Full disclosure: Tammy Hughes has been part of the Big Back Grips story since we first launched in 2007. She has been on our packaging, our website, at our events and in our hearts for everything she did to help a start-up take root. For Tammy is one of the nicest, most generous, most welcoming people we know. And we’ve been providing Big Back Grips to her husband, bodybuilder and trainer David Hughes and his clients since about the same time.

She is also an accomplished fitness competitor, having placed first in the International Natural Bodybuilding Association (INBA) Classic in her native Australia.  She manages one of Los Angeles’ most respected gyms.  And with David, brings her experience and knowledge to (Big Back Grips dealer!) Get Hughes Nutrition which they own together in Simi Valley, CA. Since Tammy’s also a Big Back user, we asked her to be part of our Big Back Grips User Profile page.



BBG: Of course on of the reasons we’re interviewing you is because we know you’re avid Big Back Grips user. What did you use before BBGs and why did you settle on BBGs? How do they help your workout?

TAMMY: Well, I used to use weight lifting gloves. Little pink ones. But let me tell people how I even discovered Big Back Grips: You guys wanted to shoot some pictures in the gym that I managed, and you wanted to use me – ME! – on your packaging. And while I was working out with your grips during the photo shoot, I realized my little pink gloves weren’t doing anything to help my workout. Nothing! They were just, well, pink. The first time I did a set of cable rows with the grips, I knew I didn’t care what color they were. They gave me an amazing set and that was that! And Hollywood Gym became your first retail dealer.

BBG: Professionally, what’s your opinion of other weight lifting grips and other solutions, especially weight lifting straps?

TAMMY: Chalk is ok, but kills your hands. And a lot of gyms don’t allow it anymore. And gloves, well, gloves are just gloves. They may pad, but they don’t grip. Weight lifting straps http://bigbackgrips.com/dangle-and-strangle/are just not good. Not good at all. Too many bruises. Too easy to injure your wrists. There you go.

Big Back User Profile: Nicole Forlenza

“I own a personal training business, which means I change lives for a living!!”

Big Back User Profile: Nicole Forlenza, Certified Personal Trainer
BBG: Can you start by telling just us a little about yourself?  What do you do professionally?

Nicole Forlenza: Well, I have been involved in fitness since 2002 when it changed my life! I own a personal training business, which means I change lives for a living!! I LOVE my “job” (please notice the quotes, because if you love what you do….  Anyway, I motivate, inspire and challenge others in a positive way every single day!


BBG: Where do you work out?

Nicole Forlenza: I mostly work out at 24 Hour Fitness…I love when I can get up to Venice Beach to train at “The Mecca” but my busy life doesn’t make that possible as much as I would like.
BGB: We do want you talk about this for a moment.  One of the reasons we’re interviewing you is because we know you’re avid Big Back Grips user. What did you use before BBGs and why did you settle on BBGs?

Nicole Forlenza: I use to use basic lifting gloves!!!  I met Larry, the owner, at the LA FitExpo where our mutual friend Adam Strachman introduced us. Larry let me try a pair – I will try anything if it is proven to make my performance better – and sure enough they helped so much!!
BBG: How do they help your workout?

Nicole Forlenza: HELP??? Ha increased my strength tremendously & they made me significantly more defined.

BBG: We’d like to ask you a little about personal training since we have a lot of trainers and clients visiting our site. We know there are better and worse clients. What makes for a good client for you?

Nicole Forlenza: A great client is a client who listens to the advice they are given and shuts up and does it You can lead many to water but you can’t make them drink…the great clients are those who drink what I tell them to – and then come back for more. “Drink” is a metaphor, of course.

BBG: Did you play or excel at any sports?

Nicole Forlenza: I excelled as a swimmer….my stroke was the butterfly. Which is why I think I LOVE training back now…..and BBGs have made it the most fun to train!!!!

See the rest of Nicole Forlenza's interview on the Big Back Grips website. 

See the rest of Chris Downey's interview on www.BigBackGrips.com

 

“I had received a ton of questions in the gym … so I decided it was time to write it all down and publish it.”

User Profile, Christopher Downey
Bodybuilder, Owner of http://www.downeyworksout.blogspot.com

BBG: Naturally one of the reasons we’re interviewing you is because we know you’re an avid Big Back Grips user so let’s just deal with that quickly. What did you use before BBGs and why did you settle on BBGs? How do they help your workout?

