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[Rakoku]

I need to get in shape for cosplay, and I've been looking up all kinds of information about diet and exercise. All that information is kind of confusing! I'm just at a loss of how to start, so some help would be appreciated.

I am 16 years old, 5'4", I weigh between 124-127 lbs (it changes), and have a mesomorphic body type. I lead a sedentary life now that school is over for me, the most exercise I got was walking around school between classes or home from school after. I have no health conditions other than vertigo sometimes if I overexert myself or put my head in really tilted postitions. I also have a special diet because of migraine allergies. I can't eat most preservatives, chocolate, nuts, cheeses, and msg.

Since I'm mostly sedentary, I don't really know how to start exercising without hurting myself and not getting too bulky. For food, I have some idea of what to do, but it's also really hard to eat nutritious food at times because it's so limited. I honestly have no clue what qualifies as a good meal. Heck, I just eat granola and milk for breakfast or all my meals.

Please and thank you everybody.

[Kasinator]

Hello Rakoku,

It's great to meet someone new who is ready to really get into cosplay. A great start would be to check out the stickies I as well as others have written located at the very top of the fitness forum here. There is a lot of misinformation you have heard over the years as exactly how one gets in shape and will need debunking. The stuff you learn here is not about the latest workout gadget or diet craze but the old fashioned way of exercising and eating right.

If things get tough when you start remember the first week is always the hardest. Pace yourself, but do not stop. As crazy as it sounds you will feel really good doing exercise when you stick to it. you develop a euphoria.

All that being said, check the stickies and come back here if there is anything you have questions about from there, we're happy to help you.

[MisterBananas]

One method that's been thrown around a bit more lately is to start dancing. A lot of people who are overweight or uncomfortable with their current appearance tend to be very self-conscious about dancing, if you're one of them, you can try while at home.

There's a related thread here:
http://www.cosplay.com/showthread.php?t=289076

Or maybe you might like dances that are a little more open to free form. I'd recommend Jump Style or Hardstyle Shuffle.

A Jump Style starter tutorial to give you an idea of the style:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHKrZ0E6eTg

Hardstyle Shuffle beginner's tutorial:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWClxRC7-0s

[Somsai]

GUIDE to Fat Lass:
http://www.muscleandstrength.com/expert-guides/fat-loss
The more you understand fitness and nutrition the faster your results and
confidence. This goes for ALL of you!

GUIDE to Nutrition:
http://www.muscleandstrength.com/art...rs-part-I.html
http://www.muscleandstrength.com/art...s-part-II.html

Start learning dip shit...LOL. Nah, just joking. Joking aside use this...
I recently posed this to someone that also needed guidance.

[char99char]

5'4" and 127 pounds is a perfect ratio (21.7 BMI - look up a BMI calculator).

I still advocate eating well and working out. Look to the standard food pyramid as a guide - eat a lot of fruit and vegetables, some cereals/ carbs and some protein.

As far as exercise - you have to do a LOT to really bulk up - don't worry about it happening. I've done a bulking workout before for 6 weeks and it was a lot of work and the results on my frame were good but not what I would call bulky. I definitely had muscle. Just try to be active for 30 - 60 minutes a day - walking, dancing, whatever.

Good luck!

[YellowPancreas]

When it comes to food from the grocery store, read the labels!! There are things I used to buy like the Marie Calendar's Pot Pies that were easily 1000 calories on their own--and I'd still be hungry!

Also food companies like to throw things on their labels like "All Natural" or "Fresh" and some of these foods have high calories, sodium, sugar, carbs etc. So all you have to do is read the label to make sure it's true to its name.

[Devika]

The best thing you can do when it comes to food is to cook yourself! Stick to the pyramid, as char99 said. If you're the cook, you can make sure that everything in there is healthy.

As for exercise, you might want start doing some sports at a club. I enjoy going to my kung fu lessons way more than doing random push-ups at home. Also, you get to meet new people!

[Rakoku]

Sorry, I've been busy and just totally forgot about this thread! Thanks to you all for the help and for the links.

So the general consensus is find an activity I like and start exercising, plus making sure I eat the right healthy foods. And gosh, I'm an idiot, totally forgot to read the stickies, found a wealth of info there. Again, thanks!