When I tried out the fast-food dirty diet in the 1990s, I fit in my Frantz canvas suit like 15 pounds of sausage in a five-pound casing, and worse yet, my deadlift went down. Don’t make the mistake ’90s lifters (myself included) made — learn from it. Eat cleaner to lift better.

This interview gives you the chance to learn more about Andrey, his training techniques/philosophies that led him to great success, including his views on sport history/culture found in the US and Russia.

Your future in this sport deserves to be worked on not only at the gym and with your physical strength and power, but outside of the weight room as well, with your mental focus and contemplation.

Powerlifting is a sport of continual evolution. In understanding federations today, it is important to note not only the evolution of powerlifting athlete, but also the history of why most powerlifting federations came into existence.

In this first part of the perspective series, I share five perspectives for you to consider as you make your initial steps into the journey that we call powerlifting.