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I am sure I would not have lost 20 lbs in 9 weeks
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First of all congrats, that's a huge move to give up your lifestyle/career for your health!
Way to go on loosing the 20lbs. It sounds like you've done it in a healthy way, exercise and eating right. You've gotta get healthy in a way you enjoy and that is sustainable.
I've also started getting into the weight training about 2 months ago (for the first time ever.) Since I've started I've been keeping my ears open, reading everything I can about healthy training habits (no point working hard if it's not going to pay off in the long run I say), and I've also been sucking in the advice of a friend who is a personal trainer/studying nutrition.
One thing I noticed you mention is the protein. While I completely stay away from the protein overload (protein shakes, extreme protein diets etc), there is no denying that protein is vital in building muscle. If you want to see some muscle gains, I suggest you include protein in your diet naturally. As I mentioned, I stay well away from protein shakes (too many conflicting arguements.) After a weights sess, I like to have a nice mixed salad and add a can of tuna, a steak and salad sandwich, an omlete, or fish with a salad on the side. These are all healthy meals that include high protein levels, but aren't overdoing it. Since I started eating this sort of food post-workout, I actually have seen real muscle gain. I've also heard from a few reliable sources that milk is the ideal thing to have, I'm not 100% what it is about milk, but more than solely the protein factor I've been told.
One other tip for muscle gain is to eat within 30 minutes of your workout, apparently it's a must.
Anyway, you sound pretty positive, which is the main thing. 90% of success is in the mind.
One more thing, you probably know this already but, lower reps of higher weight = muscle gain, more reps of lower weight = muscle tone.
All the best
Weight Loss Forum