Tag

Fat Loss

It’s a Hyprr Fitmas with HowManyMiles

‘Tis the time of the year when many bloggers publish a review of the last 12 months. If truth be told, I botched up the first 11 months and the less said about it the better.

That’s not to say I haven’t looked back at the mistakes, choices and decisions made and considered what I should have and could have done differently. I have spent significant time ruminating about where I am now and how I got here.

Here and Now

Here is 309lbs (only 45lbs lighter than my heaviest weight back in 2011, albeit with more muscle) with a “dodgy” knee, imposter syndrome, a neglected blog, a pinch of self loathing, and a partial eclipse as a belly.

However, I can either continue down this path of self destruction or I can excuse myself from this pity party for one.

That Lie

I won’t lie. Seeing 309lbs on the scale frightened me. I’ve had many chances to reverse this gradual weight gain but I have always used the excuse that “at least I wasn’t over 300lbs”. I have continuously lied to myself that I was in control, that I was not in danger.

Well, now I am and you might be wondering what I am going to do about it.

Normally, I woud chastise people citing this reductionist view, but I am simply going to eat less, move more and create more.

And hopefully win more (I have a cunning plan).

Time for a Cunning Plan

December is traditionally a month of parties, long lunches and general gluttony (well, for me at least) but this year I am going to do a Hyprr Fitmas Advent. 24 (minimum) days of being physically active and posting daily about my progress on Hyprr.

One of my excuses has been a lack of time. Yes, I am working on a few projects (more about one soon). Yes, I do also have a day job and yes, I am trying to spend more time with my family, but I am also spending too much time watching Netflix and too much time looking at expensive jpegs. I am then working late into the night/early morning (ironically writing this blog).

Yes, I am tired and yes, I am struggling with motivation but I cannot remain at this weight. My knee needs less load on it and the memories of being 354lbs have never left me.

So, what is my cunning plan and how can you help me and even take part?

FlexFM and Hyprr Flexmas Advent

My friends at London radio station FlexFM and at new social media, entertainment and NFT platform Hyprr are giving away gaming consoles, Merlin passes, spa breaks, shopping vouchers, HYPEs to spend on Hyprr.com, and much more every weekday from now until the 24th December.

All you have to do is create an account on Hyprr (available on desktop, iOS and Android), follow FlexFM and look out at 7.30am (yes, 7.30am) each weekday when they will ask the daily question. Comment with the correct answer on the post, then stay tuned to the FlexFM Breakfast Show and wait to see if you’re selected at 8:15am when you’ll join DJ Miss LA and DJ Sollie live on air to check behind the advent door for your prize.

And HERE is my plan.

I’ll get up early (from Dec 1st), comment on the FlexFM post at 7.30am, work out till 8.10am and win a prize at 8.15am, giving me time to shower and have a proper breakfast and prepare lunch before work. Every weekday. It’ll be my very own Hyprr Fitmas Advent.

Simples.

Best Laid Plans

However, we all know that it isn’t quite that simple. It requires preparation, commitment and consistency. And for me, a little bit of fun.

And this is where you come in. Every day, I will be posting a Hyprr Fitmas video of my workout, thoughts of the day (there may be expletives) and updates on my progress (possibly more expletives) on my Hyprr profile. And every day from Dec 1st to Dec 24th, I will award 1 HYPE to my favourite comment on my update.

And, if you want to, share your own Hyprr Fitmas video workouts using #HyprrFitmas. On Christmas Day, I’ll award 20 HYPES to my favourite video.

Whether it is going for a walk, doing some yoga or crossfit, or watching Netflix on a treadmill (it all counts) let’s all move more this December and spend less time on Telegram, Discord and PancakeSwap (mmmm…did someone say pancakes?).

Oh, and as a reward for reading this far, guess what my weight will be on Dec 24th and the closet will win a Garmin vivofit 3. Simply reply to this blog post before Dec 7th and the closest will win.

Terms and Conditions. Hyprr and FlexFM competition is only open to UK citizens aged 18 or over. My #HyprrFitmas competition is open to all Hyprr users (with an active wallet) while the winner of the Garmin VivoFit 3 needs to reside in the UK. Should more than one person correctly predict my weight, I will do a live draw on Hyprr.

