By: Linda Vongkhamchanh

Nov 03, 2009

Name: Tracey
Hometown: Allen, TX
Occupation: Wife and mother of four amazing kids
Favorite Cheat Food: Sweets and country-style steak with mashed potatoes
Goal for 2010: To be 125 pounds
Starting weight: 250
Elimination weight: 194

NSD: What was your big turning point—either during the show or before that made you realize you needed to lose the weight?
Sitting in the bathroom, hiding, to eat my favorite comfort food. My life had turned into me hiding in the bathroom, eating and listening to the laundry turn in the washer and my kids asking, "mommy what are you doing in the bathroom?". I was too ashamed to let them see me eating. I sat and cried that evening in the bathroom and knew that I had to change and the only way to do it was to change my life. I remembered a casting call commercial on television from days before and I clicked through my Tivo and found it. Three days later, I was waiting in line in the pouring rain for 14 hours so that I could become a contestant on The Biggest Loser.

NSD: What is one thing you wish you had known before going on The Biggest Loser?
I wish that I had known that looking in the mirror at who I had become would be so hard when you don't like what you see!

NSD: If you could have done one thing differently during the show, what would it be?  This answer is easy for me. I would not have had a heat stroke. It changed me and it changed how I played the game. Also, playing the game differently is what I would have done different. I am realizing that things happen for a reason and this happened to me for a reason. I am accepting it and moving forward.

NSD: What was the hardest thing to adapt to while being on the ranch?
Living with 16 people!

NSD: What is one thing that keeps you motivated?
The one thing that keeps me motivated is a sign on the wall that was quoted by Bob and it says, "Stand up and finish what you have started." I worked out in front of that sign every day and I looked at it for hours on end while in the gym. Now,  I have it written down all over my house, on the refrigerator, in my bathroom, in my car and in my locker at the gym. It's everywhere. I see his face as he says it. It is such motivation for me. I can hear him saying it right now. I say that line to myself everyday. I am standing up and I am finishing what I have started and believe me there is no turning back.

NSD: What is your favorite workout?
My favorite workout is the spin bike and swimming. I know crazy the first time I ever got on a spin bike was at the Biggest Loser Ranch. Bob said, "Tracey, you and that spin bike are going to be best pals. You're gonna be kissing that bike." The first spin bike workout I could hardly sit down for two days. My butt and legs hurt so bad but I kept doing it everyday. The spin bike helped me rehab my legs and the pool helped me with balance and endurance. I lost a ton of weight doing both of those workouts.

NSD: What's the best advice Bob or Jillian has given you?
Jillian taught me that it is okay to ask for help. She held her hand out to help me jump steps and I refused, being the stubborn person I am. She threw her hand out at me again and said "Take my hand!" as she looked at me with scary but caring eyes. "I am here to help you. Stop trying to always be in control and take my hand. I will not let you fall." I'll never forget that day with her. It was my only workout with Jillian and I longed for more after I was voted off. She is one tough cookie with a heart of gold. She truly cares and I love what she taught me because it made me a better person!

NSD: What is your favorite meal or snack?
Spaghetti squash with low-sodium organic marinara sauce, hands down best meal ever! The second is orange roughy with a little garlic and pepper and fresh orange and lemon zest on top. Bake it for 20 minutes with roasted veggies, yummy! My favorite snack is Greek yogurt mixed with a 1/2 cup of Kashi Go Lean Crunch, one packet of Truvia sweetener and one diced peach. I eat it every day before a hard workout!

NSD: What happens behind the scenes of the show that no one would know from watching it? We have a medic that doesn't live on the Ranch but he might as well should. He is so devoted to his job. He would ice us down after workouts, tape our ankles for hikes, bandage our fingers, watch us while we work out to make sure we are safe and the list goes on and on. If we need anything medical or just a cool office to sit in to cool down, he was there for us all. His name is Sandy Krum and viewers at home never get to see him. This man is amazing at his job he is so caring and devoted. Not to mention, this person is near and dear to my heart. He saved my life that day on the beach.

NSD: What did you do for fun while you were on the ranch?
I would twirl my baton on the porch outside of my room or go walking and twirling. Ask anyone... I did it every day!
 
  

 
Watch The Biggest Loser on Tuesdays at 8/7c on NBC.

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