DJ new face of weight loss group

One of the most recognisable voices in the Waikato, Hamilton radio DJ Nick Trott, has stepped out from behind the microphone to front one of the world's most well-known weight-loss programmes.

The More FM breakfast announcer will be the face of New Zealand's new Jenny Craig promotional campaign, which begins on Monday, alongside netballer Vilimaina Davu.

The pair filmed television commercials for Jenny Craig in Melbourne last week. Trott lost 26kg on the programme, and Ms Davu shed 12kg. She had gained weight after she stopped playing for the Silver Ferns in 2006.

The DJ's effort was so impressive his Jenny Craig consultants suggested he help front the campaign and the 36-year-old was happy to do so.

"When you see the before and after photos it's like two different people," he said. "I get people who haven't seen me for a while taking a second look."

He joined Jenny Craig in 2005 after watching his wife Jan lose a few kilos using the programme. Having lost 20kg to compete in Fight for Life in 2003 and then gaining it all back again Trott decided to battle the bulge again.

"I saw how easy it was and how great the meals were," he said.

"It wasn't a difficult thing to do you didn't have to weigh out food, you didn't have to count calories or points. You just bung it in the microwave or the oven and chuck a salad on a plate and there it is."

From his starting weight of 126kg, Trott set a target of 100kg and the kilos started to drop off at a rate of about one a week, changing his attitude as they did.

"Once the weight comes off it's so easy to stay motivated."

Trott was "super fit" when, at 21, he left the family home, in Otorohanga, and moved to Hamilton to take up a DJ position at The Rock, where he stayed for 13 years. The sedentary job, late hours, promotional dinners and bad food habits took their toll and, slowly, his weight crept up.

Trott, who is 180cm, felt his knees began to suffer under the extra weight, shopping for clothes was depressing, playing with the kids was not an option, and even getting in and out of cars was difficult.

So, along with changing his eating habits, he began to walk, half an hour each day.

"It was really easy. Walk 15 minutes away from your house, turn around and walk back and that's half an hour. If you cannot find time to do that in your life then there's something wrong with you."

He also cut back on alcohol and, after 64 weeks of weigh-ins, Trott reached his target.

"I don't put it up there with the birth of my kids but it's one of those things that happen where you can't imagine it happening to you ... but it changes your whole attitude."

He maintains his weight with daily cardio work at the gym and has set a new target weight of 90kg.

He just wants to get the message across: "You don't have to give up stuff to such a large extent.

"You can still go out and have a life if you're exercising and watching what you eat and you're on the programme, then you can do it. It's `re-learning' how to eat."

And men shouldn't be afraid to take the plunge, he said.

- © Fairfax NZ News