Man ready for Ironman after shedding 259 pounds

CLEARWATER, Fla. - Three years ago, Chad Soileau weighed 464 pounds and barely squeezed into his size 64 pants. Soileau didn't think he'd live another 5 years and says he was humiliated to go out in public because of his size.

"I did hate myself. I never thought that I would have anyone love me. It was just a very, very dark and dismal place in my life," he said.

So Soileau had gastric bypass surgery on March 26th, 2006. He calls that day his "re-birthday." After the surgery, he changed his diet and started exercising and today he's down to 205 pounds.

"I feel like a million bucks," he said.

Soileau believes the surgery helped him lose the first 100 pounds, but he says the lifestyle change is what allowed him lose more than twice his body weight. That lifestyle change also included running, biking and swimming and Saturday he'll compete in the Foster Grant Ironman World Championship 70.3 in Clearwater. It will be Soileau's fourth half-Ironman, which consists of a 1.2 miles swim, a 56 mile bike and 13.1 mile run, since his surgery.

"Anything's possible, just go to put your mind to it," Soileau said as he prepared for this weekend's race.

Soileau has been sharing his story, in part to motive others.

"If I can do it, anyone can," he said. 

He also wants people to know that losing that much weight takes time, dedication and desire. But he's certainly proof, it can be done.