I want to start building muscle...

[BigWolfLittleWolf]

But I’m 15 stone and 5 foot 6!
Please help me, I don’t know where to start?

Do I need to lose the (ample) weight first before I can start building up muscle?

I really don’t know where to begin!
I’ve bought Schwarzenegger’s body building encyclopaedia and I’ve started eating ‘healthier’ - whole foods, nothing refined.
I already walk quite a bit; somewhere between 7 and 12 miles most days.

Start on the muscle now! Yesterday, in fact!

Building up strength and muscle will help the weight loss efforts. You will not build up muscle quite as quickly as you might if you were eating in a calorie surplus but you can absolutely build strength and some muscle quite quickly even at a deficit of 500 calories per day. Especially if you are new to training.

Well done on walking so much! Make sure you eat enough lean protein as this helps to build up muscle. Don't get too hung up on numbers with regard to weight loss, just focus on being fit, healthy and happy!