It’s a cold evening, I’m preparing to step on the scales and get weighed in before playing football. That’s because, just over a year ago, and feeling depleted trying to shed the lockdown weight, I joined ManvFat.
The programme, aimed at getting men more active, sees players weighing in before playing a 28-minute football match. Afterwards, you’re awarded goals for weight loss as well as the scores on the pitch.
It might seem a little hard to grasp at first, and I, like many other players who joined, hadn’t kicked a ball for as long as I could remember. But that doesn’t matter.
Like many players, I’d seen the adverts popping up on social media and wanted to join, but felt a little apprehensive at first. What if they realise I’m more likely to fall over than kick the ball into the goal? What if I do fall over simply trying to kick the ball - a real possibility.
But I was buoyed by the fact I had, before the lockdowns hit, managed to shed some weight by joining Slimming World. However, I found myself wanting something a little different.
In fact, always a time to blow your own trumpet, I’d managed to get down from 19st4 at my heaviest, to just over 17st when I joined ManvFat. I had dropped further, but then coronavirus came along, and successive lockdowns made life a bit different for us all.
Having joined, I received a WhatsApp introduction from my new coach, Sam, telling me I had been assigned to the green team. And thus prompted a mad dash to the local sports store to make sure I had boots, shinpads, and everything needed to pretend my feet still remembered how to kick a ball.
Joining solo was daunting, but you’ve got to just give some things a go, right? Luckily, it wasn’t long until I was welcomed by the other players and got to try my first match.
Sadly, it wasn't long into that match that I realised what being a chronically unfit almost 30-year-old journalist trying to run felt like. I think shattered doesn’t start to explain it.
But as the weeks and months rolled on, I started to gain more fitness and confidence. And with that, I noticed a drive for weight loss as well.
You get extra goals awarded for your team if you hit a percentage - 5%, 10%, 15% of your body weight lost and so forth. And quickly find that has an impact on your weekly outlook - ‘I could have a treat after a long day, but I want that 10% on Monday’.
Spurred by the goals and encouraged by teammates, I hit my five, 10, 15, and 20% weight loss milestones. And then, almost a year after joining, and possibly the first time in decades, I hit my healthy weight - a final certificate proudly stating “BMI Boss”.
I’d gone from 19st 4lb at my heaviest (around 122.5kg) to 12st 9lb (80kg). Having lost 27kg or 4st 3lb playing football and fighting fat.
Inspired by my teammates - and a desire not to want to curl up in a foetal position after a 28-minute football game - I also found myself starting to run more. I’d tried previously, and dreamed of doing my local Parkrun in Cheshire.
So, just as I was preparing to mark turning 30, I downloaded the Couch to 5k app. And having completed the course, finally achieved my goal, three laps around a beauty spot, surrounded by other people - without keeling over at the end.
Now, I’ve set another goal. I want to be able to complete our local half marathon next year, having walked it twice.
I’ve managed to reach a level of fitness I didn’t think I would ever achieve. And don’t think I’d have made it there without my weekly football sessions.
I don’t think I’ll ever reach the heights of Gareth Bale or Lionel Messi, but that’s part of the beauty of it. You don’t need to be the best at kicking a ball around, a heap of enthusiasm and losing weight helps your team the most. And most of all, it keeps you going.
Matt is a member of ManvFat Crewe. To find out more. Click here.
