Like many people, Sal Paradiso has struggled with his weight and attempts to stay healthy.
But his struggle has been harder than most: after the death of his father, his weight crept up to over 700 pounds. He was a "dead man walking" and knew he needed to do something about his health, or he wouldn't live past the age of 40. He started slowly by changing his diet. He had to drop at last 254 pounds before getting the surgery he needed to continue losing weight. Over the years, he's overcome many obstacles in regards to his weight, though he still struggles with many of the byproducts of his 370-pound weight loss. Namely, he's looking to remove all the excess skin that will hinder his progress so he can get back his confidence!
Sal spoke to LittleThings about his journey to better health and what his next steps are. Scroll down to read about him and his amazing journey!
Sal Paradiso was bullied for his weight throughout his childhood. However, his weight really started ballooning when he was 17 and his father died. Between his hectic work schedule and unhealthy eating habits, it took a few years for Sal to weigh well over 700 pounds.
He tells LittleThings: "In late 2013 I was in my low 30's. At the weight I was at, everything was a struggle. Simple tasks society takes for granted were extremely hard and tiring to accomplish. Things like going to get the mail or just showering and getting dressed were monumentally hard tasks for someone over or near 700 pounds. There were multiple nights that I confronted myself that if I didn’t make immediate and drastic changes to my life, I was a dead man walking. There was no way I would make it to 40, or even my upper 30's."
He adds, "The four walls of my house had essentially become a prison."
Sal attempted to lose weight several times using fad diets and extreme measures, but nothing worked. In 2014, he consulted doctors who put him on a low-carb, high-protein diet, in the hopes that he would be able to get bariatric surgery.
To date, thanks to the surgery and changes to his diet, Sal has lost an astounding 370 pounds — no small feat! But his journey is far from over. He needs skin-reduction surgery to prevent a host of other problems, including infections.
He says: "I’ve consulted with several plastic surgeons regarding the excess skin from my weight loss. They estimate that I have anywhere from 65 to 80 pounds of excess skin. Sadly, no amount of exercise will get rid of this skin. The only way is surgical removal. I will never be able to reach the goal weight range my doctors and I have set for myself with the excess skin that I have. The excess skin not only is debilitating physically but also mentally."
He adds: "Along with the medical issues the excess skin causes, my self-consciousness is on guard because of it. The excess skin makes it more difficult to get things done, such as cooking, showering, etc. The excess skin is so pronounced, that I have to be careful I don’t burn it reaching across a stove top. Showering presents its own challenges in making sure the skin is as dry as possible to therefore keep the infections at bay. With the amount of excess skin I have it makes it difficult to buy clothing as well, as nothing fits properly."
You can follow Sal's journey on social media, and support his efforts to better his life by visiting his GoFundMe page!
He says: "My motivation also comes from my family and friends, and also from messages and comments left on my Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. There are a few people that have truly kept me motivated, first and foremost my dad. Even from heaven I can feel his presence and satisfaction that I am finally conquering my weight. Next my mother, she’s been a rock for me my entire life, but more so now as I’ve undergone this life-changing weight-loss journey."
Please SHARE if Sal's incredible story encouraged you to make your life better today!
