A father from Carlisle lost more than five stone through a football-based healthy lifestyle programme.

Ben Millington, 33, weighed nearly 16 stone (101.3 kg) when he joined the MAN v FAT Carlisle club in March 2023.

He was motivated to take action after struggling to keep up with his two young daughters at the park and soft play.

Ben Millington weighed nearly 16 stone when he joined the MAN v FAT Carlisle club in early 2023 (Image: Supplied) Mr Millington said: "I've always struggled with gaining excessive weight, which has, in turn, always led to a decline in my mental health.

"The only period in my life that I felt happy at a given weight was when I played football weekly but unfortunately that was no longer something I did."

"I remember I was driving through Carlisle one Saturday afternoon and I saw an advertising board for the club.

"I immediately pulled over and looked up what MAN v FAT was, as it wasn’t something I’d seen before.

"In all honesty, I thought it was too good to be true."

However, Mr Millington decided to give it a try and was contacted by the Carlisle coach, Beverley, soon after signing up.

He said: "I immediately felt support, and any tiny doubts I may have had about committing to the club evaporated in one short phone call."

Eighteen months later, Mr Millington had achieved a 30 per cent weight loss, with 15 per cent lost in a single season.

Mr Millington said: "The most enjoyable aspect of MAN v FAT is the team aspect.

"The accountability of contributing to your team’s performance on and off the pitch is the biggest motivation you can have to maintain the focus required to stay consistent and achieve your goals.

"Add to that the sense of togetherness amongst a group of like-minded individuals with a collective goal of losing weight makes for a wonderfully encouraging culture."

"If these are values you believe in, then I would 100% recommend anyone to give it a go and get involved.

"Overall being part of the club has had a very positive impact on my life, opening countless opportunities, including a national 7-a-side tournaments and 11-a-side games with other clubs.

"I’ve made good friends for life at this club and built a new level of confidence."

The MAN v FAT Carlisle club meets every Monday evening at Carlisle Campus Sports and, so far, a total of 60 players at the Carlisle club have lost a combined 52 stone between them.

For more information about the club, go to manvfatfootball.org/carlisle.