‘Biggest Loser’ winner wants old PNP job back

‘Biggest Loser’ winner Larry Martin shakes hands with Philippine National Police Chief Nicanor Bartlome in Camp Crame Monday. Martin asked for his old job back at the PNP after shedding off over 100 pounds and winning the reality TV show. Matikas Santos/INQUIRER.net photo

MANILA, Philippines — Weight-loss reality television winner, Larry Martin, has asked Philippine National Police Chief (PNP) Nicanor Bartolome if he could be reinstated into the ranks of the PNP after his resignation years before.

Martin, who recently won “The Biggest Loser”, was previously a police officer but resigned because he did not meet the 34-inch waistline required by then PNP Chief Panfilo Lacson.

Martin was not big when he entered the police force at the age of 23, weighing only about 70 kilograms or around 150 pounds, but he grew in size due to alcohol and too much eating, he said. When he resigned he had a 40-inch waistline and weight of 255 pounds.

Now at 153 pounds, he requested to be reinstated in the PNP because he wanted to help with the physical fitness program of the PNP.

Bartolome congratulated Martin in a one-on-one meeting at the PNP National Headquarters in Camp Crame Monday noon and stated that Martin can help in their physical fitness program.

Bartolome gave an order to the director of personnel to study the records of former Police Officer 1 Larry Martin because of his request to return to the service.

“He can really help in our physical fitness program of PNP. He can easily influence other police officers because he is the best example,” Bartolome said.

Bartolome said that Martin is an inspiration for the PNP and cited his determination to lose weight in the television program.

“He showed his determination which is an inspiration for us because we can now say that it is not impossible if your heart is really into it,” Bartolome said.

Martin said he got his inspiration from his family and children. “If inspiration is there, discipline will follow,” he added.

“Nothing is impossible if you really want it. Discipline is all there is to it,” Martin said about his weight-loss success.

“We will think of incentives for police officers to be physically fit,” Bartolome added.

Martin said his secret was eating less rice. “The secret is less rice. As I went on, rice was completely substituted with sweet potatoes and bananas,” he said. “Up to now, I don’t eat rice,” he added.