Who Is CT Fletcher?
Former American bodybuilder and powerlifter CT Fletcher has six titles as a world champion to his name. include the three-time world champion titles in the bench press and strict curl.
In addition, CT Fletcher is now recognized as a fitness star with a sizable online following.
Early Life Of CT Fletcher
Fletcher’s life was everything but simple, though. He had severe abuse from his father when he was young, and he nearly passed away from heart problems throughout his powerlifting career.
Fortunately, his positive outlook helped him get through these trying times, enabling him to return to the world of bodybuilding stronger than ever.
“You have to get consumed with getting what you want; you have to be fascinated with it.”
Body Measurements Of CT Fletcher
| Full Name: CT Fletcher |
| YEAR OF BIRTH: 1959 |
| ERA: 2010, 1980, 1990, and 2000. |
| PROFESSION: Powerlifter, Bodybuilder, Personal Trainer, Figure Competitor |
| NATIONALITY: American |
| WEIGHT: 225-235 pounds (102.1-106.6kg) |
| HEIGHT: 5’11” (180cm) |
Accomplishments
- 3 Time World Bench Press Champion
- 3 Time World Strict Curl Champion
- S. Army Veteran
- Gym Owner
Biography
Moving Locations
Born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, in 1959 Fletcher’s upbringing was difficult. His mother was a young homemaker and his father worked in the fields; they both had to work very hard just to put food on the table.
Fletcher and his family relocated to Watts when he was just a year old, and eventually to Compton, where he grew up. It was a very difficult environment to grow up in.
To make matters worse, Fletcher and his older brother had to endure a severe physical abuse as children. He said; “My father started preaching in a 4-car garage when I was in grade school. By the time I was in Jr. High, we moved to Lakewood, CA and my father purchased his own church. My mother, my big brother Walt, and I were the choir. Strict is too subtle a word to describe the discipline required in our upbringing. The extreme discipline and the severe physical abuse was our way of life; it was all I knew.”– CT Fletcher
Military
Fletcher began his employment at the neighborhood gas station when he was 12 years old. He was still too young to work, but he enjoyed his job since it allowed him to escape from his abusive father and reality.
Unfortunately, Fletcher was forced to leave his employment a few weeks later because his father insisted he attend church.
After six years of this dread, Flecher finally “broke the chains that tied” him on his 18th birthday and enlisted in the American Army. Fletcher relocated to Germany after enlisting in the Army and was assigned there.
Combative Arts
Fletcher had a serious interest in martial arts, particularly Karate, while he was stationed in Germany.
Fletcher received his second-degree black belt in karate in 1979 after idolizing fighters like Mohammed Ali and Bruce Lee.
Come back to America.
Fletcher began working for the U.S. Postal Service after his discharge from the Army.
He married his first wife, whom he had known since high school, at this time. According to Fletcher, “My high school sweetheart and I were blessed with our children fairly shortly after we were married.”
Bodybuilding
Powerlifter CT Fletcher is renowned for being very skilled. He didn’t start competing in the sport until he was well into his weightlifting career, though. In actuality, he switched from bodybuilding competitions to powerlifting after years of doing so.
In the early 1980s, Fletcher started working out in the weight room. He started working out seven days a week during this time because he had become “enthralled” with bodybuilding. “Without my family, weightlifting was my life,” he stated.
As his physique improved, he started competing in various bodybuilding competitions and finished in the top three practically every time.
Powerlifting
After noticing a gradual rise in his power, Fletcher developed an obsession with pursuing the “next big number.” He made the switch from bodybuilding to powerlifting at this point.
He started competing in powerlifting competitions and soon realized how much potential he had in the sport. He destroyed many of his fierce adversaries despite being a novice powerlifter with little prior expertise.
Marriage
Fletcher divorced his first wife in the early 1990s. He eventually married the woman he had met five years earlier, who he had met while working at the same post office. They have since given birth to seven kids and one grandchild.
