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, huge manufacturers, and a worldwide following that had all eyes on them. These two greats will do no matter it takes to attain their targets, and sadly, I really feel that certainly one of them took issues somewhat too far.
On this article, I’m going to voice my opinion on the “new” Christian Guzman, and it could ruffle just a few feathers. I’m not personally buddies 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 revealed a ton of nice articles that includes him through the years).
Disclaimer: This text is predicated on my opinion. You’ll have your individual opinion, and that’s wonderful, 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 wonderful with that). However let’s be trustworthy right here: Christian Guzman has by no means had an enormous physique.
Now, I say that and need to comply with it up with this… Christian Guzman had among the finest physiques within the business. That’s, earlier than he determined to go for his IFBB professional card and use sure steroids (which he has overtly talked about earlier than the entire 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 carrying a badge of honor. However we’d all look somewhat foolish if we didn’t perceive that getting a professional card right now in comparison with again within the day is drastically totally different. We now have bodybuilders getting professional playing cards lately that (for my part) 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 could have seen in his movies and posts, his well being isn’t precisely the perfect at the moment. He could also be working to repair that, however what injury 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 so as to earn my respect and even the respect of others. The person has constructed multi-million-dollar companies from scratch. Every part from Alphalete attire to Alphalete Health club to now Alphaland. What does he really achieve from damaging his well being in an try and get a ridiculous card (that it’s important to pay to maintain every year) that reads “IFBB PRO CARD.”
Does that not appear somewhat 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 all the things they need, all on one property. Bodybuilders geek out over the considered visiting Alphaland and even getting to fulfill Christian in individual.
With over 1,000,000 followers on social media and over 1,000,000 subscribers between his YouTube channels, the impression 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 other people 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 — Assume About Longevity, Not A couple of 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 and “do no matter it takes to get a professional card,” his physique just a few years again many would tip their hat to and can be one thing they wished to realize.
Christian was by no means the most important man on the market, which is a cause he by no means acquired 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 levels right now. And greater than something, Christian seemed wholesome.
I truthfully thought Christian had his shit collectively. He had the companies, the physique, the checking account, the household, the vehicles, and the woman. Should 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 a whole lot of stress with all the things occurring.
Whereas Nick could have been proper, I consider there was extra occurring within the background and that Christian was utilizing “sure issues” that induced him to fumble his phrases, nearly as if he was having an nervousness or panic assault. He seemed drained, he seemed confused, he seemed, nicely… 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 laborious to observe.
Whereas I don’t need to say Christian’s steroid use is his “downfall,” I most actually don’t suppose it has helped him in any respect. His well being is at the moment a problem. His physique appears to be like nothing prefer it did (and never in a great way). And whereas he acquired engaged to Heidi, I’m unsure he’s finally really completely happy. I could also be unsuitable, however usually, everybody performs it off that they’re nice when, deep down, they’re battling one thing.
General, I actually want the perfect 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 things he’s achieved. Getting a professional card is not going to make him more cash, 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 happy initially, however that finally fades. I simply hope he doesn’t permit his well being to proceed to fade…
