AJ McLean is celebrating his “amazing” body transformation amid his fitness and sobriety journey.
“Thought I’d do a little throwback Thursday vibes,” the Backstreet Boys member, 44, told his Instagram followers Thursday. “Found the pic on the left from a year ago on vacation and wow it’s amazing what a little dedication and setting goals can do for a person.”
McLean flashed peace signs while wearing board shots in the throwback photo.
In the more recent snaps, the “I Want It That Way” singer looked ripped in mirror selfies taken mid-workout.
“The journey is far from over though,” he added. “This is just the beginning! #healthylifestyle #sober #nomoredadbod! Let’s go! If I can do it so can you!!”
McLean, who has been in and out of rehab since 2001, spoke on the “Recovering From Reality” podcast about being a “chronic relapser” in January 2021.
“I can do short bursts and I’m OK,” the Grammy nominee explained. “Even when I would relapse, I wouldn’t go on a bender.”
McLean noted at the time that he has “never gone for, like, a month straight of just drinking and partying,” saying, “It’s been, like, one night and then I’m sober for a week or two. And then it’s one night. It was always back and forth.”
When the “Dancing With the Stars” alum appeared on the “Not Skinny But Not Fat” podcast the following year, he revealed that he was nearly 11 months sober.
“It’s not been easy,” he said in July, crediting the coronavirus pandemic with helping his recovery. “This two-year break that we all had really did a number on me in the right way. It gave me a chance to really reflect and really take this as [seriously] as I possibly can.”
McLean is focused on raising his two daughters — Elliott, 9, and Lyric, 5 — whom he shares with wife Rochelle McLean.
The couple, who wed in December 2011, made headlines last month when they revealed their eldest child’s new name, with Rochelle clarifying that the swap from Ava was “not a gender thing.”
She explained, “Last year she asked us to start calling her Elliott and it stuck. She wanted something unique that no one else had.”