Harry Spacagna has swapped his 5XL tops for a large instead after shifting nearly half his 30stone bulk by stopping eating between meals and taking up football with Man v Fat
A man who once weighed 30 stone and wore 5XL clothes has shed half his body weight after a friend told him he needed to “sort himself out”.
Harry Spacagna has battled with obesity since childhood and in March 2023 had a body mass index (BMI) of 55.41, placing him well into the severely obese bracket. He was wearing 5XL tops and 54-inch waist trousers until a wake up call during a trip to Hamburg with his friends- and a heart to heart with a friend. Since then he has shed nearly half his weight and now stands at 16st 1lb.
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Harry, from Southampton, told Manchester Evening News : “A big group of us went on a night out, and we were steaming. My friend, who isn’t usually sentimental, turned to me and said, ‘Mate, you really need to sort yourself out, we’re all really worried about you’.
That really hit home, it was a wake-up call. I realised I wanted kids in the next five years and to be able to play football with them.
“When I reached my heaviest, I was self-conscious, not wanting to stand out. You don’t really feel valid in a society that puts pressure on looking good… people don’t realise a lot of males struggle with self-image. Growing up, you look at footballers and athletes as idols.
“My anxiety increased, I had more panic attacks – I wasn’t OK.”
Harry’s diet before included around three takeaways a week and frequent snacking on high-calorie items like McDonald’s cheeseburgers and fries between meals. He turned his life around by playing football once a week through weight loss programme MAN v FAT, gym training three times a week and following a diet of mainly whole foods, including chicken, lean mince and vegetables.
Hey has now shed an impressive 13st 13lb (89.91kg), transitioning from size 5XL to L and downsizing to a 34-inch waist. For him, the ability to shop for clothes off-the-rack rather than ordering oversized items online is “very emotional”.
Harry’s goal is to reach 14 stone (88.9kg) and get a six-pack. He also hopes to complete a half marathon and a Tough Mudder this year.
Along with his physical transformation, Harry said his relationship with food is now “completely different”. He said: “It’s astonishing … I don’t see food as an emotional crutch any more.”I’m a lot better at processing my emotions without food, and that comes from the confidence and empowerment I’ve gained from this shift.”