Carlos Orosco weighed 651 lbs (46.5 stone) at the young age of 38. That’s when doctors told him he only had 2 years left. They were discussing leg amputation too.
His weight caused cellulitis. It is a common skin infection resulting from bacteria entering the body through a crack or break in the skin. That leads to chronic swelling and delayed wound healing.
It is common for people who are overweight or obese to experience chafing. Skin rubs on skin, creating entry points for bacteria.
Carlos tried different treatments but none of them worked.
“The surgeon started the appointment by predicting that I wouldn’t live to see 41. He told me I’d be 700 pounds by then, and would die from cardiac arrest. At the time, my sister was expecting, and I was going to be an uncle for the first time. I started to think of everything I’d be leaving behind,” he told Runner’s World.
It was in his 30s that he began putting on a lot of weight. Fast food, drinking, and a sedentary lifestyle were all factors contributing to his weight gain.
Carlos lived alone. He had no plans of dying and he knew he needed to lose the weight.
Carlos decided to go through a sleeve gastrectomy instead of the leg amputation. The catch was that he had to lose a hundred pounds before surgery could happen.
So Carlos stopped eating junk food and drinking, turning to fruits, vegetables, and lean protein instead. He lost 200 pounds in six months, finally getting the surgery in December 2016.
He began taking long walks every day. All his joint issues and chronic pain disappeared. Eventually, he stopped taking six daily medications.
“I feel like a new person, really. I have been blessed with a second chance, another opportunity. I realise 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,” he said.
Carlos participated in a 5K run and fundraiser in honor of a friend who died because of a heart attack. That’s when he became addicted to running. It changed his life.
“I remember the atmosphere, the environment. It caught me. Even before I finished that first 5K, I wanted to sign up for another one,” he said.
Carlos now weighs 185 pounds. He has participated in a lot of 5K runs helping him to shed more pounds. He’s also completed his first half marathon called the Great Turtle Run.
He’s participated in full marathons and it’s hard to believe that he almost had to lose a leg before he decided to turn his life around.
“I used to have the mindset at a race that I didn’t belong, that these people were different from me. But on race day, I know I’ve put in the time and the work, and my mind clears of everything except the route in front of me. I finally feel like I belong,” Carlos said.
The man is a fitspiration, proving that it’s never too late to invest in your own health.
Listen to Carlos himself tell his incredible journey below!
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