"Lose" is not a word LeBron James normally associates himself with. But losing weight? That's a different story.
Heading into his 12th NBA season this year, James underwent a rigorous offseason training and diet program to slim down, ESPN reports.
"I lost a few pounds," James said during an interview on CNN. "I haven't been in this weight class."
James has been listed at 250 pounds throughout his career. However, rumors have long insisted that the real number was closer to 270 pounds. While James did not provide the public with a definitive figure, he did admit that underwent a "very strict" diet for 67 days during the offseason.
"I'm in the 250ish range, you know, a lot lighter than I've been playing at in the last few years," James said. "But I feel good."
James, a four-time MVP, is known for his tremendous offseason work ethic devoted to improving at least one aspect of his game every year. It appears as if his focus this offseason was his physique and his speed.
"I am (quicker)," James said. "And that's not such a good thing for the competition.''
James revealed that his diet did not allow him to eat carbs, sugar, dairy and refined sugar. He also had to stay away from guilty pleasures such as pancakes, chocolate chip cookies and ice cream.
"I had the cookie monster chasing me a few times in my dreams," James joked.
The weight loss is all a part of James' return to the Cleveland Cavaliers, something he's thought about ever since he left for the Miami Heat in 2010.
"I had dreams about going back home, but I thought it would happen a lot later on in my career, going back and kind of, you know, having a couple more years left in my career and kind of finish it off that way," James said. "But, I didn't think it would happen this soon."
James will join Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love to form one of the most talented big threes in the NBA. The Cavaliers are a favorite to represent the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals this season. James, however, knows it isn't always as easy as it looks on paper.
"I understand what it takes to get there, James said. "I understand what it, you know, takes to win. It's so difficult. It's the hardest thing I've ever done in my life."
