Today we’d like to introduce you to Megan Adolph.
Hi Megan, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hi there! I’ll take you back to where it all started – I grew up as a competitive gymnast and traveled around America with my family a lot as a kid. I was always active and loved being outside, seeing new places, and experiencing new things. I had a sports-related injury when I was younger that ended my competitive streak as a gymnast, but I continued playing with different skills over the years. In my senior year of high school, I got into weight training and boot camp classes; I didn’t know what I was doing, but I knew I enjoyed it. As I transitioned from high school to college, I went through a period of my life (as many of us do) where all I wanted to do was party, have fun, and enjoy a few reckless years; I didn’t take care of myself or my health.
In college, I decided to study and get my degree in Exercise Science. I was intrigued by the body and how it operates and moves, and I wanted to know more! I became passionate about weightlifting, which made me feel so powerful. I started teaching classes at my university and working with clients later down the road. Throughout this experience, I noticed something was missing. I struggled to balance health with leisure. I thought it was all about calories in vs. calories out – couldn’t I eat whatever I wanted if I worked out? Why did I have such bad acne? Why was I bloated? I felt anxious, insecure, exhausted, and defeated. I continued down this path for several years – interning as a Physical Therapist Assistant and Athletic Trainer at the most extensive indoor sports facility in the US, Spooky Nook Sports, where I learned even more about the body, injury prevention, and rehabilitation, etc.
I was focused on the exercise portion of health but lacked knowledge of what being healthy was all about. I became even more curious about the body and decided to study at the world’s largest online nutrition school – the Institute of Integrative Nutrition (IIN). I wanted to understand what I was eating, why I was eating it, and how it affected my body. I became certified as a Holistic Health Coach and learned much more at IIN than I had ever anticipated. I learned what real foods are and how to balance the body – spiritually, mentally, and physically; I learned how bio-individual we all are as humans and how what works for one person may be detrimental to others. I learned how relationships, career, and home environments affect overall health. I learned what it means to go back to the basics and how to become the best and healthiest version of yourself.
That’s when my real journey began. I realized exercising alone wasn’t the key to real health. The key to overall health is balancing everything we do in life. Between the things we put in and, on our bodies, how often we move, how we talk to ourselves and manage stress, what we read, watch, and listen to, the people we surround ourselves with, and what our work, home, and living environments look like. All these things contribute to our overall health, well-being, and quality of life.
Slowly, I started to apply these theories to my own life. I began individually looking at each of these areas of my life and adjusting the ones I wasn’t totally ‘psyched’ about, using the Circle of Life tool. This tool is a great exercise to use and come back to every so often to reevaluate your progress based on where you are. The fun part is that life is constantly changing; you are always evolving, and using this tool is a great way to monitor how you’re feeling about yourself and which areas in your life you’d like to work on, adjust, revise, and improve over time.
I also realized that if I wanted to make a lasting change, things needed to be done in my own time; I needed to be patient with myself and where I was in my life. Consistency played a huge factor in seeing results. Have I fallen off the wagon a few times? Sure, life happens. However, picking myself up and getting back to it every time has made a world of difference. I also had to accept that everything couldn’t be changed and improved overnight. So, I picked an area or two to focus on and give my full attention.
As I began developing myself, my career path shifted. For the longest time, I knew I would own a company – I’ve dreamt of owning a gym. Although I still have that dream, my focus became to be the change others want to see within themselves. I do this by promoting emotional fitness and going back to the basics of health, simplifying the chaos around life, and keeping the doctor away, all while creating a life of fulfillment (whatever that looks like to YOU)!
As for me, I’ve never considered myself to be a ‘stay in one place a kind of gal. I moved around so often in college (even if it was just in the area, to different housing complexes). I liked the excitement of change and something new. After college, I started moving back and forth from state to state, and it started to become chaotic. I loved seeing new places and experiencing new things, but to be honest, moving all my “stuff” made the process less enjoyable and hard to maintain (not to mention, I had accumulated a lot of “things” over the years that just kept adding up).
Initially, my ultimate plan was to hostel-hop around the world for a while, from country to country, while my parents watched my pups (although that wasn’t ideal) until covid hit. Traveling wasn’t the top priority anymore, so I decided to play it safe and ended up moving into my first home and starting my business, which is what you see today: Wholistic Wanders! Working from home, for me, was a blessing – However, within a year, I was already over it. Although grateful to have a home and roof over my head, I just wasn’t fulfilled. I wanted to travel. I wanted to move around and see the world. I was tired of being stuck in the same place, inside all the time. I dreaded chasing the next “vacation” occasionally, and having to pack for trips and leave my dogs behind at a boarding facility (which, when you have three dogs, it adds up and costs just as much as the whole trip) – It also made me sad to leave them… I wanted them to come with me on all my adventures! I just envisioned something different for myself. That’s when life on the road became the next goal. The thought of moving around whenever I desired and having everything, I could need with me, wherever I went, with my pups seemed like a dream.
