Need a little motivation and encouragement!

I don't workout with anyone because I am doing this for me!!! Motivation comes from with in. If you want this badly enough you've got to work for it! It doesn't come for free! Now tell me, how badly do you want this?

working out with friends is great, but it's also a really great way to find an excuse not to go.
Your health and body image matter to your friends, but only in the same way that what they watched on TV matters to you...it doesn't effect (affect?) their daily lives, so it's not as important to them as it is to you.
I'm going to try to do this next year (try!) so here's my advice:
Sit down and make your schedule. it can be something that works for your friends too. but make the schedule more important than the company. Meaning, you stick to the schedule regardless of who goes and who doesn't. And you go even if you don't "feel" like going.
For me, once I miss one day (whether it's the gym, my diet, bible study, whatever) I don't want to go again, it's easier to put if off until another good starting point. I have to quit doing that.
something else you can do is save certain workouts for when you find that you're alone - like cardio - grab your ipod and hit a machine for 20 or 30 or 40 minutes - maybe by just doing that one exercise, you won't feel so obviously alone...
good luck!

I had the same problem.
I joined the gym and couldn't get myself to go.
That was before I learned that you don't have to exercise to lose weight.
I've lost 145 pounds in the past 21 months.
I now exercise to tone up and feel better but I never exercised to lose weight.
I found for the price of gym membership you can have a nice setup at home.
What I have:
A rebounder.
A Body By Jake Tower 200.
A rower.
A few dumbbells.