Left: image taken in 2011 at my first competition. Right: image taken in 2016 during my weightlifting training.
2012, preparing for my second competiton
Hi, my name is Niyah Callister and I'm an active, fitness-determined girl from England. I’m an Olympic Weightlifter and a Powerlifter who works out daily and Irish dances. I also hold the title of British and Northern schoolgirl champion from entering many British and Northern Weightlifting school competitions over the years. As of 2019, I am the holder of two British, four English and nine North West Powerlifting records in the sub-junior under 47kg category. I also coach youths in a voluntary Weightlifting club called OWLS (Oasis Weightlifting Squad).
My love for weightlifting developed around the age of 7 after becoming intrigued by the sport after continuously watching my Granddad/Coach lift weights. At that age, I didn’t really understand the concept of healthy eating and what it meant to be unhealthy, this obviously changed as I grew older. I had no idea how much I'd become addicted to the sport until I tried it. I've collected many awards along the way and although I may not be the strongest of them all, it’s still something I wish to continue to improve further in the future.
I can't truly say I’ve been healthy ever since I began lifting as I did end up in a situation where food became an issue for me, but there was a stage in my life where I decided that I wanted to improve my lifestyle and what I was eating. I struggled with an anxiety disorder which had an impact on what I ate for some years, I became underweight and despite my love for exercise I felt completely unmotivated to do anything. I had time off school and spent most of my days having panic attacks, but that’s all behind me now. I got help and began to look at life in a different way. I believe that without this experience I wouldn’t be the person I am today.
At the end of the difficult time, I began to hear about a man named Joe Wicks and something he had created called the 90 day SSS plan. I became inspired by his motivation to achieve what was best for him; I found his way of improving other people’s fitness impeccable.
Awards I have won in Weightlifting competitions, all which are so far 1st place (2018)
Immediately I decided that I wanted to improve my fitness too, which made me create myself a fitness plan. My plan involved me eating clean throughout the week and having one cheat day on Saturdays. I created a workout schedule which I would follow daily in the hope of gaining muscle and improving my Weightlifting. Since I started my plan in September 2015, it is working quickly as I have noticed a great improvement in my ability related to other sports which involve strength. Around the time I created my plan, I made a fitness Instagram account (called life_of_a_lifter), where I posted my healthy meals and beautiful images of outdoors (As I was too nervous to post any images of myself after some misogynistic comments on my previous fitness account). I have recently began posting photos of my accomplishments involving Weightlifting and fitness. I believe that the tips and schedules I have created could possibly encourage more young people to live a healthier lifestyle and become motivated to take care of their bodies. I’m determined and willing to share my thoughts surrounding my own experiences and my ways of improvement, that’s why I created this blog.
Competing in 2019, wearing Weightlifting shoes and suit