Fast forward: after a year of planning and designing my dream home on wheels, I now live in a converted sprinter van full-time with my three dogs, traveling around America! Although we’re still adjusting to life on the road – we are learning, living, and loving everything that comes along this journey!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I’ll be honest; I have been on the bumpiest road over the past few years! It’s had a few smooth passes, but man… this road has been mostly washboard! To clarify, I can’t complain – I am healthy, have a roof over my head, clothes on my back, and have incredible family and friends, plus my three doggies who love me unconditionally. But it’s impossible to be human and not have personal struggles, despite how many blessings life’s given you.
The bumpiest part about it all has been starting my business. I did everything backwards and was stagnant until recently; over the past six months, things have shifted in the right direction for me. I am rebranding my company and aligning with what is true to me. I’ve dealt with my fair share of losses (that have turned into lessons and blessings), learning from them all and figuring out how to move past them. Despite spending more than I made, I chose to view it as an investment within myself and an investment that others have made within me. Sometimes you got to bet on yourself and take the risk that you can make things happen. I am grateful and blessed to have a family that has supported me through it all, even when it hasn’t been the easiest.
The most challenging factor has been that everything in my life started changing at once (even though I was seeking change). Having multiple life events unfold (all by choice), such as building my business, designing my van, and adjusting to an entirely new way of life (all while trying to keep myself together), has sometimes made it difficult to manage. Especially being a routine-type person, I love being on track and staying organized.
I dealt with a lot of negative and restricting self-beliefs. I made up stories in my head from past experiences – thinking I wasn’t good enough, smart enough, or talented enough. Until I realized that all these things were holding me back from reaching my full potential and becoming the person I was meant to be. As I’m sure many can relate – we are our greatest critics, and sometimes we need to be our biggest cheerleaders – for doing the best we can.
I had to lose myself to figure out who I am meant to be, and I’m STILL figuring it out (IT’S A LIFE-LONG JOURNEY)! For a while, I looked down on myself for everything I was experiencing and the way I was feeling, when really, it’s not something to be ashamed of; it’s something to embrace! It’s all part of the journey – getting to experience the ups and downs and being grateful throughout it all!
It’s a part of life; even though our circumstances and situations are different in many ways, we all still deal with similar feelings and emotions. We have different struggles, learn at different times, and grow at different paces, but it shapes us into who we are and what makes us so individually unique.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
When COVID hit; I decided it was finally my time to make things happen for me, rather than to me. I started my own company, Wholistic Wanders LLC. Before I explain WHAT Wholistic Wanders is, let me explain where its name came from and WHY I chose it for the company. Wholistic = whole foods + holistic nutrition; Wanders = adventure/travel/exploration of life and the world. These two words perfectly encompass everything I want to share and spread with others to create a rich life of fulfillment and happiness within ourselves. Wholistic Wanders inspires others to prioritize physical and emotional fitness through healthy lifestyle routines, nutrition, nature, and adventure. Through digital and social media, Wholistic Wanders demonstrates sustainability, authenticity, and balance for the overall body, mind, and spirit. As the founder of Wholistic Wanders, I enjoy guiding others to discover the joy in redefining their approach to health and wellness with simplicity and mindfulness. I promote Emotional Fitness by implementing what I’ve learned throughout my health and wellness journey. I use a holistic approach that keeps the doctor away by going back to basics and listening to my body, which allows me to stay healthy while managing everyday “life”! I incorporate a well-balanced mix of mind, body, and spirit exercises into my self-care routine to nourish an emotionally rich, prosperous, and sustainable lifestyle. As the owner of Wholistic Wanders, I am a health and wellness brand ambassador, and I’m known for incorporating adventures into my lifestyle. Many other health and wellness creators/influencers show their health and wellness routines, but we rarely see what they do for fun in their everyday life. I enjoy sharing the good, the bad, and the ugly with my audience, and I’m glad I chose to incorporate everything that goes along with it (including my fun adventures) in my brand’s style and message.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
I want our audience to know that I have created Wholistic Wanders, sharing my own personal experiences to bring light to others and what’s possible for them in their lives. I want you all to THRIVE! When I promote a product, a place, or a service online, I’ve personally experienced it myself; if I haven’t – it will be clearly stated. I’m constantly learning and improving myself to provide you with the best information and guidance possible. With so many creators on social media right now, it’s difficult to tell what’s real and authentic versus what’s been created as an advertisement just for a paycheck. To be straight up: If I don’t believe in the product or service, I don’t promote it. If you see it on one of my channels, it meets the standards of holistic living and contributes to overall wellness and adventure! Don’t forget, we are all human, we are not perfect – Have fun, live life with what’s true to you, and just remember: You have the power to change your life, today.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://wholisticwanders.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wholisticwanders/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wholisticwandersLLC
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4TJJmXP-EjqvKVHzjquL4w
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wholisticwanders
- Guest Podcast – Health Network: https://ehealthradio.podbean.com/e/social-media-the-wellness-industry/?_ga=2.235576773.557766023.1670819556-195922630.1662453925 , Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/WholisticWanders/?_ga=2.248475140.2000962889.1670881804-1672939361.1670611028
