How bodybuilding saved this celebrity trainer from crossfit.

Celebrity trainer and t.v. personality Chris Powell has recently had a change of heart. The  ABC’s Extreme Weight Loss star has recently turned in his WOD’s for some competition trunks and he hasn’t looked back.

The problem with Chris Powell is that he can’t turn down a challenge. After a friend challenged him to a “Fran” workout, consisting of a  try “Fran” WOD, consisting of a 21-15-9 descending rep scheme. After that Chris was hooked, competing in crossfit competitions since 2008. But even after being so heavily engrossed in the crossfit world, something was missing.

“I was like, OK, how else can I improve myself? I want to bring my waist in; I want boulder shoulders; I want bi’s and tri’s. There’s a beauty to sculpting your body, and it’s a whole new sense of empowerment and control,”

Upon hearing this, two clients gave Chris Powell and his wife Heidi Powell (also a trainer on the show) another challenge. But this time, it was of the bodybuilding persuasion. An all out physique show. Challenge accepted.

Powell gravitated to an old fashioned arm pump which ended up increasing his deadlifts to 550 lbs and back squat to 435 lbs. Not bad for a guy who’s 5’8′, 180lbs. As for diet he cycles between carbs and fats, saving the high carb days for more strenuous workouts and the high fat days for workouts with a slower pace.

The couple’s transformation has been yielding such high results that not have they been placing but winning bodybuilding competitions. Chris Powell was overall title in the master’s division of the 2015 NPC Warrior Classic in Colorado last August, and Heidi took third place in the Novice Bikini division.

“I’m blessed that my wife is on board with me and we’re [competing] together, because that way, we can trade off [responsibilities],” says Powell, who, with a chuckle, admits that competing has done more than just strengthen their emotional bond. “Her transformation has been freaking mind-blowing over the last seven months…it’s awesome…it’s definitely been good for the love life.”

So what’s Powell’s next plan? Exit the amateurs and enter two upcoming pro qualifiers. Don’t be surprised if you see this t.v. personality on stage next to Jason Buendia one day…just sayin.

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