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Topics: Health, Celebrity, TV and Film
Ben Williams
Topics: Health, Celebrity, TV and Film
Guy Fieri has never been one to slow down. Known for a schedule that rarely lets up and always known for the full-on enthusiasm he puts into his work, the Food Network star is far more comfortable behind the grill or on the road than sitting still.
That’s why recent months have tested him in ways he didn’t quite expect, forcing a reset both physically and mentally.
Speaking ahead of a packed run of upcoming appearances, the 57-year-old celebrity reflected on how a period of downtime has shifted his perspective.
He told People: “I’m doing better. It was definitely a trying holiday, but you know what, you get some real appreciation for having the ability to just get up and walk around and do everything you used to.”
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For someone who’s regularly on the move, the adjustment hasn’t been easy.
He added: “I’m a big CrossFit and hiking guy, so eight weeks of no hiking has driven me kind of crazy. But I’m looking forward to it, trying to take it easy.”
This forced pause on life has come after a sudden accident left Fieri sidelined.
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While filming his latest TV series, Flavor Town Food Fight, a misstep on a staircase resulted in a severe torn quadriceps muscle, an injury that required surgery in November and confined him to a wheelchair for weeks.
It’s a situation he admits was as painful as it was frustrating. He laughed as he said: “My doctors are all like, ‘We know you want to get after it, but let’s not go back to where we were.’ And I’m like, ‘We are never going back to that!’ That was the worst thing I’ve been through in the last 20 years.”
Despite the severity of the injury, Fieri is focused on what lies ahead rather than what he’s missed out on.
With Super Bowl weekend approaching, he’s already looking forward to being back on his feet. As he prepares for Guy Fieri’s Flavortown Tailgate Presented by SpotOn, he said: “But now I’ll be up and ready and healthy and rolling by the time we hit the Super Bowl for sure.”
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The accident also reshaped his holiday season, turning Thanksgiving into an unexpectedly sweet family moment.
His son Ryder, 20, was quick to step in, texting: “Well, I guess all the training you’ve given me and all the cooking I’ve been doing while I was at school, it was going to be my time to shine.”
Fieri welcomed the gesture, noting how proud it made him feel to see his son take the initiative.
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With older son Hunter, 29, and nephew Jules, 26, also joining him for the upcoming tailgate, Fieri is embracing recovery as a team effort.
Joking about family availability, he summed it up simply with: “We can’t get them to return a text every time you want to text or pick up their phone when you’re trying to find them, but come Super Bowl weekend, everybody’s available now.”