Advice on getting started with workouts

[dman]

Hi all. I just bought an elliptical that both my wife and I plan to hopefully stick to a plan to use it. I am 36, 5'5" 165 lbs. Along with starting to eat better, I want to excercise to hopefully lose some weight and just get in better shape and feel better overall. To start out with, what do you recommend? Is like 20-30 minutes at a pace that is not too grueling good for 3 days a week for awhile until I get used to it? Along with the ellipitcal, what other types of excercises can I do at home without any other equipment (I don't have any weights or anything) that would be beneficial, especially for my abs and stomach? Pushups, situps, things like that? I actually do have an old ab wheel laying around here somewhere. Any help would be appreciated to get me started.