Phillip and Amy Parham were contestants on season six of The Biggest Loser where they lost a combined total of 256 pounds. They have three children: Austin, (14), Pearson (12), and Rhett (9). They continue to inspire people through their website and social network PhilAndAmyFitness.com and through “90 day fitness challenges” that they conduct across the country. In June 2010 they will release a book entitled “Dream Again: Phil and Amy’s 90 Day Fitness Challenge” and a companion DVD.

When it was first suggested to me that my son Rhett might have autism I instantly thought about Raymond on the movie “Rain Man.” Suddenly my life became about trying to “fix” Rhett. So I went out in search of every therapy, diet, and program I could find to do this. I soon learned the reason that they call autism a “spectrum” disorder. A child could have autism and not be able to speak a word. Or they could be like Rhett and talk all the time, but not really have a conversation. They could be highly intelligent or mentally retarded. They could take care of feeding and clothing themselves or they could need assistance with these things. We were some of the “lucky” ones. Rhett could go to the bathroom, feed himself, communicate his basic needs, and he kept eye contact and was affectionate towards us. Because autism is different for every child diagnosed with the disorder, not every therapy or diet works for every child.

Although I now know that autism has no cure, I did find things that helped him to function better. I had heard that wheat gluten and the casein in dairy products caused a reaction in some children with autism. So we put the family on a gluten and casein free diet. We did this for about a year, and although it did calm him down some, we had to weigh the toll it had on our budget and our other children. Our children already felt like they were making so many sacrifices for Rhett’s disability. The fact that they couldn’t have pizza every once in a while like “normal” kids became a sacrifice that seemed unnecessary.

Now, since we have been on the Biggest Loser, we have learned that many of the processed foods and drinks high in sugar that we allowed our children to have were just as bad for them. We have eliminated all of those things. We only drink water, skim milk, and juice, and eat fast food very rarely. Our children’s ability to focus and follow directions has seemed to increase tremendously. They also have more energy. We are definitely not perfect and are continuing to try and live a healthier lifestyle, but our children are healthier and we hope happier as a result of the changes that we have made.

Learn more about Amy Parham and Phillip Parham right here at DietsInReview.com.

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A Biggest Loser Family Fights Autism with a Healthy Lifestyle

If it wasn’t evident before it most certainly is now, the game play is officially here! Episode 6 started off pretty normal, each team took a field trip. Bob’s team went to an ab strengthening acrobatics class, while Jillian’s team went to a ropes course. Coleen confronted her fear of heights, while back on the Blue Team Heba realized just how hard aerial acrobatics can be.

This week’s challenge tested contestant’s balance by having them race around a circular balance beam. For every completed lap by a team member a point was given, first team to 25 won. This challenge was a complete blow out! The Blue Team before even getting one point all ended up in the water, as a result they had to sit on the sideline waiting for all of the members of the Black Team to fall in before they were allowed a second chance.  That second chance however never came, the Black Team, thanks to an incredible effort by Renee, shut the Blue Team out with a final score of 25 to 0. For their victory the Black Team received live video’s from home. The Blue team really came across as sore losers by making comments that the prize wasn’t worth the effort. Thankfully, back at the ranch, Bob shared his disappointment in his team’s poor attitudes and reminded them that the most important thing is to always do your best.

Now on to ELIMINATION! I could sit here and type in detail everyone’s weight and play it up, but I won’t, the Blue Team fell below this week losing to the Black Team 3.2% to 2.09%. I will, however, provide you with two contestants weights- Vicki who lost 8 lbs., making her biggest loser of the week, thereby winning immunity from elimination. The other contestant whose weight I would like to draw your attention to is her husband Brady who lost a mind staggering 2 lbs. The look on Bob’s face was priceless! I’m not a betting man, but I would place my money on a certain individual on the Blue team putting up a very big number next week.

Now let’s take a quick step back, Brady, Vicki, and Heba are self-proclaimed best friends on the show, so if by chance the Blue Team had to enter into the elimination room neither one of them would vote for each other. And being that Heba was not getting along with Phil on the Black Team it would only make sense to hit him where it hurts, no not there! By eliminating his wife Amy P., In the end that is who indeed went home, and I’m happy to say she parted with a great deal of class! Amy looks FANTASTIC and is doing a great job at home! Beat of Luck to you Amy P.

Well there you have it- the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. All in favor of game play say I, all oppose say Neigh! Whether you like it or not, the Game Play is here, please share your thoughts, and please keep all comments civilized!

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Bernie’s Biggest Loser Families Recap Episode 6

Phil and Amy are college sweethearts, they met at their freshman orientation and she says after the second date she was in love. Their devotion for one another was quite clear on the show, and the love pours over into their three boys. Upon arriving home, Amy says her kids have embraced the new lifestyle. Her middle son is 11 years old, and the only one she says has had trouble with his weight, even saying kids at school have made fun of him. Since she has returned home he’s lost 10 pounds, two pant sizes and even goes to the gym with Amy and Phil.

One of Amy’s favorite activities at the ranch was getting to hang like “Cirque du Soleil people” in the fabric, a field trip arranged by trainer Bob, who she says is the “greatest thing that ever happened.” Her only regret is not having filled Phil’s mouth with peanut butter cups, or even her own. Amy regrets not hitting the higher calorie bagel table to beat Heba’s calorie count, and gain control of the game in week 5.

Heba’s control of the game separated Amy and Phil on to opposing teams. “I’m a half-full person stuck on a half-empty team,” were Amy’s sentiments last night in response to all the negative attitudes being exuded by her teammates. Amy says she was thankful to have been chosen to be at the ranch and have her life changed for the better. She credits the other 300,000 Biggest Loser entrants with reminding her how important her opportunity to be on the show was.

A lot of discussion was had about the dramatic triangle between herself and Phil, Heba and Vicky and Brady. She says the comments by Phil to Brady, asking them to save Amy and eliminate Heba, were not true. Going into the elimination, she knew her time had to come. She thinks Heba is fun and under different circumstances they could have really liked one another.

Amy was able to lose 38 pounds during her six weeks at the ranch. Since going home, and even since her reveal last night, she’s down to 145 pounds and wears a size six in everything “except tight jeans.” Her goal is to reach 120 pounds by finale, making her 5′4″ frame teeny tiny. She learned that she wasn’t eating enough, by skipping food throughout the day and filling up at night. Amy now eats every four hours and works with a trainer. She stocks up on bulk food at the beginning of each week, things like chicken and broccoli, prepares “a whole pile of meals,” and then they store individual servings to grab-and-go for work.

Watch Amy’s Reveal video.

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Interview with Amy Parham, Eliminated Biggest Loser Week 6

Watch Amy’s interview life from the finale.

Eliminated Week 6 – Hear the Interview

Age 40

Hometown Greer, SC

Occupation Real Estate Agent

Biggest Loser: Families teammate Phillip Parham, Husband

Team Color Red / Blue

Trainer Bob Harper

Starting Weight 229

Final Weight 124

Total Loss 105

Percent Lost 45.85

Factoids

• She and husband Phillip split to separate teams during week 5. She is now on Bob’s blue team.

Quotes

• “I’m a half-full person stuck on a half-empty team.” – Week 6

Videos

• Red Team Week 5 Strategy
• Amy’s Reveal

Other spellings: Ami, Amie, Ammy, Aime, Amee, Parham, Param, Paham, Parrham

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Biggest Loser 6: Amy Parham