Lou's journal of fitness of body, soul and mind....

imperfectly_lou · 10-07-2008, 12:02 AM

My last journal was sadly closed....

posted from my old journal

Sadly, the time has come for this journal to be shut as it is too long and is causing dramas on the BB.com server.

As most of you know, this journal is the oldest by a long way here at BB.com - just over 5 years old - so it is sad it has to be shut, but c?st la vie.

This journal is not just a BB-related story. It has become the story of my journey over the past 5 years and details the ups and downs along a long and bumpy road. This journal began with me as a fairly ill 21 year old, sick and stubborn....

I had just began seeing Mark when this story began, and now we are engaged, despite some tumultuous times

I spent hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars in therapy over the course of this journal. The man who violently sexually assaulted me in 2002 was caught and I was put through a gruelling court case for several years, also detailed in this journal.

I was studying a double degree in Law and Business. I sweated blood to put myself through that degree, graduating with First Class Honours. Then slowly the realisation of how much I hated my chosen degree began, and I worked a job which I not only hated, but sent me spiralling further and deeper into depression until I ended up lower than I had ever been before and attempted suicide in early 2007. I met my final psychiatrist who was not a friend, and kicked my ass so damn hard that I finally made the decision to live this life, rather than simply exist.

I entered the study of Nursing with the support of my wonderful BB.com friends and slowly, have clawed my way back up..... I now have a lot of real-time friends, and no longer hide away. I love my job and I am so so happy I made the switch.

Throughout all of this, fitness and BBing has been a mainstay - sometimes a crutch I admit, but the thing that kept me head above water. Running that half marathon 2 weeks ago was a tremendous achievement for me as it signified "I have survived". And I nearly didn't.

Mark and I have been talking for some time now, and with his encouragement, I hope to write a book in the next year or two, and I will be backing up this old journal in the hope it will become part of that book's pages.

So this is not the end of my journey... merely a blip in continuity. I'm not going anywhere - except to the gym

imperfectly_lou · 10-07-2008, 12:05 AM

Last week:

Mon - Legs/calves/arms training (80mins) plus 10mins flexibility training
Tuesday - 9.5km run plus 30mins flexibility training
Wednesday - Back/shoulders/bicep training (60mins) plus 30mins elliptical trainer plus 15mins flexibility training
Thursday - 60mins Body Attack class plus 80min power walk
Friday - 10km sprint training and alpha cardio plus 10mins flexibility training
Saturday - 100mins leg/calf/ab training plus 80mins power walk
Sunday - Chest/shoulder training (60mins) plus 45mins spin class plus 70mins power walk
Monday - Back/biceps training (70mins) plus 80mins power walk

I usually take Saturday as my rest day but as I am away for work Wed-Fri this week I have trained straight through.

imperfectly_lou · 10-07-2008, 12:06 AM

TODAY'S WORKOUT

Run outside in the beautiful sunshine!

12.72km in total (including 1.1km walk to warm up)

TOTAL DURATION 1hr 13mins

Followed by 30mins stretching

TOTAL CALORIES BURNT 870

imperfectly_lou · 10-07-2008, 12:15 AM

I am off to the osteo shortly. I have been having pain through my neck and right shoulder for a good few months now, and apparently it is actually something quite serious called thoracic outlet syndrome , or at least the very early stages so some manipulation is called for!

**Emma-Leigh** · 10-07-2008, 12:18 AM

*In*

ps: Love you gorgeous.

mizone · 10-07-2008, 01:43 AM

Hi Lou - I was shocked to see your first journal locked...I got scared....but alas...

Phew!!

imperfectly_lou · 10-07-2008, 03:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mizone

Hi Lou - I was shocked to see your first journal locked...I got scared....but alas...

Phew!!

hehe lurker! :P

nice to see u here babe

imperfectly_lou · 10-07-2008, 03:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by imperfectly_lou

I am off to the osteo shortly. I have been having pain through my neck and right shoulder for a good few months now, and apparently it is actually something quite serious called thoracic outlet syndrome , or at least the very early stages so some manipulation is called for!

