When 54-year-old Mark Merryweather set-out on his weight loss journey, his biggest fear was joining a programme that would deliver hard facts and figures.

However, reflecting on his journey following twelve weeks of meetings, Mark says there’s nothing to fear when joining EFL Fit Fans.

“I wanted somebody to understand why I am what I’m like – from the first second I walked in, it was calm and relaxed, and the staff made a point of saying – we’re not here to say you can’t do this and that, we’re here to help you change through making small adaptations.”

As a lifelong Rams’ fan, Mark signed up after seeing the programme advertised online and joined the project alongside wife Laura, who signed up to the female cohort, together discovering about how to make better lifestyle choices.

“Food is where I’ve made the biggest change and had my eyes opened.

“We did a session on portion control which was mind-blowing to me. The staff showed us the daily recommendation of meat, and my comment was – if my wife gave me that portion of meat, I’d divorce her!

“What I learned was it’s all about replacing things and doing a little bit more than I normally would exercise wise. Laura and I have dogs and before we’d take them out whenever we got round to it, but now it’s part of my routine – I’ll take them when I get up, I’ll take them out in the afternoon.

“I work night shifts so at 4am when I have my break, I go for a walk around the car park for ten minutes or so, rather than sitting and watching TV in the canteen. It’s those little things which make a big difference.”

Over the 12 week programme, which consists of workshops along with exercise classes at Pride Park Stadium, Mark shed three and a half stone in weight.

“I set myself a goal at the start which I’ve passed so I’m pleased with myself about that, but also, my fitness has changed, my eating habits have changed and I’m getting more out of my life than I got before.”

Fit Fans is an EFL initiative designed to support 35–65-year-olds to get fitter with fellow fans. Mark believes that uniting with fellow Rams’ fans played a big part in his motivation to see the programme through to the finish.

“We all talk openly about things we’ve done and our experiences – it’s nice going with other people who have the same issues as you, rather than going somewhere where you’re the fat bloke and they’re all skinny.

“That doesn’t work for me, you’re judged, it’s not the reality of the situation you’re in – you need people who have been where you are or want to be better than what they are now, that’s what you get with Fit Fans, that makes the difference”

Derby County Community Trust will start the next 12-week project in September at Pride Park and have places for male and female participants, to join the programme you must be aged 35-65, have a BMI of 28 or over and have a waist circumference of 31 inches or over (female) or 38 inches or over (male).

Fit Fans