The St Louis Post – Dispatch has a list of tips for beginner exercisers.

1. Get a full physical and your doctor’s blessing before you begin.
2. Remember, what’s important is that you get moving, even if you look silly doing it.
3. Try different things until you come up with something you like.
4. Set a specific goal and write it on a calendar, daily planner or chart – make a contract with yourself.
5. Do things at your own level. For example, if you want to take a step aerobics class, do it, but don’t use a step until you feel you are ready.
6. Try to incorporate exercise into your daily life.
7. Plan your workouts the night before, even laying out the clothes you’ll wear or packing your gym bag.
8. Enlist a workout buddy to motivate you.
9. Keep track of your exercise and eating habits.
10. Consider hiring a personal trainer to help you get started.

This is all good advice. I always recommend speaking with your doctor before starting any type of new exercise program, and highly recommend hiring a personal trainer or nutritionist to help guide you in the right direction. The right personal trainer can help you not only with weight lifting but in finding other activities to keep yourself active and having fun. If you enjoy your workouts, then you will want to continue with them.

(Source)