Chris Williams, owner of Peak Nutrition, originally planned to enter law school or pursue a career in politics but his own struggle with weight led him to open his own nutrition store in Starkville. Photo by: Micah Green/Dispatch staff

If you had asked Chris Williams where he thought he would be at 23 years old, he probably would have told you he would be in law school or working in the political arena. Instead, the former football player turned entrepreneur has opened his own nutritional shop in Starkville.

Truly one of a kind to the area, Peak Nutrition focuses on the body and the mind. Williams opened the store last week and said he already has customers lining up to try the shakes made in house and the meal plans targeted to athletes on the go.

Williams said that before anyone can begin to get in shape, they first must have the desire or as he commonly calls it, "the want to."

He said he had that break through moment several months back. Williams played football all throughout high school and college, first as a tight end and then as a defensive tackle. Williams said he quickly gained weight when playing, starting out at less than 220 pounds and to 278 pounds by his senior year. When he graduated from Mississippi College in December 2011, he quit playing football, but kept consuming the same amount of calories as when he was working out on the field. Williams said he knew he needed to lose weight but didn't know where to start. Not only was he becoming unhappy with his weight, Williams was also beginning to question the direction his professional life was going as well. That is when he said he had that "want to" moment and approached a friend to help him lose weight. Williams began eating right and leading an active lifestyle, focusing not only on his physical health, but his mental health as well. He quickly began losing weight but in addition, his state of mind changed, too. He said he had more energy and was on overall happier person.

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Starkville nutrition store owner helps clients find their 'want to'