I’m not starting the 100 Days Of Not Being A Fat Ass Challenge today—in fact, it might be a week before I even think about it—but here’s the deep dive into my grand plan to unfatten myself.
Modern Healthcare (Disclaimer)
I’m not an anti-vaxxer or medical professional. Don’t take anything here as medical advice—if anything, use this as a cautionary tale of what not to do. You’ve been warned. Carry on.
“Here’s some pills for this and that” – Most Doctors Today
I’m not thrilled with being medicated despite what you’re about to read. This is all about transparency—read without judgment if possible. Often, the solution isn’t another prescription; it’s ditching unhealthy habits and addressing metabolic dysfunction head-on.
My goal? Be medication-free by year’s end, but I’ll make some short-term concessions to hit these ambitious 100-day targets.
Background (or How I Got Here)
Look, I wasn’t always this way. Thirteen years ago, Mr. Healthy and I were tight—I was shredded and considering bodybuilding competitions. Fast-forward through two kids, SSRIs, and countless pints of Chubby Hubby, and I’ve packed on 80 lbs. Now climbing stairs feels like Everest, and I’m married to a CPAP machine.
Yes, my wife is annoyingly correct: I can’t blame everything on SSRIs when I can devour a Jersey Mike’s Giant #43 without blinking. But seriously, have you tasted that sandwich?
Insult to injury: I recently kicked tobacco, only to swap nicotine cravings for snack attacks—not exactly ideal when aiming to lose half a pound daily.
Last labs? Not encouraging. My A1C is stubbornly flirting with diabetes at 5.8-5.9 (6.0 is diabetic), and cholesterol levels aren’t exactly impressive either.
The tipping point: vacations. I desperately need one, but nothing kills vacation joy faster than clothes that don’t fit. Time to break the cycle.
The Science-y Stuff
Spoiler alert: Weight loss is about caloric deficit—burn more than you consume. Groundbreaking, right?
Here’s the uncomfortable math:
| Weight Loss/Week | Weekly Deficit | Daily Deficit |
|---|---|---|
| 1 lb | 3,500 calories | 500 cal/day |
| 2 lbs | 7,000 calories | 1,000 cal/day |
| 2.5 lbs | 8,750 calories | 1,250 cal/day |
| 3 lbs | 10,500 calories | 1,500 cal/day |
| 3.5 lbs | 12,250 calories | 1,750 cal/day |
I’m aiming for 3.5 lbs/week, staring at a daily deficit of 1,750 calories. Fun.
My Totally Reasonable Goals
- Lose 50 lbs (3.5 lbs/week)
- Divorce my CPAP
- Shrink waist from 44″ to 35″
- Track body fat percentage
- Keep muscle, ditch fat
- Lower cholesterol
- A1C below 5.7 (currently 5.8)
- Drop from XXL to L shirts
- Buy clothes I like
- Passing a US Navy Physical Readiness Test
Metabo Law (Japan’s Fat Shaming)
At one point, moving to Japan seemed appealing—until I learned about the “Metabo Law.” Men with waists over 85 cm (33.5 inches) risk fines and job discrimination. Apparently, being fat can legally ruin your career in Japan. Staying stateside, but that revelation stung enough to trigger this challenge.
Cheating (Who Even Cares?)
Initially, I toyed with being “naty.” But let’s be real: the bodybuilding world isn’t exactly pure. I’m not competing, so I’m opting for Eden Health’s GLP-1 treatments and exploring TRT through Hone Health. Oh, and prescribed methamphetamines for ADHD. Judge away—I’ll be busy shopping for size-L shirts.
Tools of the Trade
- Biometric reader
- Measuring tape
- Smartphone for humiliating shirtless “before” pics
- iWatch to keep track of calories spent
- myFitnessPal to track food choices
Supplements (Because Science?)
- Baja Gold Salt (hydration)
- Policosinol (cholesterol)
- Alpha Lipoic Acid (metabolism)
- CLA (fat loss)
- Green Tea Extract (metabolism boost)
- Garlic Extract (cholesterol, vampire repellant)
- Whey Protein (muscle)
- NoXplode (energy/pre-workout)
Gym Membership vs. Home Gym (Justifying Expenses)
I spent $2,000 on a home gym. Sure, gym memberships are cheaper upfront, but after two years, I still have equipment, not receipts. Plus, driving to the gym sucks—especially forgetting essentials like headphones or dignity.
Skipping tanning memberships for now. Looking good naked isn’t today’s priority (maybe day 101?).
Workout Routine
Grab my workout spreadsheet here. Sweat if you want—I won’t care once I’m back in size-L shirts.
Why Not Start Today?
I’m great at a special kind of procrastination—waiting until the cosmos align perfectly. To curb this, I’m committing to April 1st through July 10th, 2025, leaving me time to prep, blog, and schedule doctor visits.
Doctor’s Visits (Because Adulting)
- Hone Health TRT consult: $60 (labs from LabCorp) before April 1
- Eden Health GLP-1 treatment: $195 before April 1
- Primary Care Physician: $45 deductible, general checkup, labs (lipids, metabolic panel, A1C) before April 1
- Repeat Primary Care Physician visit: $45 deductible, July 10th for final checkup.
Drew Karriker is a self-proclaimed professional tinkerer, self-experimentation enthusiast, and lifelong learner with an inability to sit still. A former nuclear engineer turned DevOps architect, he’s built a career (and a life) out of breaking things, fixing them, and then making them better.
Despite wrestling with ADHD, anxiety, and an unrelenting need to optimize everything, he transformed his career and life in just a few years—not because he’s special, but because he figured out how to turn obsession into execution. Now, he’s doing it again—publicly—one 100-day challenge at a time.
His past projects? Some were successes. Some flopped spectacularly. Each one left him a little wiser (and probably a little more caffeinated). Now, he’s on a mission to document his transformation—mind, body, career, and everything in between—so that others might pick up a thing or two along the way. Or at the very least, be entertained by the chaos.
Follow along at RewiredWithDrew.com and get inspired, get motivated, or just grab some popcorn and enjoy the ride.