Please could you help a total couch potato take the first steps to exercise?

[nameuschangeus]

I am 46. 5ft 4ins and weigh 16 stone. I am a mess. I do very very little exercise and I am to the stage where I feel nervous even to walk very far, or up hill or anything really, just in case I can't cope, get breathless or bake a tit of myself. I really really desperately want and need to change. I don't want to be this unfit. I am worried about the impact of my inactivity on my health. I know it's dangerous.
Please, can anyone recommend a plan which starts with the baby steps I need to get some sort of basic fitness before I can start a proper regime?
I'd appreciate it if you didn't tell me off. I know what a twit I am for letting myself get to this stage.
I'm looking for helpful hints. I'd rather exercise alone at this stage so that I don't have to rely on someone else being available and unfortunately I can't swim which is a pity.

Would you consider having swimming lessons? My local pool has adult swimming classes one evening per week (the pool is closed to other users). That way you could improve your fitness and learn a new life skill.

I've started the Couch to 5k. Like someone else said, if you're really unfit try walking slowly in the walking bits and walk fast in the running bits. If you did the whole programme like that you'd be fast-walking for half an hour after nine weeks. Then you could start the programme again with walking and running. In 18 weeks from now you could be a runner!

I've also bought myself a Fitbit which is a fancy pedometer. It's encouraged me to increase my daily steps and I've even got my mum wearing one.

Just so you know, I'm overweight and have never, ever been fit. I wanted to get healthier so I started the Couch to 5k thinking there was no way I'd even be able to jog for a minute. I'm now on week three and I'm glowing with pride that I'm off my bum doing something to get healthy.

Really good luck whatever you decide to do. It feels bloody brilliant to be doing something!

The advice on this thread is great, nothing that I can add but good luck OP, let us know how you get on! :o