Why did you seek our MAN v FAT’s support in the first place?
I hadn’t really considered looking for any support or even addressing what had started to become a more serious issue. I had just turned 30 and was struggling to recover from reconstructive knee surgery. It was just before Christmas 2016 and my brother called me to talk about a new programme called MAN v FAT Football, so I signed up.
Talk to us about why MAN v FAT has been such an important part of your life
The first thing MAN v FAT gave me was the motivation to actually improve my health. Then after that, through the forums and Shan who was coaching the first league, it gave me the knowledge I needed to make changes. For several years after that, once I had became involved as a member of the team it gave me an overwhelming sense of pride and dedication to the organisation’s goals of impacting men’s health.
How has it changed your current future health and wellbeing?
The impact it had on my health almost felt immediate. With my weight under control, my knee was better, I felt more positive in life and was enjoying looking after myself. I struggled for years with emotional eating and not only did I know how to manage this issue, but being a member of the team continued to keep me feeling accountable and responsible for looking after myself physically and mentally.
How proud are your contribution to MAN v FAT’s growth – from being a member of our clubs and then driving the programme forward in the HQ team?
At the time, I hadn’t quite realised what I had achieved by losing the most weight of any member of the first ever MAN v FAT league. It was all such a whirlwind and a joy to be a part of. Setting what for several years was the record weight loss in a season gave me the bond with future players to say “you can do this” – after all, I did!
I’ve had what can only be described as an interesting career path. Starting out as a chef, moving on to being a builder and then working with the HQ team. The time I spent as a member of the MAN v FAT HQ team was a fantastic experience and I felt I dedicated a big portion of my life at the time to developing and improving key areas of what we were all trying to achieve.
I remember the first time someone quietly said to me “this programme saved my life” – it brings a tear to my eye even typing it now and I still to this day talk passionately about what I helped the team to achieve and what I believe is a life saving organisation.
I know it will continue to grow, improve and change men’s lives and to be able to say I had a hand in moving it forward near the start will be something I cherish for the rest of my life.
Why do you think MAN v FAT works as a programme to support men of all ages?
As we all know, us men are very simple folk. We need, in my opinion, a few things to succeed when it comes to improving our health. Firstly to be supported by peers who understand why we struggle to look after ourselves, secondly the freedom to do things our own way with guidance when we need it, thirdly accountability given to us by sharing a common goal with incentives that we all need to chip in to receive and lastly a small dose of competition that gets the best out of us.
Sum up MAN v FAT and its community in three words
Family, Motivation, Inspiration.
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