We’ve seen a lot of men who’ve been affected negatively by the various COVID lockdowns and who have found that they gained weight because of it. It’s no wonder that we all turned to food and let healthy habits slide, it was a weird and uncertain time. Not to mention that it was an actual global pandemic, so if you got through it and came out the other side carrying some extra weight, cut yourself some slack. Read on to see how Lewis is dealing with his pandemic weight gain…
Name: Lewis
Age: 33
Location: London
Occupation: Science technician
Height: 5″ 11′
Start weight: 138kg (21st 10, 304lbs)
Current weight: 109.5kg (17st 3lbs, 241lbs)
Weight lost: 28.5kg (4st 6.8, 62.8lbs)
How did you get to the position where you needed to lose weight?
Mostly lockdowns over the COVID pandemic. I’d been in a good place, but being stuck at home in a bad situation made all my bad habits flood back and the weight piled on.
What negative experiences did you have of being overweight?
Lack of mobility, shortness of breath, thigh chafing, being unable to walk long distances. My clothes not fitting.
What was the moment that made you decide to change?
I knew I needed to change for my health and to be there for my son. To be able to play with him and take him out without worrying about what I could wear and not being able to play with him properly, that was something I really needed to do.
What did you decide to do to lose weight?
Calorie counting mostly. I set myself a hard boundary and didn’t let myself break it, but I did allow myself a day of rest to keep me motivated. The hunger was hard to start with, but I soon got used to it.
I’ve been playing with MAN v FAT Football for 7 years now with varying success. I knew this time that I needed to do it properly and keep it off.
What did you eat before you lost weight, and what do you eat now?
I’d often skip breakfast and eat pastries or chocolates. I’d have bad lunches and too many takeaways.
Now I mostly have cereal for breakfast. I’ll have soup or noodle pots for lunch. Then in the evening, mostly cooked dinners with plenty of vegetables and chicken.
You’re a MAN v FAT Football member, how has it helped you lose weight?
It’s given me motivation and accountability while playing a sport I love. Having a good group of teammates who help keep the motivation going and who support you through any situation has definitely helped me. That accountability allows people to have the extra motivation to not let their team down – because you’re not just letting yourself down.
What has been the most difficult thing about losing weight?
Getting past the weeks where you don’t lose as much as you expect (ed – we covered dealing with disappointment on the scales recently, it’s a very real and very tough thing to overcome).
But I get past this with support from my team members, and through knowing that you just have to keep going.
How has life changed now that you’ve lost weight?
I have much more energy now. I enjoy cycling now, and I play football at a much higher intensity. I can also fit into a lot of my old clothes!
Time for a shout-out! Who has helped you lose weight, and how have they supported you?
My team at MAN v FAT Football Leyton, Blackjacks. Absolutely phenomenal lads.
If you could go back to the person you were at your heaviest, what would you say to him?
You don’t have to be like this. You know you can lose the weight, just believe in yourself and you’ll find your confidence.
You’re Prime Minister for the day – what would you do to help combat the current obesity crisis?
Provide a lot more information to those in need, and programs to those who are struggling for any number of reasons that can cause weight gain, because it’s not all down to overeating.
What three things do other fat men need to know about losing weight?
- Do some exercise, even just walking.
- To lose weight, you need to be in a calorie deficit. Learn what that means and how to do it.
- Be confident in yourself no matter your size.
