20 Questions with Cover Model Angela Berglund

Angela Berglund

1) Please introduce yourself? What makes you special? Who is Angela Berglund?

I'm Angela Berglund. I'm a wife and mother of two Shiba Inu pups and 17 month old twins. I've always been into art, dancing, singing, and working out. I'm a preschool teacher, Zumba, and Aqua Zumba Instructor. Teaching Zumba gives me the chance to dance and be a performer, which I love! I've also performed at Universal and SeaWorld Orlando for a couple years. I'm a Star Wars and Mermaid fanatic! I love attending Megacons, Comacons, Star Wars Celebration and more with my husband and friends! And enjoy making costumes for the conventions. The first Star Wars costume I made was an Aurra Sing costume, which is my favorite character from the Prequels and favorite Bounty Hunter. I love trying new things. It's amazing what you can do to push yourself. I like to explore new ways of physical training. Ive been into fitness ever since I was a little girl, starting off with my mothers Jane Fonda work out VHS's. I've always wanted to compete in a BodyBuilding Competition when they first came around or started to become well known, but wanted to have children before competing. My husband and I had identical twin boys in September 2014. They bring eternal joy to our lives! I love to paint and make them things, like costumes, blankets, etc. After I had the twins, I began prepping for my first Bikini BodyBuilding Competition. I did my first competition when the twins were exactly seven months old, taking second place in my class. My husband was there cheering me on, and he brought the boys later to celebrate! I loved seeing all the changes my body went through from before, during, and after my pregnancy with the twins. I saw my body in so many different ways in only a year and a half span. Every shape I tried to embrace as much as I could, and it was that much sweeter stepping on stage to compete. Your body is a work of art you can mold into what you want. Ive competed now in three total Bikini Competitions. Last one was in November where I became a Nationally Qualified Bikini Competitor. 

2) Please tell us a bit about your family, friends and surroundings?

I'm big on family. I love having my family around and having lots of family gatherings. I have a husband who is amazingly supportive in my journeys. Our first children are our Shiba Inus. They are great dogs and a big part of our family. They are very well behaved with the twins. I couldn't ask for better pups. My twins have both sets of Grandparents from my side and my husbands, as well as their great grandparents from my side. We are very blessed to live so close by to a lot of our family members. They are close to all of their grandparents and get to grow up with them, their aunts, uncles, and cousins. I was also raised very close to my family as well and loved it. The boys are close to some of my best friends, who they know as aunts. They love them as family too.

3) How did you start competing in bikini?

I started competing after I had the twins, to help motivate women and mothers to get the body they want, even if they have children. I want to be someone women can come and talk to if they have questions about becoming healthy or achieving the body they want. My younger sister is also a mother and is into the bodybuilding world. What is great is that I prepped and did training with her! We helped each other through thick and thin during our preps. I compete in Bikini and she competes in Figure. We push each other and love that we don't have to go against each other in competitions because we are in different categories. 

4) What is your personal policy (not what the judges want) about conditioning and muscularity when coming into a show? Soft or hard?

When training for competitions, I like to focus on shoulders and legs. I think all the judges have different likes and dislikes for the Bikini category. I like to be a little on the harder side for shows rather than on the softer side. 

5)  What is your idea of what judges want in a bikini competitor? Do you think judges are clear enough with competitors about how they want you on stage? It seems in Europe they are very clear unlike in the USA and now in Canada things are confusing.

I think the judges are looking for an overall symmetrical look, as well as a personable presence on stage. Everything is judged upon, including your hair, make up, face, if you smile or not, posing, all the way down to your toes. 

6) For the next shows what do you think you need to work on physique-wise/conditioning-wise? If anything!

For my next show, I want to focus on building up my legs a bit more. 

7) What is your typical training routine in the gym (per day, include sets and reps!) How much cardio do you do before a show?

I have been changing up my work out routine a little bit lately. I still incorporate a lot of lifting and cardio along with stretching. Unfortunately, I think I neglected stretching a little while during my preps. Now I add in some Yoga. I think its important to always stretch your body to keep it flowing and to help prevent sprain or injuries. Closer to show, I add in much more cardio. At least five times a week and sometimes do a couple times a day, with either a HIIT training or steady cardio. 

Angela Berglund

8) What is your pre-contest diet? (per day, 1 week before the show)

When I first started prepping for competitions, I had to do a pre-prep because I had to loose all the baby weight first before really diving in on prep. Also, had to get my body physically ready to train. I started really cutting down on food intake because I wasn't eating for "two" or rather "three" anymore. I really watched more of my carbs, and juiced a lot. I made sure to get in all the fruits and vegetables my body needed, and upped my protein intake a bit more. I still had a good amount of carbs, but cut out all the junk foods, and drank only water, juices I made, and coffee in my Star Wars mug. I love coffee, can't give that up! When I get closer to show, the lowest I've had on carb intake was twelve grams. I eat a lot of broccoli, chicken and fish a week before competing. 

9) How do you go about dropping your water before the day of the show? How much water do you drink the day of the show. Please be specific.

I drink at least a gallon of water a day. About three days out from show, I drink half a gallon, then lessens everyday closer to show. One day out, a couple ounces with every meal. Because I drop the amount of water I drink before show, I really don't drink too much the day of show. Only about two to three ounces every time I eat something, or here and there. 

10) What motivates you to train/diet and compete? Are there any competitors you looked up to?

