MAN v FAT Rugby

Age: 38
Lost: 62kg (36%)

I had had really bad back problems and struggled to walk upstairs, so I knew I had to change for myself and my son, I wanted to enjoy doing things with him and be a good role model for him.

On a typical day I’d eat chocolate, crisps, takeaways and all number of fatty and bad foods to comfort myself if I was feeling low. But I’m much better with food now, with a much more balanced diet.

For example, bran flakes and a yogurt for breakfast, scrambled egg on toast for lunch/chicken salad pitta and spaghetti bolognese/ steak and air fried chips for tea!

I feel so much better about myself. Just as importantly, my mental health is a lot better with the support network from football and I haven’t had back problems since I started losing my weight.

Age: 33
Lost: 39kg (35%)

When I first joined, I was the heaviest I’d been for some years and it really was getting me down. At first, I didn’t really change a lot dietwise and I thought I was getting away with it by gradually losing week by week until the week I thought I’d had a good week not eating too much rubbish, no alcohol and I put about 1.5kg on.

This was a turning point for me. I felt I’d let my teammates down, so I began to look at my diet and really focus my mind. I cut out junk food, alcohol and started to eat healthily and to the right portion size.

What I love most about MAN v FAT is the camaraderie, it’s such a welcoming place.

It has also done wonders for my mental health by getting back out and doing something with a great bunch of guys that you know have your back when you’re feeling low. It has been difficult at times, but I’ve always had the guys to fall back on and pick me up when I’m down, also with a strong backing from my wife keeping me going even when I was getting ‘hangry’! Without these people in my life, I don’t think I’d have managed it.

Age: 32
Lost: 45kg (36%)

I have dieted before but they were often fads. I would focus on the weight loss, rather than fitness. This ultimately meant I lost weight but I was still incredibly unfit. I fully committed to the MAN v FAT challenge and knew this was my best chance of losing weight and keeping it off.

I lost five stone in four months and the other two stone in the six months after that, also reaching a healthy BMI on the way. I don’t think a weight loss journey ever truly ends, you just regularly redefine and adjust your goals.

I undertake so many more activities now that I wouldn’t have even dreamed of. My life has changed so much in the last year.

I play regular football, have become coach of my MAN v FAT club and have taken up running; having just started getting involved in park runs. My youngest is only four, so being able to run around and keep up with her is absolutely priceless.

Age: 24
Lost: 27kg (20%)

It’s changed my entire life. I didn’t really have friends round here before and now I’m part of a big community. The support is amazing.

I had aches in my knees and I wasn’t physically capable of doing things. I was around 22st for a year and built up to that weight for a long time. Ever since I left school and stopped doing sports, I’ve been piling it on.

I used to eat a lot of homecooked meals, like curries and stews, so that hasn’t changed. But my portions have got a lot smaller. Now, I’ll just have one meal deal for lunch and a pack of sandwich meat instead of chocolate, for a protein boost. “I still have cheat days. If you try to be perfect every day, you’re destined to fail.

It’s not just the weight loss but the community. Coming to see people and play with or against them. People really get along and talk to each other outside of the game. I’d 100 percent recommend it without hesitation.

People of all shapes, sizes and varying footballing ability can get involved. It’s a team effort and everyone is welcome.

Age: 31
Lost: 39kg (26%)

I’ve gone from being the heaviest I’ve ever been to the slimmest I’ve been since my teenage years. It’s allowed me to make some great friends and increase from hardly playing football to playing at least two times a week. It’s also helped me socially because I would go to events thinking that I’d be the largest guy there and made me think that I shouldn’t be there.

I’d heard of MAN v FAT before but I had no idea how much it would change my life. I used to play five-a-side with mates every week but I stopped playing around the age of 24.

The support you get from the coaches is first class and there is no shame in it. With other weight loss programmes, I’d feel under pressure if I’d had a bad week.

“It’s given me a routine that has allowed my mental health and confidence to improve so much, in my past I was drinking so much and just sitting home eating and this contributed to my poor health. If I hadn’t started the weight loss, then I know I would be in a much worse place.

Age: 44
Lost: 28.7kg (20%)

I’ve gone from being a couch potato to being more active than I’ve been since my mid-20s. Being able to shop for clothes in any shop was a big milestone for me.

I knew I needed to lose the weight. Doctors were telling me about being diabetic, the potential heart problems, and six stone later I’m doing alright. I’m not diabetic anymore, I’m back playing NS being an active dad, playing competitive football with my eldest lad, which was a really nice moment.

I couldn’t get around the pitch at 24-and-a-half stone, and I was a bit of a lump to be running around, so my aim every week was to basically get as many goals on the weight loss side, and then I’ve since become a better player on the pitch. The concept is brilliant, it’s worked wonders for me and you don’t want to let the lads down.

If I can do it, anyone can with a few little tweaks to their lifestyle. All those little changes make a difference over time.