Hey guys and gals,
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.
As such I’m trying to get toned up for it. 😀
Now before anyone rolls their eyes and automatically gets some sort of negative opinion of me I’d like to say to everyone you should cosplay regardless of body type and rock it. I’m happy with my figure and weight, but I’ve decided that I personally want to tone up my body for personal reasons. This cosplay is helping to motivate me. Meru is a dancer and I would like to look as such. This is my personal goal and challenge. I do not expect anyone to follow my methods. Regardless of how I’m shaped two months from now, I will be wearing this. 😀
I started my weight loss journey last March. It wasn’t for vanity reasons, but rather for my own health. Anyone that knows me, can vow for the fact that I was always sick. I was hospitalized three to four times a year for many years. My weight was always fluctuating, and I just didn’t have the strength or energy to do anything or hang out with anyone.
Here is some progress shots:
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:
And me currently as of January 2014:
I must reiterate this point! I’m very comfortable with my weight, and more than ecstatic at the results I have attained. Now that I have gotten this far, I thought to myself, “Why stop?!” 😀 So, I joined a facebook event called the 30 day Fitness Challenge. The challenge is to eat healthy and exercise 5 to 6 days a week. You can see more on the challenge here: https://www.facebook.com/events/732596680101292/
This is my progress so far:
I give myself heart stickers for the days I work out. (I like stickers… :D)
As I said previously, the challenge is more than just working out, it’s about eating heathy too. When I started my journey I decided to keep a food diary. After searching around and playing with a couple of apps I decided on MyFitnessPal. Here is today’s diary entry from MyFitnessPal. I highly recommend it to everyone! I’m currently doing a 1200-1400 net calories everyday. That means I take the calories from what I eat and subtract them from how many calories I burned from working out. Here is from today’s food diary entry:
From articles that I have read and my doctor, I learned that on average an adult female needs to consume at least 1200 calories a day (1600-1800 a day for an average adult male) in order for your body to not go into starvation mode. This is food calories not “net food” calories.
If your body goes into starvation mode your body will in turn begin to breakdown muscle to maintain a healthy glucose (sugar) level for your body. This is bad news. You want to keep that muscle because the more muscle you have the more fat you burn! Your body will continually burn stored fat to maintain that healthy muscle throughout the day when you are not working out.
As for workout recommendations, most professionals will agree a higher ratio of lifting weights (anaerobic exercise) and building muscle to cardio (aerobic exercise) will increase your weight loss results faster. That said, both are necessary evils to tone up.
How much can I safely lose a week?
It is healthy to lose about two pounds/about one kilogram a week. Any more is not beneficial. The human body can fluctuate 10+ lbs/5+ kg a day, and because of this I do not measure myself daily. Weight loss isn’t a straight downward path, but a zig-zag slow decline that looks like a fallng stock on Wall Street. I like to weigh in at every two weeks to check on my progress. Plus, obsessing day to day can only discourage you in the long run. An excellent explanation and video about how to weigh yourself properly can be found by the amazing body builder Scobby. Found here.
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.
*Salt is a hard one for me. Dang you Lean Cuisines! Why are you so high in sodium! o_o
Just for measure let me break down simply why calories are important. Burning 3,500 calories burns off 1 lb of fat. Now if you want to lose 2 lbs/1 kg a week you will need to burn 7,000 calories. This might seem impossible, but your body naturally burns calories even when you are sleeping. Lucky for us there is never an off switch.
Unless you are dead… 
But if you are reading this you have a pulse. Unless you are a zombie or a vampire, or some other thing. Then begs the question, why are you reading this if you are a zombie or a vampire…? BACK ON TRACK LIZ!
As I was saying… There is never an off switch. According to the US FDA a normal diet is around 2000 calories a day. If you are just eating 1200 a day… BAM! There’s an 800 calorie loss, and exercising will only add to that total.
On that note… Here is a picture of today’s delicious lunch listed above in the diary. 😀
Some people ask me if I starve myself. -_- As you can see that is not the case. I do not let my body get hungry. I make sure to spread out my meals throughout the day so that I don’t get to that point. Plus most of the time you feel hungry that is your body actually telling you you are thirsty.
The other component to my diet is staying hydrated. A good rule of thumb… Don’t pee Lemonade! Pee clear! 😀
That’s it from me. I hope you all enjoy your Sunday afternoon! 😀
Update! I did it! I lost 50 lbs and wore Meru! 😀 Thanks to everyone who was so supportive!
Leaping Lizard Cosplay 