Just got back from the osteo... its all pretty yuck. Very tight and painful..... I will have to see her a few times over the next few weeks to get it all sorted. It sounds like I will need to with my new emma program which starts next week!

twinnett · 10-07-2008, 04:29 AM

Ick..hope you get that sorted out! I had to close my old one too...it was sad, but alas..here's to a fresh start!

You are so strong Lou...I didn't know everything you had gone though...what an inspiration!

Megin · 10-07-2008, 07:08 AM

Brand Spankin' New-ness!

indiglo9124 · 10-07-2008, 07:17 AM

*waves*

**Emma-Leigh** · 10-07-2008, 12:58 PM

Just wanted to say travel safe and have fun at camp Lou-Lou.

We'll be sure to keep your new home warm while you be gone.

And you'll have shiny (and curse worthy) newness on return (remember - you asked!!

)!

imperfectly_lou · 10-07-2008, 01:06 PM

Off on camp this morning! Hopefully it's a good one. I will be back Friday night. Take care everyone!

Miranda · 10-07-2008, 02:34 PM

a new blog?

moisy · 10-07-2008, 03:41 PM

I was not along for the journey with your old journal and would like to jump on the band wagon for your new one - I have read many parts from your old journal - it is so inpirational

You are one strong independent courageous and determined woman ... and you have made a huge difference to many people on here who have read and followed along with your struggles and more importantly your successes

I think that it is a wonderful idea to write a book looking back on your journey and the place that it brought you to now. When it gets published you will have to let me know because I would love to buy a class set for my grade 8 girls to read - so many life changing lessons and wonderful things to learn about being true to yourself, following your dreams, never giving up and having faith and hope in yourself

I am soooooo looking forward to following along with you on this new journey!!

And have a wonderful time at camp!!!

valby · 10-07-2008, 07:54 PM

Hi Lou

I am thinking of heading up to the NSW BB show at Cronulla I think its on the 18th/19th?? Would you be interested in going? I have no idea what it will be like.....

But I am also still keen for High Tea. Emma wants me to train too

Um I know cakes are anabolic but I couldn't possibly

ubermumma · 10-07-2008, 07:59 PM

I tried to rep ya, but i need more friends

Eh, I don't want to hide the love anyway...I LOVES YA LOU

lilly_julia · 10-07-2008, 08:15 PM

WOW!
thanks for your openness and honesty, I value those traits so highly, I love it when people are REAL!

so awesome that you found an outlet for which to "cease existing" and start LIVING. I know exactly what you mean. I'm cheering for you all the way!

AWESOME job on the half marathon!!!! I want to do that!!!!

perf_ckt · 10-08-2008, 04:29 AM

bah took me a while to find it, but im here!

going to follow your lead and run in the sunshine tomorrow

Megin · 10-08-2008, 07:44 AM

Have fun at camp Lou-Lou!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by perf_ckt

bah took me a while to find it, but im here!

I know your old thread is closed already.. but you have a friend in high places that could possibly put a link on your last post of your OLD journal to direct people here? Only if you wanted to..
It is easy to find this in the journal section.. but you don't want to lose some followers if they can't find it

Just thinking out loud

serinebean · 10-08-2008, 08:06 AM

Ahhh new journal. (by force.) Makes me fear for my own!!!

But I loved the summary up top!! Wow Lou...I had no clue!!

Thank you for sharing.

kitebean · 10-08-2008, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by imperfectly_lou

I'm not going anywhere - except to the gym

Big hugs matey girl!

Megin · 10-10-2008, 06:47 AM

Just bumping you for your return..

ubermumma · 10-10-2008, 01:29 PM

Heydy Ho Lou, hope camp is ok this time round and without too many dramas

imperfectly_lou · 10-10-2008, 07:31 PM

I'm back, I'm back! Will post soon

imperfectly_lou · 10-10-2008, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miranda

a new blog?