November 30, 2021 3 comments

Health Obesity Physical Activity

An Honest So Shape Review

written by Stephen Morrison

Given my well documented experiences with meal replacement companies, I did not ever expect to be approached again to review another meal replacement product, so I was so surprised when So Shape sent me their 28 Day Reborn Kit for my Honest So Shape Review.

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And, in truth, I was happy to do so as despite my experiences and knowledge, I still do search for the magic potion that will deliver me faster fat loss results. I know that they do not exist, but that does not mean that I stop wishing that they did.

The alternative of discipline, determination and dedication sounds just too difficult. It might have taken me four years to reach my current weight, but I sure as hell do not want to take four years (or even four months) to regain my fitness levels or to lose some considerable weight.

This is often why I write supplement reviews. To highlight how useless, exploitative and expensive these products can be and how easy it is to fall under their spell.

But here’s the thing, I do not hate So Shape, even if I really wanted to.

As a company, they have been one of the most transparent, communicative and friendly that I have worked with. However, that is not why this review will https://chesterhousehotel.com/wedding-reception/ not be overly negative.

For I do think that So Shape have their heart in the right place and that they have a product that can serve a purpose, even if it is not one they had envisioned and not one that does not require some changes.

For as a fat loss product, it does not work for me (other than it er, did), especially not as a 28 day programme.

So, What is So Shape?

So Shape is a French Smart Meal company that has landed on the shores of Great Britain. There have been a wave of extremely and nauseatingly positive reviews from other bloggers who have all treasured the beautiful packaging, the flavours and the weight they have lost while instagram is awash with toned and sexy customers flying the flag for So Shape.

Now, I would never ever suggest that these bloggers have no integrity and are simply writing a positive review for a product they were paid to blog about, but I do wonder how they managed to miss many of the shortcomings that Helen (yes, they DID ask my Herbalife bashing partner to also review them) and I both observed.

Honest So Shape Review

The first being that no health professional in the UK would advocate the calorie deficit generated by replacing meals with So Shape, outside of those receiving medical interventions

Whether it is the 5 Day Reboot, the 14 Day Remove or the 28 Day Reborn the premise of the Challenge is the same. You consume two So Shape meals a day and one normal meal. Each So Shape meal is perfectly formulated to be packed with vitamins, minerals and some flavour.

And approx 200 kcals per meal.

As a relatively active man carrying too many pounds, my daily calorie requirements (just to stay the same weight) is 3,378kcals

The NHS recommends, for weight control, that each meal should be no more than 600 kcals and my average lunch seldom exceeds that, so even with some healthy snacks, I found myself consuming around 1,200 kcals per day, So Shape provide a list of free foods, but being plant based, I was limited more or less to salads and vegetables. Which makes me wonder why I do not just get my nutrients directly from natural foods?

It was no surprise then that I lost 6lbs in the first week. I was experiencing a daily 2,000 kcal deficit.

What WAS surprising was that unlike Helen, I was not hangry…..for the first week, at least. After having my morning shake (I do like the Mint Chocolate Ice-cream), I did not feel hungry or lacking energy for the rest of the morning and on days that I had early appointments, it was a quick, convenient and enjoyable car breakfast (the alternative is getting out of my cosy warm bed earlier on cold and dark mornings).

A tasty morning shake once I am awake

Although there is just one problem. So Shape pride themselves on their French style but je ne sais pas what the they were thinking with their Smart Shake bottle. While I do like the removable fruit infuser (and the advice to keep hydrated), it suffers from one major design flaw.

It is quite frankly awful to drink from.

Pretty…but not that useful

So bad that I ended up using one of my Smart Shakers for the rest of the Challenge….which didn’t last 28 days.

For while I did enjoy the breakfast shakes, I had a torrid time with the evening meals.

So Shape market the smart meals really well and their efforts to fully detail the ingredients and nutritional information of their dishes are to be applauded. Seldom do you see such transparency.

