Drew Carey Weight Loss: The Simple Methods the Comedian Used to Lose 80 Pounds

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Drew Carey is a game show hosting legend. The famous comedian became a household name with his roles in The Drew Carey Show and Whose Line Is It Anyway? Fans loved him on The Price Is Right, too, when Carey “brought his own shoes” to the show rather than step into the iconic shoes of the late Bob Barker.

Beyond his onscreen endeavors, Carey achieved a major personal milestone, shedding an impressive 80 pounds.

What motivated Carey to embark on a weight loss journey? The comedian’s physician helped him face a harsh reality: “‘If you don’t do something, your life’s going to be shorter, and you’ll have these bad things to look forward to,’” Carey told People.

His diligence helped him completely reverse his Type-2 diabetes.

That’s not to say his road to success wasn’t filled with plenty of temptations.

“I would go out to Swingers diner after The Price Is Right my first year, get a plate of pasta, a cupcake and iced tea with a bunch of lemons,” Carey told People. “Then I’d go home, have Doritos and several Pepsis, and take an Ambien to go to sleep. It was miserable to live like that.”

Here are the diet and fitness habits behind Drew Carey’s weight loss transformation.

How Much Did Drew Carey Weigh Before Weight Loss?

While Carey’s weight before his 80-pound weight-loss in 2010 hasn’t been officially confirmed by the celeb, the transformation helped him go from a size 44 pant size to a 33-34.

The five-foot-10 game show host also told People that he’s lost “1,000 pounds over my whole life.”

Did Drew Carey Have Weight-Loss Surgery?

Carey did not undergo weight-loss surgery in order to slim down. Instead, he achieved his results entirely through dedicated changes to his diet and a vigorous workout regimen. These healthy tweaks—and the ever-decreasing number on the scale—helped him overcome Type-2 diabetes.

“It’s better being like this and having my blood sugar at these levels, and I love myself enough now to want that for myself and desire that for myself. It’s a whole kind of change of mindset that you have to have about your whole life…but once you do, it’s so freeing,” Carey told People.

How Drew Carey Lost Weight

1. He Cut Back on Carbs

One of the main diet tweaks Carey made was following a strict low-carb diet.

“No carbs,” Carey told People. “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.”

Eliminating entire food groups is not typically recommended by dietitians, as you risk developing mineral and vitamin deficiencies by omitting key nutrients.

“Cutting out carbohydrates will produce weight loss; however, this dietary pattern is not sustainable for the long term, and may result in rebound weight gain which often occurs more rapidly than ever for some individuals,” says Lena Bakovic, M.S., R.D.N., a registered dietitian nutritionist specializing in gut health, heart disease, diabetes, weight management, oncology, disordered eating, and general health and wellness with Top Nutrition Coaching.

The 66-year-old game show host still tries to avoid carbs, but he makes exceptions from time to time.

“I’ll have cake and stuff every once in a while,” Carey told PEOPLE in 2024. “I’m not a maniac, but I won’t eat the whole cake like I did before.”

2. He Had Plenty of Fruit

Carey’s breakfasts were incredibly healthy—and he really didn’t cut out all carbs. In fact, one of his go-to staples was fruit with Greek yogurt. The celeb even enjoyed fruit for snack.

Why is fruit such a stellar choice? Well, it’s a complex carb, which is full of fiber and takes longer to digest.

“By choosing complex carbohydrates which contain dietary fiber, blood sugar spikes can be minimized, contributing to overall stability of blood sugar levels,” says Bakovic.

“Fruit … [can] be incorporated as part of a lower carbohydrate diet when consumed in moderation.

3. He Had Egg Whites for Breakfast, Too

Another one of Carey’s breakfast essentials? Egg whites—a protein-packed option that’s not overflowing with calories. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), one large egg—just the egg whites—contains an impressive 4 grams of protein and is only 17 calories.

Research shows that protein can be a crucial addition to any healthy weight loss regimen and a great way to manage obesity.

4. He Only Drank Water—and Absolutely No Soda

Carey made it a point to tell People that he only drank water. Soda was totally off limits for him.

“Sugary beverages, which include regular sodas and juices, are an unnecessary source of added sugars which are also high in calories,” Bakovic explains. “Cutting out sugary beverages alone is a great way to positively contribute to one’s weight loss journey and also with blood sugar management. Oftentimes, when individuals eliminate these drinks, they may lose a significant amount of weight.”

5. He Followed a Regimented Cardio Routine

Carey made sure to kick up his cardio.

“Lots of cardio,” he stressed to PEOPLE in July 2010. “About 45 minutes of cardio, at least 45 minutes of cardio. I’ve been kind of lazy like lately, so I’m not doing it 6 days a week, but I will be for this next month.”

Cardio workouts are a healthy addition to any fitness regimen. According to Ronny Garcia, C.P.T. at Blink Fitness, high-intensity or longer duration cardio is a stellar way to torch calories. It boosts your metabolism and heart health, too.

“The more calories burned the more likely someone is to be in a calorie deficit,” he says. “It is important to get a variety of intensity so your body doesn’t adapt and plateau. Try incorporating strength training or different types of cardio for variety.”