MEMBERS of a Southampton football team have shown the red card to more than 14 stone in weight.
Two of the players have lost an incredible seven and a half stone between them at MAN v FAT Southampton, a football focussed healthy lifestyle programme launched in May to help overweight and obese men in the area get fit.
Duncan Thorpe, who has lost three and a half stone, told the Daily Echo: "There’s a great bunch of lads involved. I’d recommend MAN v FAT as a great platform to lose weight, make new friends and enjoy playing a game which you might not have done for a few years.
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“The standards are varied, we have players that have played at decent levels in the past and those who have hardly played any football at all before. The great thing is everyone gets their opportunity and is encouraged by their teammates.”
Teammate Bob Spurrier added: "I am currently four stone down. Anyone who notices my weight loss now gets the full MAN v FAT story and encouragement to give it a go.”
The MAN v FAT Football Club meets on Tuesday evenings from 8pm at Goals in Millbrook and currently has spaces for new players.
Aimed at men with a BMI of higher than 27.5, MAN v FAT is an FA-affiliated scheme, which has more than 8,500 players taking part in over 170 clubs across the UK.
The programme was created by Andrew Shanahan, who, fed up with traditional weight loss classes primarily aimed at women, decided to develop a programme that combines the beautiful game with achievable weight loss goals for men.
Before matches, players are weighed, which is followed by a 30-minute game of six-a-side football, with extra goal bonuses awarded to teams based on the amount of weight players have lost.
Weight loss and match scores then contribute to teams’ league positions within a club. Players receive additional support including healthy meal recipe ideas and tips on general fitness.
The total amount of weight lost by MAN v FAT players across the UK currently stands at around 33,000 stone.
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