Screen Shot 2017 11 07 at 22.22.25

However, if you check almost every other So Shape review, you will notice a pattern. Very few of these bloggers use images of the actual dishes and instead it is instagram friendly and well shot images of the packaging surrounded by REAL food.

All style and no substance.

Sadly like the So Shape Smart Meals. When cooked in a microwave, the pasta dishes have little pasta and look as appetising as a dog’s dinner (either before or after it has been eaten and digested)…

I made a dog’s dinner of this

While the soup was er, very non liquid like. So Shape do advise adding water to dishes if they become too solid, but this became a chore and success was based on trial and error and in my case, it was mostly errors.

Soup, but not as we know it

However, So Shape should maybe advise on not using microwave ovens and instead encourage Shapers (So Shapes equivalent to Beliebers) to cook the dishes on a hob.

AVOID using the microwave and cook on a hob

Not only did it look better, but the consistency and taste of the food was also much better.

Talking of taste, I did find most of the dishes reasonably palatable. Adding some chilli flakes to the pasta dishes and following the suggestion of seasoning the soups with paprika further improved the taste and made successfully this way, I could see them being a reasonable post workout protein meal.

If it was not for the price. Each smart shake and smart meal works out at about £3 and despite having a far superior range of flavours, the closest that I could find as a comparison were the vegan friendly (sadly, So Shape is not) Huel at half the price and this VLCD Meal Replacement from My Protein at £0.50 per serving. So, can So Shape compete?

Possibly not in the weight loss market. For me, the 28 days was impossible. While not as active as I once was, the calorie restriction was far too low for me and around Day 11, I started to feel weak and hungry….all the time. I also enjoy food too much (far too much). I can rustle up (or rather, Teresa can) a stir fry of veg, noodles and spices in minutes while a sweet potato curry is almost as quick. Both are bursting with flavour and packed with nutrients with no additives or sweeteners.

Now, that’s what I call food!

I worked out that these dishes cost about £2 per head and come under 600 kcals. They are also dishes that you will sit down to eat. That you will savour. Talk over and talk about (how do you know someone is Vegan? They will tell you).

For me, I cannot replace this with a powdered meal, no matter how smart it is. The So Shape meals are too small (for a larger man, at least) and too expensive while the dishes are not sufficiently flavoursome. I can have oats in the morning with oat milk, homemade soup for lunch and a quick stir fry or curry for an evening meal and still enjoy a reasonable calorie deficit and sensible fat loss.

And THAT is what I am now doing!

However, like Helen (her husband has been adding them to his diet to increase his calories and nutritional intake) I can see other applications for So Shape.

Would the pasta dishes make for great camping dishes? Small, filling and relatively tasty, they could be heated on a stove for quick and nutritious campsite meals.

I also worry that my children eat too much rubbish (as a parent, it is not always easy to say no sweets and kids DO go through only eating super noodles stages) and possibly not enough nutrients. The salted caramel (which I did NOT get to taste) and the other flavoured shakes can (as suggested by So Shape) be used to create quite appetising desserts. This and the Smart Muffins (another new product) could be a stealthy way of ensuring my kids intake enough nutrients.

For those of you looking to reduce your calories without reducing your nutrients too much, a meal replacement shake might be an option and for those that have read this review and still want to try it for themselves (you never know), I give you my discount code STEPHEN10 to get 10% off your 14 or 28-day Challenge.

Personally, I will be sticking to real food and the odd vegan protein shake (if I can find a good one) if in a morning rush (although I should be instafriendly and prepare some overnight oats in trendy layered jar).

This was a collaborative post (probably my last) and I was paid to write this review. I pride myself on writing honest reviews, regardless of whether I have been gifted with goods or paid.

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November 8, 2017 6 comments

Journey Physical Activity

It’s a new dawn, it’s a new day…and I’m feeling good.

written by Stephen Morrison

It’s a new dawn, it’s a new day…and I’m feeling good.

Great, in fact, as today marks the day that I returned to the living world. and took a step (only a small one, mind you) out of the virtual world. I have been hiding behind a screen for several months and while I have genuine reasons for making a disappearance act, it has not been fun and it has impacted on my physical, mental and emotional wellbeing.

