It’s wedding bells for Sam and Sophie after 13st weight loss

A couple from Bristol have become the first-ever winners of Slimming World’s Two Together competition after losing a fantastic 13st between them.

Sam Wilmot, 27, and his fiancée Sophie Bailey, also 27, now have double cause for celebration, with Sam popping the question to Sophie shortly after their win.

Sam, who has lost an amazing 8st since January 2023, says: “We have more confidence and we’re fitter and healthier than ever. Getting married might have been something we’d have thought twice about before because we’d have shied away from the attention – now we can’t wait to celebrate on our big day.”

Slimming World’s Two Together competition aims to find the UK and Ireland’s most inspirational duo of slimmers. This could be a couple, two friends, family members or any two slimmers who attend the same group and have been on their weight loss journey together.

Sophie, who has lost 5st, says: “‘I’ve always been quite athletic and sporty, though my eating habits weren’t the best. I love playing football, but when I hurt my back, it meant I couldn’t play. That, coupled with a sedentary office job, meant I soon gained weight and I suspect that is what was making my back worse. Being in a new relationship with Sam also meant we were eating out all the time too. It got to a stage where we were both unhappy with our weight.”

Sam adds: “I’d been overweight for most of my life – in fact when I was younger a scan revealed I had curved shin bones because of my weight. A love of sport was something Sophie and I bonded over when we first met, but my weight was really holding me back from taking part – I’d become a much more of a spectator.

“The final straw came at Christmas 2022. As with all family occasions the camera soon came out – only this time we were really shocked by the photographs of us. We hardly recognised ourselves. My mum and dad had recently joined a Slimming World group thanks to the encouragement of my auntie Julia and were raving about how good the food was and how friendly the other members were, so that January we decided to take the plunge and join ourselves.”

Although the couple were a little apprehensive about joining a weight loss group, they soon began to enjoy attending their Slimming World group every week.

Sophie says: “The group was nothing like the stereotypes we’d seen on TV. Having Sam’s mum and dad there for support was a huge bonus but looking back we’d have been OK on our own, too. Everyone was so welcoming and friendly, and the eating plan was nothing like we were expecting – we're both big foodies so we loved adapting some of our favourite meals to make them Slimming World-friendly.”

After enjoying home-cooked dishes like spicy meatball pasta, Korean beef noodles and vegetable fried rice, Sam and Sophie were thrilled to find themselves losing weight each week.

Sam says: “The camaraderie of our group played a huge part in our success; we love going on a Saturday morning and setting ourselves up for a great week. Being surrounded by people from all walks of life who are all different yet all have a shared goal is really special.”

In time, Sam and Sophie got back into sport with the help of Slimming World’s physical activity support programme, which helps members to introduce – or like Sam and Sophie reintroduce – activity in a way that works with their lifestyle, and to build up at their own pace.

Sophie says: “As I began to feel fitter and healthier I started playing for a local team again, United Bristol Women FC, which I love. Sam has also got back into football by becoming a level 4 referee. I’m so proud of everything he has achieved. Thankfully though he’s only refereed one of my games – it didn’t end well, he tried to send me off!”

Now that Sam and Sophie have both reached their target weights, their new goal is to maintain the weight losses they worked so hard for. Sam says: “We still go to our group every week to check in and stay motivated. Now that we’re at target we feel that eating healthily is just a way of life and we have the odd treat here and there – it's all about balance for us. We know that we have the tools to stay slim for life thanks to Slimming World and the Slim for Life plan.

“For now, we’re busy planning our wedding and feel excited about our future together. We have always made each other happy but now it’s like we have a whole new take on life. There’s no way I could have achieved this without Sophie’s support. We make a great team – I can’t wait to call her my wife one day!”

You can view a video of Sam and Sophie’s story here.

VITAL STATS:
Name: Samuel Wilmot
Age: 27
Height: 5ft 9ins/175cm
Starting weight: 21st 4½lbs/298½lbs/135kg
Current weight: 13st 4½lbs/186½lbs/85kg
Weight loss: 8st/112lbs/50kg    
Size before: XXL
Size now: Medium
Date joined Slimming World: January 2023

VITAL STATS:
Name: Sophie Bailey
Age: 27
Name: Sophie Bailey
Height: 5ft 8ins/172cm
Starting weight: 16st 12lbs/236lbs/107kg   
Current weight: 11st 12lbs/166lbs/75kg 
Weight loss: 5st/70lbs/32kg
Dress size before: 20
Dress size now: 12
Date joined Slimming World: January 2023

Group: Sam and Sophie attend the Yate Slimming World group in Bristol held by Consultant Bonny Mills

Sam’s before menu
Breakfast: Sugary cereal, 2 slices of toast with peanut butter and banana, black coffee    
Lunch: Triple sandwich, crisps and a full-sugar cola plus a brownie               
Dinner: Curry made with a shop-bought jar, rice, naan bread, onion bhajis and samosas  
Snacks: Cereal bar, chocolate bar, tea and biscuits, toast with butter           

Sam’s after menu
Breakfast: Bowl of fat-free natural yogurt, berries, banana, muesli                 
Lunch: Chicken and feta salad with lettuce, tomato, onion and cucumber. High-protein yogurt
Dinner: Homemade tandoori chicken with rice and broccoli or beef stir fry with noodles
Snacks: Low-fat cheese, apples, bananas, hard-boiled eggs            

Sophie’s before menu
Breakfast: 3 slices of toast with butter, plus a pastry or sausage roll mid-morning  
Lunch: Shop bought meal deal with crisps, chocolate and a sugary energy drink   
Dinner: Takeaway chicken burger and chips
Snacks: Pack of bourbon biscuits, toast with butter

Sophie’s after menu
Breakfast: 40g cereal hoops with semi-skimmed milk or beans on toast      
Lunch: Chicken and feta salad with lettuce, tomato, onion and cucumber. High-protein yogurt
Dinner: Tandoori chicken with rice and broccoli or beef stir fry with noodles               
Snacks: Low-fat cheese, apples, bananas, peaches, nectarines