach’s Insight
Justin Todd credits Lewis’s success to a fundamental shift in mindset. "A lot of weight loss is about proper goal setting and taking the focus off the number on the scale and placing it on how well we feel, how our clothes fit, what’s our body fat percentage," says Todd.
Todd highlights Lewis’s unwavering commitment to the schedule. "Trey never missed a workout, I don’t think ever, unless he was very sick. Oftentimes he would still come when he was very sick—and I’ve got three kids under 3—and I’m telling him, ‘No, please don’t come.’"
Implications: A New Era for the Touring Artist
The implications of Lewis’s transformation extend far beyond his waistline. For a touring musician, the physical demands of the road are grueling. By optimizing his physical condition, Lewis has increased his stage presence, his vocal stamina, and his ability to handle the mental pressures of the industry.
He notes that the benefits have permeated every aspect of his life, even leisure activities. During a recent seven-hour canoeing and fishing trip, while his younger companion was exhausted, Lewis found himself feeling fresh the next day.
The Path Forward
Lewis is currently focused on his most recent single, "2 Inches," and a slate of upcoming tour dates. He maintains a balanced, realistic outlook, admitting that while he wouldn’t mind shedding another ten pounds, the focus has shifted entirely to performance and longevity.
"I’m 38, so it’s about feeling good," Lewis says. "It’s not about, like, how much weight can I lift, or how many miles can I run? It’s about feeling good and just waking up every day and getting some movement in."
As he continues to stack small victories, both in the recording studio and the weight room, Trey Lewis serves as a compelling case study in the power of consistency. He is no longer just chasing the next hit song; he is chasing the best version of himself—and he is finally hitting every note.
For Lewis, the secret to his transformation is simple, and it is a lesson he applies to his music as much as his fitness: "You just have to show up. That’s more than half the battle. Then you do the work."
Raul Delapena Setiawan
Nana Muazin
Muslim
