Guy Cisternino
Hi, I am Guy Cisternino, retired IFBB Pro Bodybuilder, coach, and co-founder of Uprising powered by MIT45.
This is the first time I have told my full story about how Uprising began and why I believe in it.
How It Started
In 2019 my body was breaking down after years of heavy training.
I had two bad shoulders and three herniated discs.
When one of my discs gave out completely, I could barely move.
The doctors prescribed medication so I could walk and function while waiting for scans and treatment.
After using it for a short time and stopping, I realized how difficult recovery could be.
That period tested everything I had physically and mentally.
It was one of the hardest times of my life.
The Day Everything Changed
During that time a fan, who later became a friend and business partner, drove from Houston to Dallas to meet me at a photo shoot.
He knew my story and wanted to share something that had helped him.
He handed me a small bottle and said, “Try this and tell me what you think.”
It was kratom. I had never heard of it before.
I tried it and within a short time noticed that I felt focused and ready to move again.
It did not fix everything, but it made me feel more like myself.
That moment stuck with me. I knew more people needed to know about this plant and how it could fit into an active lifestyle.
Right then I said, “We are going to start a company.”
Building Uprising
I have lived my life around performance, discipline, and movement.
For years I had seen supplements come and go, but nothing built with the consistency or transparency I wanted.
We created Uprising to bring clean, reliable kratom to people who move with purpose.
We wanted to make it approachable, consistent, and built for motion.
Not for escape. For activation.
For the gym.
For the trail.
For early mornings and long days when you need to stay sharp.
When we partnered with MIT45, one of the most respected extract manufacturers in the industry, Uprising became Uprising powered by MIT45.
That partnership gave us the ability to produce the cleanest and most consistent products possible.
My Pre-Preworkout
People ask what I use myself.
I call it my Pre-Preworkout because I take it before my preworkout.
It is the first thing I take before training, boxing, or filming long days.
For me it sets the tone. It helps me focus and get ready to move.
I do not take it every day, but when I do, I know it is clean and consistent.
This is not about hype or quick fixes.
It is about fueling movement the right way.
Why I Still Train
Even in retirement I still train hard.
Not because I have to, but because I can.
Training reminds me that progress is earned.
Every session is proof that I can still show up and give 100 percent.
That same mindset drives Uprising.
It is about movement.
It is about never letting pain, age, or excuses stop you.
It is about finding your own version of strength and keeping it alive every single day.
This Is Bigger Than Me
Uprising is not just a brand.
It is a community built around people who keep moving forward.
Athletes. Lifters. Runners. Parents.
People who refuse to quit.
If that sounds like you, then you are already part of this story.
Thank you for being here.
Guy Cisternino
Founder, Uprising powered by MIT45