Diet alone can make a major impact -- in fact, just chaning the way I was eating accounted for the first 35 pounds I lost.  But, it's not quite enough.  Along with taking steps to eat better, it is important to take physical steps too!  Being a consumately lazy person, this was always the point at which I would get disgruntled and give up.  But then somebody pointed out to me that exercise doesn't have to mean going out and getting all sweaty and pushing yourself until you feel like somebody just ran over you with a steam-roller.  I don't know about you, but I always hated that feeling! 

Starting out on an exercise regimine is as simple as picking up the pace.  Almost everybody moves around during the day -- even if its just around one's own home.  Instead of taking your time about it -- pick up the pace.  Walk a little faster.  If you go to the store, park a little farther away, and walk there a little faster.  It doesn't take much for you to start feeling the difference.  As time goes by, you'll begin to realize that walking across that parking lot, which for me would result in huffing and puffing like a fish out of water, is easier. 

I noted above that I was a consumately lazy person.  That's true -- to a point.  More truthfully, though, is that I enjoy being comfortable.  I never enjoyed going out and working up a sweat.  I never enjoyed feeling like I was about to pass out from walking around the block.  These were uncomfortable, and therefore I avoided them.  As I began to loose weight, however, I began to notice that these activities were no longer uncomfortable.  It began a positive feedback cycle for me.  I would walk as far as I could do so without feeling icky.  Walking helped work off the weight.  Working off the weight made me feel good about myself, and encouraged me to push myself a little bit more each week.  Pushing myself worked off more weight, which made me feel good, which encouraged me.... and you get the picture.

Today, I'm still a fan of comfort.  I don't run for miles and I don't spend an extraordinary amount of time exercising.  I jog (not run) about half a mile every day, and spend 15 or 20 minutes every day with light weights.  And -- best of all -- I don't feel like I've been worked over when I'm done.  I feel comfortable.

My point in all this is that exercise doesn't have to be a big scary thing.  Any movement is exercise.  So, simply move more.  When you are comfortable moving more, move more quickly -- more frequently -- for longer periods of time.  It doesn't have to be uncomfortable, and it doesn't have to make you feel self-conscious.  You don't have to join a gym, and you don't have to make an ordeal out of it.  Small steps -- but some steps!  That's the key.