Episode Description
Police officer by day, power lifter when off duty, he just recently lifted or bench pressed 656 pounds! That's a new record at the competition he was at in Birmingham - the World Police and Fire Games. How does that strength fit into his law enforcement job? What's his training and meals look like? How can the rest of us have a similar "never satisifed" mindset in the gym?
(2:50) Sgt Garrett Williams, a 17 year veteran of the Columbus Police Dept (in GA), talks about the excitement of winning gold at that world event, but he quickly was like "What's next?" We also discuss how he started getting into power lifitng as a "short fat kid" in middle school.
(9:42) Being big and strong can also be a valuable weapon as a police officer, as the Sgt explains. Along with the exercise culture at CPD, he also gives details about food intake - which, for him, can be as a much as 6,800 calories per day. That number is dropping quite a bit lately, to drop some weight off his 390 pound frame. What are his go-to and cheat foods? (15:45) Garrett also gets into how often he goes to the gym, hours put in at Body Evolution in Columbus...pain involved with all the training...benefits of working out with other strongmen...why he enjoys the gym culture so much...struggles he's faced over a dozen years of consistently power lifting.
(23:57) Back in May, he also placed 1st in the super heavyweight division, winning Georgia Strongest Man, but now is kinda retiring from most competitions. It's about the journey! That journey included playing college football...and now getting cheered on by his fellow police officers, receiving messages from around the world after his 656 pound record in a video that's gone somewhat viral, and a supportive wife (their 14th wedding anniversary on that competition day).
After a little about his police job and how he may rep the force in Australia in 2027 to try and break his own record, (35:56) Garrett gives us insight into the mental toughness aspect of power lifting - subconsciously going inward with muffled sounds, when he's getting hyped up to lift - and resilience, bravery needed for police work too. Again, big congrats to Sgt Williams! Follow him on instagram to see amazing lifting videos at gwill_world_class. And closing out the episode in prayer.
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