Timbaland's new cut

07:09 AM CDT on Tuesday, July 12, 2005

Timbaland wants a new body of work.

DARNELL RENEE/Special Contributor

Hip-hop producer Timbaland works out at the Hotel ZaZa gym in Dallas while he was in town throwing a party for Missy Elliott. His trainer says he has 'incredible discipline.'

Now that's a head-scratcher. After all, he's crafted some of hip-hop's unofficial theme songs. Think of Missy Elliott's "Get Ur Freak On" and Jay-Z's "Big Pimpin'." Timbaland's also produced Justin Timberlake, Ludacris and the late Aaliyah.

But his latest production has nothing to do with music.

Timbaland, whose real name is Tim Mosely, wants to be a bodybuilder.

"I want to be bigger, leaner," he says during a free-weight set Sunday in Hotel ZaZa's workout room. "That freaky look, like when you can see veins popping."

To get buff, he hooked up with personal trainer Jose Garcia in November. He works out seven days a week - four to five days with Garcia, the rest on his own - and has been following a protein-rich, supplement-complemented diet. "I did it just to be different," says Timbaland, who hosted a party for Missy Elliott at Purgatory this weekend. "You know, I gotta always be the big sexy."

He's now a muscular 210 pounds, down from 331.

"I don't know how I got that big, because I never weighed myself, so I didn't really see it happening," Timbaland says. "I would just go by how clothes fit, and when I couldn't go into the big-and-tall store and buy pants anymore, I knew there was a problem."

Timbaland, 33, also dealt with obesity-related health issues, such as diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. He was a sporadic eater who worked long hours and never exercised.

"He was overweight, sluggish and just overall very sloppy looking," Garcia says. "At 331 pounds, he wasn't well put together."

Garcia said it's been amazing to witness the transformation.

"Losing weight is one thing, but he's toned up and added muscle," Garcia says. "He will do it, be on a stage as a bodybuilder."

Timbaland, who lives in Miami, plans to enter a Florida competition in November.

"It's hard work," Timbaland says between reps. "But it's cool."

Lori Price

TIMBALAND'S WORKOUT

Exercise: Two hours, four to five times a week with his trainer. One hour is cardio. The other hour is a combination of strength training and weight lifting.

Diet: Six meals a day made up of combinations of chicken, fish, ground turkey or egg whites, with carbohydrates such as oatmeal, sweet potatoes or brown rice and vegetables such as broccoli, asparagus and spinach. Healthy fats come from almonds and fish oils.

THINK FAST!

We couldn't chat with Timbaland and not talk about music. As he pumped iron, we engaged him in a game of word association. Here are the first words he said when asked about topics and people associated with hip-hop.

.. 50 Cent: "Hot"

.. Kanye West (left): "Cool"

.. Hip-hop music today: "Whack"

.. BET celebrating 25 years on the air this year: "Dope"

.. The late R&B singer/actress Aaliyah, for whom he produced: "Inspiration"

.. Jay-Z's move from rapper to corporate dude: "Umm, I don't know."