'Social media ad changed my life - I dropped 4st and look like a new man'

-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


ManvFat Football is a programme that encourages men with a BMI of 27.5 or above to get more active - playing 28-minute small-sided games - and lose weight at the same time. Here former StokeonTrentLive reporter Matt Jackson, from Congleton, explains how a TV advert changed his life and inspired him to lose 4st...

I've always been mindful of my weight. Despite numerous attempts to address it, I often found myself reverting to old habits of finishing work, grabbing a quick dinner, and then settling down in front of the television until bedtime. That was until a social media advert led me to make a life-changing decision.

The advert was for ManvFat Football, a programme designed to encourage men to increase their physical activity - by participating in 28-minute small-sided games - while simultaneously losing weight. After each game, teams are awarded combined scores based on both weight loss and goals scored on the pitch.

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At first, the concept seemed a bit challenging to comprehend, and like many other participants who signed up, I hadn't played football in what felt like forever. I'll confess, I was somewhat hesitant initially. There was a genuine risk that I'd be more likely to stumble and face-plant than actually kick a ball into a goal, particularly given that I hadn't attempted to play football in years.

However, the competitive aspect provided something different that I had been missing. I had managed to lose some weight - four stone to be exact - following the Slimming World plan before the coronavirus pandemic hit.

But like many others, my daily commutes and lunch outings were replaced by short walks to my dining room table and the ever-present temptation of the nearby fridge during lockdown.

So, I decided to take the leap, contacted the coach, and soon found my name on the list of new players. I was assigned to a team - the greens - and began preparing for my debut.

Of course, this was after a frantic trip to the sports shop to pick up shin pads, boots, and all the other gear needed to look the part. I could only hope that my legs would remember what to do.

Arriving was intimidating, but sometimes you just have to puff out your chest, rip off the plaster, and dive into the unknown. Fortunately, it wasn't long before I was welcomed by the other players and had the chance to play in my first match.

Matt playing football
-Credit:Ryan Hickson

I quickly discovered what it felt like to be an almost 30-year-old journalist with chronic unfitness trying to run. I experienced a new level of exhaustion as muscles that hadn't been used properly for years began to realise they were still there.

However, as the weeks and months passed, I started to gain more fitness and even more confidence with a ball at my feet. I wouldn't be competing with Harry Kane for the England captain's armband, but I wasn't making a fool of myself either. And with that came a motivation to lose weight as well.

Your team is awarded extra goals if you achieve a percentage - 5 percent, 10 percent, 15 percent of your body weight lost and so on. It was amazing how quickly that influenced my weekly outlook, I found myself thinking "I could treat myself after a long day, but I want that 10% on Monday".

Matt with a wooden 5k medal
-Credit:Matt Jackson

Motivated by the goals and encouraged by my teammates, I reached my five, 10, 15, and 20 percent weight loss milestones. And then, almost a year after joining, and possibly for the first time in decades, I achieved my healthy weight - a final certificate proudly declaring me a "BMI Boss".

When I first started playing football with ManvFat, I weighed around 17st (108kg). By the time I received my final certificate, I had slimmed down to 12st 9lb (80kg), shedding a total of 4st 3lb or 27kg in just 11 months.

This was a stark contrast to the days when I would look at old photos of myself before I decided to make a change. At my heaviest, I weighed a staggering 19st 4lb - meaning I've lost a total of 6st 9lb.

Motivated by my teammates and not wanting to be left gasping for breath after a 28-minute football game, I found myself wanting to run more. I had tried before and dreamed of completing my local three-lap parkrun in Cheshire.

Every Saturday, I would watch the throngs of runners warming up for the weekly 5k and think "I wish I could do that". So, just days before my 30th birthday, I took the leap and downloaded the Couch 2 5K app.

Matt at Blackpool Marathon
-Credit:No credit

At first, it was a struggle, with perhaps a few muttered curses as I completed my first 60-second run. But I persevered and eventually managed to complete the parkrun that I had once watched with longing.

I didn't care about the time, I had done it. And soon, I found myself wanting to do more. Before I knew it, I had completed my 25th, then my 50th, and now I'm looking forward to my 100th.

My newfound fitness level and desire to lace up my running shoes remained. I had walked our local half marathon, the notoriously hilly Potters 'Arf in Stoke-on-Trent, twice. After the second time, I declared, "I want to run this".

Last year, I managed to realise that goal. And, in preparation for doing so, I found myself once again Googling local sports clubs, this time, after a recommendation from a colleague, a running club - I almost couldn't believe it.

Incredibly, I had transitioned from idly scrolling through social media on my phone and seeing an advert targeting overweight men looking to lose weight, to becoming a member of a running club. The thought of strapping on my trainers every Monday night to run up and down a hill would have been completely foreign to me in the past.

Matt at the Parkrun in Congleton
-Credit:Matt Jackson

If that wasn't surprising enough, the idea that I would want to run a marathon never even entered my mind. I could never have imagined running 26.2 miles - that's a distance you'd drive, right?

However, earlier this year, I found myself doing just that, running 26.2 miles along Blackpool's coastal seafront. This was the result of months of long runs, short runs, interval runs and training.

I never thought I'd do it. Just a few years ago, the idea of doing any form of exercise was unthinkable.

But thanks to picking up a ball for the first time in years, I now find myself running four or five times a week, always on the lookout for the next race.

So, what is ManvFat Football?

ManvFat Football is a football club designed for groups who want to lose weight. Each club's league table consists of points earned both on the pitch and from pounds lost.

This innovative programme emphasises that players need not be the most skilled on the field, as it is primarily a weight loss initiative where efforts made off the pitch are what truly count. It reassures participants: "It doesn't matter if you've never kicked a ball, or haven't played since school, no one is going to judge you for not being a pro."

Targeted at men with a BMI of 27.5 and above, the scheme not only encourages football and increased physical activity but also places importance on dietary habits. This aspect proved especially beneficial for me, leading to a shift away from convenient meals towards healthier, home-cooked options.

Matt holding a chopping board with an open sandwich on.
-Credit:Reach

What does the NHS say about obesity?

According to the NHS, individuals with a BMI of 27.5 or higher fall into the obese category, which increases the risk of several health issues, including:.

- Diabetes.

- Coronary heart disease.

- Certain types of cancers.

- Strokes.

Moreover, the NHS highlights that excess weight can affect mental well-being, with many suffering from depression and low self-esteem. Other challenges linked to obesity include breathlessness, excessive sweating, snoring, difficulty in engaging in physical activities, constant fatigue, joint and back pain, diminished confidence, feelings of isolation, and more.

How the NHS recommends losing weight

To combat obesity, the NHS advocates for increased physical activity and suggests programmes like Couch 2 5K, designed to help novice runners gradually build up from 60 seconds to 30 minutes of exercise.

The report also advises monitoring your daily calorie intake and diet, suggesting a consumption of 2,500 calories for physically active men and 2,000 for women.

It states: "This amount of calories may sound high, but it can be easy to reach if you eat certain types of food. For example, eating a large takeaway hamburger, fries and a milkshake can total 1,500 calories and that's just 1 meal."

"As well as this, many people do not meet the recommended physical activity levels for adults, so excess calories consumed end up being stored as fat in the body."

"Changes in society have also made it more difficult to have a healthy diet. High calorie food has become cheaper and more convenient, and is heavily advertised and promoted."

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