The Healthy Living Lifestyle: How I Changed My Lifestyle & Lost 165 Pounds - And How You Can Too (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781463617905)

Amy Culver, CPT, CLC, known as the Queen of Lean, has a new and unique perspective on healthy living and weight loss. The difference? She's been where you are and knows how you feel. How many of today's "exercise gurus" can say that? Once 300 pounds, a smoker and generally unhealthy person, she knows how hard life is when you are significantly overweight. When you have trouble bending over to put your shoes on, how are you going to get down on the floor to do crunches? Like most overweight people, Amy tried to lose weight many times. She'd start a new plan and lose some weight, only to gain it all back, and more. Eventually, in addition to blood pressure problems, she developed Type 2 Diabetes. Diagnosed with a disease that would be with her the rest of her life, she knew she had to make permanent lifestyle changes to manage it. This meant no more fad diets or quick-weight-loss schemes. On her doctor's advice, she used Weight Watchers for her food plan. For exercise, she began slowly and worked her way up to a more vigorous routine. From the start, she promised herself she would never do any exercise she wasn't comfortable with. If she went too far outside her comfort zone, she assured herself she would stop. She discovered that small changes made big differences. Those small changes are detailed in this book. Using them, she brought her diabetes and blood pressure problems under control and was able to lose 165 pounds. In addition, her long struggle with depression became more manageable. It is Amy's wish to share her experiences with those who are now where she has been. She hopes to inspire them to create their own "Healthy Living Lifestyle," taking the necessary steps with comfort and confidence. Amy resides in Arizona with her husband Steven and their two cats. She writes a Health & Fitness column for a local newspaper and an e-mail newsletter. She exercises daily with her gym buddy, Carol, and is active in her community and local parish.