The Meal Plan That Helped Drew Carey Drop 80 Pounds

Comedian and The Price is Right host Drew Carey has his trademarks. One is the black-rimmed glasses. The other is his “everyman” rotund shape. While the glasses remain, Carey has lost the weight. And while you may expect a clever quip as to his motivation, it was really simple:

“I just got sick of being fat,” Carey told Us magazine.

But his motivation was a little deeper – and serious – than that.

“I always thought I was going to die before I was 60,” he says. “My father died of a heart attack in his 40s. I’m not an idiot. The writing was on the wall.”

Even then, it took him years to read that writing. Nine years ago, complaining of chest pains, Carey was diagnosed with heart disease.

He underwent an angioplasty and had a stent inserted in one of his arteries. Carey did make an attempt to improve his health at the time. But after his mother became terminally ill, his own health concerns fell by the wayside.

Fast forward to May 2024, the National Enquirer reported that Carey, 52, was not only dieting and working out, but was using a “custom-made appetite suppressant administered by a Hollywood nutritionist.”

But Carey says “There’s nobody really standing over me. I do work with somebody who gives me advice on what to do, how many minutes to run, what my heart rate should be and all that kind of stuff.”

Since starting his weight loss efforts, Carey has reportedly dropped 80 pounds. He says that he’s no longer diabetic and “couldn’t feel better.”

“My fiancee has a five-year-old, and wow, I’d love to see him graduate. I’d love to be able play with him without getting tired, enjoy my life and watch him grow.”

Carey set a lofty goal last November, looking to hit 170 pounds on the scale, which would put him down 92 pounds from his unhealthy high of 262.

The only strict diet rule Carey says he follows is that he no longer eats donuts. Here’s a little more of what he did to achieve such a dramatic weight loss:

“No carbs,” Carey says. “I have cheated a couple times, but basically no carbs, not even a cracker. No bread at all. No pizza, nothing. No corn, no beans, no starches of any kind. Egg whites in the morning or like, Greek yogurt, cut some fruit.”

In a recent interview with Parade, at a West Hollywood diner, Carey ordered what has become a staple meal for him: scrambled egg whites and a side fruit. And, it gets washed down with plenty of water. Here is a before-and-after comparison in an average day:

Breakfast

Before – An egg, sausage, and cheese sandwich on an English muffin with pancakes; or steak and eggs with toast, hash browns, and pancakes

After – Scrambled egg whites with a side of fruit

Lunch

Before – A turkey club sandwich or tuna melt with french fries; or a whole pepperoni pizza!

After – A turkey burger, steamed broccoli, and green salad with balsamic vinegar

Dinner

Before – Spicy chicken fettuccine with a cream-based sauce and bread

After – Grilled chicken breast, a steamed green vegetable, and a green salad with balsamic vinegar

Snacks

Before – A bag of Doritos with ranch dressing

After – Apple, handful of grapes, or a sugar-free Popsicle

Beverages

He ditched the gallon-a-day of soda habit and coffee with sugar and now drinks 64 ounces of water every day. Carey says he will still enjoy the occasional indulgence, just not entire pizzas!

(via: omg!, NYDailyNews.com and Parade.com)

(photo: Getty Images)