9:37AM, Thu Aug 2, 2012

Sunderland Winner Of Britain's Biggest Loser 2012 Kevin McLernon Gets Engaged

By Jenny Wotherspoon Location: Sunderland

Kevin McLernon loses thirteen stone and gains a bride

Kevin McLernon from Sunderland had been waiting until he lost enough weight to pop the question to partner Joanne Chard.

Despite having been in a relationship for 10 years, and supporting him throughout his weight loss, Miss Chard was still suprised by the proposal.

She told Sky Tyne and Wear: "We were just sitting in the living room and he said he had something to ask me. I thought he just wanted a cup of tea."

Kevin proposed using a ring which once belonged to Joanne's late grandmother, and was left to her after she passed away.

Once Joanne realised Kevin was asking her to marry him rather than boil the kettle, she replied with "of course I will".

The couple, both from Sunderland, met in a bar 10 years earlier, when Kevin still weighed over 32 stone.

Before and after: Kevin McLernon lost 13 stone during his time on the reality show

While they described their relationship as a happy one, the couple say Kevin's weight was always a concern.

At a mere 19 stone in comparison, and his weight no longer a significant threat to his health, the couple can now look forward to the future.

They are celebrating the engagement with a party for friends and family at The Sage in Gateshead, and hope to have a quiet wedding abroad.

"We're not traditional", Kevin said. "That's why I didn't get down on one knee and that's why we'll get married in a different country."

In the meantime, Kevin is concentrating on passing exams to become a personal trainer, in the hope of inspiring others to lose excess weight.

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