A dad who wore a size 6XL says he has added an extra decade to his life after losing over 10 stone with a football-themed weight loss club.
Mark Lees had struggled with his weight since his late teens, with years of takeaways and comfort eating seeing him reach 27st 7lb.
The 38-year-old wore 54-inch waist trousers and found even walking short distances or climbing a flight of stairs exhausting.
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“Takeaways, fast food, crisps, chocolate and oversized portions were my biggest downfall,” Mark, a HGV driver from Doncaster, South Yorks, told Need To Know.
“Working long hours meant I often grabbed whatever was quick and convenient rather than taking the time to prepare healthier meals.
“I’d regularly eat takeaways like kebabs, pizzas, burgers, fried chicken, Chinese and Indian meals.
“I’d also grab Greggs pasties and sausage rolls when I was on the go.
“When we went out for a meal, I’d nearly always order the biggest thing on the menu and finish it all.
“Portion sizes never crossed my mind, and I’d often have starters, desserts or extra sides as well.
“Looking back, I was eating far more than my body actually needed, and it all just became normal.
“Everything became harder – even simple things like walking any distance or climbing a flight of stairs left me out of breath.
“My fitness was at an all-time low, I constantly felt tired, and everyday tasks took far more effort than they should have.
“My weight definitely affected my energy levels, so I couldn’t always play with my daughter as much as I wanted to.
“The hardest part was avoiding places with rides because I knew I either wouldn’t fit or would be over the weight limit.
“As she was too young to go on most rides by herself, it meant she missed out as well.
“I also dreaded taking her to soft play.
“If she got stuck somewhere or needed help, I knew I wouldn’t be able to get through some of the equipment to reach her.
“Looking back, those are the things that really upset me because my weight wasn’t just affecting me, it was affecting her childhood too.
“I knew my weight was having a serious impact on my health, and I worried about where things were heading if I didn’t make a change.”
Mark’s first weight started to balloon in his teens when he moved to Doncaster from a more rural area.
He said: “Fast food and takeaways were everywhere and so easy to get, and I started making unhealthy food choices.
“Once I started gaining weight, it became increasingly difficult to break those habits and stop the cycle.
“The more weight I gained, the less active I became.
“I found myself doing less and less because everyday activities became harder, which led to me eating more for comfort and convenience.
“It became a vicious cycle that just continued to get worse over the years, and the harder it became to break those habits.
“My weight knocked my confidence massively.
“I avoided having my photo taken, felt self-conscious in public and often avoided social situations because I was embarrassed about my weight.
“Like a lot of people who struggle with their weight, I’d been on the receiving end of comments and jokes over the years.
“Even when they were meant as harmless banter, they still chipped away at my confidence.
“But if I’m honest the harshest criticism didn’t come from other people it came from myself.
“I was my own biggest critic and I knew I had to make a change.”
Now weighing 15st 13.5lb, Mark has dropped to an XL top and a 36-inch waist after overhauling his lifestyle and joining weight-loss programme MAN v FAT in 2018.
Mark said: “The turning point for me was becoming a dad.
“I realised I couldn’t carry on living the way I was and needed to make a change.
“I wanted to improve my health be more active and make sure I was around for my family for many years to come.
“When I heard that MAN v FAT was launching in Doncaster, I knew it was the opportunity I’d been waiting for so I decided it was time to take control of my life.
“I’d played football when I was younger, but only casually with my mates.”
MAN v FAT Football is a weight loss programme specifically for men with a BMI over 27.5, which the NHS describes as overweight or obese.
There are currently more than 8,500 players at 170 MAN v FAT Football and Rugby clubs across the UK.
The programme was created to differ from traditional weight loss classes and combines sport with achievable weight loss goals for men.
Since its introduction in 2016, the total amount of weight lost by MAN v FAT players in the UK currently stands at over 900,000lbs.
Players attend weekly sessions where they weigh in and play 28-minute games of small-sided football.
Extra goals are awarded to teams with the greatest total weight-loss.
