We meet F-Mac, an up-and-coming powerlifter from Fort Murray, Alberta in the northern region of Canada. DF Moderator Brat had a chance to catch up with and interview F-Mac whose candid comments and disciplined training ethic makes for an interesting read. Grab a chair and get comfortable and enjoy what F-Mac has to share about himself.

DF:  I notice you spend a lot of time teasing Firehawk. So what’s the connection there?

F-Mac: I don’t know Firehawk personally other than on this site and through a few private messages back and forth.  I just like to give him a hard time. He is a lot like me in that he is a powerlifter. I like ragging on him that he will never weigh less than me, but he is doing really well keeping his weight down. He is 6’5”so he has got a good 7” on me.

DF:  What words of advice do you have for younger guys just starting a training program?

F-Mac: “If it hurts don’t do it.” If you want to stay healthy, there is no reason to get injured. This is tough for me to say because I know that people sometimes get hurt by pushing themselves further. What I mean is I believe that you can train hard, making gains, and still make it to age 45 without having to destroy your joints and suffer major injuries. There is no reason to train while you are injured.

DF: What do you consider your most valued training tool?

F-Mac: Probably I’d say my power rack.

DF: What do you consider to be the most overrated exercise?

F-Mac: I’d probably say heavy leg presses. Some people substitute them for squats. I’d like to see the gyms put the leg press behind a locked door and say to their clients that they can’t enter the room until they can squat 400lbs or, let’s say, 2x their body weight!

DF:  Aside from fitness, do you have other recreational interests?

F-Mac: I still play golf, and I snow board. In the winter, I get out of town once or twice and go to the mountains in either Banff or British Columbia.  Other than hockey and sometimes the Super Bowl, I really don’t watch much [in the way of] sports.

DF:  I understand that you are getting married some time in the future? Is your fiancé into fitness of any kind?

F-Mac: Not weights, but my habits are rubbing off on her though. She is now asking me if this or that is ok to eat, for instance Tim Horton’s Iced Cappuccinos which she likes. They are just sugar and fat. I tell her to cut down on them when she asks how many are OK to have. We do go for long walks with our dogs.

We have plans to marry in August 2008. She’s a teacher so it works better for her at that time of the year.

DF:  Thanks so much, Alex, for taking this time to chat with us, and best of luck in your upcoming competition and wedding. We will see you on the message boards. If anyone wants to know more details about Alex’s training or comment on the interview you can always find him through his online journal at Discuss Fitness.