Not by choice! I wanted to keep the old one going forever and ever!

Quote:

Originally Posted by moisy

I was not along for the journey with your old journal and would like to jump on the band wagon for your new one - I have read many parts from your old journal - it is so inpirational

You are one strong independent courageous and determined woman ... and you have made a huge difference to many people on here who have read and followed along with your struggles and more importantly your successes

I think that it is a wonderful idea to write a book looking back on your journey and the place that it brought you to now. When it gets published you will have to let me know because I would love to buy a class set for my grade 8 girls to read - so many life changing lessons and wonderful things to learn about being true to yourself, following your dreams, never giving up and having faith and hope in yourself

I am soooooo looking forward to following along with you on this new journey!! And have a wonderful time at camp!!!

Thank you so much... what a kind, thoughtful message. I have not put pen to paper yet (but uni finishes in 4 weeks so its on the agenda) but I have lots of bits and pieces written in my head!

Quote:

Originally Posted by valby

Hi Lou

I am thinking of heading up to the NSW BB show at Cronulla I think its on the 18th/19th?? Would you be interested in going? I have no idea what it will be like.....

But I am also still keen for High Tea. Emma wants me to train too

Um I know cakes are anabolic but I couldn't possibly

I'm on clinical until 31st October INCLUDING weekend work

which means crazy hours, 4 assignments to get done and just general lack of sleep and time! Buuuut, I do finish uni for good on 7th November so perhaps we should schedule some training/high tea for after that???

Quote:

Originally Posted by ubermumma

I tried to rep ya, but i need more friends

Eh, I don't want to hide the love anyway...I LOVES YA LOU

I loves ya too Kimmy... hope you're holding strong

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilly_julia

WOW!
thanks for your openness and honesty, I value those traits so highly, I love it when people are REAL!

so awesome that you found an outlet for which to "cease existing" and start LIVING. I know exactly what you mean. I'm cheering for you all the way!

AWESOME job on the half marathon!!!! I want to do that!!!!

Thanks for posting! And I highly recommend the half marathon! An awesome experience!

imperfectly_lou · 10-10-2008, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by perf_ckt

bah took me a while to find it, but im here!

going to follow your lead and run in the sunshine tomorrow

Did you have fun?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Megin

Have fun at camp Lou-Lou!!

I know your old thread is closed already.. but you have a friend in high places that could possibly put a link on your last post of your OLD journal to direct people here? Only if you wanted to..
It is easy to find this in the journal section.. but you don't want to lose some followers if they can't find it

Just thinking out loud

Good idea... I will ask Emma-Leigh!

Quote:

Originally Posted by serinebean

Ahhh new journal. (by force.) Makes me fear for my own!!!

But I loved the summary up top!! Wow Lou...I had no clue!!

Thank you for sharing.

Anytime Beanie... thanks for being a friend...

Quote:

Originally Posted by kitebean

Big hugs matey girl!

And back at you babe!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Megin

Just bumping you for your return..

Thanks Megs!

Quote:

Originally Posted by ubermumma

Heydy Ho Lou, hope camp is ok this time round and without too many dramas

It was a nice, easy camp thankfully!

serinebean · 10-10-2008, 07:50 PM

Yer back

Hi!

imperfectly_lou · 10-10-2008, 07:58 PM

Camp was fairly easy and non-eventful. It's always fairly tiring though so I am glad I have today off except for a shift tonight 7-11pm... I did the housework this morning and am going to crash for a nap soon.

Not looking forward to the next 3 weeks. It is my final clinical placement for my degree and this time, we follow the same RN for the whole time and work all their shifts. So I am working weekends, night duties, the whole she-bang! But after that is done, and 4 assignments are handed in, I am freeeeeeeeeeeee as of 7th November!

I got my new Emma program yesterday, due to start tomorrow! It looks brutal, but hey, I asked for it!

valby · 10-11-2008, 03:53 AM

ew you is busy! Nov sounds good