MUSCLING IN ON GREATNESS

STORY: JAMES COMBS

Coming out of the black tank top are muscular arms that would make Arnold Schwarzenegger proud. Hidden beneath the tank top are fine-tuned, chiseled abs sure to make ladies swoon.

The arms, abs, and body belong to Chaz Williams, a 2003 South Lake High School graduate and Clermont resident who is making waves in the world of men’s physique competitions.

A dedicated gymgoer and healthy eater, Chaz has been riding an impressive winning streak as of late. He was the overall winner at the 2016 NPC Europa Games Men’s Physique competition, and in late 2015, he earned the prestigious title of Mr. Florida at the NPC Florida State Championships.

In physique competitions, contestants step on stage in front of a group of judges and are scored on stage presence, posing, conditioning, and body symmetry.

“Winning at these competitions means a lot to me because of all the hard work and effort I put into them,” says Chaz, 31. “The Europa show was extremely competitive and is the largest physique competition in Florida.”

Chaz has been an athlete his entire life and played varsity baseball at South Lake High School. His competitiveness rose again in 2012, prompting his decision to undergo a life transformation and become a physique competitor. At the time, he was operating a smoothie store at The Life Center in Clermont.

“I wanted to compete in a sport that would force me to push my body to the extreme. I trained myself to prepare for my first show.”

Since that time, he has landed nine firstplace finishes in elite shows and is well on his way to competing professionally.

“I live the lifestyle of pro athlete,” he says.

“Since becoming a competitor, I feel so much better about myself. It has also made me more dedicated to life outside the gym, including family, friends, marriage, and diet.”

Participating in physique competitions also helped him launch a lucrative business. Chaz currently trains more than 900 clients as far away as Australia by writing detailed exercise and nutrition plans for them on his website, trainwithchaz.com. He also provides one-onone training at local gyms.

“I’m more of a health coach than a personal trainer,” says Chaz, a certified trainer through the National Academy of Sports Medicine.

“It’s amazing to see the transformation my clients go through. At first, they tell me they would never enter a show. But once they become leaner and more muscular, their self-confidence improves and they end up doing a show. Amazingly, some of my clients who get up there on stage are in their 50s.”