Both a team’s total weight loss, and goals scored in matches contribute to a team’s standing in the club’s league table, with winners crowned at the end of 14-week seasons.
Mark quickly began shedding pounds after signing up.
He said: “Within the first few weeks I started seeing the weight come off and that gave me the motivation to keep going.
“Seeing those early results made a huge difference and proved to me that what I was doing was working.”
“At the time my fitness level was very low and I often felt like I was letting my team down on the pitch because I couldn’t contribute as much as I wanted to.
“Instead I focused on the one thing I could control, my weight loss.
“Every week I aimed to hit my weight-loss target so I could earn bonus goals for the team.
“That meant I was still able to make a valuable contribution to our success while I worked on improving my fitness.
“As the weight came off my confidence fitness and performances on the pitch gradually improved too.”
Alongside playing football, Mark completely transformed his eating habits.
Where he once relied on fast food and takeaways several times a week, he now follows intermittent fasting, eats balanced lunches, cooks calorie-controlled evening meals using a recipe box subscription and swaps chocolate bars for lower-calorie treats.
He says the transformation has not only improved his physical health but also boosted his confidence and allowed him to enjoy life with his children.
Mark said: “The difference has been incredible.
“I’m fitter, healthier and have far more energy.
“Mentally, I’m much happier and I’m far more willing to get involved in things I would have avoided before.
“Life is different now.
“I genuinely enjoy being more active and living a healthier lifestyle and I feel much better because of it.
“Losing weight has made a huge difference to my parenting.
“Before I often found myself sitting on the sidelines because I didn’t have the energy or fitness to keep up.
“Now I can be much more involved whether that’s playing outside going for walks or just being more active day to day.
“The biggest difference, though, is knowing I’ll hopefully be around for longer and able to enjoy more of life’s milestones with her.
“That’s something you can’t put a price on.
“Weight management is something I’ll probably have to work on for the rest of my life, but I’ve accepted that.
“The difference now is that I have the tools support and mindset to keep moving in the right direction.
“Hitting the 10-stone weight-loss mark was a huge achievement and a moment I’ll never forget.
“But if I’m honest the biggest milestone for me was being able to walk into a high street clothing shop and know I could buy whatever I needed.
“For years, finding clothes that fitted was frustrating and often meant shopping in specialist stores or settling for whatever was available.
“Being able to choose clothes because I liked them rather than because they were the only ones that fitted was an incredible feeling and really brought home just how much my life had changed.
“A huge part of my success has also been our coach, Adam.
“His encouragement and support have played a massive role in helping me stay focused and motivated over the years.
“There have been times when I’ve needed that extra push, and he’s always been there with the right words at the right time.
“A few weeks ago, Adam told me that by losing the amount of weight I have, I’ve probably added around ten years to my life.
“That really hit home.
“It made me realise that what I’ve achieved isn’t just about losing weight; it’s about improving my health, being around longer for my family and giving myself a better future.
“Hearing that gave me a massive boost and even more determination to keep pushing on towards my target.”
DIET BEFORE
- Breakfast: White toast with butter and peanut butter, or sugary cereal.
- Lunch: Subway, McDonald’s, Greggs
- Dinner: Pizza, kebab, Chinese or Indian takeaway, full English
- Snacks and drinks: Crisps, chocolate, biscuits, sweets, cake, full-sugar fizzy drinks and milkshakes.
DIET AFTER
- Breakfast: Nothing
- Lunch: A Warburton’s pita with sliced beef and a tablespoon of BBQ sauce, a Light Babybel and a low-fat yoghurt.
- Dinner: BBQ Chicken Burger with Fries and Pickled Cucumber, shredded Hoisin Chicken Wraps, one Pan Crispy Potato Burger Hash, Thai Red Chicken Curry with Jasmine Rice, Chicken Souvlaki with Tzatziki and Fries
- Snacks and drinks: Water and sugar-free drinks, a Mars Ice Cream, fruit or a protein yoghurt
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