While bodybuilders might look near perfect with their sculpted looks and chiseled bodies, it’s not always a beautiful journey. A profession that is majorly based on aesthetics gets exhausting at some point. This leaves room for a variety of issues among bodybuilders. Legendary bodybuilder, Chris Bumstead, talked about a similar incident when he struggled with medical issues in 2018.

Back then, Bumstead was diagnosed with IgA disease, which affected his kidney functioning. In a detailed YouTube video, the champion spoke about his diagnosis and how it played with the Mr. Olympia championship. While Chris is now under strict monitoring, he struggled a lot during the early stages of diagnosis.

What did Chris Bumstead go through in 2018?

Before Mr. Olympia 2018, the star noticed sudden weight gain and a lot of water retention, especially in his ankles and shin. While he initially didn’t bother about it too much, the problem grew serious. His ankles swelled up and he decided to go for a check-up. Long story short, the icon found out that he had excess creatine and protein in his blood and urine. This, they later found out after a series of tests, was a result of his autoimmune disease.

Since then, Bumstead struggled a lot with his body. While his disease had been brought under control with the help of medications, he couldn’t train as much as he wanted to. This resulted in serious self-doubt and a loss of confidence. The icon didn’t know if he could get back in shape before getting on stage. He recalled being conscious even when he was up on the stage. Bumstead went through a lot of intense workouts and a rapidly changing diet in order to get hold of his water retention problem. Still, the champ recounted, “I was literally ashamed of myself . When I looked in the mirror I was so discouraged every day.”

Read More: “There’s No Cure for It”: Chris Bumstead Shared the Details of Severe Health Illness That Cost Him 2018 Mr. Olympia Title

Nevertheless, Bumstead persevered. He made it through the championship and got a lot of appreciation. He remembered how his near and dear ones were in tears by the end of the championship. The star hadn’t announced his struggles back then. The fact that he silently suffered and still made it is commendable. His health issues and disease have since been under strict supervision. The star now enjoys training and makes sure to prioritize his health at the same time.

Watch this story: Here are five bodybuilders who gave better biceps than legendary Arnold Schwarzenegger