Today I wanted to take a moment to thank you all for your beautiful words of sympathy, support and caring that you’ve sent my way with my Mom’s passing. Your lovely words have meant so much to me and really have helped uplift me as I walk through this path of sorrow and change that I find myself on.
I so appreciate the time each of you took to say you are thinking of me, that you were sorry for our loss, that you are praying and thinking of me and my family. I value each and every one of your condolences, supportive sentiments and wanted to send you a BIG Thank You today!
Having lost my Mom and seeing her health struggles at the end has led to a few other changes for me….I’ve decided to making my own health and fitness a priority. I’ve let my fitness slide in a big way the past few years and it’s time for me to get back on track and start taking care of myself – not just for me, but also for my hubby, my amazing sons and my friends.
Seeing my Mom suffer with the intense pain of arthritis, osteoporosis and a myriad of other illnesses at the end of her life, it just really hit me that I want to do all that I can today to prevent my own ‘golden years’ from turning into years of pain, discomfort and deterioration.
And the ironic thing is, I used to work out at a gym nearly every day (did you know that I have a certification as a Physical Sports Trainer? Yes I used to be a total ‘gym rat’ lol!). Then after our last military move here, I couldn’t find a gym I liked…and life got really busy….and I let my fitness completely slide. And along with that, my eating habits slid too and I’ve realized I just haven’t been exercising enough and haven’t been eating healthy.
So last week I joined a local gym! A new one just opened up nearby – I took a tour of it and signed up for a membership! I’m working out several days a week and I have to say my energy levels have increased so much! Don’t get me wrong – my body is so sore from using the stairmaster, the elliptical machine, doing squats, planks and lifting weights again! But it makes me feel ‘good’!
For me my new work out routine and healthy eating routine isn’t about ‘losing weight’ so to speak….my new outlook is about becoming healthier, increasing my muscle mass to burn more calories and just getting ‘fit’!
I’m making an effort to eat better too, although one thing I really struggle with is night time snacking!
I’m now checking out Pinterest for healthy snack ideas to help me with those late night cravings! Do you have any healthy snack recipes?? Please share with me here! I’d love to know what they are!
I truly believe that what we do today to take care of our health will not only improve our health right now, but will have a huge impact on our health later on in life.
I want to be active, healthy and have ‘quality of life’ in my golden years; I don’t want to be in crippling pain or to suffer as my Mom unfortunately did. Yes – I want this for me…but most of all I want it for my incredible husband, my amazing, handsome boys and my wonderful friends….I want to have good health so that I can take care of them as best I can, because there is nothing I cherish more than my amazing family and friends.
Now is the time for me to get my act together and start moving, start eating better and book off the time through the week for my fitness.
Thank you all again for all of your love, friendship, kindness and support the past month, for the time you spend with me and my blog, and for listening to my little update here on what’s going on with me and my new outlook and personal goals!
There are some words by a very wise man named Robert Frost that I have always loved…. and that I find even more meaningful and encouraging to me as I come to this ‘fork in the road’ and turn over this new leaf in my life:
Do you have any new goals you are hoping to reach for 2015? Let me hear it and let’s encourage one another!
xo Heather
Heather Luckhurst is the publisher and owner of the Design and Lifestyle website 
you are such an inspiration my friend, I have been thinking of you so much lately. I too have just decided that I should be getting healthy now to make sure I’m healthy later in life, I’m watching my mom not take care of herself and the struggles she is going through, I started back to yoga last week and need to do more. Thank you for the inspiration, you are such a beautiful person. xo
Yay Wendy for your decision to get healthier too and getting back to yoga! I’m so sorry your Mom is going thru some struggles, I’ll be keeping her, you and your family close in my heart and thoughts. You are such a beautiful person too and an inspiration to me! xo Heather
I am so sorry to hear about your mother heather. I had no idea what was going on. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. Strength and Wisdom to you my friend!
Thank you Max for your sweet comments, your kind support and wishes of strength and wisdom!! ~ Heather
So glad to hear how you are doing Heather. I wish you the best on this new road and hope things are getting just a little bit easier for you to bear. Love, Sue
PS I need those healthy snack ideas too!!!
Aw thanks Sue for your support and well wishes – please know how much they mean to me and I will let you know about those healthy snack ideas!
Hi, Heather
I know I have said this before on FB, but I am sorry about your mom. It’s never easy to lose someone you love because you miss them. praying for you and so happy you made changes in your own life.
Thank you Vanessa for your prayers- you are so thoughtful and sweet! I appreciate your support and kind words, they truly mean so much to me! Thanks for your support on these new changes I have made – I’m off to the gym this morning! Have a fabulous week my friend!xo Heather
Heather, again I am so sorry to hear about your mom. My mom is not doing well either. She requires 24 hour care and suffers so. I have spent the last few years helping to take care of her and, like you, my own family, that my own health has taken a toll. I too am trying to get back on track this year. It’s motivating to hear that I am not alone. Good luck to you.
