"The symptoms only got worse from my weight, and I met with a surgeon to discuss a sleeve gastrectomy," Carlos explained. During this surgical procedure, about 75% of the stomach is removed, limiting the amount of food that can be consumed. It was during this consultation that Carlos's doctor dropped the truth bomb about his weight and how it was almost certainly going to end his life far too soon.
The doctor told him that Carlos had to lose 100 pounds before they'd perform the surgery. He got started that very day, starting with daily three-mile walks and ditching the fried and processed foods and alcohol he'd been indulging in for years. He worked with a dietitian to help him learn to replace unhealthy foods with vegetables, fruits, and lean proteins."The first few months were really tough. I was constantly fighting urges and cried myself to sleep many nights," he admitted. After working hard for six months Carlos was down 95 pounds, so his doctor allowed him to have the surgery. He continued to drop the pounds after surgery, but around 350 his weight loss plateaued. That's when he discovered running.
"I ran my first 5K in honor of a friend who had recently passed away," he said. "I felt so much love and support from the people cheering me on and other runners that I kept at it."
Carlos has run 36 races since beginning his journey to wellness. He's currently training for his first marathon in the fall, and all of his hard work has culminated in a jaw-dropping 450-pound weight loss. Today, at age 42, Carlos is more fit and active than he has ever been in his entire life."I finally feel like I'm living my best life," he said.
Carlos says he has three tips to those who are in the same boat he was in just a few years ago.- Get Help. "People are there to help," he says.
- Be Patient. Don't expect the weight to come off immediately. Slow and steady wins the race!
- Don't Get Discouraged. "Your current situation never has to be your final destination."
This is just the first step in a long journey, but in the end, it's worth all of the blood, sweat, and tears! Carlos is now living his best life thanks to a few harsh words from a well-meaning physician.
Please share this story to inspire others and encourage more people to take that first step.Share your story & inspire the world. If you have an uplifting story we would love to hear about it! Share it with us here.
Want more good news?
Sign up for Smile, our free daily good news email with over 600,000 happy and optimistic subscribers!
Want to be happier in just 5 minutes a day? Sign up for Morning Smile and join over 455,000+ people who start each day with good news.
