A group of 27 men in Worthing and Lancing embarked on a journey to lose weight and live healthily this spring.

They all enrolled in Kick Off The Weight, a programme delivered by AITC that helps men make real, lasting changes to their lives.

Between them, the group managed to lose an incredible 34 stone – and the Lancing group still have one week to go!

The 12-week course, funded by Adur & Worthing Council, provided the group with insightful nutritional advice alongside circuit training, walking football sessions, and encouragement to walk every day.

The Lancing group were helped along by a familiar face – Albion legend Guy Butters was part of the team, putting the group through their paces with circuit training and walking football every week.

The Worthing group has bonded so much over the last 12 weeks that they now plan to stay together after the course ends, forming their own football team.

Kick Off The Weight has helped a lot of men to improve their lifestyle, including Chris Collins from Lancing.

“After realising how my weight and lifestyle needed a complete overhaul, I saw the advert for Kick Off The Weight,” Chris told us.

“Getting on an aeroplane I worried if the seat belt would be big enough, I wasn’t able to get on a paddle board, I didn’t feel able to run, I had poor sleeping with acid reflux – it all added up to needing a change!

“I was so pleased that I was accepted onto the course and relished the opportunity to try and sort myself out.”

At first Chris struggled to get things going, but determined to make a change, he pushed through the pain barrier.

“During the first couple of weeks I pushed hard with doing a lot of steps and walking more. It hurt my feet, and my wife bought me some new trainers to help!

“Following keeping a regular food diary helped me monitor how much food I was eating, cutting down on all snacks.

“We played walking football, it was my first competitive team game for about 10 years and I loved it, scored a couple of goals.”

Kick Off The Weight became the catalyst for a huge change in Chris’s life.

“I made a big decision to make changes in my life. I joined a gym, I stopped drinking for 4 weeks, and cut out my sugar in teas and coffees. I shrunk my portions of food and snacked on fruit and nuts.

“The change was amazing. I started to lose weight, I sleep better at night, generally I feel really good.

“I can now swim 1500m each time, I can jog 2.5k and walk for miles.

The change was amazing. I started to lose weight, I sleep better at night, generally I feel really good.

“I have a big target to lose weight before end of July, which I’m now pretty sure I’ll hit.

“Thank you Jean and Guy for you inspiration and your guidance.”

Jean, who runs the programme, was delighted to see the group’s hard work pay off.

“Our Kick Off The Weight Programme has been another great success,” Jean told us.

“Both groups lost a total of 34 stone between them, and because of their weight loss and the increase of exercise, they have lowered their risk of future health complications like strokes, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and some cancers, and now have improved mobility, better sleep, and raised boosts of energy.

“The programme is free, fun, and easy to follow. It has a common-sense approach and if followed correctly can help people to understand better ways to achieve a healthy lifestyle. It has so many benefits in such a short amount of time.”

If you’ve been inspired by this story and would like to find out more about the programmes that AITC’s health team offers, please email health@bhafcfoundation.org.uk or visit our website bhafcfoundation.org.uk

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This article was written when our name was Albion in the Community. As of August 1 2023, we are the Brighton & Hove Albion Foundation.