HOUSTON – A couple known for shedding hundreds of pounds on the sixth season of the NBC show, The Biggest Loser, was in Houston to spread awareness on another health issue -- autism.
Amy and Phil Parham told Local 2 their life is now divided into two chapters: before The Biggest Loser and after.
Phil explained, "We feel like we're new people now compared to what we used to be."
The couple lost a combined 256 pounds and still hold the record for most weight loss for a married couple on the NBC hit show, and they've kept it off.
Amy said, "We're trying. It's a life-long process to keep fit and healthy. You have to make a decision every day."
The Parhams are visiting the Houston area sharing with others one of the key motivators to losing the weight: being healthy for their three kids, especially their youngest son, Rhett.
Amy explained, "We knew that we had to be there for him because we don't know the outcome. He may live with us the rest of his life and we had to be healthy so we can take care of him."
Now 12 years old, Rhett was diagnosed with autism when he was 4 1/2.
Phil said, "It was a two-and-a-half year struggle to get that diagnosis and I know a lot of people go through that to get the diagnosis or know what's wrong."
So Amy and Phil are helping families find resources at Community Autism Forums sponsored by LearningRx.
Phil said, "We just know the hopelessness that people can feel."
The Parhams say thanks to LearningRx's programs, Rhett's doing remarkably well in mainstream classrooms.
Their Family Fitness Tour addresses health inside and out, lessons born out of their life-changing experience on The Biggest Loser.
Phil said, "We just live a life with a lot less excuses and a whole lot more discipline and a lot more fun now."
Amy added, "I would say we felt like we were trapped in a prison we'd created for ourselves and we've got the key to unlock the prison and we want to share that key with other people and just help them."
The Parhams have also written a new book for families about preventing childhood obesity called, "The Amazing Fitness Adventure for Your Kids"
For more on the Parhams' Family Fitness Tour, visit www.familyfitnesstour.com.