We’re kicking off a new series of Amazing Losers by highlighting the incredible work done by MAN v FAT Challenge members recently.
If you’re new to Challenge, it’s our online weight loss platform where you team up with other blokes to take on weekly tasks that help you work towards your weight loss goals. Think Taskmaster for weight loss, but without Greg giving you disapproving looks.
Kicking us off is Dominic, who has done amazingly in just one 14 week season. He’s fully thrown himself into the task at hand and vowed to stop making excuses for himself. He also has the dubious honour of being the first Amazing Loser to ever use the C word in an answer.
Name: Dominic Findlow
Age: 57
Height: 5’10
Location: Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire
MAN v FAT CHALLENGE division: Lamb Shank Redemption
Occupation: Retired
Highest weight: 127.4kg (20st 0.9lbs, 280.9lbs)
Current weight: 109kg (17st 2.3lbs, 240.3lbs)
How did you get to the position where you needed to lose weight?
I guess the problem all stems from the past 30 years of “work hard and play hard”!
I owned a business operating in 70+ counties and I would regularly do 80+ international flights per year, most of them business long hall with a ready supply of good food and my favourite type of drinks – free ones!
I would stay in hotels and socialise with clients and it all took its toll. With that type of lifestyle, if I ever started to diet, it would all would fly out the window once the travel started up again.
What negative experiences did you have of being overweight?
One major negative was a heart attack at 42, although at that age I didn’t feel that weight was the issue.
I was still active and thought I was carrying the weight well, but I now realise that it was just that I didn’t see myself as fat. To my mind, I was just a big lad and other people were fat.
What made you decide to change?
Having seen some recent photos of myself, I finally started to see myself as others see me. I realised that it was time to do something about it (again), but this time I meant it.
What have you done in the past to try and lose weight, and what do you do now?
I have tried some fad diets in the past, including the Atkins diet. That started off well, but like all fad diets it soon fell away and I ballooned past where I started from.
Now I just try and eat healthily and within my calorie range. Ok, so some days I may go over, but that can be addressed. It’s not what you eat in a day that counts, it’s what you eat in a week.
How has your MAN v FAT Challenge experience been?
I saw MvF on BBC local news and I thought it would be worth a go. At £23, I figured it won’t break the bank and if it works it’s all well and good.
I especially liked the idea that it involved a bit of teamwork and friendly competition, these are the driving forces that are right up my street.
I’m writing this in week 12 of the 14 week Challenge season. So far I’ve lost 15.7kg and will be pushing hard to lose another 3kg in the next few weeks so that I hit my goal of losing 15% of my starting weight. There’s no doubt that the team spirit and the element of competition has really worked for me.
MAN v FAT Challenge is a little different to MAN v FAT Football as it’s all done online. Why do you think this worked for you?
Like most overweight people, we’ve all tried various fad diets, looking for the silver bullet that will transform our lives. Usually, we pay our money and from there things start to go wrong.
MAN v FAT Challenge was different for me. It’s not selling you supplements and gimmicks, it’s about good old-fashioned weight loss.
It helps you to understand why we’re fat and how we got like that, then it helps you address the diet and exercise side of things to get results. It’s the simple mathematical equation of eat less + do more = weight loss.
Unlike all my previous attempts at dieting, I can now say that through MvF I finally get it! And I’m well on my way to creating good habits that are sustainable forever,
What would you say to anyone thinking of joining MAN v FAT Challenge?
If you want to lose weight MAN v FAT really is the place to do that as it really works.
But if you are only half-hearted about losing weight and looking for the golden ticket quick fix rather than being ready to put in the effort, then move on don’t was it your time here as you’re the wrong type of loser for this game!
Weight loss isn’t difficult, it’s just all about your mindset. You have to jump in with both feet and embrace it, there’s no point pussyfooting around the edges.
What sort of mindset did you have?
I wanted to lose weight and that was what I was going to do. I’m not a snowflake looking for excuses or other things to blame, I knew that I had to take responsibility and control over it. If I failed it would only be my own fault.
How has life changed now you’ve lost weight?
I’m definitely healthier and more active, although it has cost a few quid for a new wardrobe!
If you could go back to the person you were at your heaviest, what would you say to him?
Fat ****, pull your finger out!
Now that you’ve lost weight, what are your next steps?
Once this Challenge season is over I’ll still need to lose an additional 10kg, so I will definitely sign back up for another season.
After that, it’s all about keeping these good habits for life. But as I mentioned before, this time I get it!
You’re Prime Minister for the day – what would you do to help combat the current obesity crisis?
I’d get rid of the snowflake softie bullshit that skirts around the problem rather than making people take responsibility for their actions.
I’d fine parents for overfeeding kids and if that didn’t work I would bring back National Service!
What three things do other fat men need to know about losing weight?
- Eat less.
- Do more.
- You can’t sub-contract this project, you have to do it yourself!
