How Love Island's Gabby Allen did her body transformation
When it comes to Love Island, being hot and healthy is basically a prerequisite – and this year, we're bowled over by how strong Gabby Allen is looking. The reality star has returned to the villa once again, eight years on, for Love Island: All Stars (alongside ex, Marcel Somerville) and is looking absolutely unreal, which shouldn't really come as a surprise seeing as she's a professional dancer, qualified personal trainer and has her own fitness programme, Shape Up with Gabby.
Ready to learn more about how Gabby built her impressive muscles and how she chooses to fuel her super active bod? Same.
(And of course, it should go without saying that we all have different body types and nutritional needs, so while some things might work for Gabby, they may not be right for you – and you should feel never feel under pressure to look a certain way. If you're worried about your relationship with body image and/or food, please reach out to your GP, a loved one or a supportive charity like Beat).
What is Gabby Allen's training routine like?
She's a muscle queen
Right now, Gabby's focus seems to be on building and maintaining strong muscles (have you seen those abs and biceps??) and she recently shared that she's even got herself a bodybuilding coach, who she's learning a lot from.
"[Turns] out training hundreds of women a month can actually lead to a bit of a lack of motivation for your own training… I wanted someone to push me like I push my clients so I got myself a coach," Gabby wrote on Instagram before heading into the villa. "A bodybuilding coach, so I’m training like I haven’t before and I’ve learnt loads!"
She's also previously spoken about how women shouldn't be afraid of getting stuck into the weights section at the gym, out of fears they'll look 'bulky', and the importance of keeping consistent with your training routine.
Run like the wind
Gabby recently shared that at the age of 32, she's plucked up the courage to start running for the first time to "sort [her] head out... shockingly, it works!". In order to stay on track, the fitness guru reveals she likes to get her run in first thing, before she has a chance to talk herself out of it. "I would confidently say it has played a huge part in balancing my mental health and would recommend it to anybody who has a busy brain! Even just a jog for 15 minutes does wonders," Gabby said.
Booty gains
Strong glutes are key for balance, stability and posture, so Gabby makes sure she trains hers (plus... would ya look at that peach!). "I’ve always been lucky as a dancer that my routines help me maintain an athletic bum, but time is definitely not on my side with this stuff," she previously said during a chat with Women's Health. "I like quick and easy weighted bum moves that target specific areas and really make you feel the burn."
Her favourite bum-boosting exercises include deadlifts (of the single leg and Romanian variety), weighted glute bridges and weighted squat lunges.
She loves a barre class
And so do we, tbh! In fact, Gabby is actually qualified to teach barre herself. "I used to teach barre, and the difference I used to see in people's bodies from doing the workout just a couple of times a week was crazy," she said of the ballet-inspired workout, known to majorly burn your largest muscles. "You can go and lift heavy weights at the gym but you’re not tapping into the little muscles that you would do in a barre class. People don’t see the appeal because they think it’s just ballet, but it’s actually more dance fused with ballet."
Keep a consistent – but flexible – schedule
Life is busy, we all know that, so Gabby is all about fitting in her workouts as and when she can, mixing it up with solo gym sessions and classes. "Because of my busy routine, my workouts do vary week to week but I make sure to rest," she once revealed to Women's Health. "Sometimes I train in the morning and go to a class in the evening and do absolutely nothing the next day, because I simply don’t have time. But I always try and fit in two weights sessions and three classes a week."
What is Gabby Allen's diet like?
Meal planning is key
Fitness and nutrition are a key part of Gabby's life and she regularly posts tips about the advantages of prepping meals in advance. Planning and cooking meals in advance is a great way of staying on track with your nutrition and saves money, so we're 100% all in for this one.
Focus on protein
Strong muscles love protein, which is why Gabby prioritises getting plenty in her diet – plus, it helps you to stay feeling fuller for longer. Post-Christmas, she shared a hack video on using up leftovers and instead of opting for your typical turkey sandwich, she encouraged her followers to have an open sandwich (to reduce carb intake and bloating), layer up two kinds of meat for an extra protein punch and to eat with a knife and fork (again to ward of the bloat).
Everything in moderation
Gabby says she's scaled back on alcohol due to horrible hangovers and while she mostly eats a nutritionally balanced diet, she still allows for treats too (but plans them in ahead of time).
How does Gabby Allen do wellness?
The power of mantras
Speaking on an episode of What the Health, Gabby was candid about having struggled with anxiety in the past and how reciting powerful affirming words has been a source of comfort to her during the tough times and on her down day.
"I am smart, I am independent, I'm successful – I have to repeat that over and over and it kind of eases my heart rate," she said. "But it's something I'm trying to work on as well, the self-love thing."
Exercise as a form of therapy
"Anybody into their fitness will know what I’m talking about, it’s literally like a weight has been lifted and things don’t seem anywhere near as bad and anybody new to this getting sweaty malarkey, TRUST ME, it becomes the only remedy sometimes," Gabby once wrote on Instagram when talking about the impact that exercise has on her mood. "If in doubt.. LIFT! 💪🏼 "
Ice baths
There's some evidence to suggest cold water therapy, such as an ice bath, can help to reduce inflammation and speed up muscle recovery post-workout, as well as doing wonders for your noggin – and Gabby is a fan.
"I have seen people doing ice baths on my Instagram for months now - most of them normal people doing it during summer times - and I did always want to try so I thought what better time than on a Shape Up retreat," she posted last year, adding that once she'd finished her session she immediately wanted to go again.
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