Alex Rodriguez Says Intermittent Fasting Helped Him Lose 30 Lbs.: 'I Wasn’t My Best Self'

The former New York Yankee opened up about his health journey, praising girlfriend Jaclyn Cordeiro for helping him get fit

Alex Rodriguez is getting “vulnerable” in an Instagram post.

The former New York Yankee, 48, shared that he lost more than 30 lbs. with the help of his girlfriend, Canadian fitness instructor Jaclyn Cordeiro, 44.

“This is a vulnerable post, but I am going to share anyway because the last year of my health journey has been life changing,” Rodriguez, who shares two daughters, Ella, 15, and Natasha, 18, with ex-wife, Cynthia Scurtis, wrote.

“At the end of 2021, my family pointed out that I was looking unhealthy. Not what you want to hear, but I knew I wasn’t my best self.”

He said he decided to take action — and relied heavily on Cordeiro, creator of the JacFiit wellness community.

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“It all came down to me making some key changes in my habits: 1. More plants, less red meat 2. Intermittent fasting 3. Night walks,” wrote Rodriguez.

For A-Rod, those “small changes led to big results, and I’m feeling better than ever.”

Rodriguez shared before-and-after photos of himself; In the first, he has what appears to be food stains on his beige paints. In the “after,” photo, however, the MLB Analyst for FOX Sports appears shirtless, smiling on a boat as he shows off a six-pack.

He ended his post with praise for Cordeiro, writing, “Thank you @jac_lynfit for being my guide and support. You coached me up to stay dedicated, motivated and improve each day.”

Related: Alex Rodriguez Says Dropping Daughter Off at College Was One of 'Hardest' and 'Most Proud' Moments

This isn’t the first time Rodriguez has opened up about his health; in June, he shared that he was struggling with early-stage gum disease.

Historically, professional baseball players have been largely associated with smokeless tobacco — specifically nicotine-filled wads like "dip" and "chew" that they'd stuff into their lips or cheeks to keep their mouths moist on the field.

So naturally, fans might assume Rodriguez's gum disease diagnosis was linked to baseball's toxic tradition. However, the All-Star player told PEOPLE that wasn't the case for him.

"I just didn't like chewing tobacco," he told PEOPLE. "I think I tried it once and I threw up and I never tried it again."

Related: Alex Rodriguez Celebrates Fourth of July with Girlfriend, Ex-Wife and Their Two Daughters: 'So Special'

Instead, he would chew up to 36 pieces of gum a game.

"The misconception that I had, and I have a feeling that others probably think the same thing, that if you have a nice smile and you feel like your teeth are clean and you brush and dental floss, that you're safe," Rodriguez told PEOPLE. "None of that is true. It can happen to anybody."

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