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[Reionyx]

I hope you don't mind me borrowing your success story thread idea, Camilleathome.

I always feel that a good success (or semi success) is a good way to lighten a mood and help promote motivation for those who need it. I personally find success stories extremely motivational (Camilleathome's story for one ). It makes me feel happy inside that, despite difficulties, people DO lose weight and keep it off. They rise to the challenge, not for only themselves, but for others to work harder on their dreams.

Cosplay has changed my life. Although I am not new to the idea of cosplay, I am new to actually doing it.
I have never been your typical skinny high school girl, and have been overweight all my life. I hit the 170s in my preteen/early teen years, and when I got about 16 I exploded to 220 pounds. I was extremely self conscious of my weight from an early age and decided to homeschool through middle and high school, because I could not handle going to school looking the way I did. I went through many diets to see if I could shed some of the weight, but it never went away and my motivation went to the point that I did not care anymore. I became your typical couch potato, and kept getting larger and larger, and ended up having to change my closet every 4-6 or so months, because my clothes would not fit. My blood pressure was going through the roof (on top of already a inherited high blood pressure problem).
Back in early 2011, I began to wear big plus size jeans and multi-X shirts, when an Japanese internet friend of mine had introduced me to cosplay. He also said that he was coming to visit the US in 2012, and wanted to know whether I wanted to go to a convention with him. I was hooked on the idea (since I am a Japanese pop culture geek), but how could I dress up as my favorite character looking the way I did? How would I do the character justice? That was the day, I drew the line on my weight and decided to turn this problem around. I was sick to death of looking like I did, and in the space of one day, threw out or gave away all the unhealthy food in my house (soda, chips, candy, etc). I went out, bought two exercise machines and a pantry full of healthy food choices.
In July 2011, I started my weight loss journey, and though I have stumbled here and there, I have officially lost 44 pounds. I have some ways to go before I reach my ultimate goal, but I will continue on, because my health and cosplay future hangs in the balance. I have a lot more energy and can wear clothes that are not in the plus size range now.

Many people have said that my motivation and reasons to lose weight is silly and stupid, and that dressing up in a costume should not a main focus for losing weight, but it matters to me! I did not care about health for a long time until I found a reason why I should be healthy and all its possibilities.
It does not matter what our motivation is, it just matters that we get up off of our lazy behinds and get something done about it! Because of this motivation, I have a new insight into maintaining my health - you know, sometimes you need a push to get started.
So whatever your motivation is, whether it be big or small, keep going with it, because in the end you will thank that motivation for keeping you on track!
Weight loss is not an easy thing, but it can be done by simply changing your routines and sticking to a plan. Other than rare exceptions, weight loss can be achieved without spending loads of money on food, exercise machines, and gym memberships. The first step in your weight loss journey is to realize your bad ways.
Thank you for reading this rather long (sorry about that) story. I hope it will help to motivate someone out there that needs it. Don't give up and always do your best! Gambate, kudasai!

[KitKatCaughtcha]

Aww that's such a great story, and it's so impressive that you've stuck to it so well, awesome progress
You'll have to post before and afters at some point

[Slapthefatcat]

Yes, you are right. That's what I tell everyone. It's not what you do, it's actually getting up and doing it. My motivation at first was that I was dead-tired ALL the time. It was horrible, I was struggling to make it through each day without falling asleep. I wasn't living life. I stayed at home because I thought everyone was judging me and that I was just too tired most of the time to go out. Now, I walked almost every day and have the energy to make the smart choices and go out, and I've done 5 (walking) 5k's already and lost 20 pounds. I started in February. What REALLY got me to start was that I was like "February already? I still haven't done anything to lose weight for my New Year's Resolution." And so I walked, and walked, and walked.

[arceus4445]

i know how you all feel for me im pretty skinny but not so quick at things. when ever i ate a ton of junk food my performance in many different area ended being very poor. i decided to play water polo to help with this problem. water polo is a sport that is similar to soccer and hockey but its in the water. you can't touch the bottom of the pool unless your the goallie and the water depth depends on what play you play at. you also can't hold the ball with too hands unless your the goallie as well. which means you have to learn how to tread water. if the whistle blows you still keep going no matter what you have to go back from one end of the pool to the other. nor can you jump off the bottom of the pool. because this i have been skinnier than ever before. i will continue to play water polo for the rest of high school and college as well =D