KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- A man who was told he weighed too much to adopt has lost 80 pounds and is on pace to lose another 250, but he said he fears it won't be enough.

Last week, Gary Stocklaufer -- who used to weigh 500 pounds -- underwent gastric bypass surgery. He said he hoped it would show the depth of his commitment to adopt his cousin's son.

But that same day, a circuit judge denied Stocklaufer and his wife, Cynthia, a second chance at an adoption hearing in family court.

"This is legal kidnapping in the worst way," Gary Stocklaufer told KMBC's Jim Flink. "We were going to have a nice Christmas and now, Lord only knows when the adoption will be final."

The couple had already adopted son Bobby from one relative. They were seeking to adopt baby Max, a cousin's son. The couple has legal papers from a Texas court signing over parental rights.

"Her wishes were that he be with family, not with strangers, but that's being denied," Stocklaufer said.

The local family court took Max away, saying it was in the child's best interests.

But Stocklaufer said he believes Max was taken because the judge thinks he's too overweight to be a father.

A doctor in Dallas, Texas, offered to perform gastric bypass surgery for free, and Stocklaufer jumped at the chance.

"I'll lose 100 pounds by the end of September. By the end of the year, I'll be 225," Stocklaufer said.

He said the pain of the surgery is small by comparison to the pain of knowing that while he was under the knife, the court was ruling against a second hearing.

"Why would they do this? What are they hiding?" Stocklaufer asked.

His story has gained national and worldwide attention.

"We've gotten phone calls from lots of people. To all of them, we just want everyone to know -- thanks," he said.

He said he and his wife will continue to fight for Max.

"Financially, we're strapped, but we'll keep fighting. God will find a way -- always has, always will," he said.

The couple is working on an appeal to a higher court. If necessary, they said they will pursue the adoption all the way to the Supreme Court.

The Family Court has refused comment on the case, citing privacy concerns.