Peloton instructor and ESPN College GameDay host Jess Sims is always on the go, juggling fitness classes and sports broadcasts. All she needs is one thing to stay alert, awake and healthy. It’s a chocolate kachava protein shake. She recently became a spokesperson for a plant-based superfood company. Read on to find out why she loves Cachava, the soccer team she thinks people should pay attention to, and the very sweet advice her father gave her all those years ago.
First for women: Why did you decide to partner with Ka’Chava?
Jess Sims: I’ve been doing fitness for eight years now, which is amazing. I spent six years in Peloton and two years before that in New York City. I’ve been involved in sports non-stop since I was 5 years old, but I’ve never partnered with a protein supplement company because I haven’t found anything that works for me.
I don’t know how I found out about Cachava, but the first one I tried was vanilla. And I thought, “Why does this taste so good, why do I feel so good?” I felt full and full, but I didn’t feel sick. .
With my work at Peloton, ESPN, and Good Morning America, I’m always on camera, so before I go on camera, I rely on foods that make me feel good, and foods that won’t make me feel sick. It’s really difficult.
Chocolate is now my new favorite and it gives me so much energy. It’s also incredibly useful. I used to spend at least 10 minutes making a smoothie in the morning, but kachava saves me time in my morning routine and when I take it with me on the go.
Jess Sims Abdi Ibrahim in 2024
FFW: Besides kachava, what is your favorite meal?
JS: I try to eat very clean. That’s why I love kachava so much. Cachava’s ingredient list is very clean and easy to read.
My favorite is avocado and boiled egg. It’s okay to keep it near your training. For dinner, I love either salmon, baked chicken, or grilled chicken. I love the air fryer, so I fry chicken and sweet potatoes in it.
My current favorite vegetables are broccoli and asparagus when they’re in season.
FFW: Besides strength training and running, what else do you incorporate into your routine?
JS: I teach cardio and strength training four days a week at Peloton. When I’m not on the platform, I love yoga, stretching, and meditation. I try to maintain balance.
FFW: In addition to your work at Peloton, you are also very well known for your work as a college GameDay host. What was that experience like for you? Did you learn anything about yourself during it?
Jess Sims Abdi Ibrahim in 2024
JS: I mean I have resilience. It’s funny because College GameDay is the toughest show in the world. It’s a three-hour live broadcast of a drunk college student screaming bloody murder behind your back. There are many different people to interview. There is a change at the last moment. Since it’s outdoors, you can handle any weather, but you won’t know which college campus you’ll be on until the Sunday before. So I think what I’ve learned about myself is definitely that I’m resilient and I can do difficult things.
That’s why I say this in class. “The work is not easy, but in the end it’s fun.”
FFW: College football season is clearly in full swing. What should people expect this season?
JS: I think the unexpected will happen. We just finished a weekend where two teams in the top five of the SEC, Alabama and Tennessee, lost to unranked teams. So literally anything can happen.
I think Texas is the team to beat this year. They are currently 5-0, but they have a big test next week against Georgia, which is sure to be a great game.
In terms of fun, I think Notre Dame has a chance to have a big moment this season. They have a great coach in Riley Leonard and a great quarterback, so I think they can do well this year and make the playoffs.
FFW: Moving on to basketball, which team in the WNBA and college circuit are you most looking forward to this year and why?
2023 Jess Sims Alberto E. Rodriguez/Correspondent/Getty
JS: Regarding the WNBA, I am very happy that the New York Liberty made it to the finals. They beat Las Vegas, so I really hope Liberty brings this one home this year. Shout out to Ellie the Elephant. Admittedly, I’m obsessed with that mascot.
When it comes to men’s college basketball, it’s definitely Duke. This is Cooper Flagg’s first season. He’s obviously an outstanding athlete and everyone is really looking forward to watching him play. But I’m also looking forward to meeting Coach Cal (John Calipari) at the University of Arkansas. I think it will be an interesting experience for him to leave Kentucky.
FFW: Another thing that happens this time of year is the holidays. What do you do to prepare and what products are your must-haves this time of year?
JS: I’m really excited to step back a little bit. Travel for Thanksgiving on Friday instead of Thursday so you can enjoy it. I think my mom will be in town this year, which will be fine, and then I’ll just spend time with the puppies. My favorite thing to do is curl up in a blanket with my dog and watch boring reality shows.
Jess Sims 2021 Theo Wargo/Staff/Getty
FFW: What would you like to tell your younger self?
JS: Don’t make decisions or take actions based on what other people think.
When I was a kid, I always worried about things like, “Will my mom approve of this?” Would dad be proud of it? ” And with Instagram, it’s, “What if no one cares?” So what happens if that happens? What if they’re concerned about proper push-up form? They’re also struggling to find what makes them feel good, so what do you do to fuel your body? What if you care about what you use?
Stop doing things based on how others will react. Because if you help one person, it’s worth it.
Actually, I’m saying it out loud now, but I used to feel very stressed too. My first year as a teacher, in 2010, I had a fifth grader. I was teaching math to 75 of them, and at the end of each day I was very stressed and reflected on my interactions with each student. And when I talked to my dad and said, “This student is mad at me, but then this student doesn’t like math,” he said, “This student is mad at me, but then this student doesn’t like math.” “You can’t help them all every time. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try.” So I think about it.
