A couple who got fat scoffing KFC have shed a combined weight of 16 stone for their wedding – on a diet of WEETABIX chicken.
Peter Needham, 36, and his wife, Tracey, 32, swapped Kentucky Fried Chicken for the healthy alternative.
They dropped from nearly 20 stone each to twelve-and-a half-stone Peter and eleven-and-a-half Tracey.
And their secret weapon proved to be chicken coated in the crumbs of the cereal favourite and then cooked in the oven.
Tracey says: “It was my husband’s idea and he came across it on the internet. It tastes just like KFC – just not as greasy.
“At first I thought it sounded disgusting and a bit strange. But when I ate it, it was actually okay and it has worked a treat.”
The couple revealed they used to spend £50 on takeaways including KFC, Dominoes, curries and Mcdonalds but now plan all their meals in advance.
Tracey said: “I was shocked when we tallied that up. We work long hours so it was not like we were slobbing around.
“It was a convenience thing – but we have cut all that out now.”
The couple, who have a three year old son named Ethan, say their dramatic weight loss is down to dieting and that only “20 per cent” has been achieved through exercising.
Tracey, of Plymouth, Devon, said: “I was quite happy go lucky before because I had my little bubble where I’d take the mick out of my own weight; it was more of an act to avoid getting upset but now I am truly happy.
“I used to eat badly out of comfort and just accepted I was a size 24, but I wanted to slim down so that I could run to nursery with my son Ethan.
“We’ve gone from buying lots of takeaways like McDonald’s and KFC to making similar food at home.”
The couple, who both work at Sainsbury’s achieved their goals with the help of Slimming World, where Tracey is now a consultant.
She said she was first motivated to lose weight eight months before her wedding in 2012 and she shed four stone.
But she later piled on the pounds again after giving birth – but was determined to try again so she is able to do more with her three-year-old son Ethan.
In the last two years she has gone from nearly 19 stone to her ideal weight.
She said: “Physically I am able to do more with him. I can chase him up to nursery as he likes to peg up the hill and I am able to catch up with him.
“It has all been through the support of Slimming World.
“It is all about making swaps. It is not about cutting out or giving up on anything.
“I still eat doughnuts, crisps and chocolates, but just not as many.”
Tracey won Slimming World’s ‘Biggest Loser’ award amongst her group last year, and is now training to become a diet consultant.
She will be helping to run sessions every Wednesday.
She said: “I am exactly where I want to be with my weight. I am so much more happier and confident. It has given me a new lease of life.”
Peter said the whole family was benefiting from the strict regime.
He said: “It’s really positive for our son as well because he eats healthy too.”
