Fedorov on Training By Alexander Fedorov The training process is a very serious a topic, one that can hardly be talked about briefly. For me, bodybuilding is not work, but a lifestyle. I spend a lot of my time in a gym. Therefore it is difficult for me to describe the training process within the limits of this article. Nevertheless, I will share with you the basic concepts, the cornerstones of my training philosophy. Execution of Technique, Not Amount of Weight In my youth, I believed that the amount of weight I worked with was everything. Every training session, I tried to use heavier and heavier weights. As time passed, my understanding about the right way to train changed. The bodybuilder is not the powerlifter. The bodybuilder attempts to create a perfect body instead of pursuing a maximum lift. The most important thing in any exercise is the execution of technique. In other words, it doesn't make a lot of sense if you can curl 110 pounds but perform the exercise incorrectly (for example, using your back or other body parts). Applying the correct weightlifting techniques are what forces your muscles to grow-a lower weight and correct technique will give you greater results than just increasing the weight. One more important point is correct breathing. Breathing is life. The control of inhalation and exhalation during the performance of an exercise allows for maximum results, promotes faster recovery, and helps oxygen reach the blood. Rest At Home, Not In The Gym Concentrate completely on your muscles when you have started an exercise. Supervise the movements. It should be smooth and cyclic. Do not pause at either the top or bottom points of amplitude. When you do, you allow the muscles to rest when they should be under constant stress. There should not be any pauses between reps during the set. If you stop, even for a short while, the blood will start to depart from the muscle-you want the blood to remain in the working muscle for as long as possible. So rest between sets or exercises, but not between repetitions. Keep Experimenting As we know, all bodies are different. There is no single, universal training method that applies to everyone. Always try new exercises. Make changes in the old ones. Pay attention and listen to your body. Take note when it works better or worse. Often, it is possible to improve upon an exercise with small changes such as changing your grip. If you want to achieve the best results, constantly search for ways to add new stress to the body during training. Stay Upbeat There is just one more thing I'd like to mention about bodybuilding. The bodybuilding lifestyle does not end outside the doors of the gym. While lifting weights is important, developing a strong and healthy body is not just about working out regularly (proper rest and nutrition are also important, but these are topics for another day). If you want big muscles, you should enjoy life. Don't think of bodybuilding as some kind of a punishment. Have fun. Don't let bodybuilding rule your life. Don't go in cycles where you become too obsessed about counting calories or protein intake--life is richer. I always say that the best thing in bodybuilding is that you can always forget that you're a bodybuilder.