As 2025 comes to a close, MAN v FAT HQ has welcomed a new face to the team – and one who has had a successful story to tell during his time on the programme.
Abdi Ahmed, a long-standing member of MAN v FAT Nottingham, has lost more than 30% of his body weight during his time with us, and following his recent interview, the process of joining the HQ team as Regional Coordinator for the North and Wales has ramped up.
Abdi becomes the fourth former player to become part of the operational side of a MAN v FAT match and he told us he can’t wait to get started:-
1) How excited are you to get started with MAN v FAT HQ?
I’m really excited to be joining MAN v FAT HQ. This organization has been a big part of my life for about four years, and has had a positive impact on me, not only physically, but mentally and socially as well.
Now being part of a team that helps others achieve the same life-changing results is incredibly rewarding. MAN v FAT has helped me become a better version of myself, and I’m really looking forward to giving back and helping more men experience the same transformation.
2) Can you tell readers more about your back story and experiences with weight loss?
When I joined MAN v FAT, I just wanted to make a change and feel healthier. I didn’t expect it to completely change my life. Over the years, I’ve lost a third of my total body weight and gained a lot of confidence and perspective along the way. It is the support, responsibility and friendships I have found through my club that have made the biggest difference.
A highlight for me was taking part in the Amazing Losers Game at Stoke 2023. It was truly an unforgettable experience and represents how far I have come and what this community stands for, it was more than just a football game, but an opportunity to celebrate alongside so many other people who have changed their lives through this programme.
I then had the opportunity to speak in the UK House of Representatives to mark the 10th anniversary of MAN v FAT and share my story, which was a proud moment I will never forget.
3) What do you think you will bring from your own experiences to this role and how can this support our members?
I believe empathy and connection are at the core of what I bring. I’ve had highs and lows with this program, from struggling to stay consistent at first to hitting breakout moments that make it all worth it. This perspective helps me connect with members in an authentic way, because I understand what it feels like to start this journey and how much courage it takes to keep going.
I know how powerful the right combination of support, structure, and camaraderie is. My goal is to help members believe in themselves the way my teammates once believed in me.
4) You have a wide range of skills from previous roles – how do you think you might also be a good fit for MAN v FAT?
My career has always been about people, whether it be in equality and inclusion, community work and partnership, or digital marketing. Everything I did had a common thread: helping others grow, feel seen, and find their voices.
I’ve led teams, managed projects, built partnerships, and implemented digital campaigns, but what matters most to me is communication. I think that’s what I bring to MAN v FAT, is the ability to connect with people, listen, and help them see their own potential.
Whether it’s online or in person, I want to make sure every member feels part of something bigger than just losing weight. I want everyone to be part of one big movement, one club, that has a community that believes in them, even on the days they don’t believe in themselves.
5) If you were to give a MAN v FAT member just starting out one piece of advice, what would it be?
Take it one week at a time and trust the process. Don’t worry about being perfect, just keep showing up because consistency will always trump perfection. Some weeks will be amazing, others may be harder, but every step counts.
Lean on your teammates, celebrate small victories, and remember you’re not doing this alone, there’s a huge community empowering you every step of the way. The friendships you’ll make here will change your life just as much as the weight you’ll lose. MAN vAT has truly changed my life, and if you stick with it, it can change your life too.