AN East Yorkshire couple are celebrating after shedding more than 13st 8lb between them – and getting nominated for slimming couple of the year.

Steve and Angela Adkin have reached the national finals of Slimming World’s Couple Of The Year 2012 competition after shedding the weight in 18 months.

Steve joined the Bridlington Slimming World group in August 2010 and has lost 10st 12lb and Angela has dropped 2st 10lb just by enjoying the same healthy meals as Steve at home.

“Like most people, our weight gain was very gradual,” said Angela, who dropped from 11st 1lb to 8st 5lb.

“I think when you’re in a happy relationship it’s easy for your weight to creep up. You become comfortable and enjoy socialising together, which often revolves around food and drink.

“We loved cosy nights in with a takeaway or going out for meals together. Before we knew it our clothes were tight and our weight was getting us both down.

“We knew we needed to do something about it for the sake of our health and because it was making us unhappy, but we didn’t really know how to go about it. Then a family member recommended Slimming World and Steve decided to go along – it was one of the best decisions he’s ever made.”

The pair swapped fatty takeaways, convenience foods and sugary snacks for healthy meals made from scratch with lots of vegetables and fruit.

Steve, who dropped from 26st 4lb to 15st 6lb, said: “It was a revelation that we could eat so much because I think we’d always thought that going hungry was a sacrifice you had to make to lose weight, but the plan is so generous that you never go hungry. Just making small changes, like grilling instead of frying, makes a huge difference.

“But it was much more than just changing what we were eating, the support we received was so important.

“My consultant Sally Anne has lost weight herself so she understood exactly how I was feeling and, if you were struggling at all, one of the other members always had a tip or recipe to help.

“It’s easy to be apprehensive about joining a slimming club – especially for men – but it doesn’t take long before you feel at home at Slimming World.”

The couple, who live in Bridlington, both credit the support from their slimming club for their weight-loss success. For more information about the Bridlington Slimming World group, phone Sally Anne on 07739 391828