Steve Evans discusses his incredible weight loss and what he did to lose six stone

Steve Evans discusses his incredible weight loss and what he did to lose six stone in his time away from the dugout.

After leaving Rotherham, focused on health over new jobs, losing six and a half stone in seven months through specialist guidance from cardiologists at Royal Papworth.

His routine includes daily swimming (up to 70 lengths or 2.5 km), biking, dog walks, protein shakes, calorie-controlled meals, and sauna sessions.

Starting small due to initial worries about his health from football stress, he now feels mentally and physically fantastic.

Motivation stems from family (four grandchildren) and a desire to return to management fitter than ever.

Steve Evans opening up on his 40kg weight loss in SIX months.

A great story and incredible journey for him 👏pic.twitter.com/2AsQkjAQW1

— Second Tier podcast (@secondtierpod) September 10, 2025

Interviewer: “What have you been up to? How’s it been since we saw you last on a job early this year?”

Steve: “Yeah, I came out of Rotherham and within a few days I’ve been out. I made some family decisions, really sat down with the family and made a decision that despite the phone ringing, a couple of clubs to perhaps come in and go straight into them, I made a decision to get healthier and fitter.

“Something I lasted back into my time at Leeds United, but hadn’t done for a lot of years.

“And went and seen some real serious people, some specialists, the cardiologists and the fitness people and different things.

“And what we’re planning, the family didn’t think I’d be able to do it, but here we are, seven months or so later, six and a half stone down. It’s been incredible hard work.

“It’s up and going swimming, two and a half kilometers every morning and biking and walking dogs and doing so many steps.

“I’m feeling the benefit now, mentally and physically feeling fantastic.”

Interviewer: “So you mentioned going to see the cardiologist. Why was that? Were people worried about you?”

Steve: “I was worried about myself. You take the stresses of everyday football management and you come out.

“And I’ve always said with the cardiologist, it was almost like via the league managers, they put you through your cycle of life and you see a number of specialists.

“But I wanted to focus on getting my weight back under control and losing weight basically and getting all the health there.

“That plan was obviously a substantially reduced intake of calories and a gradual fitness program to them go and work with a fitness coach which I’ve been able to do here in near my home in Peterborough and so that involves, it started off with swimming 10 lengths of the pool, which I found really tough at the time.

“And doing so many walks and so many jogs and so much a little bit on the tread to building up now where I comfortably go and swim 70/80 lengths every morning.

“But I had to then make sure that mentally I was in tune with that and it was working. So it’s been a brilliant seven months. I’m feeling the best I’ve felt.”

Interviewer: “So what is the routine now? You’ve sort of touched upon it, but what’s the typical day now?”

Steve: “We’re always up in the morning. I take the dogs out first thing in the morning. I come back from there and then we have our protein shakes.

“I go off to Bannatynes. So I went into the pool. I do between 50 and 70 lengths. Then I’ll do some biking and then I’ll do the sauna. So it’s about two and a half hours there.

“Before I head home and then very much so there’s plan meals for lunch and plan meals for dinner walking the dogs in the evening, going to bed the first three or four months with a good bed early because I’d want to be in the fridge or a biscuit or some snacks but over that now so very much.

“It’s a bit calorie control management and measure my weight every week now every third week. So that’s a sign of great progress and and seen two or three of the consultants including the top man who’s heading me up, who’s described it as incredible progress.

“A little bit more to continue so it’s a lot more weight loss maybe for another two or three weeks and then hopefully by that time it’s just about conditioning and that’ll be another tough part to go through but looking forward to the challenge.”

Interviewer: “You say you’re looking forward to it. So what is the motivation? I know you’re a family man, you’ve got grandchildren. Is that something that’s kind of driving you?”

Steve: “Yeah, that was the highlight. I’ve got four grandkids from four years down to one year. I want to be around when they’re 21, 25, 30. I want to be with kids.

“Is that possible? Yeah, it’s possible. In the words of the consultants, my body internally is actually really good shape now after all the scans and stuff I had last week. So that’s a big part of it.

“The other part that’s inside me is to be back on the touchline and managing a team. Whether that’s a team down other end of table, to try stay where they are, or whether it’s a team fighting to perhaps not achieving the objectives of those above the manager where they think they should be.

“Then, yeah, go back in to go back in. But, you know, I’m not desperate to go back in. It needs to be the right club, if you’re right, at the right time, but I’ll be certainly fit mentally and physically.”