[Lisa~]

There is a lot of good advice in this thread and both of those articles are excellent. I really like Krista Scott-Dixon's "how to squat" series for beginners.

To the OP, I agree that a front squat might be easier for you than a back squat. If you can't do the combo movement, you might try a goblet squat as your front squat option. If you hold a medicine ball for your goblet squat, you might be able to make that into a front squat to push press combo (a medicine ball thruster). If you have to, shorten the range of motion on the front squat so that you can get the combo lift.

Well, there are two ways to think about it. You can work on your front squat (or goblet squat) until you learn how to squat--the goal is learning how to squat. Or you can shorten the ROM and get a combo lift--the goal is metabolic disturbance, getting that heart rate up, and fat loss. It depends on where you want to focus your efforts at this time. Both goals are worth pursuing.