Bridgette L. Collins

An Interview

Bridgette L. Collins is the author of a new book, Imagine Living Healthier: Mind, Body and Soul. Bridgette mixes well-researched facts about holistic health in fictional story-lines. Each of her characters faces a significant problem that is solved by listening to the solid advice imparted by others within each story. The result is an easy-to-read book that simultaneously motivates, warns and teaches about health and fitness.

PDF: Please tell us a little about yourself.

Bridgette: I am a fitness coach and the author of Imagine Living Healthier: Mind, Body and Soul, an entertaining and inspiring book that uses fictional characters to motivate readers to make healthy lifestyle choices. Through my coaching business, MAC Fitness (Making-A-Commitment to Fitness), I combine my background in human resources and program development with my training as a certified personal trainer to inspire my clients to incorporate healthier lifestyle habits. I have been an avid runner for more than 10 years, participating in a host of 5K and 10K races and completing four marathons and two half-marathons. In an effort to share the benefits of a consistent running program, I have coached several group training programs to provide beginner walkers and runners weekly instruction for improving their fitness level. Currently, I write a health column for L.I.V.E., a spiritual magazine (www.liveinvictory.org), and have also served as a fitness consultant for an Internet radio station and an online lifestyle management program.

PDF: Your book has a very innovative approach to disseminating information. You tell stories and through the stories the reader learns factual information. Why did you choose this particular approach?

Bridgette: The motivation behind Imagine Living Healthier was to help individuals discover the reasons for their unhealthy lifestyle habits and how to move beyond their insecurities and daily stresses to live a healthier life – mind, body and soul. While exploring options for presenting a variety of health and fitness information from a different perspective and in a unique format, I was driven to construct my book in a way that would help readers relate and understand those common struggles shared to live healthier.

Imagine Living Healthier: Mind, Body, and Soul, is not a traditional book. There are three fictional stories in the book that deal with issues and problems that can cause someone to settle into unhealthy lifestyle habits. Using fictional stories along with non-fictional information was my way of writing a self-help book that encourages and empowers individuals to rethink their priorities and exposes them to ways to transform their unhealthy habits. That is, how to incorporate physical activity into their daily routines and how to be innovative with making their favorite foods healthier. It is sometimes hard for people to imagine making the necessary lifestyle changes because they believe too much effort is involved. However, through the characters in the book, the reader inherits a different truth.

PDF: Why is the trinity of the health of the body, mind and spirit so important to you? I mean, why not just physical fitness?

Bridgette: It is important that people understand that health involves more than just the physical. Some people position their lives around their careers, finances, retirement, relationship, and possessions, and in the process neglect God and their health. Some people have great physical health, but neglect their spirit – their relationship with God. Others are overweight or battling illness, but have a strong connection with God through the Word and prayer. I wanted my readers to have a better understanding of what it means to live healthier: mind, body and soul. That is, a healthy lifestyle is not just about exercising and eating better, it’s about having a relationship with our Lord, fulfilling our purpose, and being a blessing to others.

PDF: Can you tell us about your own personal relationship with God?

Bridgette: My parents exposed me to church at an early age and I was baptized by the age of five. They have always instilled in me the importance of having God first and foremost in my life. As an adult, I have operated my life under the premise that in the midst of everything going on in my life – God and my overall well-being must be a priority. I must admit, though, that there have been times in my life where I have allowed those things that can distract you in life (i.e., worldly possessions, ungodly relationships, etc.) prevent me from living a life pleasing to God; and, consequently, cause me to stray from the Word. All I can say now is that God was with me when I wasn’t with him.

PDF: Why do you think spiritual well-being is so overlooked in the personal development field?

Bridgette: There could be a number of reasons why. Number one, a person’s source of guidance may not possess a spiritual foundation. The individual may be more focused on personal development that helps them on their job or to be a more successful person. The individual could be more interested in enhancing their communication, improving their social life, or getting along with people. So, I don’t know that spiritual well-being is overlooked in the personal development field; I think people are more focused on looking at their current situation and deciding whether or not they like what they see, or gaining prominence and affluence, or just trying to face and manage life’s daily challenges. They are not connecting with messages of personal development that focuses on God’s purpose and expectations for their life.

