Weight Loss: Week #7

Weight: 114.6 lbs (-2 lbs) 

Measurements: 84-60-86

Week #6 Goals:

Weight: 112 lbs (-2 lbs)
Measurements: 84-59-86 (-1cm)

I ate really poorly this week, so I really have no clue how I didn't gain weight. 

Weight loss: Week #6

Weight: 116.6 lbs (+2.6 lbs/12.4lbs) 

Measurements: N/A

Week #6 Goals:

Weight: 114 lbs (-2.6 lbs)
Measurements: N/A

I sorta fell off the tracks, went to Mexico and probably ate more than I should have. Oh well, hopefully I'll pull my crap together for the next weigh in. 

Weight Loss: Week #5

Weight: 51.7 kg /114.0 lbs (-4.8 lbs/14lbs) 

Measurements: 86-61-86 cm (-.5 cm/-4cm) 

Week #5 Goals:

Weight: 113 lbs (-1 lbs)
Measurements: 86-60.5-86 cm (-.5 cm)


I didn't work out that much this week, but I also didn't have time to eat...like at all :(
Not a healthy week of weight loss, so I'm not proud of it.

Weight Loss: Week #4

Thursday Weigh-in :)

This was first thing in the morning, so it's lower than "normal". 

Weight: 53.5 kg /117.8 lbs (-3.3 lbs/-5.3lbs) 

Measurements: 86-62.5-86 cm (-1.5cm/-3.5cm) 

Week #5 Goals:

Weight: 115 lbs (-2.8 lbs)
Measurements: 86-61-86 cm (-1.5 cm)

Overall not a bad week! My goal seem so far away though :(

Personal: Skincare & Product reviews

Hey, I know my last post had a lot of weird materials so I decided to review them for you guys, and throw in some skincare products I wish I knew about when I was younger.

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Biore Nose Strips: Meh

(From left to right)

Note #1:

SkinMiso Pore Beauty Nose Pack: THIS STUFF REALLY WORKS.  Whiteheads and blackheads are things some people don't even notice, but they gross me out...

I stole this off google search...

Anyway, for a long time I thought that they'd just go away but when I realized they weren't I decided to investigate:

-Michelle Phan's Homemade pore strips (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bjOB4zS0uE): I mean, sure they made my nose feel clean, but it only make it better for a tiny bit. 

-Biore Pore Strips: These got great reviews on the internet, however they didn't really work for me. The first time I used them there was all this nasty gunk stuck to the paper and I thought it was working but you could still see dark specks underneath the skin (and multiple uses didn't help). 

-SkinMiso: It comes in two little nose masks. It just really gets all the deep nasty stuff out of your "nose skin", and it keeps it out. Sure I use them every few months or so when I notice my nose getting gross again, but it's worth the cost if you really want to get rid of your whiteheads/blackheads.

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Note #2:

Skinfood Papaya Yogurt Mask: It's just a great product that I recently got. It brightens really brightens the skin. I wanted to include it...because it's great :3

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Note #3:

Apoxie Sculpt: A two part "clay" material that hardens after the materials have been mixed. Dries hard, and is very adhesive. I like to let it harden quite a bit before I start to use it, because it's a lot less stinky. It's sort of like plastic that you can shape before it hardens.

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Note #4:

I got this at resin at the local store, it worked fine. It's just what I ended up using for my gems out of convenience, and it did it's job. 

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I'll take photos of my skin and post them on here eventually, maybe when I do a makeup tutorial for my cosplays. 

NW: WIP #5: Bow+PaperClay = Dissapointment

Props update!

Most of this stuff has been done for awhile, but it's not completed. Anyway most of issues that I've been dealing with recently has been searching for the right materials. I wanted to use Kamui's method of smoothing (using a powdered papier mâché) however I just didn't think it would be the right fit. I ended up covering foam boards with PaperClay, and attempted to sand it smooth using a fine grit sand paper. Unfortunately I ended up braking the ends of the bow and ended up having to use Apoxie Sculpt to reattach them. I later used a x-acto knife to cut out the details on the ends, but overall I've been really disappointed in the smoothness. I'll see what I can do about it before I paint. 

Materials:

-PaperClay: http://www.paperclay.com/images/0811a.jpg

-Foam Boards: http://www.jigsawgenie.com/images/InsertBoard.jpg

-Resin: http://thumbs4.ebaystatic.com/d/l225/m/mLadodryoUxyQ6iHZH8Weyw.jpg

-Apoxie Clay: http://shoestringstable.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/apoxie-sculpt.jpg

Kamui Cosplay Page: http://www.kamuicosplay.com/

The bow...at least it's proportions are right.

The details came out alright.

The gems! I cast them in resin, but I haven't decided what to back them with. The largest one didn't set properly, so I'll have to re-do it.

A sample "hoop" made out of Apoxie sculpt, it turned out much better than I feared.

Personal: Pink or Blue?

I made this blog with the intention to make it only about cosplay progress. It was supposed to read more like a log than a diary if you get what I mean. But, hey maintaining a diary is supposed to be good for you...and I'm pretty sure reading a diary is way more enjoyable that reading log entries.

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Note #1:

I'm thinking about dying my hair :)

Examples: 

My friend wants to dye his hair grey, so we might as well sink or float together :3 

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Note #2:

My boobs came in the mail!

I didn't take any irl pics of the product so the promotional ones will have to do:

Link(seller): http://www.ebay.com/usr/jewelryrunway

Anyway it does what it was intended to do! My boobs can now defy gravity (mostly). I'll post a picture of the boobstickers+breastplate for the NW cosplay later when the breastplate is completed so you guys can at least get the gist of what it does.