If you have caught a brief glimpse of me out and about and seen me smile, you possibly do not know how much of an effort both required and you might have noticed that neither me nor my smile hung around for long, although please also realise that it was most likely YOU that made me smile and the thought of seeing YOU that got me out of the house.

Things and people that make me smile

Circumstances have made undertaking anything seem impossible (I do HATE how some fitness professionals look down upon people’s excuses or “excuses” as they call them). However, I do need to look at how I can make the best of my current situation and with light breaking through the dark clouds, it is time to move on and it is time to move more.

My fears have not gone, but they have lessened. My shame of gaining weight no longer matters as I have to improve my health and I cannot continue to hide behind a screen or express my thoughts via a keyboard (ironic that I am blogging about this).

I will make coffee/tea/water dates and I will catch up with friends. I have lost many friends over the past year and while I am saddened to see people move on, I also realise that I am lucky to have many people who have stuck by me (yes, YOU). Over the next few weeks and months, I will spend more and more hours out of the house; I will go for massages; get my eyes checked (my vision is still impaired by optical neuritis) and who knows, I might go and volunteer as Great Run Local or even parkrun (the latter earns me three Vitality points, but the former has a special place in my heart) while I build up the confidence to run again.

Good to be back

And I will make the gym my happy place (or one of them, at least) for today was the start of something else. It was the day that I returned to Glasgow Club and specifically Bellahouston Sports Centre, where I have fond memories of playing badminton with half the Nine in a Row Rangers team (ok, maybe just eight of them); discovering the joys of circuit class (Monday Night Circuits is legendary) and competing in my first triathlon.

Glasgow Club have kindly given me a membership to help rekindle my love for fitness and to also help encourage others to follow my progress and hopefully also in my footsteps.

So Bellahouston, I’m back!

To keep on track, I would love for you to help keep me accountable by following and commenting on my progress updates while it would be wonderful to have the odd (both in number and nature) friend join me for a gym date.

For the record, here are my readings from today’s measurements. I will update weekly and will happily take a kick on the backside for every week that I do not improve.

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Body Weight	119kg
Body Fat Mass	41.8kg
Body Fat Percentage	35.1%
Muscle Mass	73.4kg
BMI	39.8

In fact, I will take it a stage further to show how determined I am. I will donate a pair of running shoes to the brilliant campaign by Migo Sports for each week (over the next eight) that I do not progress. That is right, I will give away my beloved running shoes. That is how confident (or deluded) I am.

Hopefully, you will join me (shoe donation is optional) or least help keep me on my toes (and my toes in shoes).

It is good to be back.

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October 30, 2017 5 comments

Health Obesity

Man V Fat Football Glasgow- It’s coming home

written by Stephen Morrison

Man V Fat Football

Are you tired of feeling tired? Are you fed up of feeding yourself rubbish?

Do you have a goal of playing football anywhere but in goal?

Well, I have some news that will get your heart rate going. Literally.

Scotland might not be involved in Euro 2016, but Man V Fat Football is coming to Scotland and in Glasgow, I have the honour of being your league coordinator. If Man V Football is news to you, then check out the feedback back from CNN , the BBC and more importantly the PLAYERS.

And for those interested in seeing what happens at a Man V Fat Football league, I even have some footage for you that might have you once gain longing for a kick-about.

Man V Fat Football is unlike any other football league in existence

It is exclusively designed for men who are overweight or obese; points are scored for both victories on the pitch AND in the kitchen and your registration cost and game fee include a no-nonsense fat loss book, weekly weigh ins (cheaper than Weight Watchers and you won’t be the only guy there) and access to the world’s best (in my honest opinion) male fat loss community. A community that has helped over 300,000 men lose weight.

So far, 95% of players have lost weight over 14 week league, with the average loss being 2 stone!!

It’s a chance to play the beautiful game with men of equal size and with an equal desire to be leaner and fitter. Man V Fat Football will give you the chance to lace up your boots, to get back on a pitch and to show that sometimes, losers win.

