Close to 35 and need some guidance...

 Hi Everyone!
I’m wondering if power walking is considered a cardio workout.  I’m limited to walking since I push my son along in his stroller.  I found out its really hard to run while having your hands gripped on the bar of a stroller!  I currently do not have access to a gym that has a place to watch my son nor anyone that I could leave him with while I go to a gym.
 
I currently walk 3 – 7 miles in length and the roads consist of all type of inclines throughout the trip.  I try to do this at least 3 times a week.  My scale says I’m losing some weight, but I wondering if it’s water weight or if I’m actually burning off some of my excess fat?
 
I am 5’ 11” weighing in at 238 lbs (down from 246 lbs).  I would like to drop down to 190-200 lbs then start with some free weights to tighten up the rest of me.  I’m still working on a diet plan also.  I’ve added in a protein shake for breakfast, sometimes I have a banana and a peach for lunch (assuming I’m hungry) and a small dinner which is usually consists of a half of a baked chicken breast, mixed veggies, small salad and sometimes macaroni and cheese (it’s the smallest portion on the plate).  I drink water, Gatorade (G2) or Skim Milk throughout the day as well.
 
I tried searching for answers on many of the posts of the forum but to no avail…  Could someone tell me if I am heading in the right direction to accomplish my short term goal or do I need to take another approach?  Any advice for a newbie would be greatly appreciated!
 

Congrats on effecting the change!

I'd advise you to go to these links by danmirage, guru around these parts. I can tell you right now that you're not eating often enough, and you might consider some muscle-building exercises (you can do plenty of stuff at home using bodyweight exercises). Anyway, feast your eyes on:

Primers:
Gaining Mass
http://www.discussbodybuilding.com/m_111173/mpage_1/tm.htm

Losing Fat
http://www.discussbodybuilding.com/m_111175/mpage_1/tm.htm

Let us know how it goes!

G

"If there's nothing else that's relevant, I'll be leaving now"

"Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground"

gzinkl, thanks for the info.  I’ve been using his formulas and suggestions on his links and it’s helped me a lot since I last posted.  I’ve started eating at least 4 times a day and with the food suggestions he gave and with the help of fitday.com I can gauge my foods to be most effective for me.   Thanks again!

Yes, eat smaller portions of good food more often. If you are use to sugar type snacks, it will not be easy getting off of that. If you go cold turkey, one day you will go nuts and eat every twinkie you can find. Get off of them slowly. I would not eat them for 6 days then give myself a small candy bar on the seventh day. Now, I cannot remember the last candy bar I ate.
  Have you thought about buying some Dumb bells for home use? You can do alot at home while watching your son. Things will change slowly. Like I always say " I didn't wake up like this". Keep at it and after a few weeks you will start seeing results. Good Luck and keep us posted.

Team Keine Ausreden
47 yrs young

I really never had a problem with candy bars and chocolate, mine were things like Sonic and Mc Donald’s.   Since I started losing weight in May [2008], I have only had fast food one time and that was because a friend of mine came over and he brought lunch.  I was thinking he went to some place like Subway since he knew I was trying to shed pounds, but what I ended up with was a huge hamburger, fries and a Coke.  I ate some of it because I didn’t want to seem ungrateful. 
 
So since May I weighed in at 252 with clothes on.  Today I weighed in at 237.5.  I’m trying to do this by hard work instead of what I did 2 years ago, which was to take Phentermine so that it would kill my appetite and I walked 8+ miles a day 4 to 5 days a week.  I was looking for the easy way out.  It was easy and when I stopped, within 6 to 8 month it came back plus an extra 10 pounds.
 
As far as purchasing workout things, I was actually looking today.  I’ve been window shopping on the internet, looking at various things and prices.  I have an extra bedroom [10 x 13] that’s was going to get remodeled, but never was finished.  I would like to put some equipment in there once I install carpet or hardwood again. Anyone have a suggestion on what I should purchase first?  Dumb Bells or would a bench/bar/weights be better?
 
I wish I would have found this forum 3 years ago!  I’ve learned a ton of stuff by surfing the info here.  Thanks for the information and encouragement. 
 
Jason

i know i'm not 35 but this caught my eye . i'd definitly buy the weights and bench first, also buy some rubber mat's to go over the flooring. it could cost a fair ammount though if money if an issue it would probably be $150 ish for 300 lb. of weights including a 45 lb. bar which would definitly be enough for all the exercises for a while atleast..and i would buy a fairly decent bench not nececarily (sp?) the most expensive one but one with alot of the extra features like a lat tower, and i forgot what there called but the posts that hold the bench bar should be reversable so you can do squats the bench and mat's will probably be around $100. And although dumbellsare nice you can still workout with the bench barbell to work your bi's so they aren't really required.

"Obsessed is a word the lazy use to describe the dedicated."
"The only thing you are guaranteed at birth is death. You have a right to that. The rest is earned."

I'm shopping for the rubber mats sometime this week so that I can go ahead and start purchasing the rest of the items...  Thanks guys/gals...

www.fitday.com/WebFit/PublicJournals.html?Owner=holland003

sams club usually has some good deals on weight equip.

i bout mine for 400 dollars and it has everything ajustable bench,pec deck,oly. 45lb bar,300lbs of weights,lat pulldown low and high pullys, smith machine, and all attachments for the pullys
preacher,and leg curl and extension.

In the meantime, bodyweight exercises can hold you over for a while. Push-ups, squats, planks, mountain climbers, lunges, crab crawls, and so many other options are available with no equipment needed.

Live Your Life...on your schedule 
Bodyweight Routines 
In as little as 4 minutes a day.
http://247fitness.bodybot.hop.clickbank.net