Backstreet’s back? More like AJ McLean is back. The singer, 42, has been working out a ton since the pandemic hit and is down about 15 pounds, Us Weekly can confirm.
“The transformation is unrecognizable and I couldn’t be happier,” he posted via Instagram on Tuesday, September 8, next to a side-by-side photo. “Still got a ways to go but now that I’m dancing like I never have before it’s coming. #dwts #healthysoberlife #transformationtuesday.”
In August, the Florida native posted a shirtless video and photo revealing his muscular physique. “Blood, sweat, tears. Rinse and Repeat,” the Backstreet Boys star captioned the still, sharing his appreciation for trainer Bobby Strom. “Thank you @bobbystrom for helping find my body and piece of mind again! This is an ongoing journey that I will never stop working on. Never felt better and more confident about my mind body and spirit as I do today.”
He also shared in the video that he’s been training “really hard” for the past five months and is “finally starting to see some loss in body fat,” which is something he’s very proud of.
“I’m on a very strict diet, grain-free, gluten-free, sugar-free, no sodas of any kind, and completely sober for almost nine months,” McLean said. “This amazing, but rigorous, workout is all due to my amazing trainer, Mr. Bobby Strong. He’s been a huge asset in my transformation, trying to get myself prepared and ready for what’s to come in the next few weeks. A lot of surprises coming from me.”
In April, the father of two shared exclusively with Us Weekly that although the gyms were closed, he created a workout area in his home — and completely changed his diet.
“I’ve been FaceTime training for the last month. I’ve been grain-free for a month, dairy-free — pretty much — for a month [and] sugar-free,” he told Us at the time. “My best friend, who’s my sponsor, we just got these mountain bikes. I just went on a 21-mile bike ride today!”
As for why he’s working so hard — in addition to preparing for Dancing With the Stars — he just wants “to get in the best shape of my life and to be healthy and to be happy — physically, mentally and emotionally,” the “Boy and a Man” singer said.
McLean is set to compete against Carole Baskin, Chrishell Stause, Jesse Metcalfe, Kaitlyn Bristowe and many more celebs on season 29 of Dancing With the Stars, set to premiere on ABC Monday, September 14, at 8 p.m. ET.