Man V Fat Football kicks off on Sunday, July 31st at Lucozade Powerleague Townhead and you can find out more and register for the first league here.

You can sign up alone or with friends, but be quick. Places are limited and every league so far in the UK has been heavily (no pun intended) over subscribed with over 1,000 guys applying for the original 80 places.

Let’s show the Man V Fat Football community that Glasgow is the home of football and that we will be the Biggest Losers and winners!

June 22, 2016 2 comments

Health Obesity

Help Me Do It – University of Glasgow Weight Loss Study

written by Stephen Morrison

Do you live in the Glasgow area and do you want or need to lose a few pounds?

With 65% of Scots currently overweight, the unfortunately reality is that you probably do, even if like me, you consider yourself fit and fat.

Obesity is a major contributing factor to many diseases and conditions that can limit and even shorten our lives. It is linked to cancer, coronary heart disease, diabetes, osteoarthritis and even depression.

So why then do so many of us allow ourselves to become overweight and increasingly obese? One could argue that we live in an obesentric environment, where we don’t need to be as active and are encouraged to eat fast foods, or that we lack personal responsibility (a favourite of fat-shamers everywhere).

Whatever the reasons (check out my Faculty of Sport and Exercise Medicine post on Salutogenesis ), one thing is true.

Losing weight is rarely easy and keeping it off can be harder still.

I consider myself lucky in that I have only regained 56 of the 170lbs that I originally lost in 2012, when I was 354lbs, for according to the University of Pennsylvania, 65% of those who experience rapid weight loss regain their weight within three years.

However, the truth is that I am once again obese, even if I am back heading in the right direction and I need help!

Apart from discipline, determination and dedication,we also need accountability, compassion and encouragement. This ACE approach does not take away the need for smarter choices and more self serving behaviours, but instead provides a platform for sustainable fat loss.

Help Me Do It

When we have the support of others, we are more likely to succeed and that is why Glasgow University and the National Institute for Health Research have launched the Help Me Do It study.

It is a two year study into the benefits of using a dedicated website and mobile phone application (app) to help affect behaviour change. Help Me Do It will provide users and a buddy (it can be a partner, relative or friend) with access to an especially designed website that provides information and motivation on how to eat better, move more and feel better about yourself.

If you have a BMI of 30 and over, are aged between 18 and 70 years old and have access to the internet and a smartphone (Android or IOS) you can get the chance to test run the app and see if it can help you to lose weight

For more information, please contact the Study Manager, Lynsay Matthews, on lynsay.matthews@glasgow.ac.uk or call her 0141 353 7633.

I didn’t lose my weight without others to Help Me Do It and neither should you.

June 21, 2016 0 comment

Health Obesity

European Obesity Day 2016 – ScotlandvsObesity

written by Stephen Morrison

“Obesity is one of the most challenging public health concerns of the 21st century. It is an epidemic that is sweeping Europe and about which not enough is being done.”

The European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO) have designated this Saturday, the 21st May, as European Obesity Day (EOD16).

If you have read my most recent British Journal of Sports Medicine blog or my Faculty of Sport and Exercise Medicine Lay Views, you will appreciate and accept that I share EASO’s desire for increased awareness and action to address the ravaging effects of obesity, not only on our economies and health services, but on the lives of those directly affected.

Obesity is a disease that almost always leads to other conditions and is it telling that European Obesity Day lies within Mental Health Awareness Week.

May 18, 2016 0 comment

Cycling Health Radio Triathlon

Can I Run? My question to Hampden Sports Clinic.

written by Stephen Morrison

Can I Run?

This is not some sort of philosophical soul searching or Eastern enlightenment from my Chi Running workshop. It is the question that I asked my physiotherapist, Jim Fallon, at the Hampden Sports Clinic last night.

Please allow me to rewind.

Back in 1978, aged 5 years old, I fell over in pain. I hadn’t tripped or had a slip; I had a problem with my hip. That problem had a name. Perthes Disease.

Monkeying around in my crutches.

It led to me spending six weeks in a hospital bed, with my legs attached to pulleys. Imagine being strapped to a medieval rack, but then being served copious amounts of ice cream. This was followed by several years in crutches and a prophecy.

