Barbara Meksch

What do you do for a living?:
I am a territory manager for a sales and marketing firm out of Florida. I go to wal-marts and make sure our clients are represented like they want to be. LOTS of driving, I only wish KLAD reached further than it does...other radio stations are really boring, but alas I have my ipod.

Tell us about yourself (tell us about your family, your hobbies, interests, etc):
Hi, my name is Barbara Meksch (pronounced Mets) I have been married to my hubby for 19 years now. We were high school sweethearts and even survived a long distance relationship when I lived in Spokane and he lived in North Bend. I have 2 kids my son is 17 and my daughter is 15. I grew up with horses and had them up until we moved to Klamath Falls a year ago. I stopped riding because with a large belly it was not as fun anymore but they sure looked good in the pasture and was great therapy to talk to. My family is into dirtbikes, but I could careless. I support them as it is something they love to do, I could do a 4 wheeler but I do not want to see myself in riding gear being this large. We have 2 dogs, 1 German shepherd and 1 american bulldog (chance from homeward bound), 1 kitten that I recently brought home that has 6 toes on each front foot, and fish that can survive anything.........

Tell us your fitness history (was there a time where you in shape? If so, what happened?? Were you always out of shape?):
Yeah I was skinny until babies...... 115 when married and surprise my hubby loves me still at 220 pounds..... but of course he wants be to be healthy!!!!! not like this. I am not sure what happened, metabolism slow down??? what I used to eat caught up with me??? and of course I KNOW I got lazy. I caused this and now I have to do something about it.

What made you enter the Belly Buster?:
I want to be proud of myself again. Not keep looking if my shirt covers my behind every minute. I want to see real desire in my hubby's eyes and maybe he will even bring home a flower or two.... I want to try snow boarding (my family went last year and had fun, I just stayed home with the dogs) I want to ride horses again and have balance. I want to bend over and be albe to tie my shoes or trim my nails without a major ordeal!
I want to be held accountable to others who have entered this so I HAVE to stand strong, it is not just me I will be letting down, it will be THEM too and that is NOT fair!

What are your goals in the Belly Buster?
I want to lose at LEAST 30 pounds and learn better portion control. I say at least 30 pounds for this contest but that I not where I want to stop. I want to be 135 - 145 pounds again, and then I will recheck what I want then. I would be really happy if I could lose 40 pounds with the contest.
I want to be ME, that person who lives inside telling me THIS Is NOT you right now...what happened to you..... have you ever looked in a mirror and was totaly shocked at who you saw staring back? I do not FEEL fat mentally until I look down or in a mirror or try to do something I used to do as a skinny person. I think just as they have anorexia when you look in the mirror you see a fat person..... I mentaly have the opposite..... at times I forget I am fat and think I am skinny.... does that make any sense????

What do you think will be your biggest challenges in the Belly Buster??
Pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving time.......egg nog at Christmas time... Okay really my biggest challenge is just that FOOD. It tastes great but I have to remember I am not a teenager with a great metabolism anymore and what I eat I will wear in my behind and thighs the next day! I have been enjoying my workouts and feel so much better already... I am keeping a better posture, standing up straighter not all hunched over. Thank you Christine for the HARD 15 min ab workout..... It made me feel muscles I didn't know I still had.... wow they are still there!

What are your long term fitness goals, for when the Belly Buster is over??
Long term goals.... whoops covered that a few questions ago.... I want to get back to 135 - 145 weight. Where I have more energy to do and try things. I want live life and not let it pass me by. I do NOT want to have arm flab that flaps when I point to something!

Barbara Meksch		54	yrs old
Height:	5' 4
Wt Goal(lbs):	185
Time Line:	10/13/08	11/13/08	12/15/08	01/15/09	01/31/09
Starting Weight	225.5	209	203	197
Total Body Water	82.5	80	78.5	78.5
Fat Weight	110	100	96	90.5
Fat Free Mass	112.5	109	107	107
Basal Metabolic Rate	1751	1693	1662	1638
Body Max Index	38.2	35.9	34.8	33.9
Fat Percentage	49.5	47.8	47.4	45.7
Blood Pressure		150/110	148/102	140/100
Chest	45	42	42	41
Stomach	43	37.5	36.25	36
Hips	54	51.75	47	46
Thigh	27.5	25	22	21.5
Calf	17.5	16.25	14.75	14
Arm	16	13.5	13.25	12
Neck	14.4	12.75	12.75	12.25
Total Inches	217.4	198.75	188	182.75