MIDDLEBURY — Christine and Roy Pickler used to be perfect for playing the roles of Santa and Mrs. Claus each Christmas.

While their jovial personalities and Roy’s long white beard still fit the part, the Middlebury couple may need a couple pillows to offer convincing portrayals this next holiday season.

The Picklers, who spent much of the winter involved in the NBC reality TV show “The Biggest Loser,” have become local celebrities, but are not slowing down in their fitness routines.

While they may have auditioned to be on the show last fall on a whim, they took the opportunity seriously, lost large amounts of weight and have made big changes in their lifestyle.

Those change include diet and exercise, of course.

“We aren’t strangers anymore,” Roy said while waiting on his breakfast Friday at the Hilltop Restaurant west of Middlebury. “I don’t fade into the wallpaper.”

The couple ordered a veggie omelet with egg whites for breakfast, no toast.

Roy said he had enjoyed the fried fish that is featured Fridays at the Hilltop, but since they can’t eat fried food, the cook there has grilled the fish for him. That was good, too, he said.

Although Chris was voted off the show in the segment aired last week, she has many fans back here at home.

“I watch every week,” said a stranger who gave Chris a hug in the restaurant. “My heart was there for you every week,”  

A second woman who approached Chris and hugged her said “I like your new look.”



A life changer

The changes have been dramatic. The Picklers are obviously more fit and trim and Chris has a touch of glamor after her Loser-sponsored “makeover” in recent weeks.

“We try to impress on everyone that we were given the opportunity,” Chris began. “It was never about the money; it changed our lives. I have been chubby since I was 8 years old.”

Now the couple is telling others about their change in life and trying to present a realistic body and weight.

“We wanted to make changes for the rest of our lives. We had to participate in the game portion (of “The Biggest Loser),” she said. “We will have to work for the rest of our lives fighting the food addiction we have, but we have the right tools to combat it. We need to survive. We’re going to find a balance.”

Roy said he spends four or five hours a day on Facebook trying to help people. The couple also participates in daily exercise workouts.

“I may be sore for the rest of my life,” Roy joked.



White House visit

After Chris’ recent visit to the White House, where she met First Lady Michelle Obama, she is recruiting people to join the Presidential Active Lifestyle Achievement through the Internet.

“We are trying to get as many people signed up under Chris,” Roy explained. “The Loser” contestant who signs up the most people will earn $30,000 worth of fitness equipment for their community.

“We pretty much have to get everyone in the community signed up,” Chris said, because other contestants live in large cities. She pointed out that individual family members may sign up on the NBC TV website, BiggestLoser.com/PALA.

Roy went on to explain that he has mentored a Goshen man whose weight had reached more than 400 pounds.

“He has lost inches and weight,” Roy said. “His doctor said to keep it up and he could get off blood pressure medicine. He told me I was his inspiration.

“That is what we are doing. We are trying to pay it forward, helping people.”

Besides visiting schools, Roy said they have been to speak at the Goshen hospital and may even target nursing homes.



Getting started

Chris said the family used to watch “The Biggest Loser” while writing on Facebook about what they were eating.

“We are watching the ‘Loser’ and eating pizza or ice cream,” she said they would write to relatives. But her 8-year-old daughter asked about audition dates one night last fall and they filled out a form and went to Chicago to audition. They were picked and went to “the ranch” in California where they joined workouts for five to six hours a day.

“At the ranch,” Roy remembered, “there were no excuses.”

He said when he was recovering from a broken leg a year ago, he began worrying about a possible steady decline in his health. He also had a concern when doctors suspected a heart attack and he went to a VA hospital for tests.

After Roy was eliminated from the TV show mid-winter, he has stayed busy continuing his training and also speaking publicly.

“I just love helping people,” Roy said.

He said he has visited five or six schools recently and they have invitations to get to four more soon. Just last week the couple appeared at Bristol Elementary and met with a group of third- to fifth-graders called Girls on the Run. They talked about the changes in their lives and ran about a mile with the students.

Roy spoke just before the walk and run in Goshen at the April First Fridays and talked about stopping and encouraging an 11-year-old who had never run more than two miles before that event.



Still more to do

The couple attended a “Loser” reunion in Detroit on Saturday, then they fly to New York so Chris can appear on “The Today Show” on Monday. They will fly home Tuesday for a few days before heading to Los Angeles the last week of the month for the finale of “The Loser.” All 20 original contestants are expected to return for that live show on May 1.

The Picklers will take five of their children to California for a 10-day visit.

While the couple said they have been offered their old jobs back, they are considering expanding their motivational speaking and will see where their faith takes them. Someone is arranging future visits in North Carolina, and there are possible speaking engagements in Texas and Arkansas.

“Some former contestants have made changes and become speakers,” Roy said. “Others went back to their old jobs. We feel it is up to the Lord.”