Time and again, we hear of partners guiding our members through their early nerves in getting started with MAN v FAT and often joining them in a collective weight loss effort as a household too.
We caught up with Sally Quinn, wife of MAN v FAT Bridgend coach and Amazing Loser David Quinn, to find out more about how MAN v FAT has helped them as a couple.
What changes have you noticed in David since he has participated in the programme?
He always spoke about how he used to love playing football as a child/teen but didn’t feel confident in himself and his fitness to even start looking into playing anywhere.
Since participating in the MAN v FAT programme, his physical ability has increased massively and he’s lost an impressive amount of weight but there have been so many other changes that have come alongside it that I never would have considered before.
He’s much more confident in himself (he never would have considered the possibility of running his own club before!) and he has a focus and more of a purpose in life as well.
Why do you think MAN v FAT has worked for him?
I think it’s obvious to say the accountability of weighing in each week and having that contribute to your team’s performance that week in addition to the guaranteed football time works, but I think the support network that MAN v FAT has given him has been a major factor.
The support from not only his teammates, the club he plays in as a whole has been fantastic – we’re even still friends with people he met in his very first team at Cardiff! The additional community he’s got from his lads at Bridgend has also been invaluable.
Having the community support, people going through the same highs and lows of a weightloss journey has made the difference in his success I think.
What differences has his own changes brought to your life together?
My Insta bio includes “MvF WAG” as it has had such a big impact on both our lives. We both decided to really focus on our health and fitness a couple of years ago so alongside his amazing loss of about 90kgs, I’ve also lost about 50kg!
We’re now a lot more active as a couple – we go to the gym, run and go on long hikes together (including getting lost in a forest!) and the time we spend together doing these activities feels much more meaningful than sitting in front of the TV every night.
I’ve also made friends through his involvement in MAN v FAT, there are people I never would have met without MAN v FAT that I would consider true friends.
How big a part does MAN v FAT play in your respective lives, given David’s commitment to coaching as well as playing?
He’s always been very involved with MAN v FAT from the beginning being a player facilitator and assistant coach in Cardiff (and I think the first ones in the UK!), but the coaching definitely stepped it up – our house is covered in MAN v FAT leaflets, footballs, the scales, the kit bag etc!
While he was still playing and fully involved with everything he could be playing or coaching up to 3-4 times a week including extra 11s or friendlies!
This level of involvement is obviously not for everyone but it really helped push him to get out of the house and get some additional exercise and support from the community.
Seeing the contentment on his face when he comes home after a session after running around for a bit, the grin after getting a milestone certificate, or the pride when one of the Bridgend lads reaches a milestone makes it all seem worth it (that and the coffee he buys me in return for driving him to Bridgend every Friday!).
What role do you think a partner has to play to ensure that a guy can make the most out of MAN v FAT?
I think the support really has to be there from the partner, it’s hard to think healthy and eat right if your partner is getting takeaways!
It might feel like a big change if your partner didn’t do any kind of activity for himself before and suddenly he’s out of the house for an hour in the evening, but it’s worth it for the happier, healthier version of the man you love.
Supporting and facilitating your partner in MAN v FAT can bring benefits to your own life that you never would have considered before!
What have you heard from other partners and families about MAN v FAT’s impact on their day to day lives and wellbeing?
Much the same that I’ve experienced to be honest! They have seen a massive improvement in their partner’s fitness and confidence.