My sister motivates me to train and stay on my diet. We keep each other on track. My twins continue to give me a reminder of why I do what I do. I want to show and prove to woman that you can have the body you want, even after children, if you have the right mindset and put the work into it. I own several of Jillian Michaels at home DVDs. I love her work outs. However, I remember several years back, allegedly, her saying that she does not want to have kids herself because she doesn't want to ruin her body. That stuck with me and motivated me more than ever to get my body back after having children. Coming from someone who is one of the most popular or well known fitness gurus out there.

11) Please tell us an interesting experience you had at a show recently, be it a fun thing or something rather not so fun?

There are great experiences you have during competitions. One of my favorite experiences is actually meeting another mother of twins competing in Bikini category. It was my second show. We were just talking back stage and we clicked. Sure enough, we both have identical twin boys! I love that you can meet new people you would have never crossed paths with if it weren't for your passion of fitness. 

12) What is your personal opinion about the figure, fitness, bodybuilding industry we are in? Anything you would like to see changed? 

I think the bodybuilding industry is an exciting industry to be in, always improving your body. However, it can be a struggle for yourself feeling like you're not "good enough". You are being judged on your physique, and that can take a toll on some. Everyone puts so much work into competing, and looks fantastic! But if you don't place, you feel unnoticed, or that your hard work didn't pay off, which isn't true. I respect all the dedication of each competitor. It's a lot a work! 

Angela Berglund

13) What has been your hardest challenge to overcome either in your personal life or competing career?

I think my hardest challenge can be my reason for doing this. I've had some people look down on me or second guess my intensions because they think all my focus goes into prepping, working out and competing, rather than being a mother or raising my twins. I have made time to be able to do all of that and more. Everything is in moderation. I have time to be with my family. I know the twins will respect me for it later when they're able to understand. I want to be healthy and strong enough to be around for them, to play, and pick them up. 

14) Did you make any changes to your contest prep for your last show? Water intake, carbing up, etc...

So far, my contest prep has been pretty consistent. I think if I were to put on more muscle, it would change. For right now, I'm happy with where I'm at. 

15) What do you think of bikini division?

I enjoy competing in the Bikini division. It fits my personality, having fun on stage. I also prefer the body type on me as well.

16) What are your favorite foods to eat right after you compete on a Saturday night?

After my last show, all I wanted was to eat sushi! That didn't happen, but I enjoyed a lot of carbs! I had fried foods like fried pickles and chicken. I ate a soft pretzel and chips. Was a great way to celebrate my accomplishment of becoming nationally qualified and was delicious! 

17) Please tell us about how you were raised and did you have any interesting experiences while growing up?

My mother and father always raised me and my siblings to have morals, modesty and to have respect for others. I'm from a Christian home and my husband and I continue that in our home as well. I have two sisters, I am the middle sister, and a younger brother I grew up with. My sisters and I have always been close to each other and my brother came six years after my youngest sister, so we helped our parents out as much as we could with him. He's into transformers, so he gets along with my husband. We've gone to Megacons, and BotCons with him. My brother in search of all things Transformers and us, all things Star Wars, naturally. My mother isn't particularly thrilled with me and my younger sister competing in bodybuilding competitions because she always had me and my sisters wear full piece bathing suits. My mother is the person who got me into fitness. She would always do work out VHS's, and I would try to work out with her when I was a little girl. My sisters and I use to put on my mothers scarves as a top, like a bikini, and put our legs into pillow cases to become mermaids. Our cousin would spend several summers with us, and we would dress him up like us too. Poor little guy, but he loved spending summers with his cousins. Guess I've always had it in me to put the two together. Work out and bikinis. 

18) Do you have an athletic background? Gymnastics, soccer, volleyball or what?

I come from an athletic background. My sisters and I took four years of karate earning our second degree black belts. I was in ballet, track and field, cheerleading, and weightlifting in school. I like to play tennis, racquetball, and go biking with the hubby and kids when I can. I think its awesome that me and my younger sister are in a sport together again. It definitely makes it a lot more enjoyable to be doing it with someone you love. Having someone back stage with you, experiencing it with you, and cheering you on makes it that much more worth it! 

Angela Berglund

19) What is a typical day in the life of Angela Berglund? From waking up to until going to bed?

Like I said, family is important to me. My days are mainly filled with family. Wake up, take the kids to the kiddie gym while me and my sister work out. Play with our dogs. My sister and I both work at Golds Gym, so my day sometimes consists of working. Always trying to find activities for the twins and their cousin to do. Play dates with friends, taking them to the park, or just taking them out in general. We are very thankful where we live! My husband and I have passes to DisneyWorld as well as my sister and her daughter, my mother, my grandparents, and my in laws. We go to Disney every chance we can get with them. The twins love being with their family! We also get to go to Star Wars Weekends when it's being held at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Last year was the first Star Wars Weekends the twins went to, and we can't wait to take them this year! Always wanted to dress them up as Clone Troopers. It will happen on year! 

20) What is your current occupation? Please tell us more about it, what do you specifically do in your job?

Since I have become a mother, I have cut back on teaching Zumba. Its been difficult to work around my schedule to incorporate teaching right now. I work at Golds Gym part time at the Kiddie Gym where they are awesome enough to allow me to take the twins to work with me. I am very thankful for that! Works out for everyone! 

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