Man who lost half his body weight praised by football legend
A MAN who lost almost half his body weight after joining a football team won a national award for his achievement - and joked with a soccer legend at the ceremony.
Max Shearer, 27, who lives in Weymouth, made news last year after losing 10 stone in 15 months through MAN V FAT Weymouth, an FA-accredited football-based healthy lifestyle programme. He made the decision to lose weight after he broke two office chairs in his workplace and is now close to losing 50 per cent of his body weight.
He has since lost an impressive total of 12.5 stone, just half a stone short of 50 per cent of his body weight.
For his achievements, he was named Most Valuable Player at the national awards for the programme, receiving his award from former England and Arsenal player Paul Merson at a special event at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London.
The Most Valuable Player is defined as the one person a club can't do without - the top contributor on the pitch, on the scales or in other weekly challenges.
Max Shearer with Paul Merson at the MAN V FAT awards in London (Image: MAN V FAT) Talking about the awards ceremony, Max said: "We had a massive football game called the Amazing Losers game due to the fact that we have lost the most weight which was great fun before the awards the next day.
"I was up for two awards, this and the Amazing Loser award, and wasn't expecting to win. I'm a Spurs fan so I had to put Paul Merson in his place after we won another European trophy but it was great banter and an insane experience."
Speaking again about his journey, Max said: 'When I broke the first chair, my work colleagues just told me they were old or rubbish chairs but the second time it happened, it was clear there was a reason why those chairs broke so easily. I was exploring various avenues about how I could lose weight and then MAN v FAT was recommended by a man at the local gym.'
Max says it has been the accountability and the community that meant he kept going every week: 'The support and everything they gave me, not just with losing weight but also mental health was the reason I kept coming back every week.
'It's a subject that isn't noticed enough when it comes to men's weight loss. But the accountability and the community gave me support in so many aspects of my life other than just weight loss. MAN v FAT Weymouth is such an incredible group of guys, and I really would encourage anyone to take that first step at join MAN v FAT. It is so worth it.'
Max before his weight loss journey (Image: Max Shearer) The next target for Max is to reach his 50 per cent weight loss milestone: 'I'm about a few kilograms away from my 50 per cent and that would be a real achievement but if I can inspire anyone to try and go on a similar route that would be great.
'I'm now approaching a much healthier body weight and anyone who can do that, they are the real winners. It doesn't matter what shiny trophy you get - if you're becoming fitter and healthier, that is the real win.'
Around 8,500 men currently take part at more than 150 MAN v FAT Football clubs across the UK. 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 800,000 pounds.
At sessions, players are weighed, this is followed by a 30-minute game of six-a-side football, with extra goal bonuses awarded to teams based on their weight loss. A team's total weight loss and match scores then contribute to its position within a club's overall league table
The Weymouth club meets on Monday evenings at the Redlands Community Sports Hub, Dorchester Road.
To find out more about MAN v FAT Football and to locate your closest club, visit www.manvfat.com/football
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