28
June
2019
|
09:00
Europe/Amsterdam

Life’s a beach for Katie and Tony after losing 14st 4lbs!

  • Katie and Tony Viney decided to lose weight after worrying that their size meant they wouldn’t live to see their grandchildren grow up
  • They used to watch their children play on the beach from their car as they didn’t have the energy to join them
  • Since joining Slimming World they’ve lost an incredible 14st 4lbs and have been named Slimming World’s Couple of the Year 2019 

A couple who feared that their weight meant they would never get to see their grandchildren grow up have lost an incredible 14st 4lbs between them to be named Slimming World’s Couple of the Year 2019.

Katie and Tony Viney, from Bicester, used to have so little energy that on family holidays they’d drive up to a beach and watch their four children play from the side-lines rather than join in with the fun.

The couple’s lightbulb moment came when their eldest daughter turned 18 and they began to think about their long-term future. Katie, 45, who has now lost 9st 1½lbs, says: “As a busy mum of four I’d put my own health to the bottom of the pile for years. I’d always been big but with every pregnancy I just became bigger and bigger. Each of my pregnancies was deemed high-risk because of my weight – so much so that I needed a big luminous sticker on all of my notes.

“Our eldest daughter Rhiannon was about to turn 18 and it hit me that suddenly my children were becoming adults themselves – and that one day I might have grandchildren. At the rate I was going, I knew that I wouldn’t be around to see them. My fitness was terrible and even a short walk would tire me out. I didn’t even like walking up the stairs unless I absolutely had to. Something had to change.”

Katie Viney, Slimming World Couple of the Year 2019
I never truly realised how much our weight was having an impact on our lives before – we have such a zest for life now and we’re ready to take on anything.
Katie Viney, Slimming World Couple of the Year 2019

Tony, 52, who has lost 5st 2½lbs, decided to support his wife on her weight-loss journey after she asked for an unusual Christmas present. He says: “Like every year, in December 2017 I asked Katie what she would like for Christmas. She became a bit emotional and asked me if she could have a Slimming World membership. I could see how much she wanted to make a change, so I decided to bite the bullet and go along with her.

“I’d always been overweight myself – I grew up in a fish and chip shop so there was always fried food on the menu. In fact, I used to get bored of eating fish and chips so developed a liking for deep fried pies. When Katie told me she didn’t think she’d be alive to see any of our grandchildren grow up, it really shocked me into action. We joined our local Slimming World group that January and honestly we haven’t looked back since.”

Katie and Tony admit that they were nervous about walking through the doors of their Slimming World group but were blown away by the warm welcome they received. Katie says: “Even with Tony by my side, the nerves really kicked in. We were greeted with a big smile from our Consultant though and she made us feel at ease straight away. Everyone in the group was so friendly, and there was a big sense of us all being in it together. Tony was especially pleased when he heard about the eating plan, too!”

Tony, who is a hotelier, says: “As a professional chef I was a little bit worried that we’d have to give up all of our favourite foods and just live on a diet of lettuce leaves! I couldn’t have been more wrong though. I soon realised that I could adapt many of our favourite family meals to make them the Slimming World way – just by making simple swaps like switching from oil to low-calorie cooking spray and using lean cuts of meat. One of our favourites is a beef stroganoff, it’s absolutely delicious.”

Katie, a teaching assistant, wanted to lose weight for health reasons, too. She says: “I developed lymphedema in my legs after getting cellulitis a few years ago, and as a result had to wear surgical stockings all of the time. Since losing weight though, my circulation has improved so much that one of my legs is completely back to normal now. If I’m honest I never truly realised how much our weight was having an impact on our lives before – we have such a zest for life now and we’re ready to take on anything.”

Tony admits that his health has improved since losing weight, too. He says: “Before we lost the weight, we were barely active at all. On our family holidays we’d drive up to a beach, open the car doors and watch the kids play from the comfort of the car. Then we’d pack them all up again, drive a bit further up the coast and do the same again. I realise now that we weren’t enjoying the time with our children to the fullest. These days we run 4-5 miles a day with our two dogs and we’re full of energy – so active family days out are the norm for us now and we hope to be this fit and active for many more years to come.”
 

