This week’s Amazing Loser Phil’s MAN v FAT Football journey was cut short by a pesky global pandemic, but he hasn’t let that stop him. He’s fully embraced online support and has gone from being a total couch potato to cycling a whopping 25 miles a day…
Name: Phil Stonell
Location: Hastings
Start weight: 131.8kg / 20st 10 / 290lbs
Current weight: 81.0kg / 12st 7 / 178lbs
Weight lost: 50.8kg / 8st 3 / 112lb
What was your life like before you lost weight?
Throughout my adult life, I’ve been a bit of a yo-yo dieter, with my weight ranging from 13-21st.
I found that the only way I seemed to be able to keep the weight off was by cycling. However, my left knee deteriorated following a motorcycle accident in my youth, until I had to give up cycling in 2015 to have my knee replaced.
I had gradually put on a lot of weight since having this total knee replacement in early 2016, and by February 2020 I got up to 20st 10lb.
MAN v FAT was recommended to me by my physio who was treating me for a shoulder injury. I knew I had to lose weight because I was really struggling to complete the physio exercises for my shoulder, and so I joined MvF in February. I lost 6kg in my first week and have never looked back.
I’m back on my bike (doing 20-25 miles a day) I’m eating a balanced healthy diet and I’ve dropped from 131.8kg (20st 10) to 101.3kg (15st 13) as of 21st May, a 30.5kg loss.
What has your MAN v FAT Football experience been like?
I only got to play three games before the league was closed due to COVID-19, but I’d recommend it to anyone. I switched to MAN v FAT CHALLENGE when that started after lockdown and it has been brilliant.
The motivation given to me by my coach Patrick and my fellow teammates has been incredible, it’s been a really important part of me staying focused and continuing my weight loss. I know that maintaining your weight loss is a more difficult stage and I’m hoping that their support will help me when I get to that point too.
How has life changed now that you’ve lost weight?
My fitness has improved exponentially and I’ve adopted a mainly pescatarian diet.
I’ve gone from being a total couch potato to being highly active and cycling 20-25 miles a day!
I feel like a different man.
