All through the course of 2025, we’ve shared a number of exceptional tales from inside our neighborhood. Tales of weight reduction, life transformations and an enormous step in the proper path for males’s wellbeing.
We finish the 12 months with one among our most spectacular tales of the 12 months – and probably since MAN v FAT bought began in 2016.
George Ferreira, of our Borehamwood membership, has misplaced in extra of 20 stone on MAN v FAT, supported by his coach Victor and his teammates on the membership.
Towards the tip of the 12 months, George reached 50% weight reduction since getting began on the programme and his weight reduction whole of 124.8kg – or 275lbs – is the most important particular person loss within the historical past of MAN v FAT.
That weight reduction has include numerous laborious work, endeavour and finally an enormous dedication by George to himself to show his life round.
Wanting again at first of his journey, he informed us: “I used to be in a nasty place plain and easy. I had misplaced all construction in my life and any sense of regular routine.
“I barely left the home except I completely needed to, my sleep sample was a multitude, my food regimen had no limits and most days simply blurred into one another. I wasn’t working in the direction of something and I wasn’t residing an actual life anymore. I used to be hiding from it.”
“Each a part of life was affected. Strolling quick distances exhausted me. Sitting in chairs or getting up was uncomfortable. I didn’t match into regular garments or regular areas. I averted mirrors, averted cameras, averted going out and I felt embarrassed simply current in public. The psychological facet was worse than the bodily fixed disgrace, self-disgust and paranoia about how I seemed and the way folks would possibly see me. My confidence was fully gone.”
Over the course of the final couple of years, the chance to help weight reduction by means of weight reduction injections has been an enormous a part of the information and well being agenda.
26-year-old George was introduced with that chance and determined that he wanted to do issues his personal means.
He added: “Docs have been beginning to discuss weight reduction surgical procedure or potential weight reduction injections. The considered surgical procedure terrified me and I completely didn’t wish to go down the route of remedy or injections both. That was a get up name. I realised I had two choices: let another person try to repair me or try to save myself. It wasn’t confidence or motivation, it was pure concern of the long run I used to be heading in the direction of.”
MAN v FAT introduced itself as an choice for George to make the modifications he was on the lookout for. And while his present place is emblematic of serious progress, that hasn’t been a linear course of and there have been many challenges alongside the best way.
He defined: “On my very first weigh-in at MAN v FAT, the size learn 249kg. I hadn’t weighed myself in round 8 years earlier than that and seeing that quantity genuinely destroyed me.
“It has been a psychological battle. The loneliness, the self hate, the disgrace and the sensation of being completely different or not belonging. Turning up week after week surrounded by folks however nonetheless feeling fully alone in your head is one thing you don’t overlook. I didn’t defeat that with positivity, I defeated it by refusing to cease exhibiting up even after I didn’t like myself.”
“Being with MAN v FAT hasn’t all the time been a fairytale. There have been supportive and motivating moments but in addition moments of isolation, awkwardness and feeling misunderstood. It hasn’t all the time felt like a heat “neighborhood”, typically it felt extra like survival. Nevertheless it is among the issues that stopped me from giving up fully.”
“On the very starting Victor our coach confirmed perception in me at a time after I had completely none in myself. Even once we haven’t all the time seen eye to eye he has continued to reply my questions, assist the place he can and has usually pulled strings behind the scenes to maintain me settled on the membership throughout my lowest factors. That help mattered greater than he most likely realises.
“One second that caught with me was my very first session. I broke down pitch facet after not with the ability to play for greater than 2 minutes and being in excessive ache. At that time I genuinely didn’t suppose I might come again. Victor was there with me whereas I cried and pushed me to maintain going as an alternative of strolling away. I didn’t overcome that second with positivity, I overcame it by being pushed by means of it even after I didn’t wish to be there.”
2026 appears like it can begin on a brighter observe for George, who continues to progress and prosper with Victor’s help.
Reflecting on his food regimen and train now, he mentioned: “Now it’s managed and disciplined. I’m extraordinarily conscious of what I eat, how a lot I eat and why I’m consuming. I don’t depend on motivation I merely depend on routine. Soccer is my primary type of train together with strolling and motion is now one thing I make a part of my life as an alternative of avoiding it.
“Bodily life is less complicated in nearly each means. I can transfer, breathe, sleep, match into garments and performance extra comfortably. I don’t keep away from the world as a lot anymore.
“Mentally it’s nonetheless a piece in progress. Losing a few pounds doesn’t erase years of harm to your self picture. Nevertheless it has at the least given me an opportunity to start out rebuilding.
“Everybody at MAN v FAT is combating one thing whether or not they present it or not. That made me really feel much less alone within the battle.
“You both maintain turning up otherwise you disappear. And I selected to not disappear.”
Impressed by George?
If you wish to comply with in George’s footsteps, you’ll be able to learn extra about our MAN v FAT programme right here. We’d like to help you!