Meet Marcel Feller from MAN v FAT Football Club in Bury. Marcel joined MAN v FAT Football in February 2024, when the club was launched, seizing the opportunity to tackle weight loss, and reignite the passion for playing the beautiful game.
Discussing the twists of fate that led him to dust off his boots, Marcel explains: “Football was everything to me growing up. I spent every spare minute either on the pitch or watching matches. I started playing when I was four years old, and although I dreamed of playing off the pitch, I soon found myself in goal. I went on to play as a goalkeeper for local, school and even regional teams.
“When I was 15, I was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. This caused football to slowly fade into the background. During chemotherapy, my focus shifted to the computer and it became one of the few things that kept me going. This path eventually led me to a rewarding career in cybersecurity, but it also meant sitting for long hours at a desk. Over time, as football disappeared from my life, the weight naturally crept in.”
You might think that beating cancer would make everything else seem easy, but Marcel found himself struggling to shift the weight he had gained over the years. “I tried all the usual solutions; diet, gym, and exercise plans, but nothing stuck. I knew I needed to make a change, and I honestly wanted to, but I couldn’t find the right way to make it happen,” he adds.
This was when he started playing the MAN v FAT match with Marcel. He continues: “I had heard about MAN vAT years ago, but I kept putting it off. I didn’t want to join an established club and feel like ‘the new guy’ who couldn’t last more than two minutes on the pitch.
“Then one day, I saw an advert on Facebook for a brand new club opening in Bury. It felt different as everyone was starting over together. I signed up straight away and, for the first time in a long time, I felt comfortable about giving football another chance.”
Upon coming to Bury, Marcel found not only fellow footballers, but a supportive, friendly and welcoming community. “The community and support network have been amazing,” he says. “Everyone is so encouraging, whether things are going well or not, there is always positivity from my teammates and coaches. This constant support has made a huge difference throughout my journey.”
“Being part of the community has boosted my mental health, and I no longer feel alone in my weight loss journey. Everyone is so supportive and sharing advice with each other, which makes me feel like we’re all in it together.”
“It had such a huge impact on me that I shared my MAN v FAT journey during one of my team presentations at work. Afterwards, one of my colleagues reached out to me because he had been thinking about joining but wasn’t sure. A few weeks later, he signed up and has already made great progress. In short: community makes a big difference.
“MAN v FAT has definitely had a huge impact on my lifestyle. It’s been a great way to lose weight without it feeling like a chore. Unlike the gym, it doesn’t feel forced, the focus is on losing weight, but the weekly games make the process fun and something to look forward to. I also really like the weekly check-ins; being able to see my progress in real time has kept me motivated and accountable.”
“I’ve also changed my relationship with food. Tracking has helped me become more aware of what I’m eating without cutting out the things I enjoy. I still reward myself with junk food and junk food every now and then, but I’ve found a balance that works for me. “Fitness-wise, the difference has been incredible. When I first joined, I had difficulty running at all, but over time my fitness improved. I never thought of myself as a runner, but I started to really enjoy it. I have now competed in two 5k races, and both medals are proudly on display.
Want to join Marcel in MAN v FAT Bury?
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