Brit couple lose 15st after being made to sit apart on plane

LONDON - A British couple has revealed they lost a massive 15 stone between them only after they felt humiliated by a stewardess asking them to move to opposite ends of the plane so it could take off.

Alan and Jan Coupe revealed that they were asked to shift their seats to opposite ends of the plane so their holiday flight to Guernsey could take off.

“That flight was so embarrassing. Coming back, I asked to sit separately so we wouldn’t have to go through it again,” the Daily Express quoted Jan as saying.

The two, who were determined to get in shape after the incident, had no regrets as it saved Alan, who doctors discovered had a heart defect that could have killed him if he had not lost weight.

“But if it hadn’t happened I don’t think Alan would be here today,” Jan said.

“I said to him: ‘If you don’t do something about your weight I don’t think you’ll see another year out’,” she revealed.

Alan, 55, lost eight stone and half a pound, reaching his target weight of 12st 91/2lb this week. His 48in waist has gone down to a more modest 36in.

Jan, 51, lost 7st 10lb and weighs 10st 7lb. At her biggest her dress size was 22-24, but is now a svelte size 10.

The two, who run a bed and breakfast in Fareham, Hampshire, were crowned Slimming World’s Couple of the Year at the Ritz hotel in central London on March 16.

They will spend some of their 3,000 pounds prize money on celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary this year - for which they will have their wedding rings made smaller.

When they renewed their vows for their 25th anniversary their fingers were so large they had to ask a jeweller to expand the rings.

The couple’s healthy eating regime has been passed on to their children Chris, 20, who has lost four stone, and Chloe, 25, who is trimmer by two stone.

“We have apologised because we didn’t do things with them because our weight inhibited us,” Jan said.

Alan added: “Chris can’t swim because I couldn’t take him to the baths. There was no way I was putting a swimming costume on.”

Now the family cycle and swim together and enjoy taking long walks.

“It’s the little things like being able to tie my shoelaces and walk upstairs without getting out of breath that really make a difference,” Alan said.

“Since I lost weight my doctor has discovered I have a heart defect. I may have had it for years, but it was hidden by my size,” he added. (ANI)