Only four years ago, Cole Prochaska said he “weighed as much as three men.” Today, after swapping his 5,000-calorie-a-day habit for a pair of sneakers, the 41-year-old proudly says he’s now “the size of one person.”
Back in 2021, the Florida man didn’t even know his exact weight—his scale maxed out at 585 pounds, and he was heavier than that. He had been overweight since age six, living a sedentary life and overeating daily.
His “overeating” often meant polishing off several bags of chips and a 12-pack of soda in a single day. Fast-food meals could be five cheeseburgers or an entire pizza without hesitation. On average, he consumed about 5,000 calories every day.
“I felt awful,” Prochaska said. “I’d put on a happy face like a lot of big people do, but I was lonely. I avoided going out because I worried about fitting into chairs, walking long distances, or even what to wear.” Shortness of breath made exercise impossible.
When his seven-year relationship began to crumble, he realized he needed to change.
“I knew she had lost respect for me because I was just a really big person doing nothing with my life,” he recalled. “I didn’t save the relationship, but I saved myself.”
Step by step
His transformation began with short walks—just a couple of blocks at first. He promised himself he’d keep moving and gradually increased his distance until walking became a daily habit. “I hold myself accountable! It’s the only way to take control of your life,” he tweeted after refusing to skip a walk despite bad weather. Today, he logs at least 10,000 steps a day.
He also overhauled his diet—cutting out sweets, snacks, chips, and sugary drinks, switching to water, counting calories, and focusing on high-protein meals. Later, he added gym workouts. “It was just me deciding this was it—this was going to be a life change,” he said. “I feel so great.”
“Still trapped”
By 2023, Prochaska had lost about 360 pounds, but he struggled with loose skin, which he says hides his true transformation. “Three to One. I once weighed as much as three men and now I’m one person…It’s hard to share shirtless pictures, but I’ve come so far,” he wrote on a GoFundMe page seeking $100,000 for skin removal surgery. So far, he’s raised $81,226.
“I’ve never walked on a beach without a shirt or gone to a pool party without covering up,” he said. “I’m still trapped by this extra skin.”
Inspiring others
Supporters online have flooded him with praise:
“Absolutely inspiring! Good luck on your journey.”
“I admire your dedication and perseverance.”
“Your knees will thank you once you lose that extra skin!”
Prochaska recently flew—for the first time in his life—to California to meet with a plastic surgeon, hoping to have his first surgery within three to six months.
His advice to others? “Keep going, keep walking… You can do it. I’m living proof. Let’s go.” And while some turn to weight-loss drugs or surgery, Prochaska emphasizes he did it naturally. “No hate to anyone who chooses those routes,” he said, “but I can guarantee you won’t be as healthy and happy as when you just put your head down and grind.”