For quite some time, I've been thinking of getting myself back to a healthy lifestyle but really struggle with where to begin.

I'm nearing middle age and travel a lot, hence don't eat very well. I've tried going with subway or similar type meals on my trips but find I'm still hungry and don't have the energy that a nice steak dinner provides.

I'm male, about 5'11", 200 lbs. I don't have exercise equipment at home but do go for 1.5 hour hikes twice a week. I do have some problems with my knees so running is not something I try to do.

My goals really are to start eating right, lose about 20 lbs and tone up. I'm not looking for the bodybuilder type chest or arms, but more a swimmer or runners type body, just very slim.

Any thoughts on how I should begin on this quest.

Thank you

Jason

If your travelling a lot and staying in hotels try and book into one with a decent rowing machine. I took up rowing after working away from home for a while and over a year lost 5 stone and got really fit. The only problem is now im addicted to rowing even going as far as running my local rowing club. It gets you a good toned body as it uses the main muscle groups and if you get someone experienced to show you the right technique its one of the most injury free, low impact sports around.

http://www.boatsforabillion.co.uk - Get one billion hits to pay for new equipment

I think those hikes are a really good idea. You can burn just as many if not more calories hiking on different elevations than you would running plus you are working different muscles. You can also satrt doing alot of different body weight exercises to start increasing strength and toning your muscles.

Try exercises like lunges, squats, pushups, situps, leg drops, pullups and planks. You will not only build new lean muscle but also increase the density of the existing muscle.

Check out my site for a wide variety of different body weight exercises that can be performed virtually anywhere..

http://www.trainwithmeonline.com/exercises.asp

Good luck!

Ben