Weymouth man loses 10 stone in 15 months at Man v Fat football

Max Shearer, 26, moved to Dorset when he was 11 and went to the Thomas Hardye School. After finishing his studies at Southampton University in 2020, during the Covid pandemic, Mr Shearer said he was in a bad way after living by himself for the first time and was feeling self-conscious about his body.

He said: “I've always been a big lad but it was my first real experience on my own and I was not in the best mental place. I had really bad eating habits.

Max Shearer before starting his weight loss regime (Image: Max Shearer) “Then when I moved out, I was not eating well, mainly a lot of takeaways and crisps and my weight just ballooned. I was really lonely, and just found myself comfort eating to make me feel better. It is crazy how quickly you can put it all on. I was convinced I would be that weight all my life."

Max weighed 26 stone and was feeling ‘really unhappy’ when things became worse and he went to work one day. He explained: “I work at a local company called Baby Birds in Weymouth which make car seats for children.

Max Shearer before starting his weight loss regime (Image: Max Shearer) “When I was at work one day, one of the old chairs collapsed when I sat on it. My colleagues and I laughed it off and said ‘we need to get new chairs’ and that it was ‘just one of those things.’

“It happened again a few months later and the whole room just went quiet. This is when I thought, I need to do something, this is ridiculous.”

 After joining a gym in 2021, Mr Shearer began to train before hearing about an alternative weight-loss solution.

Max Shearer during his weight loss regime (Image: Max Shearer) He joined the Man v Fat Weymouth weight loss league in May 2023, which sees each participant get weighed before a 30 minute game of football each week.

Mr Shearer, said: “I heard about this football club. I hadn’t played since school- I was rubbish at football, and I still am now truthfully.

“In just over a year, I have lost 40 per cent of my body weight through exercising and better eating habits.

Max Shearer during his weight loss regime (Image: Max Shearer) In 15 months, Max lost 10 stone. 

He said: “It’s been a really good journey and such a positive message. Everyone at Man v Fat has the same goals as you, and there is a real sense of comradery. I went thinking everyone was going to be brilliant at football but that’s not the case.

"Everyone is welcome with a BMI over 25. They are such a supportive bunch of lads.

“You want to eat better, not just for yourself but for the team. It’s a real community aspect behind it.”

Max Shearer during his weight loss regime (Image: Max Shearer) Asked what he would say to someone who is thinking about taking the steps to lose weight, Mr Shearer, said: “You’ve really got to believe you want to change. It’s hard to do, but it is possible. I know it’s cringe to say if I can do it, so can you, but it really does not matter how big you are.

Max Shearer with Man v Fat teammates (Image: Max Shearer) “I still have a way to go. By January, I would like to lost another three stone. My end target is to be 13 stone and I am confident that I am going to get there.”

Man v Fat Football in Weymouth is one of more than 150 clubs across the country that help men shed unwanted weight and get fit. Around 8,000 players take part.