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ABOUT

My holistic, practical approach to nutrition gives you the knowledge and tools you need to optimise your endurance journey and redefine your personal best.

- Gaby Villa

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Hi, I’m Gaby Villa

 

I’m a dietitian, sports nutritionist, and the founder of IntensEATfit. I specialise in optimising performance for endurance athletes by making food their greatest ally in sport and life.

I’ve had a passion for sports from a very young age and have been a triathlete for more than 12 years. If this has taught me anything, it’s that crossing the finish line knowing you did everything in your power to achieve your personal best is one of the most enriching experiences in life.

It fills my heart with pride, and I want that feeling for others.

I strive every day to build a world where people see sport as nourishment for the body, mind, and spirit — a world where they see nutrition not as a restriction but as a source of strength and joy across all areas of life.

I get it — life doesn’t stop for your training

When it comes to sports and nutrition, I’m a realist. I understand that, for many of us, dedicating 100% of ourselves to an endurance sport isn’t always possible.

Most of us need to squeeze in our training between work, family, and friends. If we then want to optimise our endurance journey with strategic nutrition, everything starts to feel impossible.

The fact that we all have different nutritional challenges doesn’t make it any easier, and trawling the internet for the right advice for you can be exhausting.

This is where I step in, removing the nutrition guesswork so you’re free to focus on training and life.

Looking to remove the guesswork and make food your strongest ally on your journey to your new PB? Apply to work with me, and we can discuss your challenges and goals over the phone.

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HOW I GOT HERE

A lifelong passion

Since my childhood in Saltillo, Mexico, I've absolutely cherished sports. It’s crucial to not only my physical health but my mental and spiritual wellbeing. My love for sports has been a gateway to some of the most wonderful communities I've ever been a part of — and the interpersonal element was one of the core reasons I decided to become a dietitian and sports nutritionist to help other athletes achieve their personal best.

But my journey hasn’t been without its challenges.

Pursuit of “perfection”

I’ve never been “skinny,” and in my teenage years, my longing for a “perfect” body turned into an unhealthy obsession. Studying nutrition improved my relationship with food somewhat, but it still wasn't ideal. I put all my effort into counting calories and filled my computer with nutrition plans from an ocean of different dietary approaches (paleo, accelerated metabolism, gluten-free diets, to name a few). But nothing yielded results, and I was still drawn constantly to foods I saw as forbidden.

While I’m so proud of my endurance achievements in those years, I knew on some level that my relationship with food was holding me back from a more enriching lifestyle

Clarity, and love

It wasn’t until I moved to Western Australia in 2016 to earn a Master’s Degree in Health Science that I realised I had been doing everything backwards. I’d been focusing on everything I shouldn’t eat — afraid to eat a slice of bread even though I knew carbs were energy.

In reality, every food has a purpose.

After this realisation, I shifted my attention from calories to nutrients and fueling with purpose.

Now, after meeting my husband, Aaron, my “two years in Australia” have become eight and counting, and I’m loving the Perth lifestyle. There are so many beautiful places to run, ride, swim, and walk our dog, Clark. The endurance sports community is thriving, and I’m truly honoured I’m able to connect with amazing endurance athletes here and all around the world.

My Philosophy

For me, my finishing position in a race doesn’t matter. I’m there to beat my PBs, not Olympic records. Completing a race and giving it my best is what I’m aiming for. I’d love to help you on your path to success, whatever it looks like for you.

Degrees, accreditations and experience

  • Master's Degree in Exercise and Health - University of Western Australia
  • Diploma in Sports Nutrition - International Olympic Committee
  • Bachelor's Degree in Nutrition and Wellness (dietetics) – ITESM, Mexico
  • Trained on the use of a low FODMAP diet for IBS by Monash University
  • Accredited Sweat Profiler - The Sweat Lab
  • Applied psychology of eating, weight and body image - Australian Psychological Society
  • Accredited Sports Nutritionist - Sports Nutrition Australia
  • Anthropometrist Level 2 - International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry
  • Certification in subcutaneous measurement of adipose tissue Level 2 - International Association of Sciences in Medicine and Sports
  • International Certification in Sports Coaching - Sports Coaching World
  • Diploma in Leadership and Management - Integral Development
  • Nutritionist state selections of canoeing, rowing, sailing and roller skates from 2013 to 2016 - State Institute of Physical Culture and Sport of Nuevo León
  • Development and implementation in public health and health promotion policies (2018-2021) - Western Australian Department of Health
  • President Triathlon Club of the University of Western Australia since 2019
  • Age group triathlete since 2009
  • Mexico Uni Games 2011 and 2012
  • Representing Mexico in Age Group Triathlon World Championships - Gold Coast 2018
  • Ironman 70.3 Personal best 04:58:14.53 – Ironman 70.3 Busselton 2018
  • Other sports I have practised and enjoy: Swimming, boxing, volleyball and CrossFit

Interested in working together but not sure where to start?

 

Everyone’s journey to performance transformation is different. If you’re not sure which path is right for you — the Fuel to Thrive Academy or the Fuel to Excel Program — we can discuss it over the phone.

Please apply to work with me, and I’ll be in touch within 24 hours.

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