The couple turned your wedding into a motivation to lose weight

THE wedding invitation of a close friend prompted the couple Meredith and Steven Hutson to exercise, improve their eating habits to lose a total of 79 kg.

It's not uncommon for a couple to gain weight together as they often bond over meals. A One Poll survey found that 79% of 2,000 volunteers in the US have gained weight since getting married or in love.

Meredith, 28, and her husband, Steven, 27, of Texas, are no exception. The couple admit to never exercising and addicted to fast food. Steven, who weighed 118 kg at the time of his marriage, said he did not care about his body on the big day. But as he prepares to attend his best friend's wedding, he wants to get in shape.

Meredith, who weighed 116 kg at her peak, said she was obese since childhood, hated cooking and often bought ready-to-eat meals. In total, she spends $800 per month on fast food. Meanwhile, her husband eats erratically. Meredith estimates she used to consume 4,000 calories a day and Steven's figure is 4,500 - 6,500 calories. She tried all diets but did not persevere, so the weight quickly returned to the original mark. Meredit started her weight loss journey in January 2020 and lost 23 kg before walking down the aisle at her wedding.

Her best friend's wedding invitation in February 2022 prompted her to continue her weight loss efforts. At the same time, Steven also wanted to hit the gym and switch to a nutritious diet, instead of fast food.

Couple Meredith and Steven Hutson at their heaviest weight and at their best friend's wedding in February. Photo: Newsweek

The couple has always struggled with their weight, but this time, they have found a suitable and sustainable diet. Every day, the couple cook together and arrange a weekend to prepare food for the following week. They apply a high-protein, high-carb, low-fat diet combined with weight training.

Instead of watching TV six nights a week like before, they work out together in the gym. That helps the couple's relationship become stronger than ever.

Thanks to the weight loss, the couple's wardrobe also changed. Meredith used to wear a size 24 suit, but now she only uses a size 4. Steven has reduced his waistline to 101 cm, so his pants are down 4 sizes. Meredith now weighs just over 61 kg and changed jobs, from hairdresser to online fitness trainer.

The couple caused a stir on Facebook when Meredith posted a slide video with before and after pictures of weight loss. The video quickly garnered 557,000 likes since it was shared on February 13.

Laura Lee Crabbe, a personal trainer in Kansas City, Missouri, says it's a good idea to get outside motivation to lose weight, but people should be cautious.

"Setting milestones for your weight loss goals, such as weddings, vacations, and class reunions, are a great starting point for your fitness journey. However, for sustainable weight loss, they do. We have to change our current lifestyle and form new habits," she said.

According to Crabbe, 6 to 12 weeks is the perfect time for a workout plan to reduce clothing size. However, she warns that people are exhausted when they rely on external motivation to lose weight too quickly with a rigid, stressful diet and exercise regimen.

"That kind of weight loss isn't sustainable, so it's likely that your weight will come back after the events. It's best to give yourself plenty of time before the special event to kick-start the weight loss. so you can focus on sustainable eating and exercise habits," the coach shared.