A dad has lost over five stones thanks a weekly football and lifestyle coaching programme in Carlisle.
Ben Millington, 33, said he was finding it a struggle to keep up with his two young daughters in the park and it spurred him into action to get fitter.
He joined Man v Fat Carlisle in March 2023. The football club meets every Monday at Carlisle Campus Sports – Harraby 3G, on Edgehill Road.
Ben, who weighed 16 stones when he joined, said: “I’ve always struggled with gaining excessive weight, which has, in turn, always led to a decline in my mental health. The only period in my life that I felt happy at a given weight was when I played football weekly but unfortunately that was no longer something I did.
“I remember I was driving through Carlisle one Saturday afternoon and I saw an advertising board for the club. I immediately pulled over and looked up what Man v Fat was, as it wasn’t something I’d seen before. In all honesty I thought it was too good to be true.
“It took me all of two minutes to decide it was something I wanted to try and within hours of signing up to the waiting list, our Carlisle coach Beverley had contacted me. I immediately felt support, and any tiny doubts I may have had about committing to the club evaporated in one short phone call.”
At Man v Fat football sessions, players are weighed, before battling it out on the pitch where the results from matches combine with a player’s individual weight loss throughout a week, to contribute to an overall league table. The programme isn’t just about losing weight, with the men taking part also discovering its mental health benefits, while creating new friendships.
Ben added: “The most enjoyable aspect of Man v Fat is the team aspect. The accountability of contributing to your team’s performance on and off the pitch is the biggest motivation you can have to maintain the focus required to stay consistent and achieve your goals.
“Add to that the sense of togetherness among a group of like-minded individuals with a collective goal of losing weight makes for a wonderfully encouraging culture.
“If these are values you believe in, then I would 100% recommend anyone to give it a go and get involved. Overall being part of the club has had a very positive impact on my life, opening countless opportunities, including a national seven-a-side tournaments and 11-a-side games with other clubs.
“I’ve made good friends for life at this club and built a new level of confidence.
“Fast forward some 18 months and I’m proud of the 30% weight loss I’ve achieved, progressively improving until this season where I have managed to amass 15% weight loss in a single season.”
More information about the club can be found at manvfatfootball.org/carlisle
