Couple who shed 13 stone between them after 'hardly recognising' themselves in family photos are now engaged thanks to their newfound confidence

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A slimmed-down couple are now getting married - after losing 13 stone between them.

Sam Wilmot and his fiancée Sophie Bailey, both 27, from Bristol, decided to join Slimming World when they 'hardly recognised' themselves in family Christmas photos after gaining weight. 

The inspirational pair had initially bonded over sport when they first met in 2019, but had put on weight due to sedentary office jobs and going out for a food often.  

Now they have been named the winners of a Slimming World competition, and their newfound confidence meant Sam popped the question to Sophie last month shortly after their celebration.

Sam, who has lost eight stone since January 2023, said: 'We have more confidence and we're fitter and healthier than ever. 

'Getting married might have been something we'd have thought twice about before because we'd have shied away from the attention - now we can't wait to celebrate on our big day.'

Sophie Bailey and Sam Wilmot gained weight due to their sedentary office lifestyles and eating out together (pictured before weight loss)

They have lost 13 stone between them and their newfound confidence led to Sam popping the question

Sam had a starting weight in January 2023 of 21 stone, four-and-a-half pounds - and is now 13 stone, four-and-a-half pounds.

Sophie's starting weight was 16 stone, 12 pounds - and she now weighs 11 stone, 12 pounds.

She said: 'I've always been quite athletic and sporty, though 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 gained weight and I suspect that is what was making my back worse. 

'Being in a new relationship with Sam also meant we were eating out all the time too. It got to a stage where we were both unhappy with our weight.'

Sam, who says he has been overweight for most of his life, reveals how he had curved shin bones because of his weight.

He explains how it was a 'love of sport' that the couple bonded over when they first met - but his weight held him back from taking part, making him 'much more of a spectator'.

The pair were inspired to dramatically change their unhealthy lifestyle habits in Christmas 2022 - as they feared they had become unrecognisable in family photos.

The couple initially bonded over a love of sport, and their weight loss means they are now able to play again (pictured after)

The couple joined Slimming World after being recommended the programme by family members (pictured before)

Sam explained: 'The final straw came at Christmas. As with all family occasions the camera soon came out - only this time we were really shocked by the photographs of us. We hardly recognised ourselves.

'My mum and dad had recently joined a Slimming World group thanks to the encouragement of my auntie 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 ourselves.'

Before Slimming World, a typical day of eating for Sophie would be: three slices of toast with butter, plus a pastry or sausage roll mid-morning for breakfast.

A shop-bought meal deal with crisps, chocolate and a sugary energy drink for lunch, a takeaway chicken burger and chips for dinner and snacks would include a pack of bourbon biscuits and toast with butter.

Now, Sophie eats 40g cereal hoops with semi-skimmed milk or beans on toast for breakfast, chicken and feta salad with lettuce, tomato, onion, cucumber and high-protein yogurt for lunch.

For dinner she now has tandoori chicken with rice and broccoli or beef stir fry with noodles, and snacks on low-fat cheese, apples, bananas, peaches, nectarines.

Sam's before menu would include sugary cereal, two slices of toast with peanut butter and banana and black coffee for breakfast.

For lunch, a triple sandwich, crisps, a full-sugar cola and a brownie, and for dinner, a curry made with a shop-bought jar, rice, naan bread, onion bhajis and samosas.

He would snack on a cereal bar, chocolate bar, tea and biscuits and toast with butter.

Sophie (pictured before) has now won several awards at Slimming World for all the effort she has put in

Sam (pictured before his weight loss) says: 'We have more confidence and are healthier than ever'

Since Slimming World, Sam's diet has changed for the better - for breakfast he will now have a bowl of fat-free natural yogurt, berries, banana and muesli, and for lunch a chicken and feta salad with lettuce, tomato, onion, cucumber and high-protein yogurt.

For dinner, he has homemade tandoori chicken with rice and broccoli or beef stir fry with noodles and snacks on low-fat cheese, apples, bananas and hard-boiled eggs.

The competition Sam and Sophie won, 'Two Together' celebrates the UK and Ireland's most inspirational duo: either a couple, two friends, family members or any two members who attend the same group and have been on their weight loss journey together.

In time, Sam and Sophie got back into sport with the help of Slimming World's physical activity support programme, which helps members to introduce - or like Sam and Sophie reintroduce - activity in a way that works with their lifestyle, and to build up at their own pace.

Sophie said the camaraderie at Yate Slimming World group in Bristol, held by Consultant Bonny Mills, helped her and Sam fall in love with exercise again.

She said: 'As I began to feel fitter and healthier I started playing for a local team again, United Bristol Women FC, which I love. Sam has also got back into football by becoming a level 4 referee. I'm so proud of everything he has achieved.

'Thankfully though he's only refereed one of my games - it didn't end well, he tried to send me off!'

Now that Sam and Sophie have both reached their target 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 check in and stay motivated. Eating healthily is natural for us now.

Sam's before 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 both reached their target weights (right), their new goal is to maintain the weight losses

'We're confident we can continue our new lifestyle, with a bit more flexibility now we're not losing weight, thanks to Slimming World's Slim for Life maintenance plan.'

The couple are now planning their wedding, and are grateful for one another's support.

Sam added: 'For now, we're busy planning our wedding and feel excited about our future together. We have always made each other happy but now it's like we have a whole new take on life.

'There's no way I could have achieved this without Sophie's support. We make a great team - I can't wait to call her my wife one day!'