The Story of Larry “Wheels” Williams: From Grit To Glory

Larry Wheels is a massively popular bodybuilder, powerlifter, and YouTuber these days but not many know about his journey to all of this fame. The American fitness influencer came from very humble beginnings and rose to glory with his gritty mindset. We’ll explore it all in this inspirational story of Larry “Wheels” Williams.

From lifting handmade weights of broomsticks and cinderblocks and riding his bike to exhaustion to becoming a world-record-holding powerlifter and competing in global bodybuilding contests, Larry Wheels has come a long way. His story is incredibly motivational for anyone going through the hardest times.

The Humble Beginnings of Larry Wheels:

The story begins with a skinny black kid named Larry Williams, who is the only son of a single mother in the Bronx, New York. His father left him when he was only one and his mother lost his custody when he was just six. So, the young boy had to live with his grandmother and be in foster care till he turned 12.

When he was 12, Larry Williams left the Bronx and reunited with his mother on the French Caribbean Island of St. Martin where they lived on the beach. He was too poor to attend the private English school, so his only opportunity was to get admitted into the public school and learn French.

However, he didn’t go there and instead chose to lift weights. This was the beginning of the transition from Larry Williams to Larry Wheels. Two factors pushed Larry to build weights out of a broom and two cinder blocks, boredom, and bullying. “My Adam’s apple popping through my neck,” Larry recalls his childhood.

At the age of 14, Larry Wheels first started training and started exhausting himself. He also struggled to find friends among native teenagers as they treated him roughly. So, he would ride his bike around until he was exhausted again. This was Larry’s routine until he turned seventeen years old.

First Job as a Gym Instructor:

Williams soon got addicted to working out. He then returned to New York with his mother and joined a gym immediately. For a brief period, he waited tables alongside his mother. After that, he got himself a job as a gym trainer at an upscale gym. His days of struggle were nearing their end.

“I realized at age 17 I was already the strongest guy in the gym,” says Williams. “I didn’t want to let this talent go to waste and I started asking myself, ‘What am I here on earth for?’ I wasn’t good at academics, I hated school, I hated studying, I hated doing homework. My heart always lay in getting strong at the gym. That was all I was passionate about.”

Powerlifting Record Holder:

After becoming incredibly strong, Larry Williams started competing in powerlifting competitions. In 2016, he set the combined world record in the 242-pound weight class by totaling 2,171 pounds. However, he rose to fame in November 2017 after surpassing the combined world record for the 275-pound weight class by lifting a total of 2,275 pounds between deadlift, back squat, and bench press at a Revolution Powerlifting Syndicate (RPS) powerlifting meet.

Williams weighed only 247-pounds for the contest but he competed in the 275-pounds weight class and even won the competition. This shot him to the top tiers of powerlifting and he became a social media sensation soon after. The success story of Larry Wheels was just getting started here.

Soon after this, Larry Wheels made his professional debut at the RPS New Jersey State Championship and won it as well. Over the next seven years, he won numerous powerlifting contests. His biggest win came at the 2020 Arnold Classic where Larry won with a record total of 2,370 pounds in total.

Transition from Powerlifting to Bodybuilding:

When Larry Wheels found success in powerlifting, he moved to Los Angeles and also started training for bodybuilding competitions. He aimed to grow his social media following and to further challenge himself. In 2018, Larry competed in his first amateur bodybuilding competition in NPC which he won.

He was determined to showcase how far the human body can be pushed by competing in bodybuilding contests with his powerlifting style physique. He also trained with the 2018 World’s Strongest Man competition winner and Game of Thrones fame Thor Björnsson in 2019.

In 2020, Larry Wheels was announced as one of the athletes featured in the documentary “Strength Wars: The Movie.” He is still competing in amateur bodybuilding competitions and focuses on the Classic Physique division. He won the overall Classic Physique title at the 2023 NPC Ultimate Warriors and was placed second in the 2023 Amateur Olympia.

