Jesse McDonough
5 min read

GETTING TO KNOW A STAR ATHLETE: Jesse McDonough

Athlete Jesse McDonough soccer

Nuzest is pleased to welcome Jesse McDonough as one of our newest sports ambassadors. Jesse is a professional soccer player for Havre Athletic Club, the top women's league in France. We had the pleasure of sitting down and getting know Jesse, so let's see what she had to say!

Q. For those of us who don’t know you, who is Jesse McDonough?

A. I am a professional soccer player for Havre Athletic Club (HAC) in the top women’s league in France. I’m originally from Monmouth Beach, NJ and grew up at the beach living a very active lifestyle with my four younger sisters. I attended Princeton University majoring in psychology and neuroscience and while playing overseas, I completed my Masters in Exercise Science, focusing on sport psychology and rehabilitation science. 

Q. What does being a Nuzest sports influencer mean to you?

A. It is an extremely exciting opportunity for me; I have always admired Nuzest for what the company values - super clean ingredients, science-backed nutrition, and a continuous pursuit for improvement. With social media and the health and fitness industry exploding, making healthy choices can be really confusing for a lot of people. I hope to use this opportunity with Nuzest to share my positive experiences with their products and help those around me make healthy, nutritional choices. 

Q. How do you make healthy choices and avoid temptations when it comes to your nutrition?

A. This has been a huge learning experience for me - I definitely have a sweet tooth like 99% of most people. I would say the biggest changes that have helped me is experimenting with ingredients and making healthier versions of sweets and desserts. Nuzest has a lot of these! I’ve worked on shifting my mindset from short-term to long-term - being an athlete, it’s very important what I put into my body to fuel my performance and recovery. Yes, that cookie or muffin might sound good right now but is it in line with my goals or taking me off track? Of course, it’s perfectly healthy to indulge every now and then and honor your cravings! A habit I’ve been implementing is when I am tempted to indulge, I set a timer for 5-10 minutes, and 90% of the time, when the time is up, I no longer feel the urge to indulge. Try it out! 

Q. What is your favorite indulgence?

A. Hmm great question… If I have to pick one though I’d say a gooey chocolatey mug cake :)

Q. What is your favorite healthy snack?

A. Apple slices + peanut butter or yogurt + almond slices

Q. How do you stay active and fit?

A. Soccer is what usually keeps me fit most of the year, but I also cross-train a lot during the offseason playing tennis, swimming, volleyball, and running. However, right now I am recovering from an ACL injury so my fitness habits have had to change quite a bit. Right now I’m staying active with low impact HIIT workouts, focusing mostly on upper body and core. Walking and boxing are my current forms of cardio, which btw - boxing is no joke!

Q. What is your favorite form of exercise?

A. I love being active and running around, so I’d say playing any kind of sport would be my preferred form of exercise with soccer, tennis, and volleyball being my favorites. 

Q. Aside from being a soccer superstar, what do you do for fun?

A. Being a psychology major, I love to read and understand human behavior, as well as all things fitness and nutrition. I also loveee cooking and baking, especially with my friends and family. Some of my favorite Nuzest recipes are the peanut butter cookies and cinnamon buns.

Q. What advice do you have for people wanting to kick-start a healthy lifestyle or to pump up their nutrition?

A. I would say focus on daily habits. Usually when we want to improve something we go all in and try to change everything at once, which always backfires. Start with small daily changes and figure out what works for you! These could look like drinking a glass of water with every meal, adding a salad to dinners, or getting in a 10 minute walk every day. Start small, and build on these habits. Consistency is key!