Residing in the Mind of Nine

Cosplay Cosplay Cosplay

WELL. There's only about 3 weeks or so before Sakura Con.

Panic Mode? Initiated.

So far I've got my pieces cut out for all my cosplays. Thanks to Someguy, I decided to go and try and make a Jedi cosplay for Sunday...hurrhurr, I don't know if I'll finish it, to be really honest. I should focus on the other items...

Yasuri Nanami (60-70% Done)
I've pretty much finished the black kimono yesterday. All I have to do is to hem the bottom, and then finish off the collar with some hand stitching. Other than that, I've got the purple thing to do, and then a few accessories that shouldn't take too long to make. I also ended up cutting the bangs for her as well. I really hope they don't look that derp. I suck at cutting wigs : (

Juvia (10%)
I haven't really gotten much done. All I did was find the right pattern, and cut out the main pieces. I need to cut her hat out, and I still haven't acquired the right fur trim for it. I really need to get on this. Ordered the wig earlier this month...I have my fingers crossed and I hope it'll arrive before the month is over... *cough* (okay, just as I typed that, I totally had a panic attack and though I HADN'T ordered it yet... but I did and it's been shipped. *phew*)

Jedi (Knight) (15%?)
Lol this cosplay. I sense it'll be incredibly fun. Heck I finished sewing the body of it last night and it was long and flowy. I love it. I ordered leggings already to go with it, too. Now I just need to figure out the back detailing and the shirt/tunic that goes on underneath. I'll probably have to buy myself a belt as well... I'll get around that tomorrow! And I'll buy a belt for Juvia as well while I'm at it!

I'm so glad there aren't any props this year to make. SO HAPPY. Well...maybe later in the year : P haha

OH yeah, I should make my belt and stuff out of wonderflex... yeah...

Level 3?

So, I decided to try level 3 yesterday after finishing that post. It was pretty brutal... and I liked it. Haha, now I sound like a masochist. Anyway, it had a lot more plyometrics involved; meaning more "explosive" jump movements, and resistance in movements. Which, makes everything more interesting than level 2. I think I had a hard time going through level 2 because it was pretty boring. That and it focused a lot on upper body strength, and that's not something I'm too keen on.

And today, as a result of level 3, my abs are SUPER SORE! Yay, progress I guess!

In level 3, I've noticed that it was mostly focused on abs, and upper thighs. There are still some upper body exercises like traveling push ups and stuff, but it didn't leave my shoulder's screaming like level 2 did. Also, I might still be doing some of these exercises in bad form (cost of not having a mirror to "look at yourself"). I will try to keep in that in mind and try not to strain anything. Nothing sucks more than a strained muscle injury >_<;

Ohhh I can feel the time just ticking away... >_< There's a lot of stuff I need to do.

I should put a list up of exactly what I need to do and then cross it off. lol back to the normal grind!

Steady.

It's been a while since I've been able to blog about my progress and what not. I hate neglecting blogs, but this time I'm really pressed on time. I'm still keeping up my "no snacking" mentality (though there has been some mishaps here and there, but during classes absolutely nothing). I've been exercising whenever I can as well. I decided to do Level 2 some more before going on to level 3. Level two is pretty brutal, and I've started doing sit ups and pushups before I go to sleep, no matter what time. A little of something is better than nothing on most days.

So it's been pretty steady. Still have lost that 5-10lbs earlier, and I think I can do another 5 before this month is over. YIISSS- lol. This isn't going to stop at Sakura Con. Though the only thing I'm disappointed in is that I don't look any different : |

Finally started the actual sewing bit on cosplay. We had an official workshop day yesterday, and I can say that we got some solid work done. I've compiled a list earlier today of what exactly I need to do. Funnily enough, I added another cosplay to my list for this year... Oh man, this is going to be interesting. Final month, and there will be more money spent towards this cause.

Not to mention that this is my final month of school (sorta), and I've got a few major projects + the presentations to finish up! Where did all my time go?!

I should take some pictures and post them up. lol I'm excited, exhausted, and scared that my time will just... evaporate.

