Being a part of MAN v FAT Southampton has given Daniel Sherwood the close knit community and accountability that he needed to stay on track with his weight loss.
Daniel has been with the programme for just over eighteen months now and has transformed his health and wellbeing, losing over 30% of his starting body weight supported by the rest of the lads in the south coast club. He told us all about how it’s worked for him.
What is it about MAN v FAT that has worked for you in your weight loss and wellbeing efforts?
I was never a naturally “sporty” person. While I enjoyed team sports in the past, I hadn’t played since school. Previous attempts at using exercise to lose weight always failed, and upon reflection, I realise it was likely due to a lack of accountability.
I had reached a point where I was truly unhappy with the person looking back at me in the mirror. I hated having photos taken and struggled to keep up with my daughter when she wanted a kick-about at the park. While the rise of weight-loss medication was appealing because of the lack of physical effort required, I wanted to give the “old-fashioned way” one last shot. Traditional weight-loss groups didn’t appeal to me, and I felt too out of shape to join a standard local sports team.
That’s when I stumbled upon MAN v FAT. It combined the best of both worlds: group support and team exercise. I took the plunge in November 2024 and haven’t looked back.
The accountability is what makes the difference. If you’ve had a bad week and are tempted to skip, you realize your team’s position in the league table depends on your weight loss and your performance on the pitch. You aren’t just losing weight for yourself; you’re doing it for your mates.
What do you like best about the MAN v FAT Southampton community?
I really value the Southampton community because it’s a tight-knit group. Being slightly smaller than neighbouring clubs, there is a great mix of people at different stages of their journeys. Everyone is fantastic at sharing their experiences, helping to prepare and motivate you every step of the way.
What would you say to any guy in the area thinking of joining the programme?
Forget about your fitness level. We come in all shapes and sizes; some of us can sprint for thirty minutes, while others are just focused on getting through their first five minutes without gasping.
Every single man at that session was the “new guy” once. You might feel self-conscious walking up to the scales for the first time, but that feeling lasts about thirty seconds. As soon as you meet your captain and your teammates, you’re just part of the squad.
What are your longer-term health and wellbeing goals?
MAN v FAT has truly been life-changing. I’ve gone from barely being able to run 50 meters to running 5Ks multiple times a week. My goal is to simply keep up this momentum.
I discovered, much to my surprise, that running is fantastic for my mental health. Having 30 minutes with just music in my ears and one focus really helps me decompress at the end of the day. My next big milestone is to sign up for one of the many organized 10K events in the area.
Want to join Daniel in action?
You can read more about MAN v FAT Southampton on their club homepage. We look forward to welcoming you soon!
