The Cox family. Top row, second from left) Nichola, Ian, Andrew and Chris. Sue is on the bottom row to the left

by Hayley Robinson

We can’t just sit here and wait to die. Those were the words which inspired a family of five to go on to lose 27 stone between them.

Ian Cox made the comment to his wife Sue back in October 2011 while at their Sittingbourne home.

Sue, who back then was tipping the scales at 21st 6lbs, was struggling to walk and support her own weight.

As a result she was having to use a scooter when going shopping.

Ian, who weighed in at 14st 9.5lbs, simply wanted to lose a bit of weight as his 60th birthday was fast approaching.

Their vow to slim down also inspired their children Andrew, 38, from Sheerness, Nichola , 35, from Sittingbourne, and Chris, 33, from Minster, to do something about their expanding waistlines too.

Grabbing takeaways while working late at the family business IAC Delivery Solutions in Castle Road, Sittingbourne, was blamed as the reason for all of them piling on the pounds over the years.

As a result the family signed up to WeightWatchers and began attending weekly meetings at the UKP Leisure Club, Avenue of Remembrance, Sittingbourne.

Fast forward 17 months and Sue, 59, now weighs 16st 6lbs after losing 5st, Ian, 60, has lost two stone, married mum-of-two Nichola has shed 6st 2.5lbs while Chris, a married dad of one, has ditched 2st 9lbs.

But it is Andrew (pictured above right) who has lost the most shrinking from 29st 2lbs to 17st 7lbs - a loss of more than 11st.

His motivation - getting married in August next year.

He said: “I wanted to look good on my wedding day and in the photos and give my future wife as many years as I could.”