A story about 40-year-old Cole Prochaska from Columbia, South Carolina, has captured the public’s attention.
Cole was once barely able to walk due to urine poisoning and tip the scales at nearly 600 pounds but they overcame adversity to win.
Cole’s weight issues began as a child when, at the age of 6, he had to move. However, as he grew older, he developed unhealthy eating habits that became deeply rooted, so it was hard to control his weight.
Cole reflected on his past, “I was getting bigger and bigger. Food was my comfort.” His health had been challenged hugely due to his diet full of fast food, sugary drinks and high calorie snacks.
Simple activities became daunting: he couldn’t fit on rollercoasters or in restaurant booths and was always out of breath. He was exhausted even walking short distances, and everyday life was becoming more and more difficult.
In 2021, Cole cracked. This was the catalyst for change. He was terrified of a diabetes diagnosis and at the end of a seven year long relationship, and decided to take his health back.
“I didn’t want diabetes or die and leave a legacy being this guy who is funny but never took care of his health.” he said. He needed the fear that he had for an uncertain future to push him to act.
He adopted a gradual approach, making small changes, but changes he made consistently. Firstly, he started with cutting off sugary drinks and junk food and started having salads and lean meats with protein shakes.
He started adding physical activities into his routine, with regular walks, slow conditioning, full body workouts and switches to weightlifting.
He built up the stamina and discipline to maintain his new way of life over time.
However, this disciplined regimen enabled me to lose an amazing 360 pounds in only about two years. He motivated those around him with his dedication and perseverance, that change was possible through commitment.
Cole stressed throughout the journey that he always needed friends and family. “I couldn’t have done it without the support of my friends and family who always believed in me,” he admitted.
Even after losing such a significant amount of weight, Cole was faced with a new challenge many don’t realize is there. Because he lost the pounds so quickly, he accrued a lot of excess skin, causing new physical and emotional hurdles.
It made him uncomfortable physically and it made him uncomfortable in terms of confidence. “It’s really killing me. I can’t run because it slaps around. It’s aggravating.”
To meet this, Cole will need a number of surgeries that will cost in the region of £230,000. As a result, these procedures were too expensive for him to handle, and he realized that his road was not ended yet.
He had resolved to finish his transformation and started a fundraiser to cover these costs. “My weight goal has been reached but my life is not complete, and it will not be complete until I can get rid of this excess skin,” he said.
The wide praise he is receiving from social media users is due to his transformation. The encouragement and testimonials have flowed for people inspired by his journey.
He shared on social media, “It’s very hard to share a shirtless picture but I’ve come so far. Over 336lbs down! Most didn’t believe in me, but I believed in myself.” Many caught his courage and transparency.
Cole’s story is one of believing in oneself and resilience. Although, he has triumphed over many obstacles, proving that with dedication, anything is possible.
He is still hopeful now, as he heads into the final phase of his journey. Supported by those on his trail he is closer than ever to realising his ultimate goal.
