Keep doing cardio because you need a good heart for all exercising and your life! Your 40... And the better your heart is now, the better it will be later... got it?
Also, don't be afraid to lift heavier weights when you can do more then 15 reps with your current weights...
Lifting heavy weights for woman is extremely important, especially after the age of 40 where you have to worry about your bone density... Osteoporosis is no joke... It kills (hurts a lot) when bones splinter and brake from the smallest slip...
For every pound of muscle you gain, you burn 50 calories every day extra!
So in 7 days = 1 week. That's 350 cals!
Now, it takes 3,500 cals to lose one pound of fat...
If you put a half pound of muscle on each of your arms, a few on your back, abs and chest, and the rest in some strong legs... It won't even be noticeable and you will be burning 3,500 calories extra every week! :-)
That's a pound of fat every week! Now if you do the math... You should be grinning right now because you can see how there is light at the end of the tunnel...
The only way to gain the 10 lb's of muscle? Heavy weights... Light weights won't
burn the fat like heavier ones will...
Best of luck on your new plan!
P.S. Protein powder is over rated... Just make sure 3/4 of your diet is fruits and veggies... And 3/4 of the fruits and veggies should be veggies... And then eat normal after that and don't drink your calories... You will see the weight fall of your body! :-)