"The Biggest Loser"'s Abby Rike is on a mission to lose enough weight to fit into size 10 jeans. She knows the road back to health from her 247-pound starting weight will be a hard one, but not harder than the personal tragedy she survived.

It was in October 2006 that Rike lost her husband, her 5-1/2-year-old daughter and her 2-1/2-week-old son in a fatal car collision. The 34-year-old widow from Mabank, TX decided to forge ahead with her life, but used food as a way of coping with her loss. Now, "The Biggest Loser" is helping her to get her life back on a healthy track.

ET spoke to the theater/speech teacher and debate coach as she got ready to face the hard work at "The Biggest Loser" ranch.

ET: Did you have an "ah-ha" moment that made you decide to apply for "The Biggest Loser"?

Abby Rike: Several years ago, my husband and two children were killed in a car accident in a collision. Since then, it has been a time of choosing to survive and choosing to go forward. Then it got to a level of existing. It was an anniversary date -- it was Feb. 13, a Friday the 13th -- and it was a very difficult day, and I came home and I just knew that there was more for me. There was more to life.

ET: What do you see as your biggest challenge?

Abby Rike: I think the biggest challenge here is it is so overwhelmingly hard on numerous, numerous levels. In your journey to create this new lifestyle, this new way of thinking and living, [I think it is important] that at the end of the day you like who you are.

ET: So your first workout. Tell me about your first workout.

Abby Rike: I don't know if there is a word in the English language that adequately encompasses the first workout. It is beyond any level of comprehension. Seriously, it was so overwhelming to me. I was just going and going and going. There are parts of it that were hazy and foggy because I couldn't really see. I was a little dizzy. I recall thinking in my mind, "Leg move. Please leg, move." It really was just unlike anything I have ever experienced in my life.

ET: What is the best advice you have received so far on the ranch?

Abby Rike: I don't know if there is one piece of advice. I think it is the camaraderie and the goodness of the people I am surrounded with in this cast. Everyone has such a beautiful spirit and such an encouraging and supportive attitude. I think instead of words of advice, I think it is actions of support.

ET: This is a game as well as a weight-loss program. Do you have a strategy to keep you here?

Abby Rike: My strategy is to do my best every day and the rest will work itself out.

ET: When you go home, do you have a support system to help you?

Abby Rike: Absolutely. I have wonderful parents. I have wonderful friends. I have so many students -- former and present. I am blessed with people who truly love and care about me.

ET: Did you bring a skinny outfit?

Abby Rike: I did bring a pair of jeans. As far as my ultimate goal, ultimately I will fit in those. It will happen. I bought a size 10, because I am not sure what weight is what size. I looked at them and thought that they were fabulous, but way more importantly than fitting in those jeans is feeling healthy and good in those jeans. My priority is somewhat a little different.