An Oldbury man has lost nearly three stone since January on a local FA-accredited football-based healthy lifestyle programme.
Gerard Butterly, who has now lost 20 per cent of his starting body weight, has been taking part in Man v Fat Oldbury since the start of the year.
The club meets every Friday evening at the Portway Lifestyle Centre on Newbury Lane.
Gerald, aged 36, said: “I have a friend who plays at the Man v Fat Oxford club, and he recommended it to me last Christmas when I told him I had had enough of how I looked.
“I saw some of the photos of myself and thought they were bad.
"I had let myself get to a point where I couldn’t even chase after people on the pitch.
"I looked a shadow of my former self. I realised when I looked in the mirror that I was lying to myself.
"Those photos gave me a wake-up 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.
Gerard said: “The thing I always struggled with was consistency and I always made excuses.
"The positive change it's had on me is consistency and accountability.
"I know that each week I have a responsibility to my team, and I must take accountability for what I eat and my exercise.
"This has helped me become stronger mentally and to not give in to my wants of eating two pizzas, chips and chicken nuggets every night!”
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