Lee Earnshaw’s perpetual weight gain was fuelled by years of overindulging in unhealthy meals and avoiding physical activity, a situation exacerbated after his first child was born. He resorted to ordering takeaways up to three times weekly and frequently felt so drained that he required daytime naps.
His turning point came with the sobering realisation of hitting 21 stone on the scales, sparking embarrassment about his appearance and a strong determination to make meaningful changes. Since then, he has impressively shed over six stone in merely five months.
“After becoming a father for the first time during Covid, I realised I hadn’t done any exercise for well over nearly a year to 18 months with being stuck in the house,” the 35-year-old confided to Manchester Evening News.
“Looking after a newborn, it was just easy to not do much in my spare time. I felt embarrassed having to wear bigger and bigger clothes. I didn’t feel comfortable. But as my son got a little older and got a lot of energy, I could feel myself getting tired throughout the day and out of breath playing with him.”
“One day I thought I would weigh myself and I realised it was the heaviest I’ve ever been. I knew from that day that something needed to change.”
Initially, Lee joined a gym but struggled to adapt to a new routine there, finding it solitary and “not very encouraging”. Everything changed when he discovered Man v Fat in April this year.
“I haven’t looked back since,” Lee said.
Man v Fat Football, a programme designed for men with a BMI over 27.5, boasts more than 8,200 players across over 150 clubs in the UK. The scheme involves a 30-minute six-a-side football match, with additional goal bonuses awarded to teams based on their collective weight loss.
A team’s league position within a club is determined by both their match scores and total weight loss. Regular participation helped Lee slim down to 14st 8lbs.
“It’s all about having that right mindset and having people supporting you,” Lee explained. “Within my football team, we all encourage each other and remind each other that it’s a marathon and not a sprint and even the smallest loss is still a win. The support from my wife and family has also been a massive help in my journey.”
Lee attributes another key factor to his successful weight loss – intermittent fasting.
He only eats between midday and 6pm and avoids snacking between meals. “Along with the exercise of playing football twice a week, I really started to see the difference.,” he said.
“Now I’ve lost weight, I have introduced breakfast back into my diet but still don’t snack between meals. I feel great now; I have a lot more energy to play with my son which is what I feel has been the most important result of my weight loss.
“My relationship with food has completely changed and I no longer use food as a coping mechanism. I plan my meals and really think about what I’m eating.”
The experience has left him beaming with confidence, saying: “I feel more confident in myself and I cannot see myself going backwards anytime in the future. I have seen a massive positive change in my lifestyle. “
Launched in April, Man v Fat Football Bury has already attracted around 75 players, who meet every Tuesday evening at Radcliffe FC’s Neuven Stadium.
In a bid to promote health and wellness, the club has teamed up with Bury Council to offer free 14-week seasons to men from eligible postcodes, courtesy of council funding.