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 realize their targets, 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 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 concept who I’m (regardless that I’ve printed a ton of nice articles that includes him through the years).
Disclaimer: This text relies on my opinion. You could have your personal 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 a large physique.
Now, I say that and need 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 the entire 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 in the present day in comparison with again within the day is drastically totally 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 needs 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 the very best presently. He could also be working to repair that, however what harm has the anabolics already completed?
Companies That Have Created a Legacy
For a person who has constructed an empire from the bottom up, what does he need to show? He doesn’t want an IFBB professional card with a view to earn my respect and even the respect of others. The person has constructed multi-million-dollar companies from scratch. The whole lot from Alphalete attire to Alphalete Gymnasium to now Alphaland. What does he really acquire from damaging his well being in an try to get a ridiculous card (that you need to pay to maintain annually) that reads “IFBB PRO CARD.”
Does that not appear a bit foolish?
The companies Christian Guzman created will probably be his legacy — particularly the Disney-like attraction of Alphaland (minus the pedos). Alphaland is a health fanatic’s moist dream relating 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 individual.
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 other people strolling away from his content material because of the decisions 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 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 just a few 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 motive he by no means obtained 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 in the present day. And greater than something, Christian regarded 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. In case you ask me, he’s checked all of the containers 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 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 underneath a number of stress with all the pieces occurring.
Whereas Nick might have been proper, I imagine there was extra occurring within the background and that Christian was utilizing “sure issues” that triggered him to fumble his phrases, nearly as if he was having an anxiousness or panic assault. He regarded drained, he regarded careworn, he regarded, effectively… tweaked out. If he was or wasn’t, that’s none of my concern. However as somebody who, fairly frankly, appears as much as him, this was extraordinarily laborious to look at.
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 nothing prefer it did (and never in a great way). And whereas he obtained engaged to Heidi, I’m unsure he’s finally really blissful. I could also be mistaken, however sometimes, everybody performs it off that they’re nice when, deep down, they’re battling one thing.
General, I actually want the very 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 imagine it would 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…
