Lancashire Lass On the Road to Idaho USA with the International British Powerlifting Team!

Colner Alison McGrath has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past few years. At 50, facing the pressures of caregiving, family life, and a demanding job, she made the bold decision to take control of her health and future. What began as a fitness journey at Intershape Fitness quickly evolved into a passion for weightlifting — and a new career as a personal trainer.

Read her story below:

I’m Alison, and I’m on the best journey of my life. Six years ago, life was exhausting. I was looking after my mum, dad, my own house, kids and a full-time job. I felt like I couldn’t breathe.

My mum passed in April 2018, the same year I turned 50. On my 50th birthday, I decided that enough was enough, and if I didn’t do something about my weight and health (mental and physical), I was going to put myself into an early grave.

I went to Intershape Fitness in my home town of Colne, Lancashire and booked on a transformation course.

3 pts per week, food plan and daily check-ins with the owner, Margaret.

42lb light in 12 weeks!

This gave me the courage to turn my life around. I went to Burnley College and completed my gym level 2 qualification, and then through the Intershape Academy, where I then qualified as a level 3 Personal Trainer.

Since becoming a PT, I have transformed many ladies’ and gentlemen’s lives, helping them with their goals and showing them how to train safely and changing their way of life.

I realised that I loved lifting weights and became friends with Jim Blanchflower, a heavyweight powerlifting champion who put me through my paces for powerlifting.

Fast forward to this year, I have competed in the A/BPU (British Powerlifting), earning myself 2 British Records in the 82.5kg M4 squats and Bench categories.

I have just come home from the European championships in Poland, earning myself four world records. European records and 1 British record.

I have also been invited to be on the International British Team to compete in Idaho, USA, at the end of August.

Now this is where I’m asking for help. Please help fund this once-in-a-lifetime trip.

I hope I can inspire people of my age to actually be brave enough to go out and do the things that they have always wanted to do, or even something they have never thought of doing!

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

If you’d like to support Alison, head to her GoFundMe.