Chris: I certainly am an avid Big Back Grips user! I used lifting straps before I got my first pair of BBGs. I noticed that I had been getting pains in my shoulder, elbow and wrist when I would use the straps. I would also get what I call “strap burn” on my wrists. With those two things in mind I started to look for alternatives to lifting straps. Then I found BBGs. Not only did they solve those two issues, they also help me lift more weight for more reps. I use them for every muscle group I can!

BBG: Ok, so, tell us a little about yourself: your name, background, where you grew up, where you went to school and for what. What do you do professionally? A mini-bio, if you will.

Chris: My name is Christopher Joseph Downey. I usually go by Downey or Joey D, not many people call me by my first name. I don’t have a preference, though. I grew up in Indiana and moved to Chicago in 1997. I was in Residential Development for awhile and just recently decided to try something new so I’m heading back to school for my Psychology Doctorate. I am going to end up graduating with a Doctorate in Child & Adolescent Psychology with a Master’s in Sport & Health Psychology. I really want to help kids with self-image issues.

BBG: Tell us about your blog: http://www.downeyworksout.blogspot.com. When did you start it? What’s it like running  your own bodybuilding blog?

Chris: I started my fitness blog July 2007. I had received a ton of questions in the gym about my routine and diet, so I decided it was time to write it all down and publish it. My goal with the blog is to inform people about my methods of training and hopefully inspire them to reach their goals. It has actually grown into a lot more. It’s really crazy running my own bodybuilding blog. When I look back on my 140lb teenage years, I never thought I would be 220lbs writing about fitness. It is a LOT of work, but I love doing it and the positive response and feedback I get from everyone is awesome and keeps me going!

See the rest of Cody Montgomery's interview at www.BigBackGrips.com

Cody Montgomery: Well I was given a pair of Big Back Grips by a buddy of mine that was kind of helping me with my training and what not. I was having trouble with my straps on deadlifts or rows I think.  I used the lifting grips really liked them. Then I decided I should email you guys, since I liked the grips and also was looking for sponsorships. I talked to Larry, the owner of Big Back Grips, and he invited me and my mom out to LA so I could work at the Big Back Grips booth at a show at Muscle Beach Venice. Ever since then Larry and I have kept in contact and I’ve done a few demo booths at local shops in the Dallas area and also just recently helped work the demo booth at the Branch Warren Classic in Houston.

BBG: That’s pretty much we remember it too. Okay, so, tell us a little about yourself: your name, background, where you grew up, etc. What do you want to do professionally? A mini-bio, if you will.

Cody Montgomery: I’m an NPC teen bodybuilder. I’m currently 16. I was born in Anchorage, Alaska, and we shortly after that we moved to Texas. I have been training for bodybuilding around 2 years now. But I’d been messing around with weights closer for closer to 4 years. My goal is to become an IFBB Pro and be successful not only in the competitive side of bodybuilding but also the business side of it.

BBG: Now, we keep forgetting that you’re 16 years old. And you have a few pretty impressive titles. What contests have you entered? Which ones have you won?

Cody Montgomery: I’ve done the Europa Dallas Supershow, in which I won the teen overall. This was my first competition and after this show I knew this was something I wanted to do for a long time. Then recently this year I did my second show, The Ronnie Coleman Classic, which was actually the biggest show Texas has had. I won the Teen Overall and also I won the Novice Men’s Middleweight. I started working with Jonathan Irizarry for this show and the prep went awesome, hoping to do great things with him on my team.

BBG: The Europa was your first contest and you won. That’s pretty good. When was the contest, and how far in advance did you decide to enter – how long was your prep time? Was it a tough decision?

Cody Montgomery:   It was mid-August in 2010. I had just turned 16, seven days before the show actually. I started getting ready for this competition about 6 weeks out. Not really knowing too much of what to do, I came in fairly well considering I was doing the whole prep blind eyed with no one person helping me out the entire time. It was a good teen show, but felt I had the best package, showing conditioning and some size that helped me pull away the victory at this show.

BBG: What were your expectations going in? Did you expect to win? How did you feel when the announced the winner?

Bodybuilding beats up the hands every time you workout. Damage to hands from working out may seem really macho, but as hand injuries mount, the damage builds up over time and can eventually impair your workouts.

Weight lifting gloves can help provide padding, but there are few problems with lifting gloves: gloves will not grip metal handles for back workouts. On the contrary, leather weightlifting gloves will slide right over metal lat handles, providing even less gripping power than your own bare hands.

Plus, workout gloves are bacteria wonderlands. One good long whiff will let you visualize. For a cleaner workout with a better pump, Big Back Grips provide both for less money than a pair of gloves will tap you for.