As The Biggest Loser contestants headed to Washington D.C., they also embarked on their first week of individual competition. When Liz and Tracey fell below the yellow line, both were up for elimination, but it was Tracey Yukich, 37, the most controversial person on the Ranch this season, that was sent home. Tracey, a homemaker from Allen, Texas, spoke to reporters about returning to run the mile that took her down, how she balances family and fitness and why she’s keeping her current weight-loss a secret. –Nina Tyler
Were you surprised you were sent home?
I was not surprised that I was sent home once I fell below the yellow line. I always knew [I would be] on the chopping block because of the choices that I did make in the beginning when I got to the Ranch. But … there’s a lot of people who have gone home that have wished they didn’t go home and maybe had the feeling of “Maybe I should have done this or maybe I could have done more,” and I never felt that way.
What did you learn from Jillian?
She taught me that it was okay to ask for help because just before you saw her and I getting ready to go up those stairs, she’s handing … me her hand and she’s saying, “Take my hand.” “Oh, no I can do this on my own,” [I said]. She’s like, “Take my hand! I am here to help you. It is okay to ask for help.” And I literally smacked my hand over into her hand and she took my hand and we did those stairs up and down, up and down, up and down … Jillian taught me that it’s okay to ask for help and it’s okay to feel vulnerable.
How have you been able to continue your weight loss at home?
As a mom of four — and trust me, we’re a very busy household — I had to get very strict and concise about my workouts and my schedule … We have a very busy life and I really had to make sure I wrote a schedule out that worked for me and worked for my family … I have a 2-year-old daughter that I stay home with because I’m a stay-at-home mom, but I knew that I had to find a gym that had a kids club … so I could still get my workouts in. I am up everyday at 4 a.m. and I’m out that door before anyone is even awake in this house. The dog is still asleep and I leave and I go to the gym and I get a great workout. I do most of my extreme workout first thing in the morning and I come home by 7 a.m. and I get four kids ready for school and out the door — breakfast and lunches — and clean up the dishes and do some laundry and go back out again.
How much weight have you lost?
I am not choosing to share my weight with anyone because we have the finale in five weeks and America’s going to see that, so I’m keeping my weight on the downlow, and I would urge you all to watch and wait and see [what happens]. Don’t count Tracey out even though she was gone from The Biggest Loser shy of being a finalist. That doesn’t mean that I’m not already a finalist for the at-home prize. I meant what I said: This is the first time in my life that I actually started something and trust me, I’m going to finish exactly what I’ve started and if that means I get to take home that prize, then I’m gunning for it.
What was it like to return to that mile on the beach in California and take that run one more time?
When NBC called and said, “We’re coming to Texas and we’re going to do your “where are they now” video to see how you’re doing at home,” I said, “Why are you guys going to come here? The only thing that’s on my mind and on my heart right now is I want to run that mile in California that I collapsed on.” They just went nuts! “Are you serious? You want to run that? That was such a hard time for you!” And I said, “Exactly!” … Don’t get me wrong, I was very nervous because of the setting and where it was and what happened on that first day, but I just remembered, that is the old Tracey that was there and the new one’s here and this mile is going to be so easy. I ran it with a breeze and had my family there cheering me on. It was a perfect day and I could not have asked for anything more.
NBC
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