When high performance hides real risk

At a glance:

Function member: Vieri, 25

Function focus: Thyroid

Biomarker imbalances: 

• Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies (TPO)
• Thyroglobulin Antibodies (TgAb)
• Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) Cholesterol 
• Apolipoprotein B (ApoB)
• Vitamin D

What external health misses

At 25, Vieri didn’t join Function because he felt sick. He joined out of curiosity. 

When he became a member, he was working in high-intensity strategy consulting in Chicago—long hours, takeout meals, and up to six cups of coffee a day. Despite constant fatigue, he pushed through. From the outside, he was the poster child of productivity. 

So when he tested his biomarkers, he expected maybe high cortisol, reflecting his stress levels. What he didn’t expect? Multiple biomarkers out of range related to his thyroid, heart, and nutrient levels—signaling real imbalance. 

Up to that point, Vieri had measured his health by what he could see—mile times, lifting PRs, healthy weight, and a family history void of heart issues. But he was unaware of the growing risk within.  

His results were a check engine light.

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That’s when he stopped trusting surface-level signs—and started listening to what his body was really telling him. He was determined to use his health data to course-correct before things got worse.

The tests

What started as a proactive step turned into a wake-up call. Several of Vieri’s biomarkers showed signs of concern:

Heart health biomarkers were off. Despite his age, the data painted a very different picture of heart risk than he expected—his LDL was 157 mg/dL and ApoB was 121 mg/dL. These biomarkers, when high, can increase risk for cardiovascular disease.

Nutrient levels showed hidden insufficiencies. His Vitamin D was 25 ng/ml—a gap that, if left unaddressed, can lead to bone pain, frequent infections, and mood disorders.

And then there was his thyroid. While his thyroid hormones, T3 Free and T4 Free, were in range, his thyroid antibody levels were alarmingly high—indicating an active autoimmune response against his thyroid. His Thyroglobulin Antibodies (TgAb) were 14 IU/mL. His Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies (TPO) came in at 254 IU/mL.

These were risks he wasn’t willing to ignore. He wanted to act early—before imbalance became disease.

When asked how he felt seeing these results, Vieri shared:

“I felt like I was always pretty healthy, so this testing definitely had some shockers. It was a big wake-up call I was not expecting.”

There was some disappointment—a recognition that certain habits had likely contributed. But Vieri, ever competitive, also saw it as an opportunity: Improving his health became a challenge worth chasing.

Taking control

Instead of waiting for a problem to get worse, Vieri used Function to help map out a solution.

He decided to see how he could change his lifestyle to support his immune system, reduce his cardiovascular risk, and improve his overall health. 

He confronted his caffeine dependency, cutting back from 6 cups of coffee a day to 2—in an effort to lower his stress levels.

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He overhauled his diet—skipping takeout and opting for more anti-inflammatory whole food options. He began batch cooking staples like root vegetables, high-quality meats, and fatty fish. He also started supplementing with Vitamin D.

He changed his workouts—incorporating more cardio to support long-term heart health. "I found that I really enjoyed stationary biking...stairmaster stuff...things that would still give me the same benefits of high-intensity training that wasn’t just lifting weights.”

He went all in—because the stakes were clear:

At the end of the day, I'd prefer not to die earlier than I need to, and I don’t want to spend the last 20-30 years of my life on a bunch of medications. I would prefer to use the tools available to me now—to understand what healthy living means to me.

These weren’t vague changes. They were precise. Grounded in his results. And trackable over time.

The impact/ alt: The outcome

Vieri made intentional changes—and his body is responding. Even before his next round of labs, he’s already feeling the difference.

I feel more well-rested. I sleep better. I’m not foggy when I wake up. I have better mental clarity and a higher baseline of energy to go tackle things…and I’m able to consume less caffeine.

At the time of our interview, he’s got his Mid-Year lab visit on the calendar—curious to see how his biomarkers have shifted. But even without updated numbers, the value was clear:

Even if it’s not the exact improvement I want, it gives me a process of elimination. I know what I’ve been doing, what I haven’t, and it gives me a data-driven way to manage the day to day.

The power of ownership

That kind of ownership didn’t just change his routine—it reshaped his circle.

“Most of my family is on Function now,” he shared. “My mom signed up. My stepdad signed up.”

For Vieri, it all clicks into how he already sees the world:

“I’m detail-oriented. Data-driven. I don’t like going off vibes. It’s hard for me to even have a conversation without something tangible behind it. And this platform lets me do that—at the cellular level—with my own body. Being able to apply that philosophy to my health? I love that.”

He’s not fixing what’s already fine. He’s zeroing in on what matters—and moving with precision.
Every change is intentional and backed by data. 

If Function didn’t exist

Vieri says that if he hadn’t joined Function, he likely would’ve stayed on the same path—dismissing his exhaustion and powering through his old lifestyle.

“If I hadn’t joined Function—and I’d stayed in my old job—I think things would’ve just kept piling on. Over the next five to six years, my work-life balance and health would’ve steadily declined over time.”

He also credits his foundation.

“I was raised by a very good mother who taught me a lot of this health information early on… and I kind of chose to ignore some of it after college. Function brought it all back.”

Without Function, those science-backed reminders might not have resurfaced. And the day-to-day shifts he’s made? They likely wouldn’t have happened.

The lesson

For the most part, Vieri assumed he was healthy. Tired? Sure. But working in startups, he chalked that up to the pace—constant output, high productivity. He didn’t think anything was off—until he tested.

But for Vieri, the takeaway isn’t fear. It’s strategy. Looking back, he says:

“It’s very easy to think you’re the picture of health. That nothing’s wrong. But compounding effects add up. Small changes now—especially when you’re young—can make a massive difference down the line.”

His message to peers? 

“Get a proactive understanding of where you stand today. Even if you feel great, it can still benefit you—now, and 10 or 30 years from now. I’m a big believer in being 1% better every day. And over time, how you take care of your body really matters.”