Two years ago, Jinder Mahal was released by WWE following a stint in the sometimes fun but ultimately underwhelming comedy act known as 3MB. Less than two weeks ago, Jinder Mahal shocked the wrestling world by winning the WWE Championship. At the root of Mahal’s sudden and unexpected rise to the top of the card? A completely revamped diet-and-exercise routine that has dramatically changed his physique and has him oozing with confidence. (Enough confidence to state on live TV that he was going to be on the cover of GQ. Says Mahal: “I have the look, I obviously have the body, and as you can see on SmackDown Live every week, I have impeccable style!”) We caught up with the Modern Day Maharaja to find out what inspired his new lifestyle, what foods to eat in order to have veins in your abs, and why you’re likely to write off all his hard work and scream, “Steroids!”

GQ: A lot has changed for you over the past year or so. You’re now the WWE champion, but maybe even crazier than that is the physical transformation you’ve gone through. I was curious, when did you first decide that you were going to change up the way you work out and the way you eat?

Jinder Mahal: It started almost exactly a year ago. June 1st. I wasn’t signed back to WWE and I was eating a bunch of junk food and drinking too much beer. One day I just decided I was going to quit drinking, focus on my health, and start dieting again. One of the very first things I did was I contacted a meal prep company. It’s called Nutrition Solutions. So I quit drinking, got the Nutrition Solutions going, and just started training hard again. Two months later, I was signed back to WWE.

Talk about good timing.

I don’t think it was a coincidence. I was away from WWE for two years. I didn’t really care, and nobody cared about me. But as soon as I started caring about myself and putting in the effort in the gym and with my diet, quit drinking, two months later I was back in WWE.

It sounds like cutting out alcohol was a huge part of your new lifestyle.

That was the first big step, yes.

Have you picked up a drink since?

No, I’ve given up alcohol. And honestly, I feel great. I don’t miss it at all. Now, not drinking for so long, I’ve realized how horrible it really makes us feel. I’ve never felt better. I’m not even tempted to drink because of how good I feel. Having a drink now would probably give me the worst hangover in my life. I don’t need it. I’m more focused on my career and I see everything moving in such a positive direction that I’m not even tempted. I don’t want to drink. I don’t want to eat junk food.

Aside from the beer and alcohol, from a solid food standpoint, what was the biggest change to your diet? You’re so much leaner now compared to even a year ago. Was it cutting out carbs or sugars or anything like that?