I would never be an athlete. I would grow with one leg shorter than the other and I would undoubtedly succumb to joint problems and early onset arthritis.

When you are 7 years old, joint problems as an adult are not on your list of pressing priorities, which, for me, included adding to my Star Wars figure collection.

Fast forward 36 years and to last night and the adult me is remembering that prophecy, but also thinking about adding to my running shoe collection.

I have been struggling with knee pain for a few months (ok, years) and last night I was given the news and advice that every runner dreads and ultimately ignores.

I should not be running.

Not now, not soon and ideally never again on concrete (he did not exclude trail running!).

My knees have carried a lot of weight over the years, especially when you think of my years weighing over 25 stone and they have not escaped unscathed. It is time for me to take care of them.

So, I will actually listen to my Hampden Sports Clinic physiotherapist and focus on strengthening my legs and trying to address my flat feet (Scott Devenney, hopefully to the rescue ).

May 4, 2016 1 comment

Cycling Triathlon

Spinning at Pure Gym

written by Stephen Morrison

It is Friday night and the boys are spending the weekend with their father. Woo Hoo!!!

Before you think too badly of me, please let me explain. I love the boys dearly and I enjoy almost every moment of their company, but their visits to their dad give Teresa and I chance to do things together and go out together to places that we wouldn’t take the boys.

Like Pure Gym. That’s right. A Friday night alone and we went to the gym. Together.

We love training on our own and have different training regimes and preferences, but there is something sweet (who says romance is dead, although we are now in different rooms. Me, writing a blog and Teresa, writing a research paper ) about going to the gym together and swapping workout details on the way home.

Not only are we a couple who train together, but we have a married couple who train us. Wee shout-out to Personal Trainers Christine and Spencer Peek of Peek Fitness.

But back to tonight’s date night. Teresa was booked into Zumba and I was planning on….actually, I had no plan. Part of the reason I have PT sessions with Spencer is that he works in Puregym and he is currently helping me become competent and confident with weight training.

I was training with him yesterday, so tonight I wasn’t sure what to do,

Call it fate but an opportunity presented itself. My puregym membership is a pure bargain. Included in my £10.99 monthly membership is a whole weekly schedule of free classes. Most classes are booked a week in advance and things like Combat and Spin are usually full.

But not tonight. Tonight, I was asked if I wanted to take a spare seat in a Spin class. I don’t know if it was my coffee date with spin master Jen Wilson or my current desire to be become overweight, but I instantly said yes.

Yes, you read that correctly. I would love nothing more than to be overweight. Rather than obese, which I am currently.

So, I found a bike at the back and adjusted my seat, once , twice three times until I felt that the saddle, pedals and handlebars aligned with my short armed, short legged and pot bellied physique.

The class was set to last 45 mins, but within 5 mins I discovered a problem, The belly that I had let return last year probably wasn’t a consideration when Matrix, the spin bike brand, designed their bikes. Every time we crouched down, I was given a reminder of why I want and need to lose fat.

Belly is going to get you at Pure Gym

Yes, I had my own built in air bag that almost devoured the bike. It wasn’t comfortable, but maybe I need to sometimes feel uncomfortable. That isn’t an invitation to fat shame me (enough of that in the last blog), but every time it hit the frame , I pedalled that little bit faster. I pushed myself a little harder.

And I end up enjoying it. It was challenging, it made me sweat and it was fun. The instructor encouraged us and he delivered what was basically a great interval training session

I will definitely make spin a weekly thing. Not least for the reason that I want to see my feet. Now, that WILL be a progress picture

Here’s to my next Friday night spin in Pure Gym

January 22, 2016 0 comment

Health Obesity

Man V Fat Football- Red Card to The Sun

written by Stephen Morrison

This Girl Can is a national campaign developed by Sport England and a wide range of partnership organisations. It’s a celebration of active women up and down the country who are doing their thing no matter how well they do it, how they look or even how red their face gets.

SportEngland’s #ThisGirlCan campaign has been a remarkable success. Over 2.8 million women have been inspired to be more active by a campaign that celebrated women in sport. A campaign that promoted positive body image and even more importantly, positive self image.

