Taming Tamer

What makes a champion bodybuilder is not the size of his arms but the size of his heart to break obstacles in front of him.

Bodybuilders are ripped, muscled men. Their strength seems beyond the comprehension of an ordinary man. They are extremely strong, no doubt about it.

For award-winning bodybuilder and two-time Mr. USA Tamer El Guindy, 34, however, the strongest part a bodybuilder is not his legs, back or chest but the determination of his heart and soul.

“Because it is your determination that will measure how far can you go in bodybuilding. Determination is having the discipline to go the distance, to have what it takes to achieve your goals. Therefore, you need a strong heart and soul to achieve your dreams,” says Tamer. (He visited Manila recently to perform his function as an international franchise manager of Gold’s Gym. His hosts in the country were power couple Mark and Mylene Dayrit, chairman and CEO, respectively, of Gold’s Gym Philippines.)  

As an international franchise manager, it is Tamer’s function to go to different Gold’s Gym clubs around the world and to audit and make sure that they are under compliance of Gold’s International — from the color of the gym to the branding.

“My function is to protect the brand. If Filipino members go to America, we have to ensure they get the same experience as what they get in the Philippines or in the rest of the world where Gold’s Gym is available,” says Tamer, who has been protecting the club’s name in the last 15 years. He also owns a Gold’s Gym franchise in Rancho Santa Margarita in California where he resides. He was originally from Sao Paolo, Brazil.

The people who have seen him compete gave him the sobriquet “The Razor” because of the definition of his body. His measurements: arms, 20 inches; legs, 29 inches; and waist 27 inches.

“Bodybuilding is my lifestyle. But I know that I’m not one of the biggest bodybuilders in the world. That was never my goal. I always wanted to be the leanest bodybuilder, the one that has the most definition,” he says. It was when he started to join competitions that the audience saw his well defined form — as lean and as sharp as a razor. His fans started calling him “The Razor.”

Tamer with Gold’s Gym Philippines chairman Mark Dayrit.

To achieve his form, Tamer admits to working out six times a week with a 45-minute cardio exercise in the morning. To maximize the burning effect of fat, he drinks a cup of water when he wakes up and a cup of coffee without sugar before he exercises in the morning.

In the afternoon, he does his resistance training from 45 minutes to an hour. 

“But all that works if you eat properly or else you’re just wasting your time,” he says. “I eat six to seven times a day of small portions. My diet mostly consists of high protein, complex carbs, and good quality fats. I avoid saturated fats.”

When Tamer is on a diet, his favorite food is oatmeal with eggs. “But I mostly eat eggs, fish and vegetables or chicken.” Outside his diet, his favorite food is sushi. “But after being to the Philippines I might be changing my favorite to kare-kare with shrimp paste.”

Though bodybuilding has already become his lifestyle, Tamer admits that it also gets tough many times to maintain the regimen. What keeps him going? “I do whatever it takes because I am determined to live a healthy lifestyle. I think what makes a champion is not the size of his arms but the size of his heart to break any obstacle in front of him. I get to break mine by praying to God while I’m on a treadmill.” With this mindset, he went on to win two Mr. USA titles in 2009 and 2011. If there was a Mr. USA competition held in 2010, he would have surely won it, too.

Tamer was only 16 when he started to lift weights. At 5’8”, he needed a sport that would allow him to be the best he could be. He tried basketball, soccer, track and field, swimming and tennis. But it was bodybuilding that he fell in love with.

Tamer has a heart as big as his body. Ask him about his parents and he lights up with energy. “My mom is the sweetest lady in the whole world. I learned kindness from her, to be humble, and to never think that I’m the best. From my dad, I learned determination and the never-give-up attitude,” he says. He adds that he has a younger brother, an actor who also manages some gym clubs in LA. “My younger brother is my No. 1 fan and critic. He tells me straight if my form is not good enough. Or if I am not good enough” 

The 200-lbs Tamer admits he’s also big on family matters. “I love my family. They are the biggest support I have.” He mentions that it is because of them that he keeps on going. It’s also because of them that his pursuit of excelling further in bodybuilding cannot be tamed.

As for his civil status, his bio reads “engaged.” Hmm, will Tamer be tamed after he takes the plunge?

He just smiles and says, “Workout is always good for everyone.”

(For your new beginnings, please e-mail me at bumbaki@yahoo.comor my.new.beginnings@gmail.com.

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