Unhealthy Diet
Fletcher had to eat more and more calories as he rose through the ranks of competitive powerlifting to lift heavier weights.
But almost all of those calories came from meals that were highly processed and unhealthy, such as fast restaurant burgers and artificial sweeteners. Fletcher consumed food whenever and however he pleased.
CT Fletcher initially had no negative effects from his poor diet. He got bigger and stronger, lifting more weight. He didn’t take long to establish a solid name for himself and gain recognition for his early powerlifting accomplishments.
He finally got hypertension as a result of his poor eating habits, and he started frequenting hospitals and clinics.
Fletcher claimed that this was not a significant enough warning since he “did not care and I did not mind as long as the list of powerlifting awards continued to grow as I did” at the time.
Greater Health Concerns
Fletcher didn’t aware he had overdone his poor diet until 2001. One of his doctors advised him that his hypertension had gotten to the point where it was life-threatening and had started to harm his heart.
From that point on, the American situation only became worse.
Mother’s passing
When making breakfast for his father on May 26, 2004, CT Fletcher’s mother passed away from a heart attack.
Fletcher was shocked to learn that his mother had major heart disease, even though he was aware of it.
Even though her passing was heartbreaking, Fletcher didn’t want it to be in vain. It’s Still Yo Mutha Fuckin Set! is a well-known line that Fletcher coined due to her distinctive personality and outlook on life.
The famous phrase, “My mother suffered many of her last years from congestive heart failure,” is explained in this way by Fletcher.
But she remained devoted to her life’s decisions up until the very last day, hour, and second of her existence. She chose to ignore hardship and constantly strive to be the greatest wife she could be.
I have come to think that “It’s Still Yo Mutha Fuckin Set!” because of her unflinching example.
Meeting Death Head-on
After his mother passed away, Fletcher’s health took a “rock-bottom” turn. He was taken to the UCI Medical Center in Long Beach on May 20, 2005, where he underwent necessary open heart surgery.
Due to the surgery’s extreme complexity, Fletcher ‘flat-lined’ three times while it was being performed.
Despite making it through the procedure, Fletcher had to spend the following few months in the hospital receiving intensive care. Sadly, he also learned that his days of powerlifting were ended because his heart could no longer tolerate that way of life.
According to Fletcher, his life turned into a “living hell” since he needed home IV treatments, had hard breathing, and couldn’t for the life of him find a comfortable position.
I spent many torturous nights awake just to wake up curled up on the floor in the fetal position.
Comeback
Fletcher appeared frail and sickly after the operation and was a pale shell of his former self. If they were in a similar circumstance, many people would give up on life and feel sorry for themselves, but Fletcher knew better.
He changed to a healthy diet and lifestyle, lifting only little amounts of weight. Fletcher continued working out as much as his body would allow him to even if his powerlifting days were over since it was his one real passion.
Amazingly, after a few years, he was able to heal up sufficiently to take part in amateur bodybuilding competitions.
Stronger Than Ever
Fletcher has established himself as a big name in the worlds of bodybuilding and powerlifting after making a comeback. He has established a chain of gyms in Miami, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas, and is now a prosperous businessman.
He started sharing his incredible tale on social media in 2012, motivating many people to adopt a healthy lifestyle and grow into their strongest selves in the process.
“I command you to grow! You must grow! I’m the boss motha fu*ka! I tell you what to do, you don’t tell me! I told your ass to grow. Grow!”
Training
Practicing Failure
According to his catchphrase, “It’s Still Yo Mutha Fuckin’ Set,” Fletcher doesn’t follow a specific training schedule. He works out whenever he feels like working out and tries to complete the most repetitions.
After trying everything, from extremely heavy 1-rep lifts to 30-rep “searing” squats, Fletcher is convinced that the secret to developing a fantastic body is to continually switch up your routines and avoid letting your muscles become accustomed to anything.
