exercise advice please

[exercisenovice]

Hoping for some advice

45, gave up smoking a few years back, going through the menopause and would like to lose about one and half stone. I find it difficult to do aerobics as my knees hurt. I do have access to treadmill & exercise bike at home and also have a set of home weights, I also have some of those stretching toning bands.
What I'd really like to do is lose the weight, tone up and become more supple. There was a time not that many years ago I could touch my toes, I can just about touch my knees these days.

I can be really be good at following a healthy eating plan, but it's the exercise that leaves me confused.
What should I be doing, and how often?

Thanks very much everyone

What about a rebounder? Easier on all the joints yet aerobic

Shred

If you fast walked an hour a day you'd get all your steps in and lose weight though. You'd probably burn up 350 cals an hour?

Have you tried myfitnesspal? You can record calories and exercise (it estimates how many calories you'll burn in 30 minutes of brisk walking) and it gives you personalised calorie goals etc. I lost two stone using it earlier this year and have kept it off so far!

Try a workout DVD. I know lots of people here do the shred stuff, or there's insanity. It's all own body weight training so you won't need equipment.

The other option is join a gym and ask them to put a low impact plan together for you to stop you putting extra strain on your knee.

High weight loss classes I'd recommend are the high intensity interval training (classes like metafit are great) as you do a fairly short, intense class but you burn fat really quickly. The trainers should be able to give you variations on any sets that might aggravate your knee.

I love going to group exercise classes as I found working out on my own boring. It keeps me pushinf myself when everyone else is not giving up. And I won't leave 20min early just to cut it short!

You can start with a class a week and build it up? Spin is low impact as its on the bike. I like les mills body balance for core strength. There is also body pump for resistance training.

Or you can hit the gym and do the weights and cardio machine. Most gym will have fitness instructors to help you wth a fitness program.