Gail Barrett, 46, and husband Steve, 54 – known as Big Steve - admit they were both "pretty chunky" when they met back in 2004.
In time, they fell into a cycle of unhealthy eating, with Steve admitting he often chomped through an entire loaf of bread a day.
But when Gail's daughter Paige, 26, suffered a shocking heart attack, the couple were forced to examine their own health and realised it was time to act.
But neither of them are the dieting type - so they decided to hypnotise themselves into losing nine stone.
Speaking about her
new diet, Gail said: "In March this year, I was at a spa day for my friend's birthday and one of the ladies there mentioned she'd dropped six dress sizes with this app.
PA REAL LIFE
The couple had a shock when Gail's daughter had a heart attack
"I was like, 'What? How the hell do you lose weight with a
phone app?' It was bizarre, but it interested me."
She added: "Looking back, we were ballooning. My knees were starting to feel it and I became flat-footed with the weight," said Mrs Barrett.
"We loved a few drinks – we still do – but food was the big issue. We had platter-sized plates at home, and we'd pile them high. We served up massive helpings and actually stuffed ourselves until it hurt.
"You're talking pork pies, bacon, chocolate bars, crisps, bagels. When I went shopping, I'd fill the trolley up with snacks, there'd be no real food at all."
Eventually, the couple's wake-up call came in the form of a
phone call telling Gail her daughter Paige had suffered a heart attack in Melbourne, Australia, where she and her boyfriend at the time, were on a gap year.
Her mother explained: "She was in an induced coma in hospital to minimise any damage to her brain, as it had been 18 minutes before they could restart her heart."
Paige, who now has a defibrillator fitted, made a complete recovery, but it was certainly a turning point in her mother's attitude to
health and fitness.
After hearing about EasyLoss, the £5 weight loss app which had helped her friend slim down, Gail downloaded it herself back in March of this year.
Unbeknownst to his wife, Big Steve had also begun worrying about his weight, so she suggested they try the app together.
It works by delivering daily 40 minute hypnosis sessions, eventually working up to a virtual gastric band operation – which is all about training yourself to eat less by visualising that your stomach is smaller.
Now, the couple have lost nine stone between them in just eight months. Currently, Gail is down to 10 stone 6 and her husband is down to 16 stone.
In August, they realised just how far they'd come when the Isle of Man Classic TT - a biker festival - for their holidays.
She said: "We realised we needed new leathers – not because ours were too small, which used to be the problem, but because they were so big they were hanging off us."
Gail and Steve's Daily Diet
Before
Breakfast: (Steve) Four Weetabix, (Gail) Bagels or butter with toast
Lunch: Ham sandwiches, a packet of crisps, a chocolate bar
Dinner: Chinese/Indian takeaway or a full roast dinner with potatoes and veg
Now
Breakfast: (Steve) One Weetabix, (Gail) small bowl of muesli/granola, and natural yoghurt
Lunch: A bowl of chopped veg and small portion of tuna or mackerel
Dinner: Fish and vegetables, or chicken and veg – no potatoes unless it's sweet potato, or the odd jacket potato
Source: http://www.express.co.uk/life-style/diets/626922/Weight-loss-hypnosis-couple
A biker couple have spoken out about their amazing weight loss
Gail and Steve's Daily Diet