A unique football league where losing is the ultimate goal is giving Lanarkshire men a new lease of life.
Man V Fat Football is a league for overweight men that helps you lose fat and get fit.
And it's not just winning matches, but losing pounds that decides who wins the league.
Every two players that lose weight their team get an extra goal on top of the result.
The UK-wide initiative, recently featured on The One Show, is funded by the English Football Association with leagues across Scotland.
Coaching the only Lanarkshire league at Playsport East Kilbride on Friday nights, David Adam, who is on his own fitness journey, is on the lookout for new players keen to battle the bulge.
With nearly 20 stones being shed by the lads in EK league so far, there's never been a better incentive to sign up.
Explaining how the league works, he told Lanarkshire Live : "When someone signs up online I'll send them to one of the teams in the league.
"We ask players to come half an hour early, I'll have the scales ready to take their first weight and I'll introduce them to the programme.
"That's their starting point and they'll also be given a food diary to track their diet and a booklet with all the information they need about nutrition.
"How it links with the pitch is if you go above your start weight you concede an own goal which I think is great as there's accountability.
"If you know you've not had a great week, you're going to cost the team as well.
"That's a good motivator to be a team player. And, if you lose weight that counts for goals on the pitch as well. So you could get hammered on the pitch but lose weight on the scales and end up winning overall.
"So the health benefits are not just on the pitch, but off the pitch as well."
Research shows there are 20.4 million overweight and obese men in the UK but with very few resources to go to for help.
In the Man V Fat football league 95 per cent of players are losing weight with 93 per cent reporting health improvements.
East Kilbride member Phil Welsh, 42, has lost an incredible four stone in four months since signing up last season.
He told us: "My health has improved dramatically from Man V Fat and I am still planning on losing more.
"I didn't expect so much support from players in the team. We all work together and help each other with weight goals and with other issues which could be mental health or some private matters.
"Man V Fat is more like a family to me and it's something I really enjoy on a Friday night - getting active, losing weight and making new friends for life.
"What's not to like?"
Stephen Thomson, 34, from Whitehills, lost a stone in weight in just five weeks.
He commented: "I joined Man v Fat EK as I wanted to lose weight and get fitter. The past few years I've tried various different things and found myself not sticking to them.
"Someone who loves football and seeing that this was local I had no doubts about signing up and absolutely love it. I've already lost a stone in weight and saw my cardio increase to the point I can run most of the game.
"I know I have a few stone to go but seeing so many guys who have lost 10 per cent of body fat already, I know I'm in the right place to keep coming back.
"I think something like this on our doorstep is great for men's mental health too and I hope it helps me keep going and to be a few stone lighter for the summer."
Further resources aimed at improving mental health can also be found online in the league's virtual gym.
David, who lost two stones playing for the Glasgow league, added: "Mental health is massive right now and it's affects all of these guys.
"I've found that a lot of men have been speaking about mental health in their groups telling each other things they've not spoke to their family about so that's one thing Man V Fat has been really good for.
"A lot of the men were apprehensive about coming along at first but their mindset soon changed because of the support they get - and it's enjoyable.
"We even get people travelling here from Paisley and Edinburgh because they like the camaraderie here in East Kilbride.
"Even wee things like getting a t-shirt on that they couldn't get on a month ago, it's such a mental boost.
"The bigger picture is living longer, being healthier and making those lifestyle changes.
"And you don't need to be good at football, it's about weight loss, the football is just a bonus."
Applicants must have a BMI of 27.5 or over before signing up.
Head online to register for free.
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