When doctors told Carlos Orosco, from Zilwaukee in Michigan, who was severely obese, that he was unlikely to survive past his early forties, he decided to take action. He changed his unhealthy eating habits so that he could undergo weight loss surgery. The man then continued his journey by losing an incredible 475 pounds (approx. 215 kg) in five years.
At 38 years old, Orosco weighed 651 pounds (approx. 295 kg). He had always been a larger man but started piling up the extra pounds after moving out from his parents’ home and living on his own in his late 20s.
When he was 38, he knew that things needed to change, as he started experiencing severe health issues such as blood infection that was leading to ulcers in his legs. “The symptoms only got worse from my weight, and I met with a surgeon to discuss a sleeve gastrectomy,” Orosco further added.
It was at that appointment that the doctor cautioned him that if he didn’t make necessary changes, he wouldn’t have much longer left to live.
A weight loss surgery was scheduled within six months, after his consultation that day. The surgeon had advised Orosco he needed to lose 100 pounds (approx. 45 kg) on his own within the time frame that was set. That’s when Orosco started making serious changes with his eating habits, which included cutting out fast food and alochol and shifting to fruits and vegetables.
In addition to the changes in his diet, Orosco also included light exercise in the form of walking to his daily routine. “The first few months were really tough. I was constantly fighting urges and cried myself to sleep many nights,” he told Today. However, within six months, he lost 95 pounds (approx. 43 kg).
In December 2016, Orosco underwent a laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, which removed over 75 percent of his stomach. He then continued his weight loss journey and maintained a healthy diet over the years. However, the process was anything but easy. “A lot of people see the before and after, and some see having a bariatric procedure as an easy way to solve the weight issue, but in actuality it is the hardest thing that I have ever done in my life, and have to work on every day,” he said.
In the fall of 2017, Orosco, who continued walking, developed a passion for running. “I ran my first 5K in honor of a friend who had recently passed away,” he told Today. “I felt so much love and support from the people cheering me on and other runners that I kept at it.”
After that, Orosco immediately fell in love with running. He especially liked the pre and post environment and the supportive nature of people.
Since then, 43-year-old Orosco has participated in over 35 races. He has completed 8K runs, including a full marathon that he ran in Detroit on Oct. 20, 2019. “I finally feel like I’m living my best life,” he said.
