How to Ignite A Workout Routine When You're Overweight

Take a daily walk. After dinner or in the morning, with the dog, with a friend, with your headphones. Moving your legs gets the blood pumping.

Ditch the elevator. Yep. You hear this one all the time, so do it! Take the stairs. Even if you have to start with going down before you go up.

Go the long way around. Time it right so you're not late! This includes parking farther away, too.

Stand at work. Take calls standing up. Walk over to co-workers instead of e-mailing them.

Stand at home. Need to squeeze in that addicting reality show? Get up during commercial breaks or try this couch potato workout!

Joint pain. If you feel any sort of pain that's beyond muscle soreness or burning — pain that feels directly related to the joint, stop.

Go low and long. Keep your workouts at a lower intensity, but the up the duration of them.

Use machines. Get your cardio in with joint-friendly equipment like the elliptical, recumbent bike or rower. Click here to learn more about the rowing machine.

Love the weights. Resistance training is key to weight loss and strengthening the skeletal system. Use a pair of dumbbells, a barbell or resistance band up to 15 minutes a day, two to three times a week.