I started out playing on a really old guitar with really old strings.. but it stayed in tune and that was all that mattered to me at the time. I played so much in the first few weeks that I had bruises and blisters almost constantly.. or so it seemed. Eventually you learn to enjoy the pain in a way because you know you are pushing yourself further than you did the last time you played.. and eventually the pain goes away again... hehe.. :D

The lighter the strings, the easier it will be to manipulate them.. but at the same time, they may also cut more into fingers because they are a lighter and therefore thinner gauge...

Unfortunately, you're going to have to suffer just like everyone else did when they first started.. :D