Meet Abigail Mickey. She’s an American professional racing cyclist who rides for the United Healthcare Women's Team. Oh, and she’s a Nuzest sports influencer.
Here’s the scoop on Abigail Mickey:
Q. For those of us who don't know you, who is Abigail Mickey?
A. I’m a mountain girl, born and raised in Colorado. I feel at home surrounded by mountains with my feet in the river. My cat is named Ahchoo, from “Robin Hood: Men in Tights.” I love to read and cook, and my laugh is so loud that I think it scares people.
Q. What does being a Nuzest ambassador mean to you?
A. It means so much! As an athlete, I need to be so on top of my nutrition. A lot of protein drinks have extra stuff in them that I don’t want to be taking in directly after a hard workout or race. Nuzest has the perfect amount of protein and not as much calories as some other products, which makes it ideal for recovery!
Q. How do you make healthy choices and avoid temptations when it comes to your nutrition?
A. It’s pretty easy actually. I have two rules: Don’t go to the grocery store hungry, and just don’t buy it. When I grocery shop, I only get veggies, meat, yogurt, oats, millet… etc., but never any snack foods or processed food. If I don’t buy it, I won’t eat it. So the trick is not going to the store hungry, or I’ll start grabbing all the chips and cookies I can find.
Q. What is your favorite indulgence?
A. Nut butter… I eat way too much nut butter. Life of Riley Cashew butter is best. Also, I try not to buy chocolate because I will eat a whole bar without thinking, but when I do have some in the house, I’ll eat a square or two right before I leave for a ride.
Q. What is your favorite healthy snack?
A. Baked chickpeas in nutritional yeast! So good.
Q. When not cycling, how do you stay active and fit?
A. I’ve been in sport so long that I think it’s second nature to wake up and do something active. Plus, I’m really grumpy if I don’t work out. During the off-season, I do a lot of pilates.
Q. What is your favorite form of exercise (besides cycling)?
A. Hiking or running! I love the mountains.
Q. What are your favorite songs on your workout playlist these days?
A. “Lush Life” by Zara Larsson
Q. What do you do for fun?
A. Read. Or listen to audiobooks.
Q. What advice do you have for people wanting to kick-start a healthy lifestyle or to pump up their athletic nutrition?
A. I really like using an app to track what I’m eating. If you eat a bunch of cookies, and have to add them, you see just how much you’re taking in. Knowing exactly what you’re putting in your body is super helpful! You just have to be honest with yourself and your phone! ;)