Macclesfield football weightloss group seeks milestone member
A group of amateur footballers who meet in Macclesfield every week are seeking their 30th member.
Macclesfield Man V Fat is a paid membership club of men who would like to lose weight through football.
No prior experience in the sport is required, and losing the pounds goes above winning and losing for this side.
There's four teams which play against each other, but they are all with a shared goal, to shed weight and make new friends.
Macclesfield Nub News went down to Lifestyle Fitness on Park Lane, to find more about Macclesfield Man V Fat.
The weightloss programme is delivered by Macclesfield FC Community Sports Trust. Joe Craig, who works for the charity, explained how it works:
"Man V Fat is a national movement", said Joe.
"They outsource their product and we started in Macclesfield fourteen months ago.
"The group have lost hundreds of kilos together in that time.
"We have two people who have lost over a quarter of their initial body weight.
"We've had Wes who just left us, but lost 15% of his body weight in less than a year.
"Everyone gets weighed-in every Thursday, before they go on to the pitch."
There are 52 sessions a year - which last for an hour each - but there is no obligation to come to every session.
Membership costs £31 per month, which works out at £7.75 per week.
Membership also gets you access to online resources with things like weightloss ideas, as well as access to the Macclesfield Man V Fat group chat, with many players forming new friendships meeting outside of the sessions every Thursday.
"The scoring is more scaled to weightloss than results on the pitch", explained Joe.
"I like delivering this programme because seeing their progress is quite gratifying. The best thing is to see a new community grow and establish itself. We've had groups who organise to play football outside of our Thursday sessions.
"It is not easy for these guys to open up about losing weight. So we are about promoting mental health [awareness] as well as weightloss, which I think has helped these guys massively.
"There is no bar in football ability. Just turn up and play. We have guys in their 20s to guys in their 50s come here.
"And hopefully we will get our 30th member soon as well."
Richard Harrison has been part of the group since the start.
"There is a natural gap in society of blokes who are not as confident or can fit the structure in going to the gym, but want to exercise," he said.
"But with this, as it does not matter on your ability and age, and the team spirit of everyone getting together, it is peer-to-peer helping which you can't get at a gym.
"I've tried to go to gyms, but it has not really worked as you are doing it on your own. Whereas here, you are doing it for you and for your teammates.
"It sounds daft, but our little WhatsApp group has really helped.
"We're a great little niche, and we want more people to know we exist.
"It is kind of a little acorn [olive branch] that has brought people back into football. I'm 42, and before this I hadn't played football since I was 29.
"I could spend £31 at a gym, but I guarantee I'd never go. Whereas with this, there's a social group with your teammates, there's accountability, and don't underestimate the mental health aspect as well.
"You can get into group sessions in gyms, but the mental health aspect here is huge. There's a great camaraderie.
"If people are 'umming and 'arring about whether this is for them, come down for a session just get in touch with us on social media to arrange.
"And if you're doubting it is for you, I can tell you we all felt like that at the start."
Macclesfield Man V Fat meet every Thursday at Lifestyle Fitness, Park Lane, Macclesfield, SK11 8LF.
Turn up for 7pm, finish for 8pm. Sign up on their website.
Nationally, 8000 people take part in the 150 Man v Fat clubs that exist, as of publication.
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