A Bolton woman who conquered her alcoholism with the help of exercise is now offering free fitness sessions for others struggling with problems.

Lisa Harrop, a mother of three, suffered from depression caused by the peri-menopause around 2010 and began abusing alcohol as a result.

“I was drinking two to three bottles of wine a day,” she recalled. “My family were really worried about me and I hated the person I had become.”

She went into rehab for 28 days - “a very hard time in some ways” – but felt uncertain about her future once she had returned to everyday life.

Fortunately, she met gym owner Tyler Mullings from Real Life Health and Fitness based in Halliwell Business Park. He encouraged Lisa, who had always enjoyed running, to attend sessions and, later, to take Personal Trainer qualifications.

“He saved my life,” stated Lisa, simply.

Now, Lisa works at the Real Life gym, currently taking one-to-one fitness sessions there with clients, and has got her life back on track.

Tyler and the gym have a genuine reputation as a community gym.

As the gym’s manager Chloe Fairfax explained: “We offer, for example, free sessions on two days a week and we allow gym members to bring in their children free of charge and have an area with a Playstation, TV and things for them to do.”

In keeping with this ethos, Lisa “felt that I wanted to give something back by helping people who might be having a bad time like I did.”

She has set up a free six-week course from April 1, targeting people with problems and particularly women going through the menopause or peri-menopause.

This will be open to 10 people, attending for two, one-hour sessions a week. People can apply to be considered for this by completing a questionnaire available via a link in the bio of Lisa’s Instagram page mumanordinary. Any other inquiries can be directed to Chloe at info@reallifehealthandfitness.co.uk