FFIT Works
Written By Admin
Football Fans in Training is going into its 4th year and to celebrate we wanted to share an inspiring story with you.
Football Fans in Training has had an amazing impact on the lives of all who have taken part.
This is a story about your everyday football fan who and his motivation to change his lifestyle for the better.
‘I was on my way to my Doctor’s which is a short walk away, a couple of hundred meters, slightly uphill. At the point that I started getting wheezy and in need of my inhaler (for Asthma) I decided to change. I needed to change.
Being around men the same age who are having the same issues and feeling the same pressures in their life, helped hugely.
My health had improved so much it is just like a new lease of life. I felt able to enjoy my life on my terms, not to the limits of my health.
I have changed. I am a better person, a better Dad, a better husband and perform better in work and leisure situations. I can live my life how I want.
I will never go back to being the person I was before. Never.’
Find out about Brian Ruxton, just your everyday football fan, and his incredible journey below
I remember where I was when I realised I had to change.
I was on my way to my Doctor’s which is a short walk away, a couple of hundred meters, slightly uphill. At the point that I started getting heezy and in need of my inhaler (for Asthma) I decided to change. I needed to change.
Around that time, I read about the Football Fans in Training course being held by the Community foundation, I filled in my details and hoped for the best, I was fortunate and got accepted.
I didn’t know what to expect from the programme but, I quickly got comfortable in the environment and also with the people running the course as well as my fellow participants. Being around men the same age who are having the same issues and feeling the same pressures in their life, helped hugely. I really bought into the programme, I loved gaining all of the new knowledge that I knew would make me better (because that’s how I felt, I felt broken in some way.) I really enjoyed the variety of exercises we took part in every week but I loved congratulating my new friends on their successes.
By week twelve I had lost over 10kg but for me it wasn’t about the numbers… Yes it was a great result but it was the way I was feeling inside that had changed. My health had improved so much it is just like a new lease of life. I felt able to enjoy my life on my terms, not to the limits of my health.
Weighing less helped with my physical health and improved my mental health. I am more confident and am comfortable in environments I wouldn’t have thought about before attending FFIT. This new found confidence has allowed me to look at my own life differently now. At my own request I took a de-motion at work which saw my hours reduced from about 50 to 40 hours a week and this extra time is my time. I spent it either with my 6 year old son or exercising! If I can, I do both at the same time.
I’m lucky that the Hibernian Community Foundation has a carry on programme called Fit for Change; this allowed me to carry on meeting with the guys as well as receiving the support from Stewart McGuire and Phil Ord. The encouragement has also allowed me to expand my range of fitness activities. Phil and I ran the Edinburgh Half Marathon only 8 months after I started the FFIT programme. The year afterwards I completed a marathon around the pitch at Easter Road (104 laps) in under 4 hours. Along with a few of the other guys, I also completed the Yorkshire Tough Mudder. I really enjoy my running now and consistently reduced my PB for a half marathon. Pre-FFIT my best was 1.58. My PB now is 1.34.
I have changed. I am a better person, a better Dad, a better husband and perform better in work and leisure situations. I can live my life how I want.
I will never go back to being the person I was before. Never.