HELP - Feeling Motivated but I need some direction

[chastity]

I am 32 years old, about 5'6 and probably weigh about 145 possibly 150. I want to loose fat and gain muscle everywhere. I really don't know where to began. I know I should cut back on fatty foods and eat my veggies. I don't have a membership to a gym and in all honesty would feel incredibly intimidated to join one. I know I'm not fat but I often feel like I am as in my younger years, I was smaller than a toothpick and was always trying to "gain" weight. I plan to start Tennis lession within the next week and I would really like to take up running/jogging. I have never felt so motivated in my life to take care of my body. If you can offer any advice it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Chastity

[tryn2getstrong]

I am 32 years old, about 5'6 and probably weigh about 145 possibly 150. I want to loose fat and gain muscle everywhere. I really don't know where to began. I know I should cut back on fatty foods and eat my veggies. I don't have a membership to a gym and in all honesty would feel incredibly intimidated to join one. I know I'm not fat but I often feel like I am as in my younger years, I was smaller than a toothpick and was always trying to "gain" weight. I plan to start Tennis lession within the next week and I would really like to take up running/jogging. I have never felt so motivated in my life to take care of my body. If you can offer any advice it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Chastity

I'm no expert, but here's what I'd do first:

1. Start walking as fast as you can for about 20 minutes a day
2. Take a week and chart every calorie you take in, and what you ate
3. The next week decrease that by 250-500 calories
4. Get a gym membership(don't worry, everone was a beginner sometimes, and to be honest most us are just worried about what we're doing anyway)
5. Be patient and stick to it. Don't worry about scale losses as much as how clothes fit. And if you're not making progress adjust your calories by 250 again.

[girl81]

welcome Chastity :)
I think you may get more responses if you posted some specific questions. What is your current daily diet and exercise?

[JAWS22]

Cut down on food intake, but don't just shut it down, as the good man above listed, take it down in "tiers" or your body will actually store up more fat. Make sure you don't substiture running for brisk walks and endles 5lb dumbell reps (as many females at my gym do) or you will just build muscle under fat (and you will bigger). Don't be intimidated, yes there are chumps who arent worth a squirrel far in twister who will give you a look like they are better than you (believe they arent, only the scrubs try to put people who are beginners down so they dont feel small around champs). Even champs drop the weight sometimes ( I had to yell for two bigger guys to come rescue me on the bench press twice, but over the months I have been able to lift more and more weight). So just keep at it and you will be in shape in no time!