Ayah - Sorry your thread slipped through my radar before, but
Doing 20 minutes on the elliptical when you haven't been to the gym for a year is great! Don't sell youself short by saying what you did wasn't much. I watch new thin people come into our gym who have to stop using the elliptical after 10 minutes because it is too tough for them.
Isn't it so true that it only works when you stick with it?