I tend not to worry about the excess fat so much as fitness and general health. I have underlying health conditions so that is more important to me. I do work out as often as I can though and have done for years.
First of all, you will not lose fat by dieting if you dont exercise with it as well. Its also worth remembering that bigger muscles burn more calories and more fat, so some strength training is definitely worth it as well as aerobic. When I first joined a gym it was on a special offer, 3 years membership for a one off price lower than the normal one year price. It worked as it took me 2 1/2 years to get into it and start going regularly. The thing that did it for me and I often recommend is this. Rather than try to vary the exercises you do, find your favourite aerobic exercise and always start off with that. Whenever I say that to people there is always one they say, they all had one stand out as their favourite. For me it was running on the treadmill, others say cross trainers, exercise bikes and one person said rowing machine. So my advise is always start with that. Get in "the zone" doing your favourite and once you are warmed up go on to other exercises and thats where you can start to add variety. Quite a few of my friends have got into exercising more regularly after following this advice.