A man who tipped the scales at 651lbs has shed more than half of his body weight and developed a passion for running after a doctor warned him he wouldn’t make it to the age of 40 if he didn’t dramatically change his lifestyle.
Carlos Orosco, 42, from Saginaw, Michigan, appeared on the Today show on Tuesday morning to discuss how changing his eating habits and having weight loss surgery helped him shed a whopping 466lbs over the course of three years
The runner, who is now training for his first marathon, went from 651lbs to 185lbs and feels like he has been given a ‘second chance’ to live life the right way after suffering a myriad of obesity-related ailments.
Incredible: Carlos Orosco, 42, from Saginaw, Michigan, went from 651lbs (left) to 185lbs (right) over the course of three years
New man: At his heaviest, Carlos wore a size 78 in jeans. The slimmed down runner has lost so much weight that he can now fit his entire body in one of the pant legs and still have room
Love of running: He ran his first 5K in honor of a friend who had passed away and love it so much that he kept at it. Since then, he has completed 36 races
At six-foot-one, Carlos explained that he has ‘always been a bigger person,’ but his weight really started to spiral out of control when he was in his late ’20s.
When he moved away from his parents, there was no one around to keep him accountable, and he turned to food and alcohol for comfort.
He admitted that he didn’t think his increasing weight was a problem because he could still ‘function and play sports.’
After years of binging on fried meals, fast-food, bread, soda, and alcohol, Carlos reached his heaviest weight of 651lbs by the time he turned 38 years old.
His obesity led him to develop a blood infection that caused severe swelling and ulcers in his legs. He also suffered from extreme gout, sleep apnea, and high blood pressure.
Throwback: Carlos explained he has ‘always been a bigger person,’ even when he was younger
Bad decisions: When he moved away from his parents in his late 20s, there was no one around to keep him accountable, and he turned to food and alcohol for comfort
Misconception: Carlos admitted that he didn’t think his increasing weight was a problem because he could still ‘function and play sports’
Out of control: After years of binging on fried meals, fast-food, bread, soda, and alcohol, Carlos reached his heaviest weight of 651lbs by the time he turned 38 years old
His symptoms continued to worsen, prompting him to meet with a surgeon to discuss getting a laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. During the procedure, about 75 per cent of the stomach is removed thus limiting the amount of food the patient can consume.
‘He told me bluntly that if I didn’t change my lifestyle, I probably wouldn’t make it to my early 40s,’ Carlos recalled. ‘I was stunned by his prognosis.’
At the time, his sister and brother-in-law were expecting their first child. Knowing that he wanted to be there for his niece, he scheduled the surgery. But he was told if he didn’t lose 100lbs in six months, it would be canceled.
Carlo started working with a dietitian who helped him swap the junk food he used to eat with healthier options such as fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins.
He also became more active and began going on three-mile walks around his neighborhood every day.
Lifestyle change: In order to quality for weight loss surgery, Carlos had to lose 100lbs on his own
Goal: Carlos’ sister was pregnant at the time, and he wanted to get healthy so he would be able to watch his niece grow up
Drastic measures: Carlos continued to lose weight after having a laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, a procedure in which about 75% of his stomach was removed
‘The first few months were really tough. I was constantly fighting urges and cried myself to sleep many nights,’ he said.
In December 2016, Carlos woke up on the morning of his surgery weighing 555lbs — just 5lbs shy of his weight-loss goal.
He continued to lose weight after the procedure but hit a plateau when he reached 350lbs. However, an unexpected introduction to running helped him get back on track.
Carlos ran his first 5K in honor of a friend who had recently passed away. He felt so much love and support at the race that he kept at it. So far, he has participated in 36 races and is currently training for his first marathon in October.
Amazing: Carlos has dropped 466lbs and is now training for his first marathon in October
Sharing his story: He appeared on the Today show on Tuesday morning to discuss how changing his eating habits and having weight loss surgery helped him change his life
Grateful: ‘I feel like a new person, really. I have been blessed with a second chance, another opportunity,’ he said
After sharing his story in a pre-taped segment, he sat down with Today hosts Dylan Dreyer, Craig Melvin, Sheinelle Jones, and Al Roker, who also drastically changed his lifestyle after having gastric bypass surgery in 2002.
Carlos revealed that he had thrown away all of his old clothes — except a pair of his size 78 jeans, which he held up for the audience to see.
The slimmed down runner has lost so much weight that he can now fit his entire body in one of the pant legs and still have room.
‘I feel like a new person, really. I have been blessed with a second chance, another opportunity,’ he said.
‘I realize that not everybody has the chance, has that second opportunity to do it, and that’s really what it feels like to me, a chance to do things the right way this time.’