How did you get the community at your club to buy into celebrating their successes?
Honestly it was an organic process. The players themselves were readily open to congratulating someone losing a good amount of weight, hitting a target or achieving a percentage milestone. While it started with their own teammates it genuinely evolved to the friendly and sometimes envious banter between the opposing team on the night.
Even though they realise that success may mean another off the pitch goal – they know it is the reason why we are all at MAN v FAT.
In what ways does this celebration aid the community at your club?
I liken it to belonging to an exclusive club. Each player knows the challenges of getting to and maintaining a healthy weight. Celebrating the wins – no matter how small or large facilitates communication – not just the congrats and pats on the back but the sharing of how the player got there, the exercise they do the rest of the week, the food choices they are making.
Each team’s WhatsApp group are always sharing ideas about weight loss and some of the more amusing daily challenges they go through. This really is a huge aid in building a community.
