Latest news with #ManvFatFootball
Economic Times
10 hours ago
- Health
- Economic Times
Man loses over 50 kg in a year with a unique football game strategy
Weighing 152 kg at his heaviest, Chris Martin turned his life around with a football league designed for weight loss. The Man v Fat programme combined sport with support, helping him shed over 50 kg, ditch takeaways, and embrace healthy living. Now a proud captain, he feels confident, healthier, and more present as a father. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The Facebook Scroll That Changed Everything 'I Was So Out of Breath' Also Read: How an extremely busy man lost nearly half his body fat in 3 months without strict diet or long gym sessions Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads From One Takeaway a Day to Balanced Meals 'I Felt Like a Monster' 'I Can Be a Father Again' For years, Chris Martin from Suffolk felt like a prisoner in his own body. Tipping the scales at nearly 152 kg, the 39-year-old father of three had resigned himself to a life marked by breathlessness, takeaway dinners, and low self-esteem. But a humbling moment at his child's school sports day changed everything.'I struggled to take part in the parents' race,' Martin recalled while talking with Daily Mail. That moment of physical defeat became a turning point, and what followed was nothing short of a story that sounds almost cinematic, Martin's path to reclaiming his health began with a casual scroll through Facebook. There, he discovered Man v Fat Football —a weight-loss-oriented six-a-side football league where goals and grams count initiative, which combines weekly weigh-ins with football matches, scores players based on both weight loss and match results. The unique blend of sport and accountability instantly appealed to Martin, a lifelong Ipswich Town supporter, who promptly signed up for his local Cambridge first few matches were brutal. 'I was so out of breath during my first game,' Martin admitted. But with each week, the sport that had once left him gasping for air became the very vehicle that carried him toward fitness and renewed self-worth. Alongside the matches, participants received healthy recipes and nutritional advice, helping Martin rethink his entire relationship with lifestyle overhaul was dramatic. Gone were the solitary, calorie-heavy meals and the mindless biscuit binging during work hours. 'I used to eat one meal a day—and it was usually a takeaway. I'd snack constantly and never think about calories,' he told Daily Mail, which reported on his he's ditched the takeaways and shifted to three nutritious meals a day, full of vegetables and homemade curries. 'Before, I never ate vegetables. Now I try new things—we eat a lot of vegetable-based dishes,' he the physical toll, obesity had left Martin emotionally battered. 'It wasn't nice going out, thinking that I was a monster and people were looking at me,' he said. 'You can't go into shops to buy clothes. Everything had to be ordered from specialist stores. It was demoralising.'As of this June, Martin weighs around 100 kg—a loss of over 50 kg in under a year. Not only is he more mobile and confident, he's now the captain of his Man v Fat the most profound change has been at home. 'To do things with my children and be present with them means the world to me,' he said. 'It feels like I can be a father again.'Chris Martin's story isn't just one of weight loss; it's about reclaiming life, joy, and dignity. From hiding behind oversized clothes to leading his team with pride, he's shown that sometimes all it takes is a football, a supportive league, and the will to he puts it: 'I'm proud of actually doing it and I'm proud of what I've achieved.'
Time of India
10 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
Man loses over 50 kg in a year with a unique football game strategy
For years, Chris Martin from Suffolk felt like a prisoner in his own body. Tipping the scales at nearly 152 kg, the 39-year-old father of three had resigned himself to a life marked by breathlessness, takeaway dinners, and low self-esteem. But a humbling moment at his child's school sports day changed everything. 'I struggled to take part in the parents' race,' Martin recalled while talking with Daily Mail . That moment of physical defeat became a turning point, and what followed was nothing short of transformative. The Facebook Scroll That Changed Everything In a story that sounds almost cinematic, Martin's path to reclaiming his health began with a casual scroll through Facebook. There, he discovered Man v Fat Football —a weight-loss-oriented six-a-side football league where goals and grams count equally. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Your IQ Is 140 If You Can Answer 10 Of These Questions Correctly IQ International The initiative, which combines weekly weigh-ins with football matches, scores players based on both weight loss and match results. The unique blend of sport and accountability instantly appealed to Martin, a lifelong Ipswich Town supporter, who promptly signed up for his local Cambridge team. 'I Was So Out of Breath' The first few matches were brutal. 'I was so out of breath during my first game,' Martin admitted. But with each week, the sport that had once left him gasping for air became the very vehicle that carried him toward fitness and renewed self-worth. Alongside the matches, participants received healthy recipes and nutritional advice, helping Martin rethink his entire relationship with food. You Might Also Like: 89 kg weight loss without crash diets or overtraining: Woman shares 5 lifestyle changes you can start today From One Takeaway a Day to Balanced Meals Martin's lifestyle overhaul was dramatic. Gone were the solitary, calorie-heavy meals and the mindless biscuit binging during work hours. 