Obese couple who lost 266lbs combined say their sex life and stamina have totally changed

A couple have revealed how they have collectively lost 266lbs (19st) – by working out almost daily together. 

Bartender and university student, Samantha Gilmore, 22, from Missouri, says she was ‘always overweight’ growing up and was even warned by a paediatrician that she would be obese by her 16th birthday. 

At 17, Samantha moved in with her boyfriend, photographer and machine operator, Rick Stahl Jr, now 26. Rick had also struggled with his weight growing up, despite playing football in high school. 

 

Unhappy: Samantha Gilmore (left) and Rich Stahl Jr (right), lost 266lbs combined since 2017 after being miserable about old pictures of themselves looking larger (pictured before weight loss)

Transformed! The couple (pictured after weight loss) now exercise six times a week and say their sex life and stamina have completely changed

Transformed! The couple (pictured after weight loss) now exercise six times a week and say their sex life and stamina have completely changed

Samantha and Rick say they now feel more confident about themselves and can 'wear whatever we like'

Samantha and Rick say they now feel more confident about themselves and can ‘wear whatever we like’

When he moved out of his mother’s house, he began overindulging in food and reached his heaviest weight of 420lbs (30st), wearing a 5XL shirt.

It wasn’t until the couple came across a picture of themselves that they realised how large they had become.

In 2017, Rick decided to make a change. He discovered the keto diet, a high-fat, adequate-protein, low-carbohydrate diet. 

He has since been working out six days a week at the gym doing cardio, ab workouts and weight training and has slimmed down to a healthy 215lbs (15st 5Ibs) and now wears a shirt size medium.

Seeing the impressive change her boyfriend had made – and after he proposed to her in October 2018 – Samantha decided to follow in his footsteps and they now work-out together. 

Within six months, Samantha has shrunk to 140lbs (10st) and a size six (UK size eight).

Rick pictured before his weight loss. The young man used to wear a size 5XL and weighted 420lbs at his heaviest (pictured)

Rick pictured before his weight loss. The young man used to wear a size 5XL and weighted 420lbs at his heaviest (pictured) 

Samantha (pictured before losing the weight) said her weight gain was due to a lack of direction, as she had to 'raise herself' due to a complicated relationship with her parents

Samantha (pictured before losing the weight) said her weight gain was due to a lack of direction, as she had to ‘raise herself’ due to a complicated relationship with her parents

The young woman says she used to eat 'whatever she wanted', but was encouraged to drop the weight by her boyfriend's own efforts. (Pictured before the weight loss)

The young woman says she used to eat ‘whatever she wanted’, but was encouraged to drop the weight by her boyfriend’s own efforts. (Pictured before the weight loss)

Samantha now feels more confident about her body and says she wears less make up as a result (pictured after her weight loss)

Samantha now feels more confident about her body and says she wears less make up as a result (pictured after her weight loss)

The two of them now feel more energised, even in the bedroom, as their sex life has been re-born due to their dramatic weight loss.

‘My family life wasn’t the best. With drug addicted parents that had me very young and never stayed together, I really had to raise myself,’ Samantha said.

‘My fiancé is a different story. He grew up with separated parents, but they are amazing. They have always been supportive and kind, and just phenomenal parents to him.

‘He has great relationships with his mother, father that raised him, his step father, and his biological father today.

Rick showing his loose skin after dropping 205lbs. The photographer and machine operator was motivated to lose the weight when he was 'disgusted' with how he looked in old pictures

Rick showing his loose skin after dropping 205lbs. The photographer and machine operator was motivated to lose the weight when he was ‘disgusted’ with how he looked in old pictures 

In just two years, Rick went from trying to feel comfortable as the 'fat guy' to exercising almost daily  (left: before l; right: after)

In just two years, Rick went from trying to feel comfortable as the ‘fat guy’ to exercising almost daily  (left: before l; right: after)

Rick dropped almost have his body weight and proposed to Samantha in October 2018. Pictured after his weight loss

Rick dropped almost have his body weight and proposed to Samantha in October 2018. Pictured after his weight loss

‘We met at the grocery store down the street from our houses. He worked there, and I would come in a lot. One day my friend just told me to message him on Facebook and it went from there.

‘We have both always been overweight. Rick was in football in high school, so he did gain a lot of fitness knowledge and was fit for a short period of time, but neither of us have never weighed this low before.

‘I remember my paediatrician telling me as a child I would be over 196lb (14st) by the age of sixteen, but I wasn’t until I was twenty-two.

