Weighing just over 26 stone, Maximilian Shearer’s weight made him feel self-conscious about his body.
“I didn’t want to socialise because of the way I looked; I preferred to spend time on my own… and just eat,” Maximilian, 26, told Express.co.uk.
“I’ve always been slightly chubby but when I went to university, and in my early 20s, I really started to put on the weight.”
Maximilian, from Hampshire, shared how lockdown made it easier for him to be reclusive and to just eat more and more.
“Living on my own after lockdown made this much easier, and with low self esteem and no confidence I used food as a comfort and it just got out of control,” he reflected.
As life returned to normal post Covid lockdowns, and Maximilian had to return to the office. Then, one normal work day, the office chair he sat on collapsed underneath him.
“It was one of the most humiliating and awkward experiences of my life,” Maximilian admitted. “And it happened twice.”
While Maximilian’s colleagues were “so reassuring and understanding”, telling him that “they’re old chairs” and that they “needed new ones anyway”, it was a transformative moment for Maximilian.
“That second time was just a reminder of how I really need to do something about my weight,” said Maximilian – it was a reality check.
“This isn’t normal,” Maximilian told himself, he wasn’t happy with himself and he wanted to make a change.
“I joined MAN v FAT Football in May 2023. It seemed like a great option… all abilities and weights are welcomed.”
Maximilian elaborated: “I’ve most enjoyed feeling part of a team with Man V Fat. It’s such a good community feeling, all blokes there have the same goal, obviously to win on the pitch but winning off the pitch with weight loss as well.
“Weight loss is the reason we are all there so to share this with other people is really special. I would 100 percent recommend Man v Fat to anyone who is looking to lose weight, as it’s so welcoming.
“Whatever size you are, and whatever your football ability is, everyone is welcome. Just for the record I am still pretty rubbish at football – and I love going every week.”
Maximilian has now lost over 10 stone in 15 months thanks to MAN V Fat Football, the community created, and the help members get online.
“I often look at MAN v FAT’s Dugout section, an online area for members that provides healthy recipes and I have cooked a few of them,” said Maximilian, who has altered his diet since joining the club.
Maximilian plays at MAN v FAT Football Weymouth, one of over 150 clubs across the UK that help men with a BMI of higher than 27.5 drop unwanted weight and get fit.
MAN v FAT Football currently has 8,000 players taking part at its clubs across the UK, since 2014, the total amount of weight lost by MAN v FAT players in the UK stands at more than 50,000 stone.
At sessions, players are weighed, this is followed by a 30-minute game of six-a-side football.
Bonuses are awarded to teams based on their players’ weekly weight loss, with progress on the scales and results on the pitch contributing to a team’s league position within a club.
In addition to football sessions, MAN v FAT players also receive off-the-pitch support including healthy meal recipes and tips on general physical and mental wellbeing.
Players also get full access to MAN v FAT online gym, so they can train in their own time at home. To find your closest MAN v FAT Football club, visit: https://www.manvfatfootball.org/Leagues/FindALeague
