Weightloss couple shed 11 stones between them

THEY were a larger-than-life couple who decided to turn their lives around – and now they have lost more than 11 stones between them.

The slimline Selene Finch and Brian Hughes. Picture: contributed

Selene Finch and Brian Hughes, from Broxburn, were among 23 couples from across the UK and Ireland to reach the finals of Slimming World’s Couple of the Year 2015 competition.

They believe the secret of their success was mutual support at home as well as through their local slimming club.

Selene, 36, who lost 6st 7lb, said: “Doing this together has made a big difference because we understood how the other person was feeling and didn’t ever feel like we were alone on our weight-loss journey.

Selene Finch and Brian Hughes before the weight loss. Picture: Comp

“We enjoy cooking together and eat all the same healthy meals too.

“Instead of relying on convenience foods, we cook from scratch and it tastes so much better than using packets and jars.

“You can eat lots of foods freely to satisfy your appetite without having to weigh, count or measure them so there are tonnes of different meals that you can make and you’re never bored.”

She added: “We’re both much more active nowadays too and we enjoy going on long walks and exploring new places.”

Selene and Brian were voted Couple of the Year 2015 by their fellow club members and were invited to represent Broxburn at the national finals in Derbyshire on March 8.

Although they were not overall winners, they both agreed that they had won the biggest prize anyway.

Brian, 39, who has lost 5st, said: “We feel honoured to have been chosen to represent our group and we were absolutely delighted to take part in the finals.

“If I’m honest, though, the competition is really just the icing on the cake because we already feel like we’ve won the biggest prize anyway – losing weight has completely changed our lives and we’ve got a healthier future together now.”

Alison Chalmers, who runs the Broxburn group that the couple both attend, said that she was proud of them both.

She said: “The way they motivate and inspire one another as well as the other members in the group – and me – is amazing.”