We are so excited to welcome Camri Cecil to the Nuzest family as our newest ambassador! Camri is a college goalkeeper at The University of Texas at Tyler who loves all things soccer. She believes that balance in nutrition is key and she uses plant-based Clean Lean Protein by Nuzest to achieve that goal. We recently got a chance to speak with Camri about the importance of health and wellness, along with being a Nuzest ambassador.

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

Hi, I’m Camri and I’m from Austin, Texas. I play goalkeeper at The University of Texas at Tyler. I’ve played soccer since I was three and fell in love with goalkeeping when I was eight years old. 

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

It means a whole lot to me, as I’ve used Nuzest products for a while. I spent a lot of time looking for a quality protein powder that was dairy-free, gluten-free, and all natural without sacrificing taste. I’m always trying to encourage my friends and teammates to try Clean Lean Protein, so actually partnering with you is so awesome!

Q. Why is health and wellness important?

It kind of comes down to the phrase: you can’t out-train poor nutrition. Just like anything else, you get out what you put in. Before I started eating healthy, I thought I was fine, but once I started fueling my body properly, I noticed a huge difference. It truly helped me push myself to that next level. 

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

It’s all about balance for me. I tend to feel gross when I eat poorly and I hate how it makes me feel, so making healthy choices isn’t incredibly hard. Whenever I’m in season, I always think about how the food I eat is supposed to fuel me to perform, so I kind of filter my decisions through that so I can reach my max potential on the pitch. One thing I’ve found that makes it easier is looking at recipes or meals and then making substitutions with healthier ingredients. That way, you can enjoy a variety of things without sacrificing your health and wellness. 

Q. What is your favorite indulgence?

My sister makes this amazing gluten-free cheesecake for holidays or special occasions. Christmastime is the worst because she makes a gingerbread cheesecake and I am obsessed with it. 

Q. What is your favorite healthy snack?

Veggies with hummus or apple and peanut butter. Or Wild Strawberry Clean Lean Protein mixed in a shaker bottle with almond milk and a little powdered peanut butter. Perfect on-the-go snack!

Q. How do you stay active and fit?

I play soccer, so in season it’s kind of impossible to not stay fit. Out of season, I’m preparing for the upcoming year, so I like to do a mix of running, lifting, and soccer skills workouts. One thing I have made a habit of every day is getting up early to do yoga. Some days it’s just to stretch and recover, while other days I really use it to push myself and work on my balance and strength. 

Q. What is your favorite form of exercise?

Anything soccer-related. I love a good goalkeeper training session, and maybe this sounds a little crazy, but I really do enjoy running.

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

I live near the lake, so I enjoy paddle-boarding and swimming. I also enjoy running around with my dogs, hammocking, hiking, and playing soccer tennis. I’m really into reading too. One of my favorite things is watching soccer; any league, any team, any tournament. It’s just so much fun!

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

It can be intimidating to start, but any small change is better than nothing at all. Just making fruits and veggies a regular part of your diet or making your food at home instead of going out can make a huge difference. One way to amp up your fitness is to find a friend or workout buddy for a healthy dose of friendly competition and motivation to keep you going.