Chef loses 6 stone in 18 months only having one thing before 12pm
Chef loses 6 stone in 18 months only having one thing before 12pm
Ricky set out to lose weight after the death of his 15-year-old brother and ditched 30% of his body weight
Ricky before his weight loss
A man who decided to lose weight so he could take part in a rugby match in honour of his brother managed to ditch six stone in 18 months. Ricky Emery, 40 from Bridgend has lost over 6 stone with the help of his local MAN v FAT Football club, since starting the programme 18 months ago.
Ricky said: 'My 15 year-old brother sadly passed away in the summer of 2023, and in his memory, our community organised a memorial rugby match that was due to take place on Boxing Day later that year. It was a bit of a wake-up call to be honest, as I knew that I needed to get fit and shift weight fast. So, I joined MAN v FAT Bridgend, a local club that helps men in the area lose weight through weekly football and healthy lifestyle coaching sessions.
'Joining MAN v FAT was a revelation. The mix of playing team sports again and the incentive of losing weight through doing so was a brilliant motivation factor for me.
Ricky before his weight loss
'The best thing about MAN v FAT is all abilities can join and contribute, whether you are young or old. And it's not just about the scores on the pitch, because how you do during the week in terms of your own weight loss matters as well. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who is looking to lose weight, in fact I have - and a few of my mates have joined the club too.
Around 8,500 men currently take part at more than 150 MAN v FAT Football clubs across the UK.
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The programme was created to differ from traditional weight loss classes and combines the game with weight loss goals for men.
Designed for overweight and obese men with a BMI of above 27.5, at a typical MAN v FAT session, players are weighed, before battling it out on the pitch where results from matches combine with a player's individual weight loss throughout a week. Individual weight loss results and scores on the pitch then contribute to a team's position in a club's overall league table.
The total amount of weight lost by MAN v FAT players in the UK currently stands at more than 800,000 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.
Ricky has lost more than six stone
Rick said: 'I joined the programme weighing 20 stone, with my initial goal at the time being to reduce my weight to 15.5 stone. I have managed to reduce my weight to just under 14 stone - basically I've lost 30 per cent of my starting bodyweight since joining MAN v FAT.
'The weight loss hasn't been the only benefit of joining though. I've met so many new people and gone from having a quite sedentary life to now being very active. I play five-a-side football and go to the gym three times a week, so I'm feeling a lot fitter and a lot stronger than I was before starting to lose weight. There has been a massive improvement in my lifestyle and that can only be a good thing.
'The hardest thing about losing weight for me was staying consistent. I am a chef, so I am around food all of the time and would regularly drink a lot after work. MAN v FAT gave me the incentive I needed to cut down on both.
'Before I started MAN v FAT an average breakfast was a Greggs bacon roll with extra bacon and a milky coffee with loads of sugar. Or I'd have a full on fry up. Now, I fast until midday every day only drinking black coffee with sweetener until then. Then, my first meal is something high protein like Greek yogurt with berries or overnight oats with added protein. I used to pick and snack all day at work so didn't really have lunch. Now - my average lunch could be something like a jacket potato with cottage cheese or baked beans to keep me full until the evening.
Ricky has lost more than six stone
'In the past, that evening meal would have been a big bowl of pasta with varying sauces and loads of cheese with some sort of dessert to finish. Now, I eat lean protein like chicken, turkey mince, or steak, with veggies and a small amount of carbs followed by a protein shake or yogurt for something sweet.
'If there was something that I learned about losing weight, it's that you need to be prepared to step out of your comfort zone. Try something new and find a form of exercise - but that you enjoy doing. That's what made MAN v FAT so perfect for me.'
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.
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2025 will see MAN v FAT expand its offering with the launch of 10 new rugby-based weight loss clubs across the UK. The rugby clubs will follow MAN v FAT's key principles, offering overweight and obese men the opportunity to lose weight at a sustainable pace, through weekly rugby, health, and wellbeing sessions.
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Tomas says he was 'constantly out of breath' and battling crippling anxiety due to his size, until a friend recommended one weight-loss programme. Tomas said: 'I've had too many embarrassing moments in my past to list them. The main ones happened when I was out in public and I was too big to do an activity, or when out in a bar or a restaurant and I didn't fit in the chairs or struggled to get into booths. 'That really embarrassed me and made me feel terrible about myself.' Tomas Marks before his weight los The airport security officer from Christchurch, Dorset, explained how his size affected every part of his life, from his mobility to his mental health. He said: 'I felt terrible both physically and emotionally. I really stood out when out in public, which caused me to have really bad anxiety due to the fear that everyone was looking at me and judging me for my size.' Article continues below Tomas admits his eating habits had spiralled out of control, with a typical day involving not just three meals but constant snacking in between. He said: 'I'd have three meals plus around 10 snacks throughout the day, which, looking back, is wildly unnecessary. 'A full day of eating back then was easily 3,500 to 4000+ calories. My snacking was truly out of control. I would find myself in bed regularly at 11pm and just suddenly feel the need to go and raid the cupboards in the kitchen. 'It was like a quick trip to a drive-thru or a whole bag of Doritos and a whole pot of dip. My worst snacking was always really late at night, which is something I heavily avoid these days. 'I'd go out for a meal with friends and after dropping them all home, I'd get myself something from McDonald's on the way home. Eating was sort of a coping mechanism for me, and it was a short-term fix to make me feel slightly better.' 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Tomas Marks with his partner Faye Morgan And after years of unsuccessful dating attempts, Tomas says he's also finally found happiness in a relationship. He said, "I had tried dating on and off throughout the years, but due to my size and lack of confidence, I had little to no success. 'It really demoralised me and made me feel hopeless about myself. I've only just recently had some success, and I've managed to find myself a truly wonderful person, Faye, whom I just clicked with. I feel comfortable even with my anxiety issues. Dating was a big change for me. 'Gradually over the course of my weight loss, I slowly built up my confidence to the point where I was comfortable with being able to go out and meet new people." Article continues below Tomas Marks now But Tomas says the biggest change of all has been in his mindset. He added: 'When I look in the mirror, I see a completely different person from what I was before. Before, when I looked at myself, I hated myself and the way I looked. Now I'm happy and I'm more confident in myself.'
