Christian Duque: First & foremost it's a real honor & a privilege to have 3x Teen National Overall Champion Cody Montgomery with us on

StrengthAddicts . From 2012 to the present, Cody you've achieved a level of success that's practically unheard of. At 19 years of age, it

seems the sky's the limit for you. We have a lot to talk about, but for the very few people that may not know about you yet, please introduce

yourself to our audience.



Cody Montgomery: Well let me first start off by thanking everyone for taking their time to read a little bit of my story and the details of my

bodybuilding career thus far. I'm Cody Montgomery , I just turned 20 this past August. I stand at just a little over 5 ft 7 in and weighed 215

pounds on stage at the 2014 NPC Teen/Collegiate Nationals . In the past off seasons I have hovered around 225-230 pounds range but am

currently heavier than that at the start of my off-season. I was born in Anchorage, Alaska and shortly after moved for my dad's job where I

currently reside in Texas . I have 2 homes in a way, I go to the University of Texas at San Antonio so obviously I live down there for a

majority of the school year. Dallas has been and always will be my hometown, it's I grew up and lived a majority of my life thus far. My home

gym here in San Antonio is called The Muscle Factory & my home gym back in Dallas is Destination Dallas . Both these gyms have shown

me the utmost respect, hospitality and genuine support for me.





Christian Duque: Please take us back to when you first got started weight-training? Of all the sports and all the things to do in your

adolescence, why Bodybuilding? What was it about the sport that just called to you? And once you began lifting, who or what then inspired you

to want to compete?



Cody Montgomery: I started weight training for football in middle school, I was in 7th grade when I first picked up a weight and actually did

what would be considered a "workout". Of course at this time it was mainly for strength, muscle and get bigger for high school football. My

body responded rather well to the weight training, at this point I was eating everything in site and started to see results in the mirror. Which

had me interested none the less, I started to continue to train more and more. Got a gym membership one summer, between my 8th grade

year and my freshman year in high school. One day at the gym I was approached by a man who owned a nearby wholesale supplement store,

long story short, he thought I had potential and offered me a sponsorship if I agreed to compete at the NPC Dallas Europa, which of course I

did. From the moment I stepped on stage for the first time I knew this was my calling, this was what I was searching for. I stopped playing all

the other sports I was participating in and focused solely on bodybuilding. My biggest motivations when I first started out were the successful

bodybuilders I saw around on the magazines, websites, etc…but my biggest motivator in terms of a bodybuilder is Jay Cutler, on-stage and

offstage he acts how I feel bodybuilding should be represented, he is a great businessman and an even better bodybuilder.





Christian Duque: I'm still at a loss for words when I see photos from 2012, 2013, and this year. What approach has worked best for you in

the gym? When you train, do you go in with any preset set/rep range - or - do you lift to failure? Do you employ drop-sets, supersets, or just

keep things simple and to the point?



Cody Montgomery: I appreciate that. A lot of time, work and dedication went into the changes I've made each year. It really is a full-time job

24/7. I linked up with John Meadows , creator of Mountain Dog Training . He started doing my training programs leading up to the 2013

Teen Nationals. I'm definitely a huge believer in volume training , with the Mountain Dog training there is plenty of volume. I still do my

own workouts about 50% of the time, on the pump days. But most of my training is based off of volume training concepts & Mountain Dog

training…lots of techniques used to increase intensity (e.g. bands on presses, drop sets, supersets, time under tension sets, etc).





Christian Duque: We all know that lifting alone doesn't build a physique like yours; the guys from 70's will tell you, diet is key. Speak to us

about your approach to nutrition. Are all calories created equal or do you strive to get your proteins, carbs, & fats from strictly clean sources?

Why?



Cody Montgomery: The guys from the 70's were right, diet is a huge factor and arguably one of the most crucial aspects to changing

your body & for bodybuilding in general. My approach to my diet has been plain and simple: high carb, moderate protein & low fats.



I don't always do this but I feel this is what works for me, at least it did this year. The body is ever changing and what works one year may not

work the next. Here's an example day of my diet in the off-season, note that food quantities change all the time, types of foods and everything

are constantly being changed but this gives you at least a decent idea of what a day in the off-season looks like for me.



Christian Duque: In this day & age, athletes really have to do their homework in all respects outside

the gym. We've talked about diet & training, but what kind of products are essentials to your arsenal

(don't mention brands if you don't want to, for example, you can just say "Whey Protein Isolate,

Creatine, pre-workouts, etc). Are there supplements you time, pre and/or post workout, upon going to

sleep or waking up?



