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.

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.