I was awarded the British Weightlifting Master Lifter of the Year Award 2023 and have recently been featured on Radio Five Live & BBC Bristol. I have achieved all of this within three years of returning to weightlifting. 

I am in the best shape of my life at 61 years. I train four times a week, and every time I go to the gym, I look forward to it. I can honestly say I love every training session, even the ones that don’t go to plan. I learn so much and continue to push my boundaries, and stay in my growth zone.

I follow my feminine power principles in the gym, listening to my body. When I get stuck, I am curious and creative, looking for solutions. I don’t beat myself up, or get annoyed, but work hard and keep a positive mindset.

However, it was not like that just four years ago.  At 58 years old and 2 stone overweight, I felt like life was slipping away from me. I remember looking at a photo of myself and thinking this isn’t me, the real me, the me that’s inside and wants to come out…. I was feeling bored and lethargic, I was drinking and eating too much. I was disconnected and it was painful to realise I had settled for being ‘below average’, whilst knowing I had so much more to give.

I was wasting my time watching too much TV. I thought there was no way out of the predictable future I saw for myself, that it was too late for me to have a fulfilling life. 

But I had a pivotable moment within Dr Claire Zammit’s on The Feminine Power Course, which led me to turn my life around, cause a personal health transformation, and re-connect with my dreams, and pursue my passions.

Back in my twenties I competed in weightlifting and represented the British Team for several years. In 1994 I retired from the sport. I had a successful career in local government and raised a family.

About 10 years ago a snapped my achilles tendon and had a painful long recovery from that. I never foresaw that returning to weightlifting would be in my future. But things can change, and it only takes one step forward to make the difference.