Struggle with Drugs, Steroids, and Injuries:

During his mammoth rise in the world of powerlifting and bodybuilding, Larry Wheels also faced certain setbacks. At the age of 16, he found himself addicted to drugs after a friend that he met at the gym introduced him to them. The same friend also introduced him to anabolic steroids.

At that time, Wheels saw it as the best thing that could have happened to him as his body responded exceptionally well to the drugs. It made him figure out how strong he was. However, he later realized the drawbacks involved and started moving on a clean path. Recently, he replaced steroids with testosterone replacement therapy (TRT).

Moreover, it was his public image that made Larry Wheels cut on the juices and switch toward a natural body. “My biggest issue I have right now with the feats of strength I do on social media is that I hope it doesn’t lead some people to believe they should go on gear themselves,” Williams says in his video. “I would never recommend it for anyone coming up or just starting to work out. I think it’s too much of a risk.”

Apart from these problems, Larry Wheels also struggled with injuries due to his record-breaking lifts that come at the cost of his body. He regularly works through them two or three times a year. Fortunately, they are minor setbacks usually, and he hasn’t faced anything serious yet. The story of Larry Wheels is Exhilarating.

Larry Wheels: The Fitness Influencer & Businessman:

Fast forward to 2024, Larry “Wheels” Williams is a renowned fitness influencer, social media star, world-record-holding powerlifter, amateur bodybuilder, arm wrestler, and entrepreneur. He has more than 5 million followers on Instagram, 2.6 million followers on TikTok, and almost 3 million subscribers on YouTube.

He is also the owner of the fitness apparel and programs brand PR Lifestyle. Larry still has a long way to go. He plans to turn into a professional bodybuilder soon and win the World’s Strongest Man competition someday. From very a tough childhood, Larry Wheels has grown up to become a highly successful man.

What is the Workout Routine of Larry Wheels?

Larry Wheels works out five days a week including three days of heavy training and two days of isolation exercises. Sometimes he works out only three days a week with rest on every alternate day. This allows him to fully recover his muscles amidst exhausting powerlifting sessions.

Here’s an ideal weekly workout routine for Larry Wheels:

Monday: Chest:

• Barbell flat bench press (5 sets, 6-12 reps)
• Incline dumbbell bench press (5 sets, 8-12 reps)
• Decline barbell bench press (5 sets, 8-12 reps)
• Lat pulldown (5 sets, 10-12 reps)
• Pec deck machine (5 sets, 10-12 reps)

Tuesday: Back:

• Wide grip bodyweight pull-up (4 sets, 10-15 reps)
• Bent over cable lat pulldown (5 sets, 8-12 reps)
• Behind the neck lat pulldown (5 sets, 10-15 reps)
• Seated machine row (5 sets, 10-15 reps)
• Single-arm machine row (5 sets, 10-15 reps)
• Hammer Strength seated row (5 sets, 10-15 reps)

Wednesday: Shoulders:

• Standing behind the neck shoulder press (5 sets, 6-12 reps)
• Seated dumbbell press (5 sets, 8-12 reps)
• Incline Smith machine shoulder press (5 sets, 8-15 reps)
• Side lateral raise machine (5 sets, 10-15 reps)
• Reverse pec deck (5 sets, 10-15 reps)

Thursday: Legs:

• Barbell squat (6 sets, 5-8 reps)
• Barbell squat with resistance bands (6 sets, 5-8 reps)
• Barbell deadlift (6 sets, 5-8 reps)
• Smith machine squat (6 sets, 5-8 reps)
• Back extension (4 sets, 10-15 reps)

Friday: Arms:

• Cable triceps push-down (4 sets, 10-15 reps)
• Seated dumbbell triceps extension (4 sets, 10-15 reps)
• Weighted bench dips (4 sets, 10-15 reps)
• Lying down cable curl (4 sets, 10-15 reps)
• Standing plate curl (4 sets, 10-15 reps)
• EZ bar curl (4 sets to failure)

Remember that Larry Wheel is a dynamic star and competes in different domains including powerlifting, bodybuilding, arm wrestling, strongman contests, and more. Hence, he frequently customizes his workout plans as per his needs. You’re advised not to follow his training regimen blindly.

