Gyms are scary places

Dont worry about it. Honestly they probably dont even notice. I would suggest go get on a treadmill and look around - decide what you want to focus on, and watch people on them. I hear ya tho. i pretty much live at my gym and still dont understand some of the machines there....but the main thing is to just go. itll get more comfortable with time . promise

Every gym is going to be different as they are marketed towards different people. Something like a Golds Gym is going to attract big dudes whereas something like a Bally Fitness is going to cater towards the average person wanting to improve their health.

I bet the reason you are getting looks is because you are being escorted around the gym with a trainer, showing you how to do the exercises. Their interest is in "who" is the person with the trainer, not so much as what you are specifically doing. I wouldn't worry about it. Guys in the gym act a certain way. We don't go around talking to each other, and if you're near the free weight area, expect to be sized up. It's just the way it is in today's society.

In the end of the day, you being there says alot about you because you're doing a hell of a lot more than alot of other people. In short time you'll be familiar with the exercises, your confidence will be higher and you'll be checking out the new kid on the block just like they are with you.

I think it all depends on the gym you go to. My gym has some of the most advanced equipment you'll find around, so a lot of giant dudes train there. But the environment is very open and supportive of everyone. Small guys like me don't feel intimidated, and I've never seen someone be mean or disrespectful to anyone else.

Take it one day at a time, like an adventure! It´s a challenge, and if it´s not boring yet it might mean you´ll workout harder and burn more calories!
If you feel silly on a machine, just say, "I haven´t done that machine before". You don´t have to explain you haven´t done almost ANY of them before. Then maybe you can compliment their machines (as far as how good they are for toning or what not) and talk about how many calories you want to burn, or how many pounds you want to lift (I believe men or at least the gym instructors like to think about how many pounds they want to lift--as opposed to myself, who sticks to 30-40 pounds most of the time)
If you´re nice and talk about something the other people are interested, there´s less of a chance they´ll even notice any clumsiness on the machines. You could also ask intelligent questions--there´s no shame in questions, but if they´re intelligent, you can even look better by asking them. One good one might be... what´s the best tip for being able to get up at 5 o´clock in the morning to train at the gym? (haha, that´s hard even if you know the answer, which is to go to sleep early)
I think it´s more of a sin that those of us that have used the machines for ages, get distracted and do the exercise wrong... So don´t think that people who have done the exercise before do it properly. More likely than not, they don´t....
Remember, they should be happy to get a new client. And instructors of any kind are excited about getting newbies that will pay attention to everything they´re saying, instead of thinking that they know more, so I´m sure they´ll like that...

You shouldn't worry about the others!

Most of the guys that attend the gym regularly just want to train without ruffle. They mind there own business and don't even talk to one another.

Step outof you comfort zone
Or just wear headphones to signalise other that you really don't want to chat

I agree, gyms can be scary ! That is why I workout at HOME ! Currently I am doing Turbo Fire and I can wear what I want and workout when I want !

Also, the suggestion about an all female gym is a GREAT idea !

Thanks everyone, I really do feel happier about it now having read your replies, and they probably were wondering why I was being shown around, and I think I'll take my ipod as well, just so I can hide behind the headphones if I want to. Im going to read this thread again before I go for the induction on monday just to give me another confidence boost.

i always see people being shown around the gym while im there...i always think to myself "good for them" or i think nothing at all about it...never anything negative.