34 men from the Reading area have lost more than 36 stone, or more than a fifth of a tonne (234kg) by taking part at Reading’s MAN v FAT Football club.
MAN v FAT Football Reading aims to help men with a BMI over 27.5 lose weight and get fit with weekly football focused sessions.
Every Monday, from 7:30pm at Goals Reading, the club meets. Players weigh in and then play 30-minute, six-aside games of football.
Extra goals are awarded to teams that have lost the most weight, as a further incentive to reach fitness targets. Results on the pitch and individual weight loss throughout the week contribute towards a team’s placement in the club’s league table.
Thanks to a partnership with Reading Borough Council, new members looking to join the club from certain postcodes may be eligible for a first 14-week season free of charge, funded by the council. This is subject to a £10 refundable deposit at the end of the 14-week period.
MAN v FAT Reading Coach, Olivia Knight, tells us that: “Health coaching is my passion, and I love being able to help and nurture people who want to improve their health, wellbeing and better their lifestyle.
“Many of the guys lose weight week in week out, which is no easy task. I am in awe of their determination and positive attitudes. Some join the teams having not taken part in any exercise for years, it is a real joy to see their fitness improve each week and to see them enjoying the exercise and team camaraderie “
She further praises the community ethos of the club, saying: “The teams have such a fantastic spirit between them, they support and encourage each other, share tips and tricks, share their ups and downs, and I think it is such a huge part of the success.
“The men have somewhere to share their stories with each other, somewhere to put aside the day-to-day world of family, work, money and any other worries. They can relax and take part in something they are passionate about.”
Going forward, she hopes to continue the Reading club’s success, both on the pitch and on the scales: “I would like to bring in more members, to get the numbers up and to keep growing the Reading club. I want to keep up their motivation for weight loss and health improvement, I hope to keep them engaged in taking an active role in their own health.
“MAN v FAT has a yearly tournament that the guys sent a small team to take part in this year – next year I would like them to be able to send a strong team with good numbers and do even better than they did this year.”
8,400 men currently take part at more than 150 MAN v FAT Football clubs across the UK. The programme was created to differ from traditional weight loss classes and combines the beautiful game with achievable weight loss goals for men.
Aimed at men with a BMI of higher than 27.5, the total amount of weight lost by MAN v FAT players in the UK currently stands at more than 850,000 pounds.
In addition to football sessions, MAN v FAT players receive off-the-pitch support including healthy meal recipe ideas and tips on general fitness.
Players also get free access to a bespoke mental health platform through MAN v FAT partners JAAQ.
For more information about MAN v FAT, follow this link: https://manvfat.com/football/