Heather I am sorry for your loss. I lost my Dad in Friday and the grief is so intense. I too am re-assessing my life but I am also going thru a divorce at the same time so I really plan to decide what really will make me happy for my remaining years as I am in my mid forties and have a 7 yr old girl. She was the love of my Dad’s life too. May you find peace,Kristen
Oh Kristen!! I’m so sorry about the loss of your Dad and your divorce too! You have so much on your plate. I know you will get through it and be the best mom you can be for your daughter – 7 is such a precious age! I’ll be keeping you in my heart and thoughts. Thank you for your condolences, they really do help me! xo Heather
Heather,
I’m so sorry for the loss of your mother. I’ve been “away” from blogging a little more than usual and was unaware of what you were going through. I apologize for not sending my condolences sooner.
Take care,
Leslie
Big hugs Leslie! Thanks for passing on your condolences and concern. xo Heather
Heather – I’m so very sorry to hear this. Having lost my mother just a year ago – I know that there isn’t much I can say that would ever change anything. However I know how nice it was to know I wasn’t alone & that people cared. So I’m sending you a huge virtual hug. The pain is deep, the hole left is immense & that doesn’t really change over time. But each day I come across another friend that has gone through it & we stick together & support each other. Love & hugs!!!!!
Thank you so much Gina – you are so gracious, thoughtful and kind! I so appreciate your supportive comments. I’m so sorry you lost your Mom last year – it’s so tough. Big hugs my friend! xo Heather
Glad to hear you are dealing with this loss with such positive actions. I’ve been away from working out for almost a year now due to back issues. But I got good news yesterday that I’m having surgery at the end of March. So by May, I’ll be back at yoga at least
Oh Heather I am so thrilled to hear that you have a surgery date now and that it is coming close – I’m so so happy for you! I can’t imagine how hard it’s been for you to struggle with the back pain for so long. You are such a strong woman and I know you will soon be on the path to healing and recovery, which you so deserve. Yoga will be so great for you to return to after the surgery! Thinking of you and keeping you in my heart and thoughts my friend! xo Heather
Heather,
I am so sorry to read about your mom’ passing and her health struggles.
I want to pass along a snack idea that seems to help with my night cravings — I grab a handful of grapes, a couple crackers and a small slice of cheddar cheese and that seems to satisfy me. I am a huge chocoholic and evening is usually when my chocolate cravings are the worse but I have found that if I eat the chocolate I just crave more. The grapes, crackers, cheese snack seem to stop all my cravings. Hope this helps.
Take care.
Thank you Denise for your condolences!! So sweet of you to pass them on to me! Thanks as well for sharing your snack idea – I’ll try that it sounds filling and healthy!! Yep – I have a HUGE love of chocolate too and night time is when my sweet tooth wants satisfying too lol!! I’ll stock up on grapes next time I’m at the grocery store!
Hi Heather, I’m happy to hear you are staying strong and making some changes for the better. I’m an ex athlete who has let herself go in recent years. Now that I’m 58 and my body is starting to fail me, I’m hoping it isn’t too late for me to make some of the same changes you have. I may never be fit but I’ll be happy to just start moving in that direction. Thank you for the inspiration. Here is a healthy snack recipe for pumpkin muffins. Mix one dry Spice Cake mix and one small can of pumpkin. Mix just these two ingredients well. Add a cup total of your choice of raisins or walnuts,I like to mix in both. Bake 25-30 mins at 350 degrees. These muffins are yummy and super moist. Without the add ins they are only 2 Weight Watcher points. They are great with a cup of tea. Good luck!
Thank you so so much for your comments here Melissa and sharing your story too…..I believe it’s never too late to start moving, exercising! Thanks so much for your delicious recipe – I can’t wait to make them! Hugs – Heather
Good for you! Hope this new focus helps you work through the grief too. Hugs!
Thank Shauna – yes my new workout plans are helping! Have a great weekend!
Hi Heather, so sorry to hear about your mom…..she will always be around. Keeping you in my prayers tonight.
Thank you Barbara – you are so generous and thoughtful! 🙂
I just subscribed and read your thank you letter – I am so sorry for your loss – I can relate to how you feel, I lost my Mom 21yrs ago this April – I was very young and yes for what I’ve read you are an inspiration and are going about the transition – our Father will help you thru this difficult time. May he continue blessing you always. Look forward to following you and your amazing ideas that inspire me in many ways. Happy Valentine’s Day!
Sincere Regards,
Faith Rojas
Thank you soooo much Faith for your words of support for my loss and your lovely comments about my blog! I’m thrilled that you have found lots of fun inspiration here! Thank you for subscribing! I’m so sorry that you lost your Mom too, it’s so hard – big big hugs! Heather