Meet the Sunderland couple who have become TV stars after inspiring 10st weight loss

A Sunderland couple who transformed their lives by losing more than 10 stone between them are the stars of a national TV advert for Slimming World.
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Lisa and Graeme Wharton have been chosen as the faces of Slimming World’s new TV advert series to promote its ‘taste the freedom’ campaign following their inspiring weight loss.

The couple joined Slimming World together in January 2013 and, in just over a year, Lisa went on to lose 4st 12lbs, while Graeme lost 5st 6lbs.

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The mum-of-two went from 15st 6.5lbs to a healthy 10st 8.6lbs, while Graeme went from 19st 10lbs to 14st 4lbs.

In the advert the pair can be seen enjoying a meal outside while they open up about what they have learnt from their weight loss journey with Slimming World.

Lisa, 48, who runs her own Slimming World Group at Ryhope Community Centre, said in the advert: “I’ve learnt so much about food, I’ve learnt so much about the psychology of it all.

"It just makes you feel so much happier.”

Graeme, 49, added: “Now we control our relationship with food. It has absolutely changed my life.”

Lisa and Graeme Wharton appear in a national TV advert for Slimming World following their weight loss.Lisa and Graeme Wharton appear in a national TV advert for Slimming World following their weight loss.
Lisa and Graeme Wharton appear in a national TV advert for Slimming World following their weight loss.
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The advert, which is currently on the Slimming World website and on YouTube, will be shown on national TV from May 30.

In January 2020 their faces were used on 26.5 million leaflets as well as posters, magazines and online to promote ‘that Slimming World feeling.’

And in 2019, Lisa starred in another national advertising campaign for the company with daughter, Alicewho grew up embracing the organisation’s food optimising plan – in a bid to inspire people across the country to make healthy choices.

Graeme and Lisa Wharton, before and after their weight loss.Graeme and Lisa Wharton, before and after their weight loss.
Graeme and Lisa Wharton, before and after their weight loss.
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Lisa said the pair were ‘chuffed to bits’ to be chosen for the latest campaign.

She said: "To say we were shocked and proud is an understatement!

"We are just normal people who decided to make lifestyle changes.

"Never in our dreams did we ever think it would lead to winning a national competition, Couple of the Year 2014, and now here we are, on the TV!”

Lisa Wharton getting ready to star in the Slimming World advert.Lisa Wharton getting ready to star in the Slimming World advert.
Lisa Wharton getting ready to star in the Slimming World advert.

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