A husband and wife revealed how they shed almost 240lbs while still eating six times a day.
Marie Martin, 32, and her husband Corey, 30, who own a business in North Carolina, revealed how they slowly piled on the pounds while comfort eating.
At their heaviest the couple each weighed 268lbs (19st 2Ib) and found themselves hating their bodies. Corey would avoid taking off his top at the beach while Marie hated shopping for new clothes.
Their lives changed in 2014 when Marie was warned she might not live to see 30 if she didn’t lose weight.
Shocked at the prospect, she overhauled her lifestyle and has since lost 133lbs (9st 5lbs) and has shrunk from a US size 24 (UK size 28) to a US size 6 (UK size 10).
Her transformation spurred her husband into action and Corey is now 170lbs ( 12st 2Ibs) and has swapped his XXL shirts for a Small/Medium.
Pictured before losing the weight. The couple admitted they were food addicts and felt uncomfortable about how they looked
Corey, 30, and Marie Martin, 32, from North Carolina, lost 238lbs combined since 2014 and say their sex life has become ‘limitless’ pictured: the couple after the weight loss)
Corey, (pictured before the weight loss), would wear a size XXL and did not dare going to the beach without a shirt on
Marie (pictured after her weight loss) turned her life around after a doctor told her she would not live to see 30 if she kept her bad habits
Corey and Marie, who are also parents to their daughter, two-year old Avalee, now both encourage each other when exercising and hold each other accountable. They go to the gym two or three times a week.
Their diet before would consist of the same meals with snacks included namely; pizza, burgers, take aways, sweets and chips and would roughly consume 3,000 to 4,000 calories a day each.
Now they have structured their meals, only focusing on healthy food; for breakfast they would have oatmeal or cereal, an hour an a half later they would snack on a fruit smoothie with Greek yoghurt.
At noon they would have a small salad with eggs and chicken, then at 2:30pm they would have vegetables with light ranch sauce.
The couple on their wedding day before the weight loss. Marie said the couple did much more together than just watching TV
The couple before their weight loss. ‘We were very miserable and had no energy to do anything,’ Marie said
Looking sharp! Marie said their marriage had never been ‘more amazing’ and that their already satisfying sex-life improved as well (pictured with Corey after the weight loss)
Their fifth meal would consist of lean and greens and at 7:30pm they would have a chocolate chip cookie or brownie as a snack.
They told how their weight loss has given their sex life a boost. While it has always been ‘amazing’ the couple now feel ‘limitless’ in the bedroom.
Speaking about their journey, Marie said: ‘Corey struggled [with his weight] most of his life and I struggled throughout college and after. Neither of us were comfortable in our own skin.
‘We had bad eating habits and an addiction to food for comfort. I hated shopping. Corey wouldn’t take his shirt off at the beach. We were very miserable and had no energy to do anything.
‘I was told by a doctor that if I didn’t get my health under control, I might not live to see 30. I was tired of trying and failing but I knew something had to change.
Marie and Corey pictured at their heaviest. More than a diet, the weight loss demanded big lifestyle changes from the couple
Confident and happy. Corey and Marie (pictured after losing the weight) eat six meals a day and drink water religiously
‘I ate (and still do eat) six times a day and drink half my body weight in water. I leaned into an amazing community of people who supported me and wouldn’t let me make excuses or give up.
‘I learned new habits to replace the old ones to make this a lifestyle change. This wasn’t a quick fix for me but a year long process of becoming the best version of myself possible.’
Her transformation inspired her husband to take action.
She continued: ‘Realising getting healthy is possible and seeing how good I felt, Corey wanted that too. We feel amazing but more than that humbled to walk this journey with so many other people.
A picture that belongs to the past. The couple (pictured before) now hit the gym two to three times a week
Marie with her daughter Avalee. The couple have to keep up with their little one and hold each other accountable for their lifestyle choices
Mari during a rock climbing session at the gym. The young woman advises to start small instead of wanted to succeed at everything too fast
‘Our marriage has never been more amazing, and sex was always awesome but it’s allowed us to explore each other in a deeper way because we aren’t worried about limitations or feeling uncomfortable.’
The couple explained they do not need to count calories or ‘major food prep’ in order to maintain their diet.
Marie continued: ‘My whole life is different; my relationship with my body is incredible and I’ve learned to use food as fuel and not entertainment.
‘I have tons of energy and enjoy being active because I don’t hurt or feel self-conscience and my mind has been freed from the negative self-talk that took over a majority of my thoughts.
Marie (pictured before losing the weight) said she started struggling with her weight during and after college
‘The hardest part is the mental game; having to choose what would further our health goals instead of what we wanted in the moment. Making your health a priority is hard and that’s why so many people fail.
‘My advice is to begin making small changes; incorporate one to two micro habits every two weeks until you’ve mastered them and then work on another area.
‘If you try to conquer every single area that needs work it becomes too overwhelming and exhausting. You’ll feel defeated. Take it a day at a time.
‘Surround yourself with like-minded people who are health minded and want the same things you do out of life.
‘Lastly, go find someone who’s done what you want to do and ask them to coach you. I think accepting help and coaching is such a vital piece of the puzzle.’
Happy family. Marie said her whole life was different and that her relationship with her body was incredible since .losing the weight (pictured with Corey and Avalee on a day out)
Feeling good. Corey’s self confidence has drastically improved since losing the weight (pictured)
Marie (pictured after the weight loss with Corey) admitted that making health a priority was hard, which was why so many people failed