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closeThursday, Oct. 29, 2009
Texan who was on 'Biggest Loser’ details emotional journey
When this Texan left 'The Biggest Loser,' it was one of the most emotional farewells on reality TV.
By ROBERT PHILPOT
dfw.com
When Mabank’s Abby Rike was eliminated from NBC’s weight-loss competition, The Biggest Loser, this week, it was one of the most emotional farewells you could find on reality TV. Rike, who was well-liked by other contestants, said she had achieved the breakthrough she was looking for and essentially sacrificed herself so her teammates could stay and accomplish their goals.
Rike’s breakthrough wasn’t just about weight, although she has lost more than 80 pounds since becoming a contestant. In October 2006, the schoolteacher’s husband, Wallace, 33; daughter, Macy, 5; and infant son, Caleb, were killed in an accident when another driver swerved into oncoming traffic, according to a report by Tyler television station KLTV. The driver, who Rike says was going more than 100 mph, was also killed.
On Tuesday’s episode, Rike told trainer Jillian Michaels that Loser helped in a long recovery process and that she felt as if she could live again instead of just existing. She elaborated on that in a phone interview with the Star-Telegram.
"I was still on maternity leave at the time of the accident," Rike said. "I then went back in January and finished out the school year and coached a play and took kids to state in the speech events. I then took off and got a master’s degree the next year and moved to Louisiana and taught for a year. So I had a wonderful support system, and I was still functioning. It was just trying to find where I fit again. I think it’s not just living, it’s feeling again."
The show often made mention of the tragedy, including detailed segments on two episodes. But Rike said talking about it on national television wasn’t as difficult as some people might expect.
"I love to talk about my family," Rike said. "I think it makes other people sometimes uncomfortable, but for me . . . they were the greatest people I ever knew. Tears are not the end of the world. It’s OK to cry, and I think that talking about things, that’s part of the healing process."
Much of Rike’s weight loss came after she returned home, she said. During the show, she got a stress fracture in her foot and couldn’t work out as hard as some of the others. Now she drives an hour to Dallas and works out with a trainer at the Baylor Tom Landry Fitness Center.
Rike’s talk with the Star-Telegram came during a day of whirlwind media interviews, including People and Life & Style Weekly.She is this week’s cover girl on the latter.
At the end of Tuesday’s episode was a message saying Rike plans to travel the country, speaking to students about her story and about weight issues.
The Biggest Loser airs at 7 p.m. Tuesdays on KXAS/Channel 5.
ROBERT PHILPOT, 817-390-7872
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