Tauranga man Martyn Cleary has become a poster boy for Jenny Craig after losing more than 20kg, and wants to inspire other men to consider doing the same. Photo/George Novak
Tauranga man Martyn Cleary has become a poster boy for Jenny Craig after losing more than 20kg, and wants to inspire other men to consider doing the same. Photo/George Novak
Martyn Clearywill never forget the moment he saw what had become of all of those sausage rolls and chips he'd be treating himself to over the years.
"...all I saw was a fat guy. That was my 'aha' moment," he said.
The Tauranga project manager had been looking at aphoto of himself lying in a blood donation chair as part of a charity drive for work.
"Being middle-aged and having a young family, my priority was to make sure I will be healthy and around for my wife, children, future grandchildren and great grandchildren," he said.
"And I was struggling to find normal clothes sizes on the rack to purchase from Farmers."
It was December last year when Mr Cleary weighed 119kg. In six months he has lost 21kg.
Mr Cleary said he wanted to share his weight loss story to serve as an inspiration to other men, potentially intimidated or embarrassed about doing something so seemingly "un-blokey" as Jenny Craig.
"I'm ever conscious of that because we [men] eat so poorly."
Mr Cleary said he still had his pies, toasties and beer, but it was more about the quality of food rather than quantity.
Tauranga man Martyn Cleary has become a poster boy for Jenny Craig after losing more than 20kg, and wants to inspire other men to consider doing the same. Photo/George Novak
"I hope it does inspire men. If I make a difference to even just one person ... that's what matters to me."
Mr Cleary's weight-loss journey is of such success, he's just been named as one of the new faces of Jenny Craig's latest marketing campaign.
"I did try gyms, cycling and other various forms of exercise over the years [but] always struggled to keep it going," he said.
Mr Cleary said his old working week habits consisted of eating "muffins for morning tea, hot chips and sausage rolls for lunch daily, on top of socialising with clients."
"Some of my work colleagues and friends would greet me by saying 'how's it, big guy?' I did not think of it much the comment. I was in denial."
When Mr Cleary's health began to slip with "the odd stint" in hospital and asthma becoming more of a problem, he realised he had to do something. He became inspired by Jenny Craig after seeing the positive impact it had on his wife who had tried it earlier in the year.
In December, Mr Cleary started the programme, surviving Christmas and New Year with diet still intact. He's now looking forward to reaching a goal weight of 95kg.
"It's a bit hard, the last part. You get the real steep curve and lose weight very quickly when you start. But then it plateaus as your body gets used to things."
