by Matt Weik, BS, CSCS, CPT, CSN
It wasn’t all that way back that I wrote an article about how I assumed each Christian Guzman and Chris Bumstead had been the way forward for our business. Each had nice personalities, large manufacturers, and a world following that had all eyes on them. These two greats will do no matter it takes to attain their objectives, and sadly, I really feel that certainly one of them took issues a bit too far.
On this article, I’m going to voice my opinion on the “new” Christian Guzman, and it might ruffle a number of feathers. I’m not personally mates with Christian, I’ve by no means frolicked with him or spoken with him, and he most actually most likely has no thought who I’m (despite the fact that I’ve printed a ton of nice articles that includes him through the years).
Disclaimer: This text is predicated on my opinion. You will have your personal opinion, and that’s nice, however that is mine.
Christian Guzman Builds Issues — Simply Not Muscle
First off, that heading alone might be sufficient to have me getting some hate in my DMs (and I’m nice with that). However let’s be sincere right here: Christian Guzman has by no means had a large physique.
Now, I say that and need to observe it up with this… Christian Guzman had the most effective physiques within the business. That’s, earlier than he determined to go for his IFBB professional card and use sure steroids (which he has brazenly talked about earlier than all the haters on the market inform me he’s “natty 4 life, bruh”).
I perceive that there are folks on the market who imagine an IFBB professional card is like sporting a badge of honor. However we’d all look a bit foolish if we didn’t perceive that getting a professional card right this moment in comparison with again within the day is drastically completely different. We have now bodybuilders getting professional playing cards today that (in my view) don’t deserve them. The IFBB is giving out professional playing cards like Christmas presents on December 25th.
Whereas I applaud the truth that Christian Guzman desires to get the “coveted” IFBB professional card — at what price? Clearly, as you might have seen in his movies and posts, his well being isn’t precisely one of the best presently. He could also be working to repair that, however what harm has the anabolics already achieved?
Companies That Have Created a Legacy
For a person who has constructed an empire from the bottom up, what does he should show? He doesn’t want an IFBB professional card to be able to earn my respect and even the respect of others. The person has constructed multi-million-dollar companies from scratch. All the things from Alphalete attire to Alphalete Fitness center to now Alphaland. What does he really achieve from damaging his well being in an try to get a ridiculous card (that it’s important to pay to maintain annually) that reads “IFBB PRO CARD.”
Does that not appear a bit foolish?
The companies Christian Guzman created will likely be his legacy — particularly the Disney-like attraction of Alphaland (minus the pedos). Alphaland is a health fanatic’s moist dream in terms of the whole lot they need, all on one property. Bodybuilders geek out over the considered visiting Alphaland and even getting to fulfill Christian in particular person.
With over 1,000,000 followers on social media and over 1,000,000 subscribers between his YouTube channels, the affect he has on the business and people who are on their very own health journey is insane. Sadly, his steroid use appears to have opened the door to some hate and folks strolling away from his content material as a result of selections he made. However once more, I couldn’t care much less if somebody makes use of steroids or not, I simply don’t perceive the reasoning for why Christian Guzman determined to go that route.
A Fading Physique — Suppose About Longevity, Not A couple of Trophy
Even when Christian Guzman wasn’t open and sincere about utilizing steroids previously earlier than making a video telling the world he’s been utilizing anabolics in an try to “do no matter it takes to get a professional card,” his physique a number of years again many would tip their hat to and can be one thing they wished to achieve.
Christian was by no means the largest man on the market, which is a cause he by no means bought his professional card. However his physique was one thing many individuals aspired to construct for themselves. It was extra attainable in comparison with what we see on phases right this moment. And greater than something, Christian appeared wholesome.
I actually thought Christian had his shit collectively. He had the companies, the physique, the checking account, the household, the vehicles, and the lady. In case you ask me, he’s checked all of the containers a dude would hope to attain of their lifetime. However the place is he now?
A number of months in the past, I used to be texting with Nick Trigili about his cope with Alphalete and congratulating him. I additionally talked about to him that one thing didn’t appear proper with Christian, and he talked about he believed he was beneath numerous stress with the whole lot happening.
Whereas Nick could have been proper, I imagine there was extra happening within the background and that Christian was utilizing “sure issues” that triggered him to fumble his phrases, virtually as if he was having an anxiousness or panic assault. He appeared drained, he appeared burdened, he appeared, effectively… tweaked out. If he was or wasn’t, that’s none of my concern. However as somebody who, fairly frankly, appears to be like as much as him, this was extraordinarily arduous to observe.
Whereas I don’t need to say Christian’s steroid use is his “downfall,” I most actually don’t assume it has helped him in any respect. His well being is presently a difficulty. His physique appears to be like nothing prefer it did (and never in a great way). And whereas he bought engaged to Heidi, I’m unsure he’s finally really blissful. I could also be unsuitable, however sometimes, everybody performs it off that they’re nice when, deep down, they’re battling one thing.
Total, I actually want one of the best for Christian Guzman and hope he can flip his well being round and can come to the conclusion that he doesn’t want a professional card. Within the grand scheme of issues, it means nothing after the whole lot he’s achieved. Getting a professional card is not going to make him extra money, and I actually don’t imagine it’ll make him any happier. It’s like when he purchased the R8. Certain, it made him blissful initially, however that ultimately fades. I simply hope he doesn’t enable his well being to proceed to fade…