Why did you join MAN v FAT in the first place?
If I’m honest, because I’d run out of excuses. Both my parents passed away before hitting mid 50s, my son was playing football and was encouraging me to join his team and I just was nowhere near capable so decided to do something about it and a friend of mine (Andrew) kept posting about MAN v FAT and I sent him some messages to talk about it.
Bless Andrew, I’m not entirely sure he really understands how much that has changed my life for the better and if I haven’t said it properly before, Andrew, thank you for changing my life and answering those questions, I will be forever grateful to you.
MAN v FAT is less like joining a diet club and more like joining a bunch of blokes all trying to get their lives pointed in the right direction, it gives you accountability and it also gives you that feeling of being young again and really part of a team with the banter and everything.
What have been the best and hardest bits of your efforts to get to BMI Boss status?
The best bit has been proving to myself that I could actually do it. When you’ve been overweight for a long time, you almost start to believe that’s just who you are. Reaching BMI Boss status was a massive moment because it showed me that consistency beats motivation every single time.
The hardest bit wasn’t the exercise or the food, it was sticking with it when the excitement wore off. Anyone can be good for a week or two. The real challenge is making decent decisions when you’re tired, stressed, busy, on holiday, at a birthday party, or standing in front of the fridge pretending you’re not looking for a snack.
I was lucky that I lost weight every week for something like 45 weeks and that got me to BMI level. It felt unreal but again, the MAN v FAT Swansea lads are something else, the coach, the assistant coaches and everyone there are so supportive. It feels special to be part of it and to have made contact with people I consider mates is amazing.
What are the biggest benefits you’re now feeling from being at a healthy weight?
The obvious stuff is great. More energy, moving around more easily, clothes fitting properly and not having to take a deep breath before looking at photos of myself.
There’s also the mental side of the weight loss. There’s a confidence that comes from keeping a promise to yourself for a long period of time. I feel healthier, happier and more capable than I have in years.
Also, it’s nice not treating every flight of stairs like it’s the north face of the Eiger.
It’s also enabled me to do things I never thought possible. I recently took part in a 12 hour run raising money for an amazing children’s cancer charity in South Wales called Joseph’s smile. I managed to run 41 miles and raised close to £1,200 for them.
The MAN v FAT guys not only chipped in for the charity pot but also helped me on my running journey. A few of us run on Mondays before weighing in on Tuesday and that helped the fitness and the mental side as well.
Watching them race and listening to how they dealt with longer runs just was so inspiring and I thought about them a lot running the 12 hour, as well as my parents and the charity. It honestly kept me going.
How important has the MAN v FAT community been in getting you to this stage – and keeping you there?
Massively important.
Weight loss can be quite lonely if you’re trying to do it on your own, especially because most people only see the result and not the hundreds of small decisions that got you there.
The MAN v FAT community gives you support, accountability, encouragement and, when needed, a kick up the backside. Everyone understands the struggles because they’re living them too.
Getting to BMI Boss status might have been my achievement, but there’s no way I’d have got there without the lads around me helping me stay on track.
And just as importantly, they’re a big reason for staying there too. Once you’ve found a group of people who want you to succeed, you’d be daft not to make the most of it.
Thank you to all the Swansea lads, you have all influenced and helped change my life for the better. Also to my Piegeria and AC Grillan team mates a special thanks for everything you have helped me with, even if you don’t know you have ❤️.