Cody Montgomery: Yeah, I am a big believer in supplements. Now without proper diet and training,

they will go to waste but combated with a good, solid diet and a good workout regimen they are a good

sized piece of the puzzle. I always believe in the basics:

-Whey protein isolate

-Creatine

-Glutamine

-L-Carnitine

-Multi vitamin

-BCAA/ECA's

-Digestive enzymes

-Probiotic



This is a good start to the basis of what I use, of course I use many other things such as pre workout

powders, intra workout, carb products, recovery powders, fat burners, etc. But this gives you some idea

of the basics that I take on a regular basis.







Christian Duque: In terms of competition, you've won the the Teen Nationals 3x straight. For the first

couple, it seems the consensus was supportive, but a lot of pundits in the bodybuilding world seemed a

bit butthurt that you didn't vy for a Pro Qualifier in 2014. Why did you choose to 3-peat instead of trying

to compete for your IFBB Pro Card?



Cody Montgomery: I didn't feel I was 100% ready for a pro qualifier this year, it was a difficult choice

but I knew that I didn't want to compete if I wasn't at the top of a weight class - preferably as a Light-

Heavy weight. I evaluated things a bit internally with those close around me and felt that I could lose the

weight I needed to if I were to have done USA's or another pro qualifier. It was kind of a transition year

for me in terms; this was the first time on stage as a heavyweight - heck I won my first Teenage

Nationals at just over a buck eighty just a few years before. If I don't feel I can win I continue to work,

simple as that. I also wanted to make history, solidify my name in the teen bodybuilding world for that

and finish out a strong chapter of my life. Also I don't believe people knew I was doing Collegiate

Nationals as well. Either way I am genuine when I say I am blessed to have had the opportunities I did

as a teenager and I hope I have helped influence other teen bodybuilder, fitness enthusiasts and fans

in a positive way.





Christian Duque: Ok, let's talk about your big deal. Take us back to when you first hooked up with

Muscular Development. How did they go about approaching, what was it like being a member of Team

MD, and how cool was it to make all those awesome videos we saw online of you? Who are some

people on Team MD that you'd really like to thank for a job well done?



Cody Montgomery: I was contacted by Muscular Development a few days after 2013 Teen

Nationals , my 2nd national title. I was actually shooting with Bill Comstock for FLEX magazine &

AMI in Venice Beach, California. It was out of the blue and I couldn't have been happier to get the

opportunity to sign my first magazine contract. I give a major thank you to the time I had with them and

give a huge thank you to Steve Blechman , Adina Zanolli , and Nick Del Toro along with the rest of

the MD staff and team.





Christian Duque: Once you've built the physique and you're out there in the fitness industry mixing it

up with the really popular, well known types, what's your mindset like? Have you ever been star-struck

or do you try to pretty much treat everyone the same? What's it like rubbing shoulders with the rich &

famous?



Cody Montgomery: Ha, I wouldn't say I'm living much of a rockstar lifestyle but it has definitely been

much different than before in terms of the people I associate with on a regular basis. Such people as

Steve Kuclo , who was a huge inspiration when I started out and one of the guys I still look up to today.

Now I am lucky to call him a true friend and he's always there if I need some advise on

something. It is awesome to be up close and get to know some of the top bodybuilders and fitness

competitors in the world.





Christian Duque: One aspect of bodybuilding that I think a lot of top level amateurs and Pro need to

work on, is how treat & interact with their fans. Speak to us about the love you have for your friends &

follower in the fitness industry?



Cody Montgomery: Honestly the fans are a big reason I am as dedicated as I am towards

bodybuilding. Especially during times like these, rougher spots in my career, the fans are what keep me

going and what keep me motivated to continue to grow and get better every year. Overall, I get as much

as I can out to my fans and try to converse as much as I have time to. I thank each and everyone of

them for their support and following me on my journey.





Christian Duque: As a Bodybuilder - a famous one at that - what are some things you'd like to

accomplish in the near and distant future? Is there a fire burning within you to one day earn an IFBB Pro

Card, and what does Pro Status mean to you?



Cody Montgomery: Appreciate it, as far as the future and all of that…I definitely am hungry to win a

pro qualifier and become an IFBB Pro . I will inform everyone once I know 100% on a show, I need to

get things figured out internally and with the contract side of things before I can commit on a show.



Meal 4:

2 bagels w/ natural jelly

5 oz chicken or 8 oz egg whites



Meal 5:

6 oz chicken

8 oz white rice(cooked weight)



Meal 6:

228g 0% Greek yogurt(1 cup)

1 scoop whey ISO

1 oz nuts or 2 tbs nut butter



Meal 1:

12 oz egg whites

3 packets instant grits

2 piece Ezekiel bread

1 banana or piece fruit(apple, orange etc)



Meal 2:

80g oats(dry weight)

45g whey ISO(dry weight)



Meal 3: (pre meal)

7 oz 97% beef

12 oz potato



3x NPC Teen Nationals Champion - CODY MONTGOMERY - 1st Interview After Leaving MD

