A couple who lost more than 10st between them made it to the semi-finals of Slimming World’s Couple of the Year competition.

Jeff and Clare Fox joined a group in Sittingbourne after both admitting they were unhappy with their weight. Since joining last January, 45-year-old Mr Fox has lost 6st 1lb.

The pair, who have been together for 22 years and married for 10, believe the secret was getting support from one another at home as well as from the group each week.

Mr Fox, an IT business analyst, who was 17st 7lb before slimming down to 11st 6lb, said: “It can take quite a lot to admit to yourself you have a weight problem, let alone admitting it to your nearest and dearest.

“Imagine my relief when I finally spoke out and Clare said she was unhappy with her weight too and thought we should do something about it.

“People think losing weight is just eating less and moving more, but there is so much more to it than that. Having the right support in place is essential and I was lucky enough to not only have the support of my partner but the members of our Slimming World group, too.

“Losing weight together has definitely strengthened our relationship – we’re happier, healthier and fitter.” Since joining the group, Mr and Mrs Fox, who live in Sonora Fields and often visit family on Sheppey, have dropped 10st 1.5lb between them.

Mrs Fox, who has lost just more than 4st, going from 14st 1lb to 10st, said: “Before we lost weight we’d always talk about what was for dinner or which restaurant to pick – and that hasn’t changed!

“We still have delicious meals like lasagne, chicken curry or veggie chilli – they’re just made from scratch rather than from a jar. And we can still eat out too. We just make sensible swaps like changing chips for a jacket potato. We’ve also become much more active and even taken up cycling and canoeing again.”

The 45-year-old, a financial assistant for Swale Academies Trust, said: “We feel great and we know we’ve got a long, healthy, happy life to look forward to together now.”