by Matt Weik, BS, CSCS, CPT, CSN
It wasn’t all that way back that I wrote an article about how I believed each Christian Guzman and Chris Bumstead have been the way forward for our business. Each had nice personalities, huge manufacturers, and a world following that had all eyes on them. These two greats will do no matter it takes to realize their targets, and sadly, I really feel that one in every 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 could ruffle a number of feathers. I’m not personally pals with Christian, I’ve by no means frolicked with him or spoken with him, and he most definitely most likely has no thought who I’m (regardless 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 high-quality, 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 high-quality with that). However let’s be trustworthy right here: Christian Guzman has by no means had a large physique.
Now, I say that and wish to observe it up with this… Christian Guzman had among the best 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 individuals on the market who consider 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 at this time in comparison with again within the day is drastically totally different. We’ve got 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 value? Clearly, as you will have seen in his movies and posts, his well being isn’t precisely one of the best at present. He could also be working to repair that, however what injury has the anabolics already executed?
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 with the intention 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 Health club to now Alphaland. What does he actually acquire 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 with regards to all the pieces 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 one million followers on social media and over one million subscribers between his YouTube channels, the influence he has on the business and those that 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 because of the 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 few Trophy
Even when Christian Guzman wasn’t open and trustworthy about utilizing steroids up to now 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 could be one thing they needed 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 at this time. And greater than something, Christian appeared wholesome.
I truthfully thought Christian had his shit collectively. He had the companies, the physique, the checking account, the household, the automobiles, and the lady. For those who ask me, he’s checked all of the bins a dude would hope to realize 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 take care of 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 underneath loads of stress with all the pieces occurring.
Whereas Nick might have been proper, I consider there was extra occurring within the background and that Christian was utilizing “sure issues” that brought on him to fumble his phrases, virtually as if he was having an nervousness or panic assault. He appeared drained, he appeared confused, 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 onerous to observe.
Whereas I don’t wish to say Christian’s steroid use is his “downfall,” I most definitely don’t assume it has helped him in any respect. His well being is at present a problem. 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 in the end actually completely satisfied. I could also be flawed, however sometimes, everybody performs it off that they’re nice when, deep down, they’re battling one thing.
Total, I really 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 all the pieces he’s achieved. Getting a professional card is not going to make him extra money, and I actually don’t consider it is going to make him any happier. It’s like when he purchased the R8. Certain, it made him completely satisfied initially, however that ultimately fades. I simply hope he doesn’t enable his well being to proceed to fade…