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Note #3:

Cosplays I REALLY want to do:

Rocket Girl Tristana: League of Legends
ArtMod by: fazie69.deviantart.com

I actually already bought the ears and wig for this cosplay. I got in WAY over my head. Need time to reconsider my plan of attack. 

Pyrrha Omega: Soulcalibur V

I think her character design is incredible. I would make this a "official" cosplay, but I'm not sure if I can pull her off (physically or artistically). She's so coooooooool thoughhhhhhh. 

Rondo: Eternal Sonata

I'm a masochist. 

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Note #4:

I might start making youtube videos. I really like having photos to work off of when I'm looking I'm trying to be efficient, but a video is usually more informative. I don't have a nice webcam, but I bet I could manage.

 I'll probably post some reviews of products here (under "Personal"), products being anything from skincare to craft foam. 

I'll update on the cosplay progress very shortly :) 

Weight Loss: Week #3

Another WL update...weigh-in was a little disappointing but at least it went down. BUT GREAT NEWS: I can fit into an old dress I couldn't wear before! I've been jump roping every night...so hopefully the numbers will get better.

Weight: 55 kgs / 121.1 lbs (-1.3 lbs)
Measurements: 86-63.5-86 cm (-2.5 cm)

Week #4 Goals:

Weight: 119 lbs (-2.1 lbs)
Measurements: 86-62-86 cm (-1.5 cm)

Weight Loss: Week #2

Hey guys this isn't really a Week #2 update, since it's been a couple weeks since I updated.

Weight: 55.5 kg/122.4 lbs (starting)
Measurements: 86-66-86  (-0 cm)

Week #3 Goals:
Weight: 120 lbs (-2.4 lbs)
Measurements: 86-65-65 (-1cm)

No change in waist :'(

NW: WIP #4: Wonderflex/Bow/Ears

Working with wondeflex was fun. It felt like it had a lower "bending" temperature so it was easier for an impatient person like me to work with. It's a great material to work with, it seems slightly less malleable than worbla but I sort of like that about it. 

Oh and I decided on this wig: http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Wholesale-fashion-cheap-party-light-green-long-wig-free-shipping/545645129.html

Working on Rena's "cross" bow :)

I added the top cuff. 

The ears from Aradani came in and they are great! I'll post photos of them on closer to time.
http://www.aradanicostumes.com/elf_ears

KLK: Cosplay #2

YEP! It's a group cosplay! My housemates and I are going to do the tracksuit versions of the student council from Kill la Kill. I probably won't get started for awhile but i'll keep progress posted.

NW: WIP #3: "Leatherwork"

Hey, update here. Mostly did the "leatherwork" for Night Watcher. I decided instead of buying pleather I would try and imitate leather using treated EVA foam. I think the result was pretty good! I used a dry-brush technique with brown, orange, and white paint on charcoal-grey colored EVA foam. Worbla was heat molded to the EVA foam when more structure was needed, and I used the back of an embroidery needle to make impressions around the edges of the "leather".

I need to finish up the leather corset, and make quite a few more belts! (Oh and the last photo of the breastplate is a spoiler for a future update).

NW: WIP #2: Breastplate/Paterns

Sorry I haven't updated cosplay progress recently. I also made the pattern for the skirt, but I'll update on that later. The fabric was okay, the light green turned out a little too thin but the color is good.

Example of the final armguard (Going to redo it in craft foam treated to look like leather).

Fabric came! (Colors)

Made a pattern.  

Made the waist guard. I used craft foam heat molded between between two pieces of worbla!

Front and side views of the "underboob" protector. 

The spikes! Will heat shape them later into the waist guard.  

"Underboob" protector covered in fabric. The result was better than I feared.

Weight Loss: Week #1

Update:
Weight: (Scale is broken) N/A
Measurements: 86-66-86

Well 2cm off...I measured relatively soon after I ate.

Week #2 Goal: 3cm/5lbs

Weight Loss #2

After failing to keep up a healthier diet I've decided to follow a strict low calorie diet just to detox and remind me I can eat in moderation ect.
(I stole this one off the internet http://chienna.wordpress.com/2012/03/01/extreme-korean-celebrity-diets/) 

I'm going to substitute grapefruits with bananas/cereal/toast, and black coffee with tea. I'm also going to include potatoes under the meal plan.

I'm going to post pictures of my meals, and workout plan.

Weight Loss

I've decided to slim down by around 15 pounds, focusing on core exercises. I'll keep track of my measurements as well as my weight, and update on diet and exercise changes I've made, probably updating my progress once a week.

Height: 5'2"

Starting: 128 pounds 

Measurements: 86-68-86 (cm)

Goal: 107 pounds

Measurements: 2/3 inches off waist + Slimmer arms and legs 

1-Week goal: 3 pounds or 1 cm off waist

NW: WIP #1: Arm Guards + EVA Foam/Leather

A lot of trial and error, but the end result was reasonable. I decided that I am going to make most of the "leather" of Night Watcher out of EVA foam. After heat molding the surface of EVA foam is remarkably similar to leather. Even though the colors make it look a little ridiculous, I think the result should end up convincing enough. All trial runs right now, I'll probably just run paint tests on what I've worked on so far.

Made a general pattern for the armguard by using plastic wrap and painters tape. 

I used a heat gun to shape worbla into the shape of the arm guards and tried to make the scraps into her pendants.

I reinforced EVA foam with worbla (and then heat molded it) to make a belt for the top of the arm guard.

I didn't like the shape of the armguard so I altered the pattern, and I decided to trim it down and layered it over with EVA foam. 

NW: Cosplay #1

Just started work on her, should be fun :)
Elsword: Rena (Night Watcher)
Link: https://myaccount.elswordonline.com/registration?site=googletext