Hey everyone! 👋
I’m on a mission — to get strong, stay healthy, and rock one of my dream cosplays: Meru from Legend of Dragoon for MegaCon 2014! 💃🦋
I’m working hard at… Working out! Because, I will be doing a cosplay of the beautiful high energy dancer Meru from Legend of Dragoon for Megacon 2014.
This isn’t about meeting anyone else’s expectations — I already love my body and where I’m at. But for me, this is a personal challenge. A little cosplay-powered motivation! 🎭✨
💬 Now before anyone rolls their eyes or gets a negative opinion about this — let me be clear:
Everyone should cosplay whoever they want, regardless of body type. You should rock that costume and own it with pride. I’ve always been happy with my body and where I am. But this time around, I personally wanted to tone up — for my own reasons.
This particular cosplay — Meru — is a dancer, and I want to reflect that energy in my performance and physique. It’s a goal that’s helping to motivate me. This is my challenge, not something I expect or want anyone else to feel pressured by. 💚
And regardless of how I look two months from now? I’m wearing this cosplay. No question. 😄💃
🛤️ How It Started
I began my fitness journey back in March 2013, not for vanity, but for my health.
I used to get sick all the time — seriously, I was in the hospital 3–4 times a year 😷🏥. My energy was low, my weight kept fluctuating, and I just didn’t feel well. Something had to change.
Fast forward six months, and I’d already lost a good chunk of weight, but more importantly, I felt stronger. Healthier. Happier. 🧘♀️💚
📸 Progress Time!
At 175 lbs/ 79 kg:
I had to add that last one for a laugh. 😀
Six months after I started my weight loss journey in March 2013. From a wedding in September 2013 128 lbs / 58 kg:
Current (January 2014): Still going strong and feeling amazing!
🎯 The 30-Day Fitness Challenge
Yes, I’m proud of the weight I’ve lost — but what I’m really proud of is how I feel: energetic, capable, and motivated. Now that I have gotten this far, I thought to myself, “Why stop?!” To keep myself going, I joined a Facebook event called the 30-Day Fitness Challenge — the goal? Eat healthy and work out 5–6 days a week. ✅🏋️♀️🥗 See more on the challenge here: https://www.facebook.com/events/732596680101292/
I track my progress with stickers (yes, I’m a grown-up who still loves stickers) 💖⭐ and a daily food diary using MyFitnessPal — a fantastic app I highly recommend. 📱
Here’s how I manage my nutrition:
- I aim for 1200–1400 net calories a day (food minus exercise)
- I track everything I eat
- I stay mindful of macros, nutrients, and hydration
And no, I’m not starving myself. 😤 I eat! Just smarter. And more balanced.
🧠 Why This Also Helped My Mental Health
What surprised me the most?
Getting active and eating better didn’t just help me physically — it helped me mentally. 🧠💪
✅ My stress levels dropped
✅ I started sleeping better
✅ I felt more focused, more confident, and less anxious
Taking care of your body isn’t just about the scale or the mirror. It’s about showing up for yourself — and your mental health.
💧 Hydration & Nutrition Tips
- Don’t wait to feel hungry. Space your meals and snacks to stay fueled throughout the day.
- Drink water! Thirst often pretends to be hunger.
- Hydration tip? Don’t pee lemonade — pee clear! 😂🚽💦
🏋️♀️ Fitness Facts That Helped Me
- Your body needs at least 1200 calories a day to avoid going into starvation mode — this keeps your metabolism happy and your muscles protected.
- Muscle burns fat, even when you’re resting. So, don’t fear lifting weights!
- It’s healthy to lose 1–2 lbs (0.5–1 kg) a week. Any faster is usually water weight or unsustainable.
- I weigh in every two weeks — not daily. The scale lies sometimes (hello, water weight!) 📉📈
🥗 What I Eat + How I Track It
Here’s a peek into my day:
I use MyFitnessPal to log everything — calories, sodium, fiber, protein, you name it. It even has a barcode scanner, which makes logging super easy 📲🍽️
Now before anyone goes and jumps into any diet or exercise plan I must tell you that I first spoke with my doctor and a nutritionist before starting. I highly recommend that you talk to some professionals before starting a diet and exercise plan. Especially if you are doing one as restrictive as I am.
Let me show you my grub and workout for today! Here is my food diary entry from MyFitnessPal for today:
The site has a more detailed version that breaks down how much you need to consume, in addition to calories, and if you are within acceptable levels. Here is a screenshot of today’s.
One thing I’m working on? Sodium intake. (Looking at you, frozen meals 👀) But that’s okay — progress, not perfection!
🧛♀️ PS — The Calorie Burn Joke *wink* *wink*
Let’s get nerdy for a second:
- Burning 3,500 calories = 1 lb of fat lost
- If your body naturally burns 2,000 a day, and you eat 1,200… BAM 💥, that’s 800 calories burned just from your lifestyle
Unless you’re a vampire 🧛♂️ or zombie 🧟♀️ (in which case… how are you reading this?), your body never turns off.
So let’s fuel it wisely.
🥗🍓 Today’s Lunch? Delicious and Healthy!
On that note… Here is a picture of today’s delicious lunch listed above in the diary. 😀 Yup. I eat real, tasty food. I just make smart swaps and eat with intention.
🥪 Do I Starve Myself? Nope. Not Even Close. 😤
I get this question a lot: “Are you starving yourself?”
Short answer: Nope. 🙅♀️
I don’t let myself get to that point. I eat regularly throughout the day, spacing out meals and snacks to keep my energy steady and my body fueled. 💪🍴
Also, here’s a tip that changed the game for me:
If you think you’re hungry, you might just be dehydrated.
Your body often confuses thirst for hunger, so I always check in with my water intake first. 💧🧠
Stay hydrated! A good rule of thumb… Don’t pee Lemonade! Pee clear! 😀
Final Words
Fitness isn’t about chasing a number — it’s about chasing your best self. For me, cosplay gave me the motivation to start. And what started as a physical goal ended up transforming my entire mindset.
If you’re thinking about getting started — for your health, your confidence, or your next cosplay — I’m cheering for you. You’ve got this. 💚
With strength, stamina, sweat, and just a dash of scales,
Liz 💪🦎
Leaping Lizard Cosplay 🏋️♀️🎭✨
🎉 UPDATE: I DID IT!!
I hit my goal — down 50 lbs — and I wore my Meru cosplay at MegaCon! 😭💙
Huge thanks to everyone who supported me on this journey. Your kind words and encouragement meant everything.
📸 Photography credit: Short Fuse Pinups
🎭 Meru cosplay by yours truly — Leaping Lizard Cosplay
Leaping Lizard Cosplay 
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