Starting something new is always daunting, and you might be wondering what your time at MAN v FAT Rugby is going to be like. We completely get it, and while it’s easy for us to say ‘it’ll all be fine!’, it’s much better to hear it from people who have been in your shoes.

We’ve been running MAN v FAT Football for years and (not to brag or anything) have helped thousands of men lose weight. We asked our current football players what advice they’d give to guys just starting out, and this is what they said.

You get what you put in

“MAN v FAT is a journey you’re in control of” says Lee, who thrived on how good it feels to be improving your health. “Choices will be hard, but the feel-good factor when you achieve your targets and people start to notice your change is something you won’t experience anywhere else.”

Similarly, Nathan is keen to point out the importance of prioritizing weight loss. He’s been a MAN v FAT player for over 7 years but didn’t take it seriously at first.

“I prioritized the football first, so I yo-yoed in weight, never really getting anywhere. But then I finally started to focus on weight loss.”

He’s now lost over 70lbs, and knows a lot about the challenges of staying consistent. “It’s not a race, it’s not about who loses it the quickest. You will fall off the wagon at some point, it’s just about getting back on. You’ve got to keep going, make it a lifestyle change”.

Support each other

One thing that makes MAN v FAT Football so successful is the community the clubs create. Making the most of it is key to your long-term success, says Alan.

“Build a good community within your club, not only with your own team but with everyone. Support each other with weight loss, meal ideas, mental health, everything. When there’s an excellent support network available, weight loss will be easier.”

Ryan agrees and credits his MAN v FAT community with being a big part of his weight loss success. “It’s one of the best things I’ve ever done. It’s a great community, the team spirit you build is second to none.”

Go at your own pace

“Once I had lost 10% of my starting weight, I slowly introduced extra physical activities which then helped push me to losing 15% of my body weight” says Andrew.

But remember to listen to your body, and don’t push yourself if you’re not ready. If you’ve not exercised since you were in school, you’re not going to suddenly be a pro rugby player. Anthony stresses the importance of remembering this: “Stretch those hamstrings, you’re no longer a teenager!”

Alan agrees and says “You’ll remember that you’re not a kid anymore and you’ll be tired out after 5-10 minutes at your first game. Enjoy yourself but remember to listen to your body. We’ve all been there pushing through it trying to look good!”

Enjoy it!

MAN v FAT Rugby is a great way of losing weight and improving your health, and one of the best things about it is that it’s actually fun! Above all, we hope you have a great time getting to know your teammates and getting out there on the pitch.

We’ll leave it to Nathan to sum it all up: “My advice is to do it now, take the risk, feel uncomfortable at your first weigh in but after that if you’re driven and committed and are consistent with your efforts, enjoy your rugby and the rest will come.”