So it begins :-)

I've been meaning to get in shape for a long time, but haven't got off my backside to do so yet. I'm a pretty undisciplined person and have learnt that there's no point me trying to do something like this until I'm properly ready to do so - like giving up smoking 8 years ago.

I'm 34, 5'11" and weigh 12 stone 13lbs (181lbs for any Americans reading this). I lost about a stone last year through dieting and then put a bit back on. I'm back on track now and am aiming for about 12 stone 5. I'm not really doing it by weight, more by appearance - that worked for me last summer when I lost a load. This time I'd like to get fit as well though, both cardio and tone/mass. I've never been fit or sporty, so it's all pretty new to me. I get about 50 minutes brisk walking a day broken up into 10 mins + 15 mins + 15 mins +10 mins (home-station station-work work-station station-home) which helps.

I'm not in a position to join a gym at the moment which was bugging me a bit, but I've seen a lot of no-equipment workouts here that look good. I've just discovered half a gym at work as well - I say half a gym because virtually nothing in there works. The usable stuff is: exercise bike, stepper (with no display), rowing machine (no display), free weights (although there are no hooks on the bench for resting the bar on) and an ab crunch roller thing. I figure this should be enough for now, combined with some no-equipment stuff. The thing I'd really like is an elliptical trainer which I've enjoyed using in the past during brief dalliances with gym membership. I've been doing a bit of running in the evenings this week - starting very slowly with laughable distances - but think I'll change to lunchtimes in the half-gym. I can't see much mention of rowing machines on here...does anyone know how much of a cardio workout they give compared to running? I feel knackered enough after a while on one, so it must be doing me some good.