Camaraderie the secret to men’s weight loss success
A free fitness and weight loss programme aimed at men is looking to recruit more members this year.
Match Fit is a programme created by four local organisations – Maidstone Borough Council, Wellbeing People, Golding Homes and Maidstone United.
Figures for commercial and NHS-led weight management programmes show sessions are still predominantly attended by women, but this project offers an alternative.
Geared specifically towards men who want to lose weight and live a healthier life, the sessions at Maidstone United’s Gallagher Stadium offer the chance to get support in a friendly environment.
Sessions are run by Julie Patching and Josh Stroud, from Wellbeing People, a fitness company based in Marden.
Since launching in 2014, more than 70 men have attended the 10-week programme, with the average weight loss being 2kg, or 9lb. Now, the organisers are hoping to get a further 45 people to sign up.
“I think people who come have decided they want to make a change, and this is part of that. They’re really motivated to be there, and they enjoy the setting,” explained Mr Stroud.
“It’s just a bunch of guys who generally do not know each other but get to be good friends. There’s a real sense of camaraderie, which creates a great atmosphere.”
The programme is free and runs weekly on Thursday nights. During the sessions, the men work with professional fitness trainer Julie Patching to build the level and intensity of exercise they can achieve.
Mr Stroud takes over at the end of the evening covering a different topic to do with healthy living, to give participants advice and support to continue making a change at home.
People can be referred to the programme by a health professional or by self-referral, the only criteria is that men are aged over 18, and have a BMI of 28 or more.
The first hour-long session will be held at the James Whatman Way stadium on Thursday, January 19, from 6pm-7pm. Sign up at tinyurl.com/matchfitKM or by calling 01622 834826.