How is the Diet of Larry Wheels?

Larry Wheels takes a high-calorie diet while bulking. He consumes around 5,500 calories in a day including over 400 grams of fat during this period. His go-to foods to bulk include rice, avocados, and beef. However, when he’s cutting, he significantly reduces his calorie intake and relies a lot on vegetables and fruits.

Chicken, salmon, and sweet potato are some items that are always present in his meals regardless of the phase. Cinnabon rolls are his favorite cheat food. He takes around 8 to 9 meals a day including snacks. For supplements, Larry takes whey protein, pre-workouts, BCAA, creatine, and multivitamins.

Here is a sample diet of Larry Wheels based on his interviews and YouTube videos:

Breakfast:

• Eggs
• Oatmeal
• Fruit Juice

Snack:

• Whey Protein Shake
• Multivitamins

Lunch:

• Cookie Crisp Cereal
• Rice and Beef
• Milk

Snack:

• Lasagna
• Yogurt

Dinner:

• Grilled Chicken Burger
• French Fries
• Salads

Snack:

• Whey Protein Shake
• Freshly cut Fruits

Final Take: The Rise & Rise of Larry Wheels:

This was the story of Larry Wheels. He had a very rough childhood but he never let the adversities affect his growth. Life threw numerous challenges in front of a young teenager but he never backed down and handled them with grace. Eventually, he found his purpose and became a world-famous fitness star and idol for many.

His story is an inspiration for many who are going through struggling times. Tough times make strong men they say, and Larry Wheels is a living example of the motivational quote. He has now found a sense of contentment with his status as a social media role model and he tries living accordingly.

Disclaimer: Larry Wheels follows a very strict training regimen and high-calorie diet due to his stints as a powerlifter and bodybuilder. Our readers are strongly advised to not follow their workout routine or meals blindly. Always consult with your personal trainer to make a diet and workout plan for yourself.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Here are the most frequently asked questions about Larry Wheels:

What is Larry Wheels famous for?:

Larry Wheels is famous for his powerlifting world records that he set during the 2020 Arnold Classic. He won the event with a record total weight of 2,370 pounds. He also won his debut powerlifting competition in the 275-weight class despite weighing only 247 pounds with a then-record total weight of 2,275 pounds.

Is Larry Wheels one of the strongest men in the world?:

Larry Wheels, standing at 6 feet 1 and weighing 255 lbs, is one of the strongest men in the world right now as he has held the world record in powerlifting with a raw weight of a total of 2,370 lbs including an 870 lbs squat, 645 lbs benchpress, and an 870 lbs deadlift.

Is Larry Wheels natural now?:

In his YouTube video titled “Steroids: The Raw Truth! LarryWheels,” Larry revealed that he still uses certain steroids but they’re significantly way less than what he took as a teenager. “I prefer to use the bare minimum to get me through,” he said. He credited the reason to being a social media role model now and doesn’t want to set a wrong example for his followers.

Is Larry Wheels on testosterone?:

Larry Wheels revealed in an interview that he is currently on Testosterone Replacement Therapy as his body is not able to produce enough testosterone on its own due to the consequences of using anabolic steroids for so long. His body can’t recover, build, or maintain muscle mass without a sufficient amount of testosterone.

Does Larry Wheels compete in Mr. Olympia?:

Larry Wheels plans to compete in Mr. Olympia soon but he has not turned professional yet. He competed in the 2023 Amateur Olympia and claimed the second position in the Classic Physique division, missing out on a chance to turn pro. He’ll be eyeing to turn professional this year by claiming the title.