Fedorov Interview: One Week Out from the NY Pro Universal Nutrition: How has your diet changed in the months since the Olympia? Alexander Fedorov: Everything has changed. I view fats and carbs differently now--I manipulate them to my advantage instead of altogether avoiding them. I've gotten rid of distilled water as it is completely unnecessary. I'm still drinking Diet Coke one week out. For the first time ever, I'm eating nuts precontest. I'm also eating large amounts of green vegetables with every meal. UN: How is your chest training currently? Do you think differently now about extremely heavy benching? AF: My doctor advised me that the restoration of my chest would take two whole years after the end of my surgery. It would be after that point that I could resume my chest training. Obviously, I listened to my body and gradually eased myself into chest training. On a much shorter timetable, I have been able to double my training weights. I've encountered very little soreness and stiffness of late, and as such, I've gone out of my way to remind myself about my injury and take the necessary precautions in warming up. I now understand that while heavy weights are a must for adding the kind of mass needed, a bodybuilder is not a lifting machine. Technique and perfect form are now what I will use to build mass. The weights and other people's opinions have become irrelevant. UN: By the time you step up on stage, you will have been in the U.S. for several weeks. Has the extra time preparing for the NY Pro here made a dramatic difference? AF: I managed to trick my body by coming to New Jersey instead of California. At this time of year, the climate of the northeast United States is very similar to that of Russia. The only thing I am still adjusting to is the eight hour time difference. UN: How was the fan reaction at FIBO? How has your support been in the time since the Olympia? AF: Despite my struggles with injuries and the Olympia, there were fans that came to FIBO for the second year in a row to show support… Many of them traveled great distances. That meant so much to me. The true supporters will always be there and my doubters will be proven wrong eventually. It needs to be said, however, that the fan who believes his idol to be infallible is a fool. We're all human, we win some and we lose some. Sports are so unpredictable--especially bodybuilding, considering how critical those last few hours before a contest are to an athlete's placing. An old Russian saying that comes to mind roughly translates to, “You shouldn't change horses mid-journey.” UN: I noticed, when we trained together, that you are an absolute stickler for perfect form, was that something your father passed down to you? AF: Yes, he taught me that perfect form and technique are critical. It is a must to use a complete range of motion, form top to bottom, often moving the bar in a perfect arc. On a tricep pushdown, you don't merely push the bar down, but you extend--contracting the muscle in a full, sweeping motion. UN: Do you usually train triceps by themselves as we did yesterday, or is this a part of your precontest prep? AF: I'm actually doing double sessions. You arrived for my second workout. I did back earlier that morning and then triceps in the evening. During those days, each muscle group gets perfect concentration. I currently follow a six day split, going two days on, one day off and then repeating, with each bodypart being trained once in those six days. UN: Have you trained with other IFBB pros? If so, how was their training style different, and did you find yourself learning or teaching in terms of technique? AF: The only other pro who I really ever worked with was Milos Sarcev and this was more a matter of simply discussing form, technique and training theory than actually training together. I've learned more from my father than from any other resource. We plan out my workouts together for hours, often days ahead of time, examining exercise choice and execution in great detail. UN: What supplements are you currently using, considering that we are 8 days out from the NY Pro? AF: For the week before the contest, I limit myself to only BCAAs and vitamins. In the weeks further out from the contest I used Ultra Iso Whey, Ultra Whey Pro, Jointment Sport, BCAA Stack, Vitamins C and E, Flax 1000, Animal Pak and Glutamine. UN: What do you think your prospects are for the show? AF: Obviously, I want to make the Top 5 so as to qualify for the Mr. Olympia. Deep in my heart I hope for a good placing, but I feel it is more important for a bodybuilder to simply focus on being in the best shape possible as the rest is out of his hands. I now have experienced a loss, so I understand that one cannot win if they don't first know how to lose. Contests often bring with them sadness, even when I win, because once a goal is achieved there is disappointment and melancholy which accompanies the joy of accomplishment.