To make Carl "CJ" Johnson skinny in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, you need to carefully manage his diet and physical activity, focusing on reducing both his fat and muscle levels in the game. This process involves starvation, specific exercise, and mindful time management.
Understanding CJ's Body Stats
CJ's physique in GTA San Andreas is dynamic, influenced by two primary statistics: Fat and Muscle. To achieve a skinny appearance, both of these stats must be significantly reduced to their lowest possible levels.
Key Strategies to Reduce Fat and Muscle
The path to a skinny CJ involves consistent adherence to a regimen of deprivation and targeted exercise.
1. Control CJ's Diet
The most critical step is to induce and maintain a state of starvation for CJ.
- Avoid All Food: Do not consume any food or drinks from fast-food restaurants (e.g., Cluckin' Bell, Burger Shot), vending machines, or convenience stores. Any consumption of food will increase his fat levels.
- No Dinner Dates: Refrain from going on dinner dates with any of CJ's girlfriends. These activities invariably involve eating, which will add to his fat stat, counteracting your efforts.
- Wait for Hunger Notification: After a prolonged period of not eating (typically 48 in-game hours), you will receive a notification that CJ is hungry. This is a crucial signal, as it indicates his body has begun burning stored fat. Crucially, do not eat at this point if you wish to achieve or maintain a skinny physique; the fat reduction will continue as long as he remains in a hungry state.
2. Prioritize Exercise at the Gym
Consistent physical activity, specifically cardio, is essential for burning calories and fat.
- Focus on Cardio: Visit any gym location in San Andreas (e.g., Ganton Gym in Los Santos, Verona Beach Gym in Los Santos, Redsands East Gym in Las Venturas). Head to the treadmill or exercise bike. These cardio machines are highly effective at burning fat.
- Avoid Weight Training: If CJ already possesses significant muscle mass, do not engage in weightlifting activities like the bench press or barbells. These exercises build muscle, which works against the goal of making him skinny.
- Exercise Duration: Perform cardio until CJ's stamina bar is depleted, then exit the machine. While you can repeat this, remember that prolonged periods of not eating combined with exercise will eventually lead to muscle loss as well, further contributing to a skinnier look.
3. Manage Time and Saves
Time progression in the game directly influences how quickly CJ's body stats change.
- Stay Active and Free Roam: Spend time driving around, walking, or completing missions. These activities allow in-game time to pass, which is necessary for his body stats to update and for the hunger notification to appear.
- Do Not Sleep (Save): Avoid saving the game by sleeping in a safehouse. Sleeping advances time quickly and can potentially reset hunger timers or stabilize stats in a way that doesn't benefit fat and muscle reduction. Remain active and awake for as long as possible between saves.
The Process in Summary
Achieving a skinny CJ requires a disciplined approach to his in-game lifestyle:
| Action | Impact on CJ's Stats |
|---|---|
| Avoid Eating All Food | Rapidly decreases Fat |
| Avoid Dinner Dates | Prevents unintended Fat gain |
| Do Gym Cardio (Treadmill/Bike) | Decreases Fat, burns calories |
| Free Roam/Missions | Passes in-game time, allows stat changes & hunger to set in |
| Do Not Sleep (Save) | Maintains hunger state, facilitates continuous fat & muscle loss |
| Receive Hunger Notification | Signals that fat loss is actively occurring |
Achieving the 'Skinny' Look
By consistently applying these methods, CJ's fat and muscle levels will gradually diminish. The key is patience and strict adherence to the strategy of starvation combined with cardio, ensuring he remains hungry and active. Over time, you will observe a significant change in his physique, resulting in a noticeably skinnier appearance.
