Former footballer sheds half his body weight by eating the same meals every day...and one is a fry up!

A former footballer lost nearly half his body weight by eating the same meal every day for two years. Brad Rogers, a 54-year-old chief executive from Minster, Kent, had struggled with his weight from childhood, but went on to become a semi-professional footballer in his 20s.Yet after Brad – who stands at 5ft 8in tall – quit the sport a decade later, he stopped exercising and relied heavily on takeaways, beginning to steadily gain weight.In 2021, he reached 26st 7lb (168.3kg), leaving him struggling to walk and run around with his son. A size 4XL, Brad's BMI was 56.4, classing him as severely obese.'I struggled to walk very far or even breathe properly, and my son was getting older and I couldn't play football with him,' said Brad. 'I've never really been self-conscious. I've got a big personality and a big group of friends. But I was more worried about my health than how I looked.'Realising he desperately needed to change, and having tried 'every diet under the sun' to no avail, Brad changed tack. He signed up to a weight-loss programme that saw him eat the same meals every day, as well as exercise once a week. Mr Rogers has been eating the same two meals for brunch and dinner for the past two years Within just six months he had lost two stone (12.7kg) and, within two years, he'd shed 15 stoneThe dad-of-one didn't even have to give up food he loves. His meals consist of two slices of bacon, two eggs, baked beans and toast for brunch, followed by a latte, then a chicken or ham salad for dinner, or steak and eggs. And within just six months, Brad had lost two stone (12.7kg). 'I've gone from having to shop in Sainsbury's and Tesco to shopping in Next,' he said. 'It's changed my life.' Even as a child, Brad explained, he struggled with his weight - being bullied for his size at primary school.After being put on a diet during the summer before starting secondary school, he managed to lose weight to reach 11 stone (69.9kg).But though he kept it off for years, even becoming a semi-professional football player for Dagenham and Redbridge FC, Brad found himself gradually gaining weight again.Over the following decade, he increasingly relied on takeaways and rarely exercised, reaching around 20 stone (127kg) by 2020.The main issue, he says, was his diet. Brad was eating a full English breakfast most mornings, a burger and chips for lunch, and lasagne or pasta for dinner, followed by 'lots of snacks' such as chocolate and crisps. And he relied heavily on unhealthy takeaways - spending nearly £8,000 on McDonald's each year. It wasn't until he reached his heaviest weight of 26st 7lbs, during lockdown, that Brad decided enough was enough, however. Having tried, and been unable to stick to, diets including keto, Slimming World and WeightWatchers, Brad wanted a new approach. So in August 2024, he joined the football-based weight-loss programme Man v Fat and completely changed his diet, avoiding carbohydrates 'as much as possible'.Over the next two years, he lost 15 stone (95.3kg) in total, dropping to 11st 7lb (73kg), improving his health and energy levels while becoming his son's football coach. He swears by an exercise regieme of weekly football as well as running and swimmingFollowing the diet for the past two years, Brad still eats the same meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner. 'It takes all the thinking away and it just works for me,' he said. 'And I've saved so much money by not having takeaways.'When I was eating them regularly, I'd spend about £8,000 a year just at McDonald's.'People have walked past me and not realised it's me.'The Man v Fat programme also saw Brad pick up football again. Players attend weekly sessions where they weigh in and play 28-minute games of small-sided football – extra goals are awarded to teams with the greatest total weight-loss.Both a team's total weight loss, and goals scored in matches contribute to a team's standing in the club's league table, with winners crowned at the end of 14-week seasons.'I could only run for a minute or two at the beginning, but I knew I loved the game,' Brad said.'We were all in the same boat and the camaraderie is fantastic.'We all shared a love of football and we all wanted to lose weight.'It felt like something I'd needed to belong to for a long time.'Alongside weekly football, he started going to the gym, running, swimming and walking more, steadily losing between 2lb and 4lb a week.After six months of weekly football sessions and changing his diet, he had lost two stone (12.7kg).Brad now weighs 11st 7lb (73kg), wears a size medium and plays football three times a week while going to the gym every day.His BMI is 24.5, making him a healthy weight.Although his weight has plateaued since January, he is now focused on building muscle by increasing his protein intake and eating more calories, with less emphasis on the number on the scales.Looking back, he said: 'I think it's brought me and my son closer together. He plays football and I coach him.'To other men hoping to lose weight, he said: 'Give Man v Fat a go. I think it should be prescribed by GPs.'It's changed my life.'