The former NWA World Heavyweight Champion Tyrus' (real name George Murdoch) weight went over 500 lbs after retiring in 2023, and it was a strict routine that helped him get to a better state.

Besides being known as Tyrus in the NWA, lots of wrestling fans also know Murdoch as Brodus Clay from his time in the WWE. In an interview with Men's Health, he admitted that he had “lost a step” after retirement.

Murdoch used to train 4 days a week and bench press almost 405lbs till 15 reps while he was active. While Murdoch always had a bulky physique, giving up that routine resulted in the unhealthy increase in his weight.

Tyrus’s Weight Loss Journey

Tyrus shared that adjusting to retirement was quite tough for him, and he used to feel frustrated and skipped the gym. As this went on, he totally lost the motivation to train. He gained almost 75 pounds in a year.

But everything has changed now, and Tyrus now credits his wife for his success in losing weight because she pushed him to return to training and to a healthy food choice.

Although he still lifts heavy weights, he puts more focus on movement patterns, functional strength, mobility, and cardio. His current workout includes:

• Lighter weight but higher reps,
• Banded exercises,
• Stretching, 
• Cycling,
• Rope exercises and proper warm-up sessions.

Tyrus’s Diet Plan

Tyrus eats a simple diet and sometimes follows an intermittent fasting regimen. He battled with eating and admitted that there was a “400-pound gorilla” inside him who used to eat “sugar and fast food.” Currently, he stays focused with his long-term goals.

His diet includes:

• Two protein shakes,
• One whole-food meal in a day containing veggies and steak.

By sticking to this diet plan, Tyrus had lost around 27 pounds in a month, and later he dropped to around 300 pounds while having a muscular physique. Now, he feels more alive and better than before. But his conscience didn't work before a wake-up call.

Wake-up calls for Tyrus

The pro wrestler revealed that he faced several wake-up calls, which led him to focus on his health. At first, he noticed some physical changes, such as:

• Being less muscular and feeling softer
• Difficulties while climbing the stairs.  

Secondly, he had a mental shake-up when he heard of his former teammate's death due to a heart issue, who also had a similar body type. This is when Tyrus finally started paying more attention to his health. He said, "I have young children, and I would like to be there for them.” He even added that now he is “training just to have more days" in his life.

Do you know about a similarly inspiring fitness transformation story. Share it with us in the comments section.

Follow Bodybuilding Bros for more.

Written by

Supradeep Dutta

Edited by

Souvik Roy