CHUBBY HUBBY-TO-BE: 'Too fat to have sex? Don't be silly'

JENNY'S STORY:

'I met John two years ago at our local pub. He was a regular there, known for drinking 23 pints a night. It sounds like an awful amount of booze, but John was so huge, he could handle it. People used to try to drink him under the table, but nobody ever beat him.

It was hard not to notice him. At 37 stone he stood out from the crowd. But his personality was larger than life too - he always seemed to be happy and enjoying himself.

As we got chatting, we just clicked - I knew there was something special between us. I'd never had a relationship with an overweight person before, let alone somebody who was obese, but John's size didn't bother me - and it certainly didn't stop me fancying him.

We were both married when we met, so nothing happened between us for a while. But my marriage was on the rocks and John told me it was the same with his wife. Soon after, my marriage ended.

One weekend, John came round to my house and cooked me a full English breakfast. While eating our sausages, he told me how he felt about me and asked if I wanted to give things a go. I said yes.

People were a bit surprised at first. We got teased down the pub by everyone wanting to ask about our sex life - how did we manage it? I told them it was none of their business. "Where there's a will, there's a way!" John would say.

At least the teasing in the pub was between friends - John used to hate going to places where nobody knew him. When people see him for the first time, they can't help but stare. I'd notice people giving him disgusted looks. It made my blood boil.

I suppose we stood out because John's so big and I'm so slim. People probably think we look a bit odd together. It never bothered me too much though, I was having such a great time with John. But his size did affect things.

If we wanted to go into a cafe, I'd have to go in first to see what sort of chairs they had, in case John couldn't fit in them. And he couldn't walk more than a few hundred yards without needing a rest.

We went on holiday to Spain last year and booked the flight early to make arrangements for John on the plane. He needed two seats and we asked for the seat in front of him to be empty so it could be put forward - there's no way he'd fit into a single seat on a packed chartered flight. Thankfully the crew were really accommodating, and gave us three seats for the price of one.

When we got there, we saw our hire car was a tiny Peugeot. We looked at each other and laughed. "You're going to have to reverse it out of the gap for me to get in," John said. He managed to squeeze in, but whenever he had to get out, he'd wait until no one was around to watch - sometimes we'd wait 20 minutes.

We moved in together just a few months after we met. John was helping me move out of the house I'd shared with my ex-husband and stayed the night - and we haven't been apart since. I could tell he was self-conscious at first. When I went to bed, John would already be under the covers with the lights off. After a while, though, he relaxed - and now he's happy to give me a full view.

My family were shocked at how quickly we decided to live together, especially my 19-year-old daughter Amy. But she came round, and now she lives with us too.

Last December, John proposed to me, exactly a year after we'd first got together. That morning, he sent me down to the kitchen, where I found a bunch of flowers with a note, saying "Happy anniversary, love always. PS: What's on the telly?" On top of the TV was a Ronan Keating CD I'd wanted for ages, with a note saying, "Will you marry me?" Of course, I said yes. We've set a date for December this year.

I couldn't be happier about spending the rest of my life with John. He used to tease me, saying, "You won't have to put up with me that long anyway. The doctors don't reckon I'll be around more than 10 years." I'd reply, "Well, you'd better do something about it then." He was only joking, but it did worry me.

I'd never dream of nagging John to lose weight. He was big when I met him and I took him for what he was. I tried to encourage him to cut down on his bad habits, though. He used to have six slices of bread to mop up his dinner with, or if he made sandwiches, he'd pile his plate high. So I started making the meals.

I can't preach to John - I love stuffing my face with chocolate. The difference is, I don't put on a pound. I'm just over 9st and have been for years. Even after my daughter was born, I was back in my slim jeans within weeks.

When John told me about this latest diet he started in the New Year, I thought he'd last a couple of weeks then lose interest. But he's had so much support, which has really helped. Our wedding is a big incentive too. Usually it's the bride-to-be trying to lose weight in time for the big day, but with us, it's the groom.

John hasn't banned me from eating chocolate, but it doesn't seem to tempt him. In fact, he's finding the diet quite easy. He's only made small, sensible changes, like cutting out fry-ups. Alcohol is banned too, so it's just Diet Cokes when we're at the pub now, which I think was a bit of a shock to his system. At least John can look after me when I stagger home!

Exercise has been a struggle too, but he's really putting the effort in. Even though it's only been a few months, I can see the difference in him already.

I've seen pictures of John when he was young and skinny, and he's unrecognisable. "I might not fancy you when you're slim," I teased him. But I'm sure I will. Whatever happens, we're together forever and it won't change how I feel about him. But if John does gets smaller, our sex life is sure to improve - and I'll be able to get my arms around him when we cuddle.'

JOHN'S STORY:

'My diet started as a bet. The landlord at my local bet me I couldn't give up beer. Not one to refuse a challenge, I took him on, and my mate, Tony Scull, 30, got involved too. We were both seriously obese and not happy about it. We've tried countless diets in the past, but they've never worked. I was determined to stick to this one though, and once people started hearing about it, they all got behind us.

The challenge was to lose 6st in six months, and to make it really worthwhile I decided to raise money for charity by making it a sponsored diet.

I chose the Prospect Hospice in Wroughton, which is local and has helped some of my family.

Slimmers World agreed to sponsor us, and Fitness First gave us both free six-month gym memberships. Now we do three sessions every week with a personal trainer. It's hard work, but it's made a huge impact. They've been great and have promised to extend our memberships for a further six months so I can carry on for my wedding in December.

The dieting isn't too bad but I do miss my 23 pints a night. I'm noticing a real difference already though - I can walk much further and don't have to lie on my side to watch TV in bed.

I want to be around to see my kids get married and have kids of their own. And although Jenny loves me for what I am, I'm doing this for her too. The lads in the pub used to say the only thing I could pull was a muscle. Well, I pulled Jenny, didn't I?'

To make a pledge to John and Tony, call 01793 432 587

JOHN'S DIET AND EXERCISE

BEFORE:

Breakfast: Full English fry-up with sausages, bacon, beans, eggs and toast

Lunch: Rolls, sausage rolls and crisps

Dinner: Traditional meals such as meat, potatoes, veg and gravy, or pie and chips

Bedtime snack: Sandwiches

Alcohol: 23 pints a night, at least three nights or more a week

Exercise: None

Weight: 37 STONE

NOW:

Breakfast: Weetabix and chopped-up banana and skimmed milk

Lunch: Ham and salad sandwich

Dinner: Lean meat with veg, low-fat yoghurt with chopped fruit for dessert

Bedtime snack:

Nothing

Alcohol: None - drinks Diet Coke at the pub

Exercise: Work-out at the gym three times a week. Walks dog with Jenny

Weight: 31 STONE

... AND JENNY'S

Breakfast: None

Lunch: Pasta and sauce

Dinner: Same as John

Snacks: Chocolate, crisps and sandwiches

Alcohol: 10 or 11 Bacardi and Cokes two nights a week

Exercise: Walks dog with John and is on her feet all day at work

Weight: 9 ST 3 LB

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