Since they bought underway in summer season of 2025, MAN v FAT’s leagues in New York have been massively profitable, setting its members on the trail to a more healthy way of life.
Our group in Lengthy Island Metropolis have loved outstanding weight reduction numbers, having achieved practically 800lbs weight reduction because the yr’s periods come to a detailed.
They’ve achieved that success beneath the tutelage of Karl Cereno, who has been answerable for the league because it first bought began.
We spoke to Karl when he first joined MAN v FAT and it’s been a interval of non-public achievements for him too, having additionally not too long ago taken on a task throughout the MAN v FAT Soccer HQ workforce. We caught up with him to get the lowdown on why his MAN v FAT expertise has been such a constructive one thus far.
Having been teaching MAN v FAT for a number of months now, what has stood out probably the most to you and what have been your highlights?
What has stood out probably the most is how rapidly the fellows purchased into MAN v FAT’s mission of shedding pounds and dwelling more healthy lives. As a coach, I actually didn’t need to do a lot motivating—they got here in prepared. All I needed to do was give them a roadmap and a few construction.
A serious spotlight for me was the early success we noticed in Season 1. I’m unsure how different golf equipment stack up, however so a lot of my gamers have been shedding pounds each week, with a big quantity hitting their 5% and 10% milestones, some even surpassing that.
How proud are you of the group that’s been constructed and what has been the key to the success of LIC?
Proud is an understatement. I genuinely love what we’ve constructed right here in LIC. We’re greater than a soccer membership – we’re a household. Actual connections have shaped. We go to MLS matches collectively, host BBQs, and even present up to one another’s household occasions.
I don’t suppose there’s a single “secret” to our success, as a result of that will take away from everybody’s contribution. What I attempted to do from the beginning was create an area for guys to be guys in wholesome methods – discuss sports activities, bust one another’s chops, joke round, be foolish. Our group chat displays that tradition. It’s nothing however jokes, memes, and constructive power that retains everybody engaged.
The burden loss from the fellows exhibits no indicators of slowing down, how have you ever saved them focussed on that a part of their membership?
A few key video games this season have been selected the scales. One workforce received on the pitch however misplaced general as a result of the opposite workforce hit their weight-loss targets. That was an actual turning level and confirmed everybody how essential the load element really is.
To maintain the fellows targeted, I always remind them of the implications of letting that half slip and the way it can actually change the result of a match. I additionally empower the captains to carry their groups accountable all through the week. That mixture of consciousness and peer accountability retains weight reduction entrance and middle for everybody.
You’ve now stepped into the MAN v FAT workforce in your further position – how have you ever discovered that thus far and the way do you hope to assist coaches and gamers on this capability?
Getting into my further position has been nice as a result of it’s allowed me to see the group by a distinct lens. I now have a a lot clearer sense of the place golf equipment are thriving and the place they want assist.
On this position, I hope to assist coaches and gamers by sharing what has labored for us in LIC—retaining gamers, constructing sturdy group tradition, and sustaining security requirements. I additionally wish to be a useful resource for newer coaches who should be discovering their footing, whether or not that’s serving to them interact their groups, navigate troublesome conditions, or arrange easy methods that maintain their membership operating easily.