Walking is the easiest and cheapest form of exercise, because we do it everyday. Even couch potatoes have to walk at some point of the day, if it's to the fridge or to get the mail, or even at the grocery store. Adding 30/45 minutes a day of walking can help you lose weight and get in better shape. Taking 3000 steps a day or more is what is recommended to get you started. Purchasing a pedometer will help you reach this goal, and most are small enough to attach to you and no one will notice.
Start with a slow 30 minute walk 3 or 4 times a week and the best time is before you eat. If you start your morning off with a walk around the block will help wake up your body and give you some morning exercise that will make you feel better that a cup of coffee. Trying taking 10 minute walks around your office a couple times a day to get your muscles moving if you are sitting at a desk all day, this will also give you some energy to make it through those crash periods in between meals.
After a couple of weeks step up your weight loss by walking a little faster for 45-60 minutes a day. Start with a slow 10 minute walk and then step up the pace for 40 minutes and then your last 10 minutes slow the pace down again for your cool down. If you find that this is helping and you want to take it a little further add some light hand weights during your walk. Start with 2-3 pounds in each hand, if you can lift them up and down over your head over 100 times without to much strain this is a good weight to use. Men can try a 3-4 pound weight to start. As you are walking lift your hands and weights over your head and lower them, this will help your upper body gain some muscle and make you work a little harder. Walking to lose weight is one of the best ways to start getting in shape, it is easy to do and you can go anywhere. http://www.amazines.com/Recreation_and_Leisure/