It’s Not Rocket Science

My name is Bridget McCray, and I have a heart for women. My mission is to help them reach their full potential in their wellness, making a positive impact on generations to come.

I feel that we, as women, tend to put others’ needs ahead of our own, especially for those of us who are mothers. Typically, we pour out all we have without taking — or, should I say, MAKING — time for ourselves. We need time to refresh and “refuel” to be the best version of ourselves that we can be, in order to give to our families, as well as to others around us. Instead, it seems while we are giving of ourselves to others (and do so gladly), we often neglect to love ourselves, especially as it pertains to our health. It appears that we think we’re being selfish to take care of ourselves.

While at work, there is usually very little time for physical activity, because for many of us, our work involves spending a great deal of time seated in front of a computer screen. For those who work outside the home, there isn’t always much flexibility with time. Schedules are packed with things to do. We grab what we can to eat on the go. At the end of the day, who wants to add another thing to do: exercise. Therefore, we don’t do so consistently, because we are exhausted.

As a result of grabbing food on-the-go regularly, coupled with a lack of physical activity, our bodies often begin to speak to us, but we ignore them, because we are busy and think we can go on endlessly disregarding the warning signs. Yes, we ignore two of the very things that can help us to feel our best physically: eating a balanced diet and consistent, moderate exercise. Wouldn’t you agree?

Well, decades of poor eating habits and a sedentary lifestyle as an adult caught up with me, and I began to take my health more seriously after a scare. As a mother, it became important to me not to pass on those less-than-stellar behavior patterns to my children.

Through my personal journey to better health, I developed a desire to help others improve their quality of life by showing them how to make small, practical changes. I learned how to do it myself with the help of a wonderful friend and coach. It was no longer theoretical.

As a result of seeing success personally living a healthier lifestyle and getting questions from others about how I did it, I realized there was something to being a living example, though that thought did not come to mind at the time. In 2018, I released my first book, H.E.A.L.T.H.: It’s Not Rocket Science (My Journey to a Healthier Me), in which I share the joys, struggles, and the lessons I learned along the way. It came to mind that the book could be a tool to encourage and assist others in reaching their wellness goals.

In our society, we are inundated with the idea that there is a “magic pill” solution regarding our health. (Honestly, who wouldn’t want to have that to make everything better and quickly, right?) The promotion of this idea by some advertisers, that lasting change could happen “overnight,” is so very tempting; however, it is a farce. There are no lasting results in quick fixes. Notwithstanding a miracle, real change comes through the choices we make daily.

According to the WebMD article, Make Big Changes With Small Steps, “It’s rarely a good idea to jump head first into any big transition…Our brains are hardwired to resist repeating difficult, complex, or painful events. As a result, a ‘no pain, no gain’ approach actually makes it easier for us to give up on our goals. Instead, relax a little. Make sure to bring playfulness, fun, or at the very least, ease into each little step you take towards your mission.”

In addition, according to the article, Creating Healthy Habits, by the National Institutes of Health (part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services), lots of things we do impact our health and quality of life, both now and in the future. We can reduce our risk for the most common, costly, and preventable health problems — such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, type 2 diabetes, and obesity — by making healthy choices.”

Being in this sixth year of my journey, I can personally attest to the concept of big changes with small steps. Through the process, I have learned that consistency is required. Even on the days when I don’t feel like making wise decisions, I choose to think about WHY I started, and that helps me to move forward.

Perfection is another story. It is elusive and can certainly derail our progress if we’re not careful. Please do not be fooled into thinking that developing and/or maintaining a healthy lifestyle involves perfection. I can assure you, it does not.

In this workshop, I will share practical tips to aid the participant in identifying her “why” and making a plan to reach her target, including the use of S.M.A.R.T goals. The objective is to encourage her toward success in attaining HER personal wellness goals, helping her to know that she can, indeed, see success long-term.  It is my hope that the participant will walk away from the workshop feeling empowered, knowing that she is truly equipped with the tools she needs in order to achieve her intended end.

The information shared in this workshop is my personal story and not intended to be medical advice of any kind. It is important to note that should you choose to embark upon a journey to better your health, it is recommended that you consult with a physician prior to doing so.

My prayer and hope is that each one learning about my personal journey to improved health would not only be encouraged, but also motivated to action, rocketing toward success in experiencing his or her own positive transformation, in order to fulfill his or her destiny without health issues as hindrances.