‘For me it was really a lack of direction; I didn’t really have anyone to keep me accountable before. I ate whatever I wanted and wasn’t active much at all.

Samantha was motivated to lose the weight after Rick proposed to her in October 2018 and started exercising with him

Samantha was motivated to lose the weight after Rick proposed to her in October 2018 and started exercising with him 

Confident. Samantha sais she benefited from having someone in her corner that would hold her accountable for her weight goals

Confident. Samantha sais she benefited from having someone in her corner that would hold her accountable for her weight goals

‘For Rick it was about the same. When he moved out of his mum’s house he began eating anything he wanted.

HOW THEY’VE DONE IT: RICK AND KATE’S GYM ROUTINE 

The couple eat a keto diet, keeping their net carbs under twenty to thirty grams a day. 

Working out six days a week, the couple do 45 minutes of cardio, 15 minutes of ab workouts, and 30 to 45 minutes of weight training

‘I always told myself I needed to lose weight, but never would, and I would be even harder on myself. I’ve always felt like it’s the first thing people think about me, it’s still hard to get out of that mindset.

‘Rick felt like the healthy lifestyle just wasn’t for everyone. He tried to get comfortable being the “fat guy”.

‘We both saw photos of important moments of our lives and were just disgusted with who we let ourselves become, so we decided to make a change.. It took me a little longer, but I did it.’

They now follow the keto diet and work out six days a week and while they both have excess skin, they are both very proud of what they’ve achieved.

The couple of a fun ride before their weight loss. Rick (right) used to think the healthy lifestyle wasn't for everyone

The couple of a fun ride before their weight loss. Rick (right) used to think the healthy lifestyle wasn’t for everyone 

The couple on a day out before the weight loss. Samantha said their sex-life was reborn since dropping the pounds

The couple on a day out before the weight loss. Samantha said their sex-life was reborn since dropping the pounds

Pictured: the couple on a night out. Rick felt it was time for a change after stumbling on old pictures of himself and Samantha

Pictured: the couple on a night out. Rick felt it was time for a change after stumbling on old pictures of himself and Samantha

The pair have stuck to the keto diet and keep away from carbs in order to maintain the weight as well as regular exercise

The pair have stuck to the keto diet and keep away from carbs in order to maintain the weight as well as regular exercise

They can now wear what they like, and Samantha says that she wears less makeup now as she finally feels more confident in herself.

‘We have been eating keto; keeping our net carbs under twenty to thirty grams-a-day and we workout six days-a-week,’ she said.

“We do twenty to forty-five minutes of cardio, fifteen minutes of ab workouts, and thirty to forty-five minutes of weight training.

‘We love being able to wear whatever we want now. We no longer have the trouble of not being able to find clothes, in fact we can’t decide between all the options that we now have. It’s liberating to have more energy and just to feel good about yourself more often.

‘We both have more sex drive since losing the weight, as well as more stamina. I even wear less make up now.

Samantha said it was hard to keep a positive mindset and that the pair were aware of their loose skin. Pictured before losing the weight

Samantha said it was hard to keep a positive mindset and that the pair were aware of their loose skin. Pictured before losing the weight 

Snow day. Samantha said the weight loss had been liberating for the couple and that she sometimes struggled to get her head around the fact that she now wears a size small (pictured before weight loss)

Snow day. Samantha said the weight loss had been liberating for the couple and that she sometimes struggled to get her head around the fact that she now wears a size small (pictured before weight loss)

On top of the world. Samantha and Rick say they are proud of their progress and know they've come a long way. Pictured before losing the weight

On top of the world. Samantha and Rick say they are proud of their progress and know they’ve come a long way. Pictured before losing the weight

‘It’s definitely hard to keep the positive mindset all the time. A lot of the times I still feel like the first thing people think when they see me is that I’m fat. But yet I wear a size small now, it’s just hard to wrap my head around all the time.

‘We both have some loose skin so it’s not always easy to feel accomplished when you look in the mirror. But we’re so proud of our progress and we know we’ve come a long way.

‘We have cut down our carb and sugar intake massively. We’ve also made working out a daily part of our lives.

‘Start fresh; if that means getting rid of what’s in your pantry, or getting some new workout shoes, it helps to start motivation.

‘Remember that you can do anything you want to do, and if you want it bad enough, what’s hard now becomes easier as you get stronger.

‘Find someone to keep you accountable as well, someone you can’t or won’t hide any slip ups from. It helps to have someone in your corner.’ 

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