Meet the fittest cop in Britain?
Is PC Chris Green the UK’s answer to Jason Mamoa? He’s certainly got the muscles, tattoos and adoration for it but what’s the man behind the muscles really like? What does it take to achieve his sculptured body and does he really need to take so many workout selfies?! Let’s find out!
How long have you been a police officer?
19 years and a dog handler for 14.
What came first, your love of dogs or your dog handling role?
I’ve had dogs as pets since I was a teen but once I joined the Job I saw the potential dogs had and wanted to get involved.
What shift pattern are you currently on?
4 on 4 off – 12 hour shifts. I’m on permanent days now which makes it harder for me to train because I’m tired from working and then get stuck in commuting traffic.
When I worked nights, I’d feel like shit the next day because I couldn’t sleep but I’d power through for a work out and felt better for it.
The ideal time for me to train is 1-2pm and I got into a routine with nights but now that I’m on days I find it makes motivation harder because I’ve worked a shift and I’m tired.
When and why did you start taking training seriously?
I played football for a few years before but I started hitting the gym in my early 20s but once I got some muscle on me, football wasn’t so easy so I stayed in the gym! But it wasn’t until my mid to late 30s that I started to look at nutrition as well. I was my biggest at 20 stone 3lbs but carrying far too much weight so 4 years ago, I started to make an effort to sort my nutrition out too and I’m now 17 stone 7lb.
I really enjoy the social aspect of it too. I train with my best mate of 11 years and there are a good group of guys at the gym who just get on it.
How often do you train and do you create your own programme or follow a professional?
I train around 4-5 times a week depending on what else I’ve got going on and like to keep it up even when I’m on holiday.
(Yes, I did see you sharing the holiday gym selfies!)
I tend to stick to weight resistance and lifting but I’ve start doing yoga too! Even bodybuilders do yoga apparently. I’ve been training long enough to know what I need to follow my own programme – it’s not rocket science – but if I see a professional trying a new move or routine I’ll give it a go if I like the look of it.
Having the dogs also means that they need walking and stimulation so between walking them and weight training, I get physical exercise around 3 times a day.
You’ve got an impressive home gym set up. Can you tell us some of the equipment you have and what a typical routine looks like for you?
Yeah the home gym set up is:
- a squat rack
- Olympic bar
- adjustable bench
- dumbells and weight plates.
- I also have a t-bar row adaptor for the bar.
Essentially with this equipment I am able to do flat bench, decline, incline bench, military press, fly’s, side laterals, deadlifts, pull ups, t-bar row, barbell row, squats, lunges, stiff leg deadlift, a number of bicep and tricep exercises. Leg raises, both laying and hanging.
Enough to hit each body part sufficiently!
I tend to do 2 x push day, 2 x pull days, and treat legs as a separate day. I might throw a day of hiit circuits in for the cardio element. I alter my caloris for training and non-training days to correctly fuel the workouts and ensure I don’t overeat on rest days!
How do you prioritise meal prep and training around your shift set?
I meal prep one evening for the whole shift set including my snacks which I keep in my go-bag in the car so I’m not tempted to eat junk.
Night shifts don’t make eating healthy easy as there aren’t many good food options. It’s easy to reach for a takeaway and pile the weight on without consciously realising you’re even doing it; I see it happening a lot.
What’s your favourite meal?
I can eat the same thing all the time – chicken, rice and veg.
I’m not sure Chris is really helping inspire us with that one!
What’s your favourite cheat meal?
Takeaway – there’s a great one locally; Chicken Parmo.
Now you’re talking!
You’re a bit of a gin connoisseur; how did that come about and which is your favourite?
My love of gin started about the same time my focus on diet and nutrition. While I was counting cals, I was looking for a drink that wouldn’t ruin my plan and found gin and slimline tonic to be perfect; just over 112 cals for a double. Once drinking it, I quickly started to look for new ones to try and it went from there. It wasn’t long after that gin really took off and everywhere offered an extensive range.
My favourite is probably Monkey 47.
You were on TV with the Police Interceptors. With your tattoos, muscles and uniform, do you find you get lots of attention and messages from women?
I do but I also get a lot from men! (laughs) But yeah, I suppose the tats, muscles and uniform do it for some!
I was NOT expecting the men part to that answer!
Do you feel pressure to keep up your appearance because of your online presence and your known love for physical fitness?
No, I take personal pride in the way I look and feel. The only pressure I have is the pressure I put on myself.
I also try and engage with people and share my personal thoughts so people realise we’re human behind the uniform; I don’t just want to broadcast like a lot of the corporate accounts do.
How do you find your fitness regime affects your mental health, positively or negatively?
I wouldn’t say that I have depression or anything but I definitely find that I can feel a bit low if I don’t work out for a while. The longest I’ve been without a work out was 2 weeks and I noticed a real dip in my mood. I don’t mind not training for 2-3 days but anything more than that and I want to get back on it. I get a real buzz and rush of endorphins from working out.
Would you say that you have any anxiety or body issues in relation to training?
It’s not anxiety that I can’t train as such but more that I don’t want to lose the hard work I’ve put into training.
People tend to see me training and think I mast be 100% confident with my body and don’t get why I might put myself down, or be critical of myself. It’s not body dysmorphia but I definitely don’t see myself like other people do!
It’s really interesting you say that as we’ve got other officers who feel similarly; they’re ‘stacked’ but don’t feel they are!
Do you find that having your dogs helps get you out of the house and exercising?
Oh definitely! There are days when I’m tired and just not feeling it but then I look at their faces and they make me smile. Getting out for long walks with them is always fun!
You’ve go two sons – 15 & 18 years old – who also train. Was that due to expectations from you or they wanted to?
No! They wanted to get involved themselves. They’re both active outside school with martial arts etc. and it’s great to see them not stuck on the games console! They did a workout this morning which was great to see.
I make sure that they have 3 square nutritious meals a day so I don’t mind them snacking!
Chris, thank you so much for taking the time to speak with me today! It’s been great to chat and get to know your fitness journey as well as your thoughts on Twitter and modern day policing!
You can read Chris’ extended interview in our members-only network for police which you can sign up to for free here.