VITAL STATS:

Katie Viney

Age: 45

Height: 5ft 8½ins /1.74m

Starting weight: 21st 3½lbs/297½lbs/135kg

Current weight: 12st 2lbs/170lbs/77kg

Weight loss: 9st 1½lbs/127½lbs/58kg

Starting dress size: 24

Current dress size: 10

Date joined Slimming World: January 2018
 

Tony Viney

Age: 52

Height: 5ft 4ins/1.6m

Starting weight: 16st 7lbs/231lbs/105kg

Current weight: 11st 4½lbs/158½lbs/72kg

Weight loss: 5st 2½lbs/72½lbs/33kg

Starting waist measurement: 38ins/183cm

Current waist measurement: 30ins/97cm

Date joined Slimming World: January 2018

Group: Katie and Tony attend the Bicester Slimming World group in Oxfordshire, run by Mandy Giraud.
 

Katie’s before menu:

Breakfast: Cereal and milk or a pain au chocolat

Lunch: Sandwich, crisps and biscuits

Dinner: Takeaway

Snacks: Biscuits, crisps and sweets

Evening: More snacking on biscuits, sweets and crisps
 

Katie’s after menu:

Breakfast: Porridge with mixed berries

Mid-morning: Apple and banana fruit pot

Lunch: Large homemade chicken salad

Dinner: Beef stroganoff, goulash or stir-fry served with rice or veg

Evening: Fresh fruit, fat-free yogurt, a Slimming World hi fibre bar
 

Tony’s before menu:

Breakfast: Small bowl of cereal with milk

Lunch: A burger with bacon, cheese, mushrooms and black pudding

Dinner: A takeaway or creamy carbonara with lots of cheese

Snacks: Chocolate, biscuits and crisps

Evening: More chocolate, biscuits and crisps
 

Tony’s after menu:

Breakfast: 2 Weetabix with fruit and fat-free natural yogurt

Mid-morning: Banana and an apple

Lunch: Large homemade salad with tuna or chicken

Dinner: Beef stroganoff, goulash or stir-fry served with rice or veg

Evening: Fresh fruit, fat-free yogurt, sugar-free jelly

Boilerplate

For further information please contact the Slimming World press office on 01773 306852 or email lucy.knighton@slimmingworld.co.uk

In addition, you can view a video of Katie and Tony talking about their weight loss here.

Notes to Editors

· This story is NOT for syndication to any magazines without the consent of Katie and Tony Viney and the Slimming World press office (details above).

· Slimming World and Katie and Tony Viney retain copyright of all images attached to this press release.

· The Couple of the Year 2019 competition celebrates the success of couples who attend Slimming World together.

About Slimming World

Slimming World was founded by Margaret Miles-Bramwell (OBE, FRSA) in 1969 and is now celebrating its 50th anniversary. There are now more than 19,000 weekly groups supporting 900,000 members across the UK and Republic of Ireland. Groups are run by a network of 5,500 community-based Slimming World Consultants, who receive specific training in the role of diet and physical activity in weight management, as well as sophisticated behaviour-change techniques. Slimming World’s healthy eating plan, Food Optimising, is based on the science of satiety and energy density. Our phased activity programme, Body Magic, eases members into activity until it becomes an intrinsic part of their daily routine. The principles behind Slimming World’s philosophy are based on a deep understanding of the challenges faced by overweight people and recognition that those who struggle with weight carry a double burden, the weight itself and a burden of guilt and shame about their weight. Slimming World’s programme integrates practical, up-to-date advice with a highly developed support system based on care and compassion, and Consultant training focuses on facilitating, encouraging and empowering members to make changes in a supportive, warm and friendly group environment. Consultant training is delivered through the Slimming World Academy. Slimming World also invests in a comprehensive research programme to develop its support for long-term weight management. The group support provided by Slimming World is recognised as effective by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and the NHS.

For more information about Slimming World’s approach visit www.slimmingworld.co.uk or call 0344 897 8000. Follow Slimming World on Twitter at www.twitter.com/slimmingworld or become a Slimming World fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/slimmingworld 

For the Press Office please email public.relations@slimmingworld.co.uk