My Journey Into Bodybuilding – Wellness Category

Angeles
Jul 21
3 min read

Maria de los Angeles training for her first wellness bodybuilding competition.

Just because. I want to, I can, and that’s enough.

Why I Chose the Wellness Category

If you had told me this a few years ago, I probably wouldn’t have believed it… but today I’m fully focused on competing in bodybuilding, and I’ve chosen the Wellness category.

Why Wellness?Because I love having strong, muscular legs. Because I feel powerful when my glutes speak for themselves. And because this category celebrates exactly that — strong, athletic lower bodies with a balanced, feminine upper body.

For a while, I thought about competing in Figure, but honestly? My heart leans toward Wellness.And let’s be real: at 1.82 meters tall, building muscle on my legs is not easy. It takes more time, more effort, more consistency…And that challenge excites me.

The Keys to Progress: Training, Nutrition, and Recovery

It might sound basic, but it’s the truth — there are no magic secrets.If you want to transform your body, you have to train hard, eat smart, and sleep like it’s part of the workout (because it is).

Right now, I’m still not using any performance-enhancing substances, and I’m totally open about that.I’m also a high-performance rugby athlete, so everything I do has to be aligned with that — from drug testing to recovery to staying injury-free. I respect my body deeply. It’s my tool.

Can You Combine Bodybuilding with Other Sports?

Yes — with strategy. Training for Wellness and playing rugby isn’t easy, but it’s possible. It all comes down to smart planning: knowing which days to push, when to rest, and how to balance power and strength work.

I usually train 5 to 6 days a week, following a well-structured split.Some weeks, if I can manage it with rugby and recovery, I’ll train twice a day.

My Advanced Wellness Training Approach

Legs and glutes: 2–3 times per week, focusing on volume, technique, and mind-muscle connection.

Upper body: Trained lighter and with aesthetic focus, keeping balance without overdeveloping.

Cardio: Yes — but done right.I don’t spend hours on a treadmill. I stick to low-impact cardio on specific days, and during cutting phases, I adjust based on my weekly progress.

📌 Can you burn fat without losing muscle?Absolutely — if you fuel properly, train with intention, and don’t overdo cardio.

Current Phase: Bulking (July 2025)

Right now, I’m in a muscle-building phase, and my diet reflects that.Here’s what I’m currently working with:

200–220 g of protein per day
220–260 g of complex carbs
70–80 g of healthy fats
3 liters of water daily

Fun fact: I don’t eat seafood or fish, so I supplement with flaxseed oil for my omega-3s.

Health note: I have hypothyroidism, so I keep a close eye on everything I eat to stay in balance.

Female athlete showing fat loss progress during bulking phase in wellness bodybuilding prep. — How am I losing fat while bulking? Yep, it’s possible.

Tracking Progress: Photos Don’t Lie

I don’t rely only on the scale or the mirror.

I take progress photos every two weeks — same clothes, same light, same spot.

These pictures show you what the numbers can’t.Sometimes you feel stuck — until you look back and realize how far you’ve come.

Progress photos are honest. And that’s what I want: real, unfiltered progress.

Busting a Few Myths

❌ “You’ll never gain enough muscle with that height.”→ It’s harder, yes. But it’s 100% possible.

❌ “You’ll lose your femininity.”→ No. Femininity isn’t defined by muscle mass. It’s something you live and feel.

❌ “You have to quit rugby or you won’t make gains.”→ Who said that? I’m doing both — and progressing in both. It’s all about smart balance.

My Goal: Step on Stage in 2026

Next year, I want to compete for the first time in the Wellness category.Am I nervous? Yes.But I have way more discipline, passion, and drive than fear.

I want to walk on stage knowing I gave everything — that I built this body with patience, truth, and full commitment.