Terrified to walk in to Gym..just bought membership

There is no reason to care what anyone in the gym thinks. The only things that matter are that you are there doing what you do for you, and how you feel about yourself. Being there working out should make you feel good about your self. as for a game plan the odds are there are lots of people at your gym who feel the same as you, find one and help each other... Dont let what other people may or may not be thinking stand in the way of were you want to go.....

I'm scared to, and I have been going to the gym for around 7 Months. I usually go to the gym with my mum 3 times a week but occasionally go on my own. Even though when I go in with my mum we go our separate ways - she goes to the bikes I go to the cross trainers.

And when I go alone its just the walking in that panics me a bit....once I am in and doing what I want to do I am fine my minds on my workout not other peoples. I do worry about others staring at me but then I think, well at least I am trying to better myself and I might have a tomato face and I am soaking in sweat but I am there for a reason. Going alone means I am not demotivated by others deciding they cant be bothered & leaving the gym early and I can go at my own pace, its great and it gets easier!

Also clothes wise - I wear 3/4 jogging bottoms so I am not to hot, I wear a tight strap top with a baggy vest on top. I used to hate having my arms flapping around but tbh I dont care anymore. Take a step at a time and you will get there.

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Here's my first experience hitting the gym after a long absence and gaining weight. Hope this helps.

I walk in, no clue what to do or where to go.
I noticed the basketball court and see a few people playing. I remember how I was mad good at basketball and thought I'd give it a shot.
We are doing 2v2, half court and going to 21. Three pointers were worth 2 points.
Almost immediately, only a few minutes in I am near death. So out of shape.
We finally make it to 21, my team wins but nobody says anything and they keep playing. That's it, I am dead if I don't get the hell out of here.
After a few more scores I had to speak up. They said that they were just continuing because it's no big deal, nobody was waiting to get in.
I tell them I had to go, I need to meet "someone".
I awkwardly leave the basketball court and am glad to have escaped with my life.
I wasn't actually done at the gym but I figured since I told them I was leaving then I'd probably look like a **** if they saw me on the bench press afterwards.
I go home. LMAO
40 minutes of driving there and back with only about 15 minutes of gym time.
I hope this helps.

Hahahahaha. It's going to suck either way, just get your *kitten* in the gym and be consistent. If I didn't know how to use some machine or whatever, I just went at it like an ape until I figured it out. No ****s given, just go.

Get to know the employees. I've been a member of my gym for 4 years. When I walk in the girls at the front know me by name. It knocks down a lot of anxiety when they say "Hey ____, nice to see you." Makes you feel like you belong there. Also, like a lot of people mentioned music is great. Put your headphones on when you walk in, it blocks a lot of distractions. If you don't have a music list yet, install Pandora on your smartphone (if you don't have it already) it's free and you can pick whatever type of genre of music you are into. It plays continuously with very few commercials and no DJs.

I know there is nothing worse then walking to a piece of equipment and having no idea how to get it started! (been there)!!!
One thing I would do was look at the model number of the equipment I was on or wanted to use and Google it and find a Youtube video demonstrating. Gotta love technology!

Easiest equipment to start with is the treadmill. Get on and push quick start then push the MPH up to something comfortable (maybe 3.0 mph) for you and walk. Nothing more to it. Most equipment has a quickstart button, it starts the equipment up quickly without having to set programs.
Good luck! It gets easier each time!

I was like you too and spoke to the gym manager. He said that most people in his gym do not care about anyone else - because they are only interested in themselves and their progresses so the fear is probably in your mind. He said nobody in this world gives a sxxt about anyone else. I thought it was a bit cynical but he is also a trained psychologist so I think there is some truth in this.

You have been getting marvellous tips, and i really can't think of a thing to add. They are all right! I definitely recommend that you ask whoever does this at your gym, to show you exactly how to use the machines. And if you need refreshers on that from time to time never hesitate to ask. That's their job. I would also underscore how important it is to pay for a a session or two with a personal trainer to help you devise a program especially for you, that will help you to set appropriate goals and help you devise a program that will get you there! I did that and it was the best thing I did for myself. From time to time I hire the trainer to come back and watch my workout, see if my form is still good, and ask for changes etc. to keep it fresh. Good luck!

It can help to read a book on the topic that perscribes a workout program. The New Rules of Lifting series is really great for this. I'm doing the one for women now.

Everyone makes mistakes. I was using the assisted pull-up machine in a crowded gym when the pin flew out as I was climbing on (which is awkward anyway). Just laughed at myself and put the pin back in and tried again. I also couldn't figure out how to adjust the height of the squat rack the other day but someone came over and fixed it for me. Decided to laugh it off, be thankful I now know how to do it instead of getting embarassed.

People are generally pretty nice and helpful in the gym. Most of the time, however, they're minding their own business, not yours.

Remember: The gym is not a social club. You are there to get into better shape, just like everybody else who's there. It's not a social club.

If you don't know where to start, then start on something like a treadmill and watch who's doing what. You don't really need a trainer - you just need someone to show you how to use the machine's. Most of them nowadays have little diagrams on the side that show you how to use the machine.

Do what you're comfortable doing....make up your own routine!!

So I went after being inspired by this post. I went to planet fitness today and it was awful I mean I knew it was no equinox but I was expecting more! I said it was my first time going to a gym and the guy literally pointed and said ladies locker that way no tour no help. I think I am going to use the rest of the month I paid for and find somewhere new. Good thing there is no contract But on a positive note the people working out were not awkward and I was surprisingly in better shape than a lot of the people there so I was not as embarrassed.

I started to go to the gym as a teenager and I was scared a first too. I think the fear is of being judged or feeling weird working out in public but it goes away fast. Within a couple days of going I felt comfortable and it became an addiction I still have at 23. I don't have a lot of weight ( or really any) to lose since I'm already thin but I'm toning up and I have to say the majority of the people at the gym are NOT like me. Most are very out of shape, using machines wrong, dropping weights, etc. I don't judge them. In fact it makes me happy they are there taking the initiative. Everyone has to start somewhere. It does depend to some extent which gym you go to as far as the demographic. I have been to a few in my decade of working out. Right now I use my college gym which has a much higher percentage of fit people to out of shape people . But when I went to the Y or my friends "membership" type gyms the majority of people were starting out and I was out of place. Just do whatever you want to do and don't look back

They should definitely offer you an orientation and perhaps a game plan...I'd be surprised if they don't since gyms always try to sell personal training. Definitely take a look around at the equipment, think about what you want to do, check out books/magazines/Youtube for routine ideas. Do they have classes? They've become my favourite part of the gym.

Thanks guys so I asked and the location I joined has no classes it's too small. I've gone two days in a row and used the elliptical and the treadmill I think I am just going to put up with it for the month and move on at least I'll have no awkward first gym feelings with whatever new place I look into. I also looked into free weeks at a few other gyms to try out and find one within my budget which is limiting but it'll all work out I'm sure.

Without reading any other replies, I just want to say something, and I mean this is the nicest possible way - nobody cares what you're doing in the gym! Everybody is just as self-obsessed as you are, and rightly so, so grab a good sports bra, a good pair of trainers, some clothes you don't mind getting sweaty in, and get to it!

You will feel awkward at first for sure, but you don't get to the comfortable / confident phase until you've made that first scary jump. Everyone has to do it, nobody was born in the gym.

Good luck, all of you! It'll be your second home in no time