Why did you seek our MAN v FAT’s support in the first place?
It was mid May 2016 and I had been going to a gym for a while and decided to stand on the weighing scales. For the first time since I’d started there the scales were set to st and lbs rather than kgs and realising that I was 16st 12lbs and I stood there and swore at the wall in front of me!
The next day I saw an article in the local paper about a new weight loss programme for men based around a 6 a-side football league that was coming to Bridgwater. I went online immediately and was the first person to sign up for what was then, only the second league in the country.
Talk to us about why MAN v FAT has been such an important part of your life
MAN v FAT completely changed my life. I lost 20-something kgs during my time in the league, appeared in loads of local TV news pieces and met people that I still regard as mates today. After the league finished, I was asked if I would take on the coach role, which I did happily as I was happy with my weight and fitness and wanted to see if I could help others.
Little did I know at that stage that I was going to do it for 6.5 years, appear on Sky Sports News, represent MAN v FAT on a live BBC1 Sunday morning programme debating the question “Is obesity a matter of personal responsibility?”, become an unofficial member of the HQ team and more importantly play a least a small part in helping hundreds of men live a lighter, fitter and healthier life.
How has it changed your current future health and wellbeing?
It has been said many times that if you cut me in half you’d see the words MAN v FAT and I am a better, more humble person for sharing in the experiences of the men that take part.
How proud are you of the part you’ve played in supporting men’s health in your area?
You can’t measure the pride I feel about my time with MAN v FAT. Helping hundreds of men lose weight is one thing but it is the personal stories that I remember that really make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
Having a player that was literally sleeping on a park bench, or hearing the words “I lost my wife to cancer 6 years ago and now I’ve been diagnosed with a tumour on my liver and my kids aren’t going to lose me”.
Being the first person that someone has told that they have a drinking problem when they come up to you after everyone else has weighed in and playing a large part in the online programme MAN v FAT Challenge that started during Covid, and ended up helping guys in the UK and America.
It all just makes more proud than I ever thought possible about anything other than my family.
Why do you think MAN v FAT works as a programme to support men of all ages?
The scoring system is such a simple premise. You don’t have to be the best footballer, or even any good at the game really to make a difference because EVERYONE that takes part has an opportunity to make a difference no matter how old, how fit, how heavy, how much they might have going on in their lives. They all matter on and off the pitch, on match night and through the week in the WhatsApp groups.
Sum up MAN v FAT and its community in three words
Community, friendship, togetherness.
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