The post above's a good start, the only things I would add are:
-Cardio should be 5-6 times a week if you're serious about getting in shape-the more, the better. Running 1-2 miles a day would be the best, if your joints can take it. First use a slow pace and extend the distance. On machines, first extend the duration to the 30-45 minute zone, then after that start increasing the intensity. You have to sweat, get use to it and it WILL become easier as you get used to it. If you fight it, don't get used to it and don't do it frequently, it will seem much worse.
-Eating: for an initial, quick start to losing weight, read & try the Atkins Diet or another popular diet like Weight Watchers. If necessary, try a few of these, each for 6 weeks, to see which one will strike a chord and inspire you to stick with it. The diet that provides an initial quick weight loss will create the impetus to continue after that with a more viable long-term diet program. You HAVE to fix the diet part or you're going nowhere.
That's it-a good diet (you can cheat one day a week), serious daily cardio, weights 2-3 times a week, high 15-20 reps. Push yourself while exercising, if you're serious.
