A GWENT couple are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary this year after losing more than 11 stones between them as they prepare to celebrate their golden wedding.

John and Shirley Lloyd, of Pontnewydd, Cwmbran, have tried to lose weight all of their lives, but in the last 12 months, their dedication to a local Slimming World class has paid dividends.

After starting at 26st 4lbs in January 2010, Mrs Lloyd now weighs 20st 9lbs.

She said: "My doctor said you have to lose weight or you will die, it was as simple as that."

Her husband has also shed an impressive four-and-a-half stones, going from 18st 8lbs to 13st 12lbs.

Their success story comes despite the couple suffering from health and mobility problems.

Mrs Lloyd, 71, uses a wheelchair, which makes it difficult for her to lose calories by exercise and has arthritis and emphysema, while Mr Lloyd has had two knee replacements.

The couple, who married in 1961, have lost weight before, but find their consultant Kim Jayne inspires them to stick to a healthy eating plan.

Mr Lloyd used to be in the Army and says he is strict because of this.

Every day, he prepares healthy options such as chicken and fish, instead of fattier foods they used to eat.

The 73-year-old cooks all of their meals and says his wife's health has improved a great deal since she joined the Gwent slimmers.

He said: "I said to Shirley 'you've done it all, had the children and it's my turn'. She's the love of my life. If you have got something good you look after it."

Before she lost weight, Mrs Lloyd had two people helping her onto the scales, but now she manages the step up herself.

More than 50 years after they met at a dance at St Hilda's Church Hall, Griffithstown, the couple still very much a team.

Mrs Lloyd said: "We love each other. John has been looking after me for 15 years."

In the early days, she knew her husband, a keen pigeon fancier, was the man for her.

"I had seen him in a photo before and I never forgot him- he had a wonderful face," she recalls, meeting him two years later.

The couple went on to have four children and now have six grandchildren.

How their menus have changed

Before

Breakfast- porridge, toast, weetabix
Lunch- pork pies, cheese and onion sandwich, crisps
Dinner- faggots and peas

After

Breakfast- Scan Bran (high fibre bran crispbread), two oranges, apples, kiwi fruit, banana
Lunch- salad every day using chicken or tuna
Dinner- salmon and vegetables

EDITORIAL COMMENT: Losing with love

HUSBAND and wife John and Shirley Lloyd are about to celebrate the fact that they have been married for 50 years.

But, in what seems like a contradiction in terms, they are also delighting in the fact that they are both seeing a lot less of each other these days.

This is because the Pontnewydd couple, both in their 70s, have lost an amazing 11 stones between them, just one year after being given a stark message from their family doctor about the need to lose weight.

They are an example to all. Losing weight gets increasingly difficult with age, especially when health problems prevent vigorous exercise. That makes their achievement even greater.

Their adoption of a healthy eating plan means they can really look forward to celebrating their milestone golden wedding anniversary later this year.

We send them both our best wishes.