The fellows concerned with MAN v FAT Soccer at West Palm Seaside in Florida would possibly solely be coming towards the tip of their first season, however they’re all in on the MAN v FAT expertise.
They’ve already shifted over 150lbs within the first 9 weeks of being on this system and have fashioned a powerful neighborhood beneath the tutelage of their coach Leah Mraz.
One of many gamers main the way in which is John Gerken, whose arduous work has seen him lose 23lbs on the time of writing this text.
58-year-old John advised us: “I began enjoying soccer just a little later than most, on the age of 10. That first season I performed goalkeeper, and by some means I ended up there for the remainder of my profession! At 6’4”, who would have thought I’d be a very good goalkeeper! That stated, I’ve at all times thought of myself a disgruntled ahead!
“I performed goalkeeper in faculty and was a four-year starter. After faculty, round 1995, I met a gaggle of Brits in Miami and performed with them for about eight years. They launched me to Manchester United, and I’ve been a fan ever since.
“I began teaching after I was 25 years previous and have coached gamers from age 4 all the way in which as much as the faculty degree – and every part in between. Teaching has at all times introduced me an amazing quantity of enjoyment. I really like giving again to the sport that has given me a lot.”
John – who has two youngsters (Jack, 21 and Leah, 19) – had discovered himself struggling together with his weight and handed 350lbs earlier than discovering MAN v FAT.
Nonetheless, the mix of soccer and neighborhood has been an important think about him rediscovering his sporting mojo and he’s all set to construct on his early successes on this system.
He added: “I bought married in 2002 and moved to Pennsylvania. I divorced in 2018 and my weight was one of many points that contributed to that. I’ve struggled with despair at occasions all through my life, and when issues aren’t going effectively, I are usually a stress eater.
“At my heaviest a number of years in the past, I weighed 355 kilos. I wasn’t exercising, I wasn’t socially energetic, and I had misplaced plenty of my confidence. However by means of all of that, I nonetheless had soccer. Soccer has at all times been the love of my life, but at that time I didn’t really feel like I might play anymore due to my weight and my age.
“Then sooner or later I noticed an advert on Instagram for MAN v FAT. I instantly thought, this league is for me, and I signed up straight away. It’s top-of-the-line choices I’ve made in a very long time.
“I’ve at all times had a tough time making new pals, however the league has launched me to individuals identical to me – individuals who perceive the journey and may relate to what I’m going by means of. I’m making pals, and we even meet up exterior of the weekly classes simply to play and spend time collectively.”
For anybody who has adopted MAN v FAT’s story for some time, the peer to look accountability and camaraderie is essential to this system’s success and John has discovered that to be actually necessary for his personal buy-in to what takes place every week.
“One of many issues I really like most about MANvFAT is the accountability,” he continued. “Prior to now, I struggled to carry myself accountable for my weight—not for myself, not for my spouse, not even for my youngsters or household. However now I discover myself making higher selections due to my teammates – guys I had by no means met earlier than becoming a member of the league. I don’t need to allow them to down.
“I’m additionally a aggressive particular person by nature. The construction of the league, and the way in which your off-the-field weight reduction helps your group on the sector, matches my character completely.
“So yeah – I really like the league and every part it stands for!”
Wish to be a part of John in motion?
You possibly can join the West Palm Seaside league on our MAN v FAT Soccer web site. There are new leagues being added all the time, so have a look round!
