Which exercises strengthen muscles?

[RunRabbit]

So I'm horribly unfit. Making a fresh start as of Wednesday to lose weight and get fit.

I've been using my elliptical exercise machine to burn fat/lose weight but when I tried to do some basic exercises to tone/strengthen muscles like push-ups on my knees, squats, human board etc. my arms, legs and shoulders would shake and I just don't have the strength.

What can I do to get to the point I can do them. Are there different exercises or should I stick with these and and build up to longer times every time?

Buy yourself a copy of "Body by You" by Mark Lauren. Its bodyweight exercises so minimal equipment and it builds up in really easy slow steps starting from whatever level you are at. Eg for pushups you would start off standing up facing wall and pushing off that. When that gets easy do a slightly harder variation etc.

Its really good, and constantly progressing through the variations is pretty motivating.

Thanks.

Are the DVDs/Apps any good or does it have to be the book? I'm a visual learner and like to see how it's done.

If you buy the You Are Your Own Gym app then you can download videos of correct form for all (I think) of the exercises. The only difference between the two programmes is that things are built up more slowly in BBY.

The book does have pretty detailed descriptions, and photos of all the exercises though.

I'd definitely reccomend buying the book though as it is a sort of workbook with charts to help you keep track of where you are