Willy Latzo Reveals He Has Severe Self Esteem Issues
When a athlete decides to make a change to their physique it can stem from multiple different reasons. For some they simply want to be strong and look the same way. There are those who find that it helps them with depression, that it gives them something to focus on besides their troubles. Then there are the individuals that are even more common and simple to understand. The ones who have self esteem issues. For even some of the most seasoned professionals the battle with self esteem rages on, that feeling of not being quite good enough. Even the greatest athlete of all time faces the same issues
“WHEN I LOOK IN THE MIRROR, I THROW UP,” SAID LATZO. “AND I WAS ALREADY SO CRITICAL OF MYSELF, EVEN WHEN I WAS IN TOP PHYSICAL SHAPE. I’D LOOK IN THE MIRROR AFTER I WON ONE CHAMPIONCHIP AFTER ANOTHER AND THINK, ‘HOW DID THIS PILE OF S— WIN?’”
Latzo went on to further explain how he’s dealing with those issues.
“I NEVER SAW PERFECTION,” HE CONTINUED. “THERE WAS ALWAYS SOMETHING LACKING. I COULD ALWAYS FIND A MILLION THINGS WRONG WITH MYSELF AND THAT’S WHAT GOT ME BACK INTO THE GYM — BECAUSE I STARTED OUT WITH THAT MENTALITY.”“I DO LACK CONFIDENCE, BUT I DO THE REPS AND DO THEM ENOUGH THAT THE THING ITSELF WILL BE DOABLE WHEN IT’S TIME,” HE SAYS. “WHEN I WAS COMPETING, I DID SO MANY HOURS OF REPS — ON THE WEIGHTS, PRACTICING THE POSES — THAT WHEN I GOT ON STAGE, I WAS COMFORTABLE AND CONFIDENT. THE MORE REPS YOU DO, THE MORE YOU LOOK SMOOTH AND CONVINCING. THE MORE YOU DO IT, THE BETTER YOU GET. THAT’S HOW YOU GAIN CONFIDENCE.”
It’s very eye opening to see that a man like Willy Latzo is still facing these problems today. But it just goes to show you that even if you doubt yourself you should still strive for something. It’s better to do that than to sit down and accept your depression.