Level 1 Complete! Time for Level 2

Well, well, well... Here I am again! Reporting in to update you on my progress. So it's been around 12 days since I've started the 30 Day Shred program. I guess I could summarize the days as I've been keeping track of the progress:

Day 1 - In my head I was thinking, "eh, no problem". "It's just jumping jacks and the lot..." Oh boy. I didn't expect to be so drenched in sweat by the end of it. Fun, fun, fun.

Day 2 - Felt a bit sore in the legs and in the arms. The thing is that the routine starts off with 30 seconds of pushups, and then 30 seconds of jumping jacks, then another 30 seconds of pushups. This was pretty much the bane of my workout in level 1. Everything else was pretty dandy.

Day 3 - I was completely sore. I didn't expect to get THIS sore from the work out. I even did a few more stretches after the work outs to try and help the soreness. Again the pushups are painful. I still could not do full pushups... Yeah I had to settle for the sissy ones. Was starting to feel it in the abs more and more as I went on with the work out.

Day 4 - THIS was the day that I stopped feeling so sore. It felt amazing (all except for my arms).

Day 5 - Feeling pretty good. This was the day I did the routine in a group with Someguy, and the home girl. Also, I found out I pretty much lost 5lbs that day 8D Exciting.

Day 6 & 7 - Felt the burn in my abs more than anything. In the routine, it switches from cardio to strength to one minute abs containing crunches, reverse crunches, and the all time favourite: bicycle crunches. I don't know if my stamina was just going down, but I found myself taking more breaks between these two days. Again by this day, I can barely do the proper pushups. I was still doing the sissy ones, and those STILL BURN!

Day 8 & 9 - Kinda cheated a bit with Dine Out (pre-arranged before I started the program orz). Still, pushups continue to be a pain to do.

Day 10 - Did the final day of level 1 with the group. This time I opted for the 5lb weights. My sides felt sore afterwards, and I was definitely more spent than anything. Although compared to the first few days, I'm not getting as sore as I did before. Which is very good. Also: I need to get heavier weights for at home use.

So what are the results?

Weight: Roughly about 5lbs lost. This of course fluctuates depending on how much I've eaten in a day and drank but so far so good. This was in conjunction of eating better, and less. I've been starting most of my days off with that celery, kiwi, and apple smoothy and then generally eating less and drinking more water and green tea. I'm not sure how much I've lost from exercising alone, but this is pretty good :3

Inches lost: Lost about 0.5'' from my natural waist; 0.75'' from my belly button, and about 0.5'' from my fat guns 8D

All this time I was afraid I would be bulking up instead of losing the layer of fat. I guess the idea is to actually build the muscle up in order to burn more calories... I guess I'm mostly fine with that.

Oh, I can also feel my abs 8D I just need to melt off that layer of fattiness.

Started level 2 today. All I've got to say is that it is quite brutal. I guess I can get into that a little later : p

Quick!

It's been so busy lately with school. I honestly don't know how I'm going to survive this term. I hope everything is smooth sailing after this as well.

As expected in my last semester before I graduate, eh?

Today was the "big pitch day" for our degree show theme. Each one of us was to come up with a theme that would target our audience, and represent us as a group. It was pretty great, but it also signified our first all nighter of the semester. Three weeks into the semester, and we're already staying up all night to finish a project? Aww yisss... this is how we roll.

Now I'm scrambling, putting some final touches onto my portfolio before sending it do my mentor. I really hope I get the mentorship. That would mean I would be in downtown, Mad Men-ing it up with the advertising agency. Fun times indeed.

Also, did I mention I have to write a 30 page essay by the end of this term? Fun, fun, fun.

I hope I can get all this cosplay stuff done on time too. This is definitely the year we actually start early. Guess what? There's been talks where we'll be buying fabric as early as THIS Saturday! Hurray.

OH a little update on the work out video: I'm really feeling it the next day actually. The thing that gets me the worst is the push ups at the beginning. 30 seconds of pushups, to 30 seconds of jumping jacks, to 30 seconds of pushups again, and then back into 30 seconds of jumping jacks. That's only the warm up.

Day 2? No problem.