Credit: 3to1fitness/instagram
For many people, losing weight is a struggle. For Cole Prochaska, it became a life-changing journey.
Cole, a 40-year-old man from Saint Matthews, South Carolina, once weighed as much as 585 pounds, a number so high his scale couldn’t even register it.
He carried that weight for most of his life, battling overeating, sedentary habits, and the emotional toll that often comes with being overweight.
Credit: 3to1fitness/instagram
Key Takeaways
- A South Carolina man lost an extraordinary 361+ pounds naturally, transforming his health and life.
- After reaching his weight-loss goal, he is now seeking help to fund surgery to remove excess skin.
- His GoFundMe has already raised more than $76,000 toward a $100,000 goal.
- His story has resonated with people worldwide who face similar challenges.
But Cole refused to quit on himself. Instead of surgery or quick fixes, he chose patience and persistence. He started by walking. Just a little at first, then a bit more each day.
He changed what he ate, cutting out sugary drinks and snacks and replacing them with healthier choices. He began exercising. First slow, then with more intensity at the gym. He stayed disciplined. Step by step. Day by day.
With determination and hard work, Cole lost more than 361 pounds, shedding what he once described as the weight of “three men” off his body.
Today, he weighs about 226 pounds, a dramatic transformation that not only improved his physical health but also changed his life.
Yet even after achieving what many would call a miracle, Cole still faces a challenge most people don’t think about: excess skin.
When the body shrinks after major weight loss, the skin doesn’t always bounce back. It can hang loosely, fold over itself, and make everyday life harder than it should be. This is a reality for many who reduce significant weight.
For Cole, that leftover skin isn’t just cosmetic. It affects his comfort, his confidence, and his ability to fully enjoy the life he’s worked so hard to reclaim. He has said being “trapped” by the extra skin makes it hard to run and even affects what clothes he can wear comfortably.
Credit: 3to1fitness/instagram
So he took another courageous step.
In April 2024, Cole launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for multiple skin removal surgeries, a costly process that doctors estimated could require months of recovery and long stays in California after each procedure.
He was honest about his fears. He posted photos showing the excess skin he lives with every day. He shared his story openly, not just to ask for help but to show the world how far he’s come.
People responded.
Support poured in.
Strangers donated.
More than $76,000 has been raised toward his $100,000 goal, a figure that will help pay for the surgeries he needs.
Cole’s journey has struck a chord with many online. Followers cheer his progress. People message him about their own struggles. Others say his honesty has inspired them to start their own paths to better health.
His story isn’t just about weight loss. It’s about persistence. It’s about resilience. It’s about the reality that every part of change, physical and emotional, can be difficult. And it’s about facing every challenge, one step at a time.If stories like Cole’s, ones of determination, vulnerability, and transformation, move you, you’ll find many more like them at Simply Wholesome. Our site shares uplifting real-life journeys that celebrate strength, compassion, and the courage to keep going even when the road is hard.
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