Where and when were you born?
Alabama, 1965
What is your profession?
Biology teacher
What kind of activities/sports did you do before you started lifting weights?
Competitive swimmer; cheerleader
How and when did you get involved into lifting weights?
My husband owns a gym. When we first started dating, we would always end up at they gym at some point. I figured I might as well make the best of my time there. That was over 20 years ago!
Was it a goal for you to compete in bodybuilding competitions right from the beginning or was it something that grew in your mind as time went on and you saw the progress in your body?
At first it was just for fun… something to have in common with my husband. I went with him and watched as he competed in power lifting and bodybuilding competitions. I started getting ideas!!! I went back to the gym with power lifting in mind since I recognised that I was already as strong as most of the girls I saw in the power meets even though I wasn’t yet training seriously. The rest is history… I was hooked.
What was your first competition and how did you place?
My first competitions were in power lifting. I entered three, and placed first in all three…. 1996 USPL Alabama State (best lifter); 1997 APA Nationals (best lifter); 1998 WPA World Championship (181 lb class winner) After all that heavy lifting, I felt I had enough muscle mass to begin bodybuilding.
And which contest has been the biggest success for you yet?
My biggest title in bodybuilding is the 1999 Ms. Alabama
My best national placing was just this year—2nd in the heavy weight class at the 2005 Jr. USA!!
In powerlifting, it would be the 181 lb class win at the WPA Worlds in 1998
Could you please add a history of all bodybuilding contests that you have entered so far?
1998 NPC Heart of Dixie — heavy weight and over-all
1998 NPC Coastal USA — heavy weight and over-all
1998 NPC Nationals — top 15 heavy weight
1999 NPC Ms. Alabama — heavy weight and over-all
2004 NPC Gold’s Gym Classic — 2nd heavy weight class
2004 NPC Master’s Nationals — 3rd heavy weight class
2005 NPC Jr. USA — 2nd heavy weight class
2005 NPC American Classic — 1st heavy weight & overall
2006 NPC Jr. USA — 1st heavy weight
Please describe a typical day in the life of Kim Bergman.
Morning Cardio
Teaching Science
Weight lifting
Cooking and preparing food for next day
Evening Cardio
Relaxing a few moments with my husband
Bed—so I can get up early and start all over again!!!
Please tell me something about your daily training routine.
I enjoy training heavy. I think that comes from my years as a power lifter.
How often do you train in a week?
I do something EVERY day. There is really never an off day for me.
I usually train each body part once a week… sometimes more.
I use a power-lifting based routine and always incorporate heavy bench, deadlifts, and squats, although I never max-out anymore.
What are the main differences when you train for a competition and in off-season?
I back off the heavy weights a bit and add a few more reps.
The main difference is definitely in the diet!!
If you don’t mind would you give me some stats (best lifts)?
Squat—475 lbs
Bench—250 lbs (although I recently have hit 5 reps with 240lbs, so I’m sure that would go up If I dared a max attempt.)
Deadlift—505 lbs
Which body part is your best in your opinion?
My back and delts
What is your favorite exercise in the gym and which one you don’t like so much?
Deadlifts are my favorite!
Cardio exercises are my least favorite.
Judging in Women’s Bodybuilding has always been criticised in one or the other way. Please tell me your honest thoughts about today’s judging in Women’s Bodybuilding.
Bodybuilding is, always has been, and always will be subjective to the individual judge. What one person prefers to see in a female bodybuilder can vary greatly with what the next person prefers. I just try to be the best that I can be with the body that God gave me… and hope I’m what they are looking for!!
Please tell me about what else you are doing when you don’t work out.
I am a science teacher, so that keeps me pretty busy. My husband owns a gym, so I work there a couple of days a week to help him out. I have recently started back swimming, so I go to the pool and swim laps a few days a week, too. I don’t have children, so I spoil my dogs every chance I get. I love to spend as much time as possible with my husband… even if it is just watching TV.
What are your future plans for 2005?
Last year was a “come-back” year for me after taking 5 years off. I’m back in full swing this season, and hope to hit one or more of the National shows, and maybe a large regional somewhere.