It made many women believe more in themselves and has given them the confidence to become try athletes.

It made stars of ordinary women and showed the world that they could be extraordinary.

SportEngland have recognised that this is a winning formula and intend on replicating it for other groups who could benefit from being more active.

One of those groups is the obese. Physical activity, on its own, will not make them slimmer, but the benefits of physical activity are well documented (least not by me).

I am a member of a group of obese men. 40,000 obese men. 40,000 obese men who are determined to reach a healthier weight. Many of them also want to be more active and enjoy the same activities as others, without feeling embarrassed or anxious about their appearance or fitness levels.

These men all belong to Man V Fat , the brainchild of my friend Andrew Shanahan. For the past few years it has been a supportive on-line community, where men of every shape, age and background offer each other advice and encouragement. It is a place where we aren’t judged, belittled or mocked.

Not like in the real world.

I have spoken about my own experiences as an obese runner. I had cruel words and wet liquids thrown at me as I tried to better my life. I will not paint myself as a hero. I crumbled and for months, I didn’t run. However, I realised that these were a few insignificant idiots who hurt me for a few seconds at a time.

It was not as if 1,800,0000 people were sharing a joke at my expense. I can only imagine how humiliated that would make me feel.

Unfortunately, I know a few men who know exactly how that feels, thanks to The Sun.

Man V Fat has stepped out from the shadows of the internet and we now have weight loss classes, cycling groups and hopefully, this year Man V Fat running groups.

We have even launched a Man V Fat Football League to give our guys the chance to play football. Men are as body conscious as women. We worry about our wobbly bits and fear that others will judge us. In a survey, many of our men responded that they wanted to play football.

The Man V Fat Football League would give them a safe and fun environment to showcase their skills, to build their confidence and to help them on their way to healthier and happier lives. The fantastic Football Fans In Training initiative has proven that football is a successful vehicle to attract men and unsurprisingly, 90 obese men (to take part your BMI has to be over 30) turned up, on a bitterly cold evening, for our inaugural matches.

I watched some video highlights and was amazed at the speed, skill and strength of the players. Watch this for a goal:

This should have been a night to remember for all of those who participated and an amazing start to an initiative that I cannot wait to bring to Scotland. On Man V Fat we celebrated and congratulated those who had been so brave to step onto those pitches.

And then, in the morning, all our cheers turned to first despair and then anger.

The UK press were in attendance at the event and many, such as the Daily Mail, published glowing reports. However, for reasons only known to themselves, The Sun decided to indulge in some good, old fashioned fat-shaming.

Red Card for The Sun

Rather than praise the efforts of the players and use their stories to inspire others, they chose to mock and ridicule them. They also chose to use some pretty lame and tired jokes at the expense of guys simply trying to have fun and improve their lives.

This is the newspaper that gave Katie Hopkins a platform to abuse the obese and regularly calls for “fatties” to do more to ease the burden they place on the NHS and society as a whole.

The Sun could have and should have approached this more positively. They are the new media partners of Great Run , a running series whose showcase, The Great North Run, is as much about the charity runners and plodders who take 4 hours to complete the race as the elites that are finished after an hour. Just how will they cover these events? Will the headlines read “Run, Fatty, Run”?

These footballers are not professionals, living their lives in the limelight. They are ordinary men, with families and feelings, who by getting up, getting out and playing football are doing extraordinary things. The Sun has bullied and belittled these men for simply doing what everyone asks of them. They took responsibility for their own health and made the effort to get active.

These men did not deserve to be portrayed this way and they deserve our full support. Despite the abuse and the embarrassment caused, these men will not give up. These men can and will show true grit and prove to the likes of The Sun that they are made of stronger stuff.

These Men Can.

January 21, 2016 18 comments

Health Obesity

Be The Change

written by Stephen Morrison

Day 2, in my quest not to be mistaken for Santa Claus this year, was nothing to write home about and it was certainly nothing to write a blog post about.

I exceeded the recommended daily number of steps (10,000).

December 17, 2015 0 comment