Real Weight Loss: Alison Corwin

Before and after photo of alison corwin provided

Name: Alison Corwin
Age: 38
Location: Sudbury
Weight lost: 42 pounds

I first heard about fitness competitions about 10 years ago. I’d been active most of my life, and I’d always been on stage in one way or another, so I thought entering one would be a great way to combine these two passions. But, then I got pregnant twice in three years with my daughters. After having my second child, I was pretty down in the dumps. I weighed 200 pounds at only 5 feet 2 inches. I felt lethargic and bad about myself. I just wasn’t being active. I knew I needed to get back in shape for myself and for my kids.

Just a few months after my youngest was born, a new gym in Sudbury opened called Impact Functional and Sports Training. It’s not your typical gym. It’s a sports training gym for athletes, and it’s really a different way of working out. Eventually I sat down with the co-owner, Anthony Passamonte, who specializes in strength training, and I told him that I have this dream of entering a fitness competition. Together we worked on a plan. The hardest part was definitely getting started because I was tired and sore all the time. However, the key was getting through the first week and then forcing myself to continuously go back.

In the fall, we decided to set an official goal, so I signed up for a fitness competition in the spring. That’s when we started really working out. I was exercising at least six days a week, sometimes twice a day, either doing boxing, personal training, or other classes at the gym. We also had a nutrition protocol. Though it was a highly strict and regimented diet, Anthony had me eating all day long to keep me energized for my workout schedule.

After all that hard work, I lost 42 pounds and was able to get on stage for my first fitness competition this March. It was so amazing to live out that dream, and I loved it so much that I have another show coming up in about five or six weeks.

Disclaimer: My regimen isn’t for everyone. I dreamed of doing fitness competitions so I had to eat and workout in a strict way. However, if you want to lose weight then the best advice I can give is to set a big goal. Maybe fitness competitions aren’t for you, but it has to be something bigger than just looking good for bikini season. Once you set a goal you need to keep your head in the game. Find a workout routine that you actually enjoy and make sure to come up with a nutrition plan. This whole experience has changed my life completely, and the best part of it was that moment that I started seeing seeing it all pay off. Hold out till then and it’ll all be worth it.

— as told to Stephanie Cohn. This interview has been condensed and edited.