As 2025 comes to a close, the MAN v FAT HQ team has welcomed in a fresh face to the team – and someone who has had a successful story to tell in his time on the programme.
Abdi Ahmed, a long time member in our MAN v FAT Nottingham club, has lost over 30% of his body weight in his time with us and, after a recent interview process is stepping up to join the HQ team as a Regional Coordinator for the North and Wales.
Abdi becomes the fourth former player to become a part of the operational side of MAN v FAT and he told us he can’t wait to get started:-
1) How excited are you to be getting started with MAN v FAT HQ?
I’m genuinely thrilled to be joining MAN v FAT HQ. This organisation has been a huge part of my life for almost four years, and it’s had such a positive impact on me, not just physically, but mentally and socially too.
To now be part of the team that helps others achieve those same life-changing results feels incredibly rewarding. MAN v FAT helped me become a better version of myself, and I’m really looking forward to giving back and helping more men experience that same transformation.
2) Can you tell the readers a bit more about your back story and experiences with weight loss?
When I joined MAN v FAT, I just wanted to make a change and feel healthier. I didn’t expect it to completely change my life. Over the years, I’ve lost a third of my total body weight and gained so much confidence and perspective along the way. The support, accountability, and friendships I found through my club were what made the biggest difference.
A real highlight for me was taking part in the Amazing Losers Game in Stoke 2023. It truly was an unforgettable experience that represented how far I’d come and what this community stands for, it was so much more than a game of football, but a chance to celebrate alongside many other people who had changed their life through this programme.
And later, having the chance to speak at the UK House of Parliament to celebrate MAN v FAT’s 10-year anniversary and share my story was a proud moment I’ll never forget.
3) What do you think you’ll bring from your own experiences into the role and how can that support our members?
I think empathy and relatability are at the heart of what I bring. I’ve been through the highs and lows with this program, from struggling to stay consistent at the start to hitting those breakthrough moments that make it all worth it. That perspective helps me connect with members in a real way, because I understand what it feels like to start that journey and how much courage it takes to keep going.
I know how powerful the right mix of support, structure, and camaraderie can be. My goal is to help members believe in themselves the way my teammates once believed in me.
4) You’ve got a wide range of skills from previous roles – how do you think they might also be appropriate for MAN v FAT?
My career has always been about people, whether that’s in equality and inclusion, community and partnership work, or digital marketing. Everything I’ve done has had a common thread: helping others grow, feel seen, and find their voice.
I’ve led teams, managed projects, built partnerships, and delivered digital campaigns, but what matters most to me is connection. I think that’s what I bring to MAN v FAT, is the ability to connect with people, to listen, and to help them see their own potential.
Whether it’s online or in person, I want to make sure every member feels part of something bigger than just weight loss. I want everyone to be part of one big movement, one club, which has a community that believes in them, even on the days they don’t believe in themselves.
5) If you would give a MAN v FAT member who is just starting out one bit of advice, what would it be?
Take it one week at a time and trust the process. Don’t worry about being perfect, just keep showing up because consistency will always beat perfection. Some weeks will be amazing, others might be tougher, but every single step counts.
Lean on your teammates, celebrate the small wins, and remember that you’re not doing this alone, there is a huge community empowering you with each step. The friendships you’ll make here are just as life changing as the weight you’ll lose. MAN v FAT genuinely changed my life, and if you stick with it, it can change yours too.
