By Isle of Wight Observer
A Cowes man, who has lost nine stone on local football weight loss programme Man v Fat after ballooning to 34st, says he has gone from being a couch potato to running this month’s Great South Run.
Jordon Holly, 31, who weighed 34 stone (214kg) when he joined the Man v Fat Cowes Club, in August 2023, said a broken leg, during Covid, caused significant weight problems.
He explained: “I was quite active up before Covid and got myself to a decent weight before I broke my leg. I was unable to do any exercise and just ate poorly. This, coupled with starting an office job with random hours, meant I lost a bit of structure with eating and my weight ballooned. Seeing myself in photos at my dad’s wedding really made me upset and uncomfortable. I saw what I had let myself get to.
“I thought I was never going to be able to shift the weight. When I first joined, I went from barely moving in games, to just playing in goal so I wasn’t a hindrance. Now I play multiple times a week, I play squash, I run two or three times a week, and I’m doing the Great South Run. If you had told me that three years ago, I would have laughed you out of the room.”
Jordon added: “I think importantly; it has improved my mental health, too. It’s so easy to be bogged down with negative thoughts, but each week I push myself and each week I see results. I think about where I was on day one to where I am now. I’d like to think I’ve made friends for life as well.”
Man v Fat Cowes is part of a nationwide weight loss programme for men, with a BMI over 27.5. Players attend weekly sessions where they weigh in and play 28-minute games of small-sided football. Extra goals are awarded to teams with the greatest total weight-loss.
Man v Fat takes place every Friday evening, in Cowes, and Tuesday evenings, in Sandown. Places are funded by Isle of Wight Council and are available at iw.observer.man-v-fat-cowes and iw.observer/man-v-fat-sandown for those who live, work, or are registered to a GP on the Island.
Both a team’s total weight loss, and goals scored in matches contribute to a team’s standing in the club’s league table.
Jordon said: “I think on the Island specifically, because it’s quite a small community. The people really make the difference.
“I’ve had days where I really fancied something naughty and a teammate would remind me what I’m trying to do and keep me on the straight and narrow. No one is elitist, everyone wants to win when they play football, but as soon as that final whistle goes, everyone goes back to being a normal person just trying to shift some weight and better their lives.”