Kieran has detailed exactly what he used to order from Greggs and the ‘mad’ order from McDonald’s that helped him hit 22.5stone
A 33-year-old dad who ballooned to 22.5 stone after lockdown thanks to a regular triple Greggs lunch and an ‘horrific’ McDonald’s order has lost five stone in 12 months. Kieren Medcraft, 33, from Bristol said his diet was so bad he always felt sick in the morning – and skipped breakfast.
But he made up for it with takeaway orders for lunch and dinner. Kieren said: “I had been struggling with my mental health and gained an alarming amount of weight over lockdown and it just kept increasing, at my heaviest I hit 22 and a half stone. At the time I had no real drive to sort myself out.
“I would always skip breakfast, I would feel sick in the mornings and could never face eating. Then my lunch would usually involve a trip to Greggs, where my order would be a Mexican chicken baguette, chicken bites with barbecue sauce and a sausage roll.
“Dinner would normally be pretty standard, spaghetti bolognese, shepherds pie or pork belly. This, however, got derailed most weeks with a takeaway, meal out or trip to McDonald’s. Looking back, my typical McDonald’s order used to be horrific. I’d have a large burger meal (Big Tasty or something) a chicken sandwich, a cheese burger, a portion of whatever cheese thing they did and sometimes a wrap of the day too. In hindsight it was just madness.
“The single biggest ‘lightbulb’ moment, was becoming a dad. I wanted to be fitter and healthier so that I could play with my daughter and be a positive role model to her. I tried a number of different diets and exercise plans, but quickly gave up on them until MAN v FAT Football showed up on my social feed.”
In April 2024, Kieren signed up for MAN v FAT Football ’s Bristol Central club, which meets every Thursday night, with the objective of helping overweight and obese men from the area to reduce their weight to a healthy level.
Designed for men with a BMI of above 27.5, at MAN v FAT Football sessions, players are weighed, before battling it out on the pitch in five-a-side matches.
The results in games are then combined with a player’s individual weight loss throughout a week. These individual weight loss scores and the results on the pitch contribute to a team’s position in a club’s overall league table, with winning teams and players celebrated at the end of a 14-week season.
In addition to football sessions, MAN v FAT players receive off-the-pitch support including healthy meal recipe ideas and tips on general fitness. Players also get free access to a bespoke mental health platform.
Kieren said: “I honestly cannot sing MAN v FAT’s praises enough. All my friends are probably sick of me hearing about it. However, the praise from them as they see the sheer amount of weight I have lost keeps me talking about it even more.
“So many of my friends or acquaintances ask how I’ve did it. They don’t believe me when I say, I play football with a bunch of like-minded lads who all have the same goal in mind. They think there has to be more to it. And I just explain, the football is good exercise, the diet help is there, but for me, the biggest thing that keeps me going is the support network surrounding MAN v FAT.
“No-one patronises. No-one judges. Everyone picks you up if you have a bad week etc. Hitting a percentage is celebrated but the whole club, making you truly feel like you’ve accomplished something great, which you have! I’ve met some absolutely incredible lads here at MAN v FAT and I love every minute of being a part of it, as well as reducing my weight to 17 and a half stone.
“As mentioned before, I had a really bad mental health break previous to joining MAN v FAT. Since joining I have to say I am the happiest I’ve been in a really long time. With some gentle encouragement from teammates, I’ve done things I didn’t think I’d ever be able to do again.
“I run a 5k park run every Saturday – I never thought I’d be saying that a year ago. Got my time down to below 40mins too which for me is massive.
“I have been on hikes, walked from Nailsea to Bristol and back just for fun, completed four waterfalls in Wales and step challenges left right and centre. Walking was even a struggle for me before joining, now I walk everywhere.
“The biggest challenge for me, was seeing my friends out for a beer or two and choosing to be on diet cokes or maybe allowing a gin and tonic. I have not really found it too difficult food wise, other than starting to accurately track what I’m eating and calories I’m putting in weighed up against the amount I need to consume to remain in a deficit.
“They have all been so incredibly supportive. My friends can’t believe it. Especially the ones that live in Brighton that I don’t see as often. When I go back to see them and I’ve lost more each time there are a few shocked words with some expletives added in for good measure! I have had so many friends and acquaintances tell me I look like a different person. Many often saying I’ve inspired them to lose weight and ask how I did it.
“My wife couldn’t be happier, as I can finally go out on walks and trips to and from places without complaining or being out of breath. I actually want to go out and be active, when before I just wanted to stay in and watch TV or play games. My mum and dad are equally shocked by how much I’ve lost and my mum tells me all the time how good I look (but she has to say that.)
“Having a reason to lose weight can work for some as a motivator but, and it’s a cliché, you have to do it for yourself! Set small realistic goals for yourself with a larger one in sight.
“Find out how many calories you need to consume to lose weight and then track everything you eat and drink. Even the smallest things. Hold yourself accountable! Don’t skip on adding things as it “looks bad” add it all, you’re only cheating yourself at the end of the day.
“Find an exercise you actually enjoy. Don’t just exercise to lose weight. You’re so much more likely to give up on exercise all together if you hate it.
“I cannot describe how much better my life is, and how much better I feel both mentally and physically since losing the weight.”