A PAIR of super slimmers are half the men they used to be after shedding a remarkable 25 stones between them.

Anthony Cowan, 59, a retired civil servant, weighed in at 23-and-half-stone when he became ill two years ago while Slimming World classmate Paul Bleasdale credits the weightloss with saving his life.

He suffered a pulmonary embolism, a blot clot to the lung and deep vein thrombosis which started him on a journey to change his lifestyle.

Anthony, who lives in Inverkip, said: "I'd always been overweight and I worked between here and London - then I suffered a massive clot.

"I took early retirement and started losing weight.

"I'd never been thin but two weeks before joining Slimming World I was 25 stones and at my heaviest 27 stones."

He said the combination and stress and eating the wrong things at the wrong time piled on the pounds.

Anthony said: "I lived on takeaways for two and a half years. Fried food and crisps - and lots of them."

Anthony, now a trim 11 stones 12 with a 32-inch waist, at one point had to buy 5XL clothes and trousers with a 56-inch waist.

He is now only two pounds away from his target weight.

He said: "This is the lightest I've been since I was 14."

He joined Slimming World in Inverkip, led by Lisa McNellis, two years ago and hasn't looked back.

He said: "It's worked for me because nothing is taboo - it's a lifestyle change.

"I don't think I could have done it on my own. I've lost half my weight in two years."

Anthony threw all his 'fat' clothes out and as a motivation used to buy the next size down clothes in advance and sometimes they were too big.

He added: "Lisa and the classes have been great."

Paul joined Slimming World class in Gourock two years ago weighing 28 stones 9lbs but has shed the pounds to reach 15 stone 2lbs.

The 53-year-old, originally from Port Glasgow, said: "I could hardly walk a few yards without struggling for breath.

"Now I'm at the gym four times a week."

Paul's wake up call came when he needed a minor surgical procedure but was told my medics that his heart wouldn't survive a general anaesthetic.

In September doctors discovered he had acute pancreatitis and was told if he had still been at his heaviest he could have died.

Call centre worker Paul said: "Losing weight has basically saved my life."

Lisa said: "It's amazing what the guys have done. They are an inspiration."

The classes run at Inverkip Hub on Thursday at 5.30pm and 7.30pm and on Saturday morning and at Gourock Baptist Church on Tuesday at 3.30pm, 5.30pm and 7.30pm.