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A couple who have lost weight are getting married, after having lost 72 kilos between them.
Sam Wilmot and his fiancée Sophie Bailey, both 27, from Bristol, decided to join Slimming World when they “barely recognised” themselves in family Christmas photos after gaining weight.
The inspiring couple had initially bonded over fitness when they met in 2019, but had put on weight due to sedentary office jobs and frequent eating out.
They have now been named winners of a Slimming World competition, and their new-found confidence meant Sam popped the question to Sophie last month shortly after their celebration.
Sam, who has lost 42 stone since January 2023, said: ‘We are more confident and fitter and healthier than ever before.
‘Before, getting married was something we might have thought twice about because we were getting away from the spotlight; now we’re looking forward to celebrating our big day.’
Sophie Bailey and Sam Wilmot gained weight due to their sedentary office lifestyle and eating out together (pictured before weight loss)
Between the two of them they have lost 75 kilos and her newfound confidence led Sam to pop the question.
Sam’s starting weight in January 2023 was 21 stone, four and a half pounds, and now weighs 13 stone, four and a half pounds.
Sophie’s initial weight was 16 stone, 12 pounds, and she now weighs 11 stone, 12 pounds.
She said: ‘I’ve always been quite athletic and sporty, although my eating habits weren’t the best. I love playing football, but when I hurt my back, it meant I couldn’t play.
‘That, coupled with a sedentary office job, meant I soon put on weight and I suspect that’s what made my back worse.
‘Being in a new relationship with Sam also meant we were eating out all the time. It got to a point where we were both dissatisfied with our weight.’
Sam, who says he has been overweight for most of his life, reveals he had curved shins because of his weight.
He explains that it was the “love of sport” that brought the couple together when they met, but his weight prevented him from participating, making him “a mere spectator.”
The couple were inspired to drastically change their unhealthy lifestyle habits for Christmas 2022 as they feared they had become unrecognizable in family photos.
The pair initially bonded over their love of the sport, and their weight loss means they can now play again (pictured below)
The couple joined Slimming World after being recommended the programme by family members (pictured above).
Sam explained: ‘The final straw came at Christmas. As with all family occasions, he was quick to get out the camera, but this time we were really shocked by the photographs we were in. We hardly recognised each other.
‘My mum and dad had recently joined a Slimming World group thanks to encouragement from my Aunt Julia and were raving about how good the food was and how friendly the other members were, so that January we decided to take the plunge and join.’
Before Slimming World, a typical day’s eating for Sophie would be: three slices of buttered toast, plus a pastry or sausage roll mid-morning for breakfast.
A shop-bought meal would include crisps, chocolate and a sugary energy drink for lunch, a takeaway chicken burger and crisps for dinner and snacks would include a packet of bourbon biscuits and buttered toast.
Sophie now eats 40g of cereal rings with semi-skimmed milk or bean toast for breakfast, and chicken and feta salad with lettuce, tomato, onion, cucumber and high-protein yoghurt for lunch.
For dinner she now eats tandoori chicken with rice and broccoli or stir-fried beef with noodles, and for snacks she eats low-fat cheese, apples, bananas, peaches and nectarines.
Sam’s previous menu would include sugary cereal, two slices of toast with peanut butter and banana, and black coffee for breakfast.
For lunch, a triple sandwich, chips, a sugar-filled cola and a brownie, and for dinner, a curry made from a store-bought jar, rice, naan bread, onion bhajis and samosas.
He ate a cereal bar, a chocolate bar, tea, biscuits and buttered toast.
Sophie (pictured above) has now won several awards on Slimming World for all the hard work she has put in.
Sam (pictured before losing weight) says: “We are more confident and healthier than ever before”
Since Slimming World, Sam’s diet has changed for the better – for breakfast he now has a bowl of fat-free natural yoghurt, berries, banana and muesli, and for lunch a chicken and feta salad with lettuce, tomato, onion, cucumber and high protein yoghurt.
For dinner, eat homemade tandoori chicken with rice and broccoli or stir-fried beef with noodles, and for snacks, eat low-fat cheese, apples, bananas, and hard-boiled eggs.
The competition won by Sam and Sophie, ‘Two Together’, celebrates the UK and Ireland’s most inspiring duo – a couple, two friends, family members or two members who attend the same group and have been on their weight loss journey together.
Over time, Sam and Sophie returned to exercise with the help of Slimming World’s physical activity support programme, which helps members introduce (or, like Sam and Sophie, reintroduce) activity in a way that suits their lifestyle and increase at their own pace.
Sophie said the camaraderie at the Yate Slimming World group in Bristol, organised by consultant Bonny Mills, helped her and Sam fall in love with exercise again.
She said: ‘As I started to feel fitter and healthier I started playing again for a local team, United Bristol Women FC, which I love. Sam has also returned to football by becoming a Level 4 referee. I am so proud of everything she has achieved.
‘Luckily, he only refereed one of my matches. It didn’t end well, he tried to send me off!’
Now that Sam and Sophie have reached their goal weights, their new goal is to maintain the weight losses they worked so hard for.
Sam said: ‘We still go to our group every week to keep track and stay motivated. Eating healthily is second nature to us now.
Sam’s previous menu would include sugary cereal, two slices of toast with peanut butter and banana, and black coffee for breakfast.
Now that Sam and Sophie have reached their goal weights (right), their new goal is to maintain the weight losses.
‘We are confident that we can continue with our new lifestyle, with a little more flexibility now that we are not losing weight, thanks to Slimming World’s Slim for Life maintenance plan.’
The couple is now planning their wedding and are grateful for each other’s support.
Sam added: ‘Right now, we’re busy planning our wedding and we’re excited about our future together. We’ve always made each other happy, but now it’s like we have a new outlook on life.
“I couldn’t have done this without Sophie’s support. We make a great team. I can’t wait to call her my wife one day!”