Single-Move Workout
This workout, as the name suggests, consists of just one exercise that is repeated nonstop for the duration of the session or until the participant is unable to complete any more repetitions.
For instance, if Fletcher is working on his legs, he will perform continuous squats throughout the whole session.
“I have no idea how many reps. I’m going to keep doing the motha fu*ka till I can’t do it anymore!
Exercises
The workouts Fletcher performs for each of his muscular groups are listed below:
Arms
- Single Arm Dumbbell Preacher Curls
- EZ Bar Preacher Curls
- Incline Bench Hammer Curls
- Concentration or Cable Curls
Shoulders
- Seated Dumbbell Overhead Press
- Standing Barbell Lateral Raise
- Seated Smith Overhead Press
Chest
- Barbell Bench, Flat
- Dumbbell Bench, Flat
- Barbell Pyramid Bench, Flat
- Smith Bench
- Incline Barbell Bench
- Pushups
Biceps
- Incline Bench Hammer Curls
- Dumbbell Preacher Curls
- EZ Curl Bar Preacher Curls
- Barbell Preacher Curls
- Straight Bar Cable Curls
- Concentration Curls
Triceps
- W Bar Tricep Extensions
- Straight Bar Tricep Extensions
Back
- Dumbbell Rows
- Lying Machine Rows
- Deadlifts
- Lat Pulldowns
- T-Bar Rows
- Pullups
Legs
- Squats
- Hack Squats
- Box Squat
- Leg Press
CT Fletcher’s 10 Training Commandments
- Train Your Mind Harder Than Your Body
- Never Accept Someone Else’s Limitations
- Pain Is Essential
- Listen To Your Body
- Visualize The Body You Want
- Don’t Let Your Body Adapt
- Multiple Angles Are Essential To Growth
- Learn The Meaning Of “Overload”
- Become Obsessed
- Never Become Satisfied
Nutrition
Food for Results
Fletcher claimed that he could easily eat the same thing every day if necessary. This indicates that he consumes food more to achieve goals both inside and outside of the gym than for enjoyment.
His macronutrient intake is specifically made up of 10% fat, 50% protein, and 40% carbohydrates. Instead of counting every gram, he eats what he thinks is the proper quantity, using his three decades of expertise as a guide.
Meal Plan
Meal 1
- Egg Whites: 12 (Made Into An Omelet)
- Vegetables: 1 Handful
- Turkey Or Chicken Breast: 1-2 Servings
Meal 2
- Protein Shake: 1
Meal 3
- Large Salad: 1 Serving
- Albacore Tuna: 1 Can
Meal 4
- Ground Turkey: Desired Amount
Meal 5
- White Rice: 2 Cups
Meal 6
- Chicken Breast: 8 Oz.
Meal 7
- White Rice: 2 Cups
Meal 8
- Protein Shake
Supplementation
- Whey Protein
- Creatine
- Multi-Vitamin
- Pre-Workout
Influences and Idols
Fletcher trained in karate while he was in the American Army. He began idolizing Bruce Lee and Muhammad Ali during this period.
Fletcher, however, served as his inspiration since his positive outlook helped him to persevere through the harshest hardships and emerge stronger and more successful than ever.
What Can We Infer About CT Fletcher?
Looking over CT Fletcher’s story, especially his accomplishments in powerlifting, it is obvious that his success was not delivered to him on a silver platter. His health was a heavy price to pay for his strength records.
Fletcher was expecting that once he began developing a career in powerlifting, his life would finally take a turn for the better after suffering abuse as a child. Contrarily, as a result of his poor diet, his health declined and he nearly passed away.
But Fletcher overcame the difficulties and learned his lessons the hard way. Because of this, he now encourages everyone to have a healthy lifestyle, with exercise and whole meals being the essential components.
He’s taught us to take care of ourselves, especially our health, if anything. Since if you lose your health, according to CT, you lose everything.