Today’s Guest – Megghan Shroyer
1. Your name, title, and age? What do you do (or did you do) for a living?
Megghan Shroyer, Mother of two and BRCA1 previvor, age 29. I am an independent representative of the Institute for Better Bone Health and part-owner of Mastectomy Hugs.
2. Who was the person that inspired you as a child to eat healthy and stay fit? What was their relationship to you?
As a child, both my dad and step-mom inspired me to live a healthy lifestyle. They both ate extremely healthy and had gym memberships and worked out at the gym at least 4 times per week, sometimes more. I remember always asking to go with them because I thought it was so cool to work out but I couldn’t get a gym membership until I was age 14. The best present that I have ever received in my life, was my first gym membership at age 14. This was given to me by my parents of course. From ages 14-24 I worked out in a gym at least 3 days a week, usually more often than that.
3. What did they do to inspire you?
Around the house my parents would always try out new healthy foods for meals. We had fairly large family garden at my great-grandparent’s farm where we would grow our own fruits and vegetables! At the time, my sister and I did not enjoy driving half an hour away to work in the garden with my dad. It was the hard work that we despised. We would help plant seeds, weed, water, maintain and pick our own fresh foods. The reward came when it was time to eat them! Looking back now, as an adult, I am so thankful that I got to experience that. It helped keep a level head on my shoulders and also inspired me to make sure that I instill manual labor with my own children to help build character and to teach them that the healthiest foods you can eat, you can grow yourself!
4. How did their lesson change your life?
My entire life, health, or a lack-there-of, has always been at the forefront of my mind. My paternal grandmother passed away from ovarian cancer when I was eight years old. My paternal aunt had breast cancer. In my early twenties I tested positive for the BRCA1 genetic mutation which increased my risk of developing both breast and ovarian cancers significantly in my lifetime. Prior to this test result, I equated being healthy with eating right and exercising and if I did that, I was set. After this test result, I sort of fell into a depression of sorts and lost my way in the gym and with my nutrition. During this time, I had two children, gained weight, underwent a preventative mastectomy and hysterectomy/oopherectomy, gained some more weight and became really fed up with the way I looked and felt. I then decided to change my lifestyle and revert back to my childhood portrait of health. I planned to eat right, and get back in the gym. In 2012 at age 29, I competed in my first NPC Bikini Fitness competition and my lifestyle remains just as it was when I was a kid. I go to the gym at least 4 days a week and eat right. I have my parents to thank for raising me with a passion for health.
5. Do you convey their message to kids in your life presently?
I most certainly convey the message of health to my children. Since they are preschoolers, they go to the gym with me at least 4 days a week and play in the daycare. I make sure to answer all their questions when we walk by the gym equipment and point out where I will be located and what I will be doing. I try to get them to eat the same foods that I do. My youngest is easier to persuade since my health has been on the upswing in his young life. My daughter who is almost 5 is a bit more difficult to convert since she grew up with unhealthy foods during my pregnancy and depressive state for a few years. I make efforts daily to ensure that my kids see me making healthy choices and that is what it is all about.
6. What would be your main message to children today to lead healthy lifestyles?
I would ask children today to find a positive and influential person in their lives who they can look up to who is their idea of ‘health’. Whether it be a parent, grandparent, family member or celebrity. Simply being able to look up to someone who has made positive changes in their life can really influence a child’s future lifestyle.
7. Do you have a web site you would like to promote….web address only?