'I used to eat one meal a day—and it was usually a takeaway. I'd snack constantly and never think about calories,' he told Daily Mail , which reported on his journey. Now, he's ditched the takeaways and shifted to three nutritious meals a day, full of vegetables and homemade curries. 'Before, I never ate vegetables. Now I try new things—we eat a lot of vegetable-based dishes,' he said. 'I Felt Like a Monster' Beyond the physical toll, obesity had left Martin emotionally battered. 'It wasn't nice going out, thinking that I was a monster and people were looking at me,' he said. 'You can't go into shops to buy clothes. Everything had to be ordered from specialist stores. It was demoralising.' As of this June, Martin weighs around 100 kg—a loss of over 50 kg in under a year. Not only is he more mobile and confident, he's now the captain of his Man v Fat team. You Might Also Like: How an extremely busy man lost nearly half his body fat in 3 months without strict diet or long gym sessions 'I Can Be a Father Again' Perhaps the most profound change has been at home. 'To do things with my children and be present with them means the world to me,' he said. 'It feels like I can be a father again.' Chris Martin's story isn't just one of weight loss; it's about reclaiming life, joy, and dignity. From hiding behind oversized clothes to leading his team with pride, he's shown that sometimes all it takes is a football, a supportive league, and the will to change. As he puts it: 'I'm proud of actually doing it and I'm proud of what I've achieved.'
Daily Mail
02-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Obese dad is 'unrecognisable' after shedding almost half his weight - he took a common medication NOT weight-loss jabs
A father-of-two nicknamed 'Big Dan' has shifted more than 10 stone and looks unrecognisable—after antidepressants gave him motivation to turn his life around. Dan Shilling, 39, weighed 26 stone in late 2022, when he was at his lowest ebb. The electricial technician, who works offshore, was struggling with being away from his family and often encountered workplace bullying. As a result, he'd often turn to food for comfort. 'Being a typical man, instead of talking about my issues I spiralled and tried to find comfort in food,' said Mr Shilling, who lives in Norfolk. 'It led me to piling on the weight and becoming an unpleasant person.' The calorific food served at the facility where he worked didn't help. The meals provided included a full English breakfast, bacon rolls, lasagne for lunch, biscuits and cake in the afternoon, and shepherd's pie or steak for dinner. He said his exercise was 'non-existent'. At this point, Mr Shilling was also putting away a 1,200-calorie Marabou chocolate bar every night, resulting in his heaviest weight of 26st 1lbs. 'Everything that could go wrong was going wrong,' he said. 'I wasn't really there, I was just existing.' After an open and honest conversation with his partner Emma, Mr Shilling decided to visit his GP for a consultation about his mood. The doctor diagnosed him with depression and prescribed antidepressants. Within a few months the fog began to lift for Mr Shilling—helped by a change in his job; working on a gas platform in the East Irish Sea, flying out of Blackpool. His weight was the final challenge. One day in December 2023, he began 'pouring with sweat and out of breath' while at work and walking just 50 metres from the terminal building to a helicopter. He said he found it difficult to fasten his seat belt in the helicopter and, at this point, he thought: 'This is enough.' He then signed up to the popular football weight loss scheme, Man v Fat Football, along with the Couch to 5K programme, and made a commitment to change his life from January 2024. About 8,500 men currently take part at more than 150 Man v Fat Football clubs across the UK. 'I made a promise to myself that I would no longer be the heaviest person on the team,' he said. He started counting his calories and monitoring his portions at work, and he focused on increasing his daily step count. Within the first three months, he said he lost 3st 4lbs and, to date, he has lost nearly 11 stone. Mr Shilling now weighs about 15st 6lbs and is able to wear clothes from when he was 20 years old again. 'I haven't had to buy a new wardrobe because I've still got my old one,' he said. He added that he feels 'loads better' and can now be a better partner to his girlfriend and father to his two children – Betsy, five, and Elsie, four months. He has also taken up running and he plans to take part in the Rome Marathon 2026 to celebrate turning 40. While he still enjoys sweet treats and fast-food on occasion, he now has a healthier lifestyle and is no longer taking antidepressants. Asked for his advice to others, he said: 'Just stick to the basics – calories in versus calories out. That's all I've done. 'I'd be happy eating a KFC as long as I go for a run to cancel it out and I've got the calories spare. 'I've actually got a folder on my phone, I've got an album called Fat Me. 'Looking back at everything from then to now, you realise how far you've come. 'It's unbelievable. I still can't believe it myself.'
