We just love this week’s Amazing Loser Karl’s approach to weight loss. With a hefty dose of positive thinking and self-believe, he’s managed to get to a healthy weight and has a whole new approach to healthy living. Bravo, Karl!
Name: Karl Proud
Age: 35
Height: 5’9
Location/MAN v FAT Football league: Skegness
Occupation: Factory worker
Highest weight: 105.2kg (16st 8lbs, 232lbs)
Current weight: 71.2kg (11st 3lbs, 157lbs)
Weight lost: 34kg (75lbs, 5st 5lbs)
What negative experiences did you have of being overweight?
I was very unfit. I got out of breath very easily and I felt extremely tired all the time.
What made you decide to change?
I’ve always loved football and I missed it. I hadn’t played since I was a kid, so when the opportunity of doing MAN v FAT Football in Skegness came about I thought this was my chance to play the game I love, and to change my lifestyle too.
What did you do to lose weight?
MAN v FAT Football gave me the inspiration that I needed to go ahead and lose weight and to change the way I was living.
So I created a diet that would suit my lifestyle and I planned my own exercise routine too.
I’d tried to lose weight before but had always failed. But this time was different because I was also playing the game that I love and have always enjoyed playing.
I stuck to my new diet and fitness routine every day. The first few weeks were very hard but I stuck to it because I knew what I wanted to achieve and I knew what my goals were, so I went for it.
What did you eat before you lost weight?
A typical day would be toast and eggs for breakfast. For lunch I’d have 4 sandwiches, crisps and chocolate and then for tea I’d normally get a takeaway every night. I’d also have snacks late at night too.
What do you eat now?
I’ve cut my portion sizes right down and I also invested in an air fryer (ed: this one is highly rated and currently on sale, score). I cut out all fatty foods and replaced them with fruit, veg, and salad.
It’s great that you’re enjoying playing footie again. How do you think it’s helped you lose weight?
Playing footie with MAN v FAT Football has increased my motivation to exercise, and it’s helped me a lot with my new healthy lifestyle.
The weekly weigh-ins kept me on track and I just like that it’s all made enjoyable – everyone i in the same boat, everyone wants to lose weight and everyone gives it their all.
What would your advice to anyone thinking of joining MAN v FAT Football be?
Just do it! It’s definitely helped me. No one judges you based on your size. Everybody is equal when we play football.
What has been the most difficult thing about losing weight?
Due to COVID, we weren’t able to go to MAN v FAT Football sessions. But I still stuck at it and kept working towards my goals, helped along the way by the recipes and helpful emails sent out by MAN v FAT to help us through those difficult times. That gave me the motivation to get stronger and to fight towards what I wanted to achieve.
When I first started out, I kept telling myself that I can do it and I will do it. I had a lot of support which helped me through the bad times, allowing me to change it around and stick to what i believe in.
How has life changed now you’ve lost weight?
It’s changed a lot – I’m way fitter than I was, and I can do a lot more with my kids. I can run around and play with them, and do all the things they wanted to do which I couldn’t even dream of doing before.
Time for a shout-out! Who has helped you on your weight loss journey?
My wife has been a massive support and has always pushed me to carry on even when I felt like giving up. She has been my rock throughout this, and the help I got from my kids was a massive boost too.
MAN v FAT Football has been great too, so I’d like to thank Karl White (our area manager) for giving all of us at the Skegness league the support we needed.
If you could go back to the person you were at your heaviest, what would you say to him?
I’d just ask him, why did you let yourself get this big?! I’d remind him that he needs to change – not for everyone else, but for himself.
What are your next steps now that you’ve lost weight?
I’m now at an ideal weight and exactly where I should be. So my next steps are to maintain my weight loss and work on toning up my stomach.
You’re Prime Minister for the day – what would you do to help combat the obesity crisis?
I’d increase prices on fizzy drinks and snacks, which would hopefully reduce the amount that people buy. I’d invest in more community and support groups for obese people, and I’d lower gym prices as they can be too expensive for a lot of people.
What do other fat men need to know about losing weight?
You don’t need to know anything to start – you just need the willpower and to believe in yourself. Believe that you can do anything you put your mind to, because you can, and that’s all that I did.
