‘We needed to act or we wouldn’t see her grow up’

Super slimmer Lee Walt said the difficulties he and partner Fiona faced during the pregnancy were a wake- up call to tell them they needed to lose the weight.

The 41-year-old doorman, said: “At one point during the pregnancy we were told that our daughter had a 0% chance of surviving, because there was no clear scan photo of the baby and no fluid was showing in the womb.

“We thought we would just see whatever happens, happens, and went on to have our daughter Jessica, who was born eight weeks prematurely.

“She needed a bit of oxygen and was kept at the neonatal unit for four weeks, but since coming out she is fine.”

Lee continued: “After having Jessica we decided that we needed to do something or we wouldn’t see daughter grow up, because of the way that we were going.

“She was our inspiration we wanted to lose the weight so that we could run around after her and play with her and do all the things parents normally do.”

Previously the couple didn’t like the way they looked and would avoid cameras and mirrors and even the topic of weight.

But after shedding about 20 stone between them, the couple feel much more energised and have been able to do the things they always wanted with their daughter – such as taking her swimming and going to the soft play area.

The pair even went on to win a Miss Slinky and Mr Sleek award within their Slimming World group after being nominated by fellow slimmers.

It was at the same Slimming World meeting that the couple shared with members the serious health impact their weight had had on their daughter.

Lee added: “It has been life-changing without a doubt.

“People can’t believe it when they see us now.

“I have a cousin in America who I had not seen for three or four years and when she came back over she couldn’t believe that I was the same person.

“And at one point Fiona had four different uniform requests in as she was losing so much weight.”