A Land O’ Lakes man has lost more than half his own weight, but now faces a new challenge requring surgery.

  • Sal Paradiso's weight at 700 pounds by age 32
  • Lifestyle changes, weight loss surgery helped him lose 374 pounds
  • Excess skin causing pain, has halted weight loss

Sal Paradiso told us he grew up a "chunky kid," and his weight rocketed to 700 pounds by the time he was 32.

"It's funny -- a few years ago I couldn't envision walking like this," said Paradiso while walking around his neighborhood. "Just walking 10-20 feet to my car was an ordeal."

Today, however, Paradiso is literally half the man in size he was three years ago.

“2013, I took a long hard look at myself and said if I want to see 40 I need to make a drastic change," said Paradiso.

So he began looking into weight loss surgeries. At the same time, he changed his entire lifestyle, exercising and changing his diet.

“Food wise it was basically low carb, high protein diet," said Paradiso. "I cut out a lot of the bread, the pastas, and I found alternatives."

By 2016, he had already lost 254 pounds. At that point, he underwent surgery and lost an additional 120 pounds.

Now, however, there’s a new challenge. Paradiso has between 65 and 80 pounds of excess skin, causing him pain, and stopping him from achieving his goal weight of 200-220 pounds.  

“I've worked so hard over the last three in a half years almost, and I can't cross the finish line," said Paradiso. "It's in sight, but I can't get to it."

Paradiso has begun a fundraising effort to pay for the surgery he would need to remove the excess skin. In the meantime, he’s continuing to shed what he can, and has advice for people who are willing to commit like he did.

“Know that you didn't get that way overnight and it won't go away overnight," said Paradiso. "It's going to take a lot of hard work, blood, sweat and tears, because that's what it's taken me to get here."

Paradiso has taken his odyssey to social media as part of his fundraising and motivational efforts. Visit the links below to learn more or to make a donation: