Hello all,

I recently posted in the newcomer's forum. I started dieting and exercising on July 20th and for me this change is for the REST OF MY LIFE!

I am currently at 290lbs, 24yrs old, 5'10". I have been going to the Gym about 3-4 times a week. I start out by doing some weight training with my upper body, chest, bicepts, tricepts, crunches for about 30min. Then, i do some cardio on the treadmill for 35minutest straight at an 3.0 incline at a pace of about 4.0. I would like to get to a point where i can do a steady jog, but all in due time

My main goal right now is to lose weight. I figured a bit of weight training before alot of cardio would help out. The most noticeable thing about me is my love handles, otherwise if those were gone, i would look halfway decent imo.

I also drink skim milk, kashi golean high fiber/protein cereal, Healthy Choice dinners, and 98%fat free turkey sandwich on wheat bread w/mustard.

My question is: Should i be putting more protein into my diet although my focus right now is to drop the weight as well as fruits?

With my current weight, is my excersise routine an efficient start to get me on the right track to start losing some consistent weight?

Any help is much appreciated guys, I have no real life friends who diet or exercise and you guys would be life savers for me at this point. If I am doing something completely wrong, slap me on the wrist and point me in the right direction

The Gym work is great! I would say you need to include a 30 minute block of cardio everyday but the weight training is probably enough. Concentrate on lower weight and do more reps in your weight training.

It is important to have a balanced diet. I would not recommend over eating protein as this can cause you to gain weight as it is of course more calories.

You may find your weight loss is a little slow at first while your body starts building muscle. Just concentrate on the benefits of the strength you are gaining not what the scales are saying.

More muscle means the metabolism is increasing which means more calories burnt at base rate (sat doing nothing!) so you will be becoming leaner whatever happens to the scales if you are eating right and paying those visits to the Gym.