Bridgette: Non-Christians will definitely benefit from reading my book. They will connect with the characters that started out as a non-Christian like Sarah. They will read how both Sarah and Todd, two main characters in the book, suffered from insecurity and other self-worth issues that caused them to fall prey to unhealthy lifestyle habits. Towards the end of their respective story lines, the reader witnesses how they both inherited the gift of discernment, and shifted their focus to a relationship with God. My non-Christian readers will be encouraged to rearrange the order of those things they have placed extreme value on and shift the focus to God, accepting Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, and incorporating healthier lifestyle habits – mind, body and soul.

PDF: You cover a lot of great recipes in your book. Can you please tell us your personal favorite and share the recipe?

Bridgette: My personal favorite is Grandma’s Fancy French Toast. This recipe is mentioned in the third story line. Todd’s mother reveals her old-fashion Fancy French Toast recipe. Light and fluffy, her French toast is packed with nutrition. You’ll need the following to create your own version. If it’s just one person, take two slices of whole-wheat bread; one egg; one-third cup skim milk; one-fourth teaspoon of nutmeg; one-fourth teaspoon of vanilla extract; and one-fourth teaspoon ground cinnamon. The road to a tasty breakfast starts by beating the egg, milk, nutmeg, vanilla, and ground cinnamon. You will then dip the bread slices into egg mixture until both sides are soaked. Then, spray a skillet or frying pan with cooking spray, toss back and forth until both sides are golden brown. Finally, you will top it off with your favorite fruit or sugar-free syrup. Let your choice of eggs include Eggland’s Best eggs.

PDF: What are some things a reader can do immediately to start improving his or her overall health?

Bridgette: Although most people understand the importance of implementing healthier lifestyle habits, the thought of eliminating life long habits and family traditions (i.e., fried chicken, fried pork chops, macaroni and cheese, nachos, chicken fried steak, fried okra, ice cream, donuts, etc.) can be overwhelming. Modifying the content and quantity of one’s daily food consumption is probably the most challenging habit to transform. Despite the disclosure of potential health risks, most people continue to eat foods that are high in calories, fat, cholesterol, sodium and sugar – like fast food, candy, cookies, chips, sodas, packaged foods, and pre-prepared foods. All of those things have the potential to cause us to experience health concerns like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.

People must be willing to shift their focus if they want to live longer and healthier. Most readings suggest that people must minimize and/or eliminate their favorites in order to be healthy. In most instances, I disagree, with the exception of the quantity of daily food intake. I believe people must take the time to discover creative ways to make their favorite foods healthier (i.e., substituting refined white pasta with whole grain pasta, substituting refined white bread with whole-grain bread, substituting whole milk with low-fat milk, etc.). If a person likes to eat fried chicken, then a commitment to making some modifications will be necessary. Instead of deep frying the chicken in unhealthy oils, the individual can prepare an oven-fried version that requires removal of the skin and flavoring with natural herbs and seasonings – a version that is lower in fat and sodium. It’s also important to mention that with the increased understanding of how to make their favorite meals healthier, people must understand the importance of controlling their portion sizes.

When people decide to make their health a priority and start exploring their options, they eventually discover that they can start making small changes to the unhealthy lifestyle habits they have settled into. They discover that they can walk for thirty minutes around the perimeter of their office building, three to five times a week, during their lunch hour or after work. They discover that they can wake up thirty minutes earlier to exercise to a videotape. They discover that they can eat a heart-healthy breakfast that includes a vegetable and/or fruit.

PDF: What plans do you have for the future?

Bridgette: There is a second book scheduled for release in the latter part of July 2008 – Destined to Live Healthier: Mind, Body and Soul – www.destinedtolivehealthier.com. I will be devoting a lot of time to promoting it throughout the country. Also, beginning in August 2008, I will be coaching a walk/run half-marathon group that will be training to complete the Rock 'n' Roll San Antonio Half Marathon on November 16th for the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation. There will always be the sideline activities like continuously spreading my message of healthier lifestyle habits.

PDF: Thank you very much for participating Bridgette and sharing your thoughts with us. Best wishes for the future.

Don't forget to check out Bridgette's regular contribution to Personal Development Forum where she continues writing on the theme of a healthy body, mind and soul.

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