Gabi Butler, the renowned professional cheerleader and wrestler, has captivated audiences with her exceptional performances, particularly in the Netflix docuseries Cheer. Beyond the dazzling ribbons and sequins lies a dedicated athlete who has honed her skills through unwavering determination and countless hours of rigorous training. This article delves into Gabi Butler's diet and exercise regimen, highlighting her focus on strength, endurance, and a healthy mindset.
Early Beginnings and Rise to Fame
Born in Boca Raton, FL, Gabi Butler's cheerleading journey began at the age of eight. She gained initial recognition on the YouTube series Cheerleaders before achieving widespread fame as a member of the Navarro College cheer team in Cheer. These shows provided viewers with an inside look into the demanding nature of competitive cheerleading and the sacrifices required to achieve championship success. Now at age 26, Gabi continues to inspire with her athletic prowess and dedication. As Liv Morgan commented on a recent video of Butler performing impressive stunts, she is “the most talented girl.”
Training Regimen: A Focus on Strength and Endurance
Butler's training philosophy revolves around a structured routine that prioritizes both physical and mental well-being. Her practice sessions are intense and demanding. According to Butler, “A normal practice runs for about three hours, and sometimes we will have two practices per day”. These sessions are heavily focused on plyometrics and strength training.
Plyometrics and Strength Training
Gabi Butler's workouts, under the guidance of certified strength and conditioning specialist Marc Bowron, target key principles such as strength, power, and endurance. Bowron emphasizes the importance of enjoying workouts and incorporating creativity while maintaining a specific purpose. Examples of her training include plyo jumps and tire flips. In one clip, Butler is seen executing Spider-Man dumbbell crawls, and her workouts may also include reverse sled pushes and weighted rope pulls.
The Importance of Recovery
Recognizing the importance of recovery, Butler emphasizes that it is just as crucial as training itself. She prioritizes getting a good night's sleep and "feeding your body good things" to optimize recovery.
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Diet and Nutrition: Fueling Performance
Gabi Butler adopts a balanced approach to nutrition, focusing on fueling her body for optimal performance. She refuses to diet, instead emphasizing strength and endurance.
Rejecting Diet Culture
Butler has spoken out against the unhealthy dieting habits prevalent in the cheerleading world. She told Muscle & Fitness that “It is very common in the cheer world for girls not to eat as much … it’s very sad,”. She notes that many cheerleaders "will not feed their bodies in the way that they should, because they are afraid of being too big to get into the air, or won’t be lifted, or become a top girl." In contrast, Butler says, “I personally feel like I’m strong, confident, and feel very powerful with my body.”
Evolving Nutritional Approach
Butler recalls that "At 17, I did go through a stage in which my body was definitely transforming, and I gained a good 15 pounds,”. She admits, “I had a struggle, and I would get a little self-conscious about it, because I wasn’t a tiny, petite thing anymore, but I figured out what worked for me, and that was just to eat healthier”. More recently, Butler has also introduced a plant-based approach to her eating plan and has reduced her meat intake. Teaming with Silk, the high-flyer is still able to get adequate amounts of protein into her diet. “I absolutely love Silk’s oat milk,” she says.
Mental Fortitude: Maintaining a Positive Mindset
In addition to her physical training and nutrition, Gabi Butler emphasizes the importance of mental fortitude. Her trainer, Marc Bowron, notes that “During the exercises, she is focused and locked in, and during her rest or after the session, she is always laughing and having fun with me or others around her."
Pushing Through Challenges
Butler embraces challenges and maintains a positive attitude, stating, “I’ve had so many trainers in my life and I feel like they’ve all been great,”. “But Mark really sticks out to me because he has a winner’s mentality. He always tells me to push [on] when you’re tired, because that will show how strong you are, and it’s going to prove that you can do anything because if you can do it tired, you can do it fresh."
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Staying Active During Downtime
Even during periods of downtime, such as the quarantine, Gabi Butler remains committed to staying active. She shared that “I’ve been trying to keep myself as active and busy as possible. I try to run every day or every other day. I do this workout called Insanity. It’s kind of like a p90x type of thing. It’s a video workout. Aside from running, Gabi admitted she also recently took up rollerblading”. She also mentioned taking up painting and cooking healthy meals.
Future Aspirations and Inspiring Others
With her fitness app and athletic clothing line, Gabi Butler is expanding her influence beyond competitive cheerleading. With cheerleading now recognized as an Olympic sport, the prospect of representing Team USA in future Games is an exciting possibility. Regardless of her future endeavors, Butler aims to inspire others with her dedication, positive mindset, and commitment to a healthy lifestyle.
Butler hopes that the Netflix series Cheer has shown people “the actual reality of how cheerleading truly is,”. She also stated, “I honestly hope they make it an Olympic sport. I think it’s very, very hard”.
Core Exercises Approved by Gabi Butler
Butler is a stickler for core. She thought back to when Coach Monica Aldama would have them do ab-focused conditioning during Navarro cheer practice. "[Aldama] would basically just be like, 'OK, just go and do abs for like however long you can,'" Butler recalled, noting that when she could pick her own exercises, she'd choose moves such as the following:
- V-up
- Side v-up
- Leg lift
- Seated knee tuck (or what Butler called "in-and-outs")
- Wall handstand walk
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