> At a Glance
> – Connor Caffey weighed 450 lbs before gastric-sleeve surgery in October 2023
> – He has since shed over 200 lbs and crossed finish lines at triathlons, half-marathons, and full marathons
> – Inspired by his son’s birth and the death of his idol Tony Siragusa, he calls fitness “a lifestyle change, not a diet”
> – Why it matters: His journey shows drastic weight loss paired with mental shifts can rewrite long-term health and family life
A Long Island dad who once skipped outings because he couldn’t walk across a parking lot now races past finish lines after dropping more than half his body weight following bariatric surgery.
The Breaking Point
Caffey, 33, of West Babylon, N.Y., saw the scale top 450 lbs during COVID. A 2022 doctor visit delivered a blunt warning: the excess weight could soon become fatal. He postponed surgery, promising to try on his own for a year.
That year brought two life-altering moments:
- April 2022: birth of his son Beaux
- June 2022: Super Bowl winner Tony Siragusa died of a heart attack at 55
> Connor Caffey said:
> “I always related to him… it kind of snapped for me, where I was like, I do not want that for me.”
Operation and Overhaul
On October 11, 2023, Northwell South Shore’s Dr. David Pechman performed the sleeve gastrectomy. The procedure limits stomach size, yet Caffey stresses it’s no quick fix.
Post-op changes:
- Eliminated alcohol (last drink: September 2023 at a wedding)
- Ditched carbonated drinks for six months
- Rebuilt diet around protein and vegetables
> Connor Caffey recalled:
> “I wasn’t comfortable in my own body… I was reducing my own time with my own family.”
From Walker to Racer
Four months after surgery, family friend Tom Pfeifer invited him to the gym. A late-night UFC broadcast later, Caffey signed up for a half-marathon, despite never calling himself a runner.
Race timeline:
| Event | Date | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Suffolk County Half-Marathon | June 2024 | Finished |
| Local Triathlon | August 2024 | 2nd in division |
| Full Marathon with friends | October 2024 | Finished |
Today he weighs 235 lbs and documents the journey on Instagram, hoping to nudge relatives and followers toward healthier habits.
Key Takeaways
- Gastric sleeve jump-started a 200+ lb loss, but sustained effort rewrote his future
- Parenthood and a role model’s sudden death supplied the mental spark
- Regular racing now doubles as family bonding; Beaux, 2, already ran his first 1K fun run
Caffey’s advice to anyone starting out: believe in yourself, build support, and treat health as a marathon, not a sprint.
