Healthy Habits: Hiking, listening to audiobooks help Meghan McKay stay focused

October 16, 2018 Healthy Habits, Meghan McKay, Nutrition and Wellness

Taking care of your health is a priority and nobody knows that more than physicians and healthcare providers.

It can sometimes be difficult to find ways to stay healthy, so we’ve asked members of our Baylor College of Medicine community to share what they do in their daily lives to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Meghan McKay, certified athletic trainer with Baylor College of Medicine, shares some of her healthy habits with us.

Q: What health decisions start your day?
A: I start my day by doing a few neck and back stretches on the side of the bed before I get up. That puts my day on the right track before my feet even hit the ground.

Q: What is your go-to healthy breakfast?
A: I make a chocolate butterscotch peanut butter smoothie every morning. Yes, the same one every morning – so if you need variety, just add it in occasionally. The smoothie includes:

½ cup Mootopia chocolate milk
1 heaping tbsp. of cottage cheese (I’m not a fan, but honestly can’t taste it!)
1 scoop of flax seeds
1 heaping scoop of lean-fat protein powder (I use vanilla but if you don’t have the healthy chocolate milk, you could use chocolate flavor instead and fat-free milk)
1 tsp. sugar-free instant butterscotch pudding mix
1 heaping spoonful of peanut butter, ice and water to consistency desired

Q: What is your favorite type of exercise?
A: I prefer hiking and team sports (sand volleyball, softball, etc.) but when I can’t do those I do the Stairmaster.

Q: What keeps you motivated during your workout?
A: I’ve been struggling lately, but I listen to audiobooks during my workout to keep me focused on the book rather than the workout.

Q: What activities do you do when you can’t fit in a full workout?
A: I try to park far away, take the stairs to 10^th floor of McNair once a day, and when working with the team I try to carry my 40-pound med kit myself rather than let the players carry my equipment.

Q: What is your favorite healthful snack?
A: Hummus and carrots.

Q: Do you take vitamins and if so, which ones?
A: I take a multivitamin.

Q: How do you make an unhealthy recipe healthy?
A: I love making chocolate chip cookies. Instead of using butter I use applesauce. The consistency changes slightly but it is healthier!

Q: Do you use a pedometer or Fitbit and what is your daily step goal?
A: I currently use a Fitbit. When I am not with the rugby team my daily step goal is 11,000. When I am with the team my goal is 15,000.

Q: What is your favorite health tip that you live by?
A: Something is better than nothing. This quote helps me remember that: “It’s never going to be as good as you want it to be, but it’s not as bad as you think”. This can be applied to mental and physical health.