I'm sorta intimidated to go to the gym

 I dont know why, I think it's just another excuse not to go. But every night, I always tell myself I'm going to get up and go to the gym and workout for an hour. But the morning comes, and I hit the snooze button 10 times, then I have to get ready for work and I just tell myself Im going to go after work. But I never go.

 I think I'm uncomfortable going by myself, even though I have no problem doing things by myself. How do I get myself to just go, and forget about the people around me?

 Also, what are the best machines to use at the gym? Is the elliptical trainer pretty effective?

 Is it better to go in the morning, or at night?

I prefer the night because I'm not a mourning person and need energy for work and in the afternoon I get my second wind :) also if your going for just cardio...just go with whatever machine you like! If you like it go with it. Personally I hate the readmill and rather go for a walk(I also hate running lol) and I don't see the point of the bikes I never burn enough calories or get my heartrate perfectly. The stairmaster is a bit to hard for me and I find the elliptical PERFECT. Nice speed and easy to get my heartrate where it needs to be(hard to keep it there and not higher but thats hte fun part) :) <3

What kind of gym are you planing on going to?  Different gyms have different feels to them.  Some are full of gym bunnies and guys who are there just to look at themselves in the mirror and to scope out the chicks.  I hate this sort of environment.  I've started going to the YMCA and have found it much more my style.  Everyone there means business and doesn't care what anyone else is doing(they aren't rude about it, just politely ignoring everyone else).  

Also, location will be a big factor in when the busy times will be.  If it is near buisnesses the busiest times will be in the morning before work(5-8ish) and after work(again, 5-8ish Im betting).  If its a university gym, evenings will be worst.

As far as what to do at the gym, that depends on what you like to do and what sort of results you want.  I am guessing from your screenname that you are female...I highly recommend New Rules of Lifting for Women(I would recommend it even if you were male though...the actual workouts are gender neutral) http://www.amazon.com/New-Rules-Lifting-Women -Goddess/dp/1583332944

Its a great book for weight lifting.  It will teach you all the basics and gives great workout plans.  It also shows how to do each move properly so you can be confident that you will know what to do when you get to the gym.  

You could also ask a friend to go with you...that would force you to at least get there!  

or get a personal trainer session to help you through your first workout.  

Don't be intimidated by the gym.  It won't bite, but you may be sore after ;)

I'm a bit intimidated too. To help that I've done some research on many of the basic muscle workouts and have been doing freeweights at home for the last 2 months (borrowed my brother's weights). I've also spent some time jogging and learning about cardio too.

Now that I've had some kind of 'practice' at home and have some knowledge I feel more confident about going and will be doing so in a bit over a week. Maybe this approach will help you?

I suffered from this too, especially when I started lifting.  I wasn't familiar with the equipment, I felt fat and stupid, and I was nervous the first few times. 

The best advice I can offer is to have a plan of what you are going to do, and envision yourself doing it before hand.  Most gyms offer a free orientation of the equipment, and that helps too.

The best machines to use are the ones you at least don't mind doing, and hopefully you can find something you like!  At my gym, I've heard night is less crowded, but it is hard for me to make it then.  You can call the gym and ask when it is less crowded, but like Arnold Schwarzenegger said, "The best time to work out is when you work out."  Find a time that will be easy for you to stick with.

It was funny reading your post b/c it is so me as well! I will have the best of intentions at night time..."I'm going to wake up and go for an hour"...then my alarm goes off and while I am laying in bed I am the most persuasive person...I can talk myself out of anything. Then after work I plan on going...but I just feel intimidated.

The thing is though (and my mom has always told me this) that everyone is so worried about themselves that they don't even notice you. So that shouldn't be what intimidates you!

Anyways, good luck with the gym....I find that once I start going to a place I will feel more and more comfortable. I've moved recently and started going to a new gym and I am still pretty uncomfortable there...but I'm working on it.

Dont get intimidated by the people there at the gym.  I tell myself I may be bigger than you but at least I am here and I am working on it.  You think those people were just born that way-most of the serious muscle bodies have to work out everyday twice as hard just to stay that way.  Ask anyone who has ever had a sixpack what would happen if they stopped working out for a few weeks--it goes away faster than they built it!

I use to have the same issue feeling paranoid, or that everyone is looking at me.  And most of all I did not know how to use the equiptment that showed the muscle groups I wanted to use.  I finally got up the nerve to just ask people-the front desk, the guy who just used the equiptment.  I find most people are either helpful or full of themselves and like to show off-which helps you cause they love to show off that they know something about working out!

I am not a morning person either, the only advice I tell everyone is work out when its best for you.  There is no scientific proof that a time of the day is better than others.  Some people say it gives them energy through the rest of the day if they do am, I say its bogus--I can barely stay awake if I do that for 8 hours.  Do what works for you, something is better than nothing and one step closer to your goal.

I totally agree with hotfuss. You have to find the environment your most comfortable in.  For me the YMCA is the best it is close to home, everyone is nice, and everyone just does there own thing.  There is a gym I could use which would be less through work but it is farther away and in the beginning I didn't want to see anyone I worked with because I was like you were very intimidated. I think the gym is like a pair of shoes if they're comfortable then you'll wear them all the time if not they're going to stay in the closet.

As to the best machine after trying the treadmill I jumped on the elliptical and the first time I hated it but gave it another try and now I love it because for me it is lower impact on my knees.

Good luck and remember your doing this for you!

You're not alone, everyone feels the same when they start out.

You have to find a gym environment that will suit you best, you'll be surprised to know that the best gym I've ever been to was a hardcore bodybuilders gym.

They had men and women who competed in contests, but here's the thing, they were all so nice and helpful!  They were all focused on their goals and didn't spend their time looking at the women or watching the flat screen tv.  It was the kinda place that believed in "One Nation Under The Iron". 

I'm intimidated too.  I feel like everyone is judging me, looking at me thinking "yeah she needs to be working out."  I also compare myself to the nauseating fit people who I envy beyond belief.  You know, the ones who work out in sports bras and booty shorts. 

And if all else fails, you can always find home routines to do until you can get your courage up.  Calorie Count has several here.

Maybe you could try signing up for a class at your gym -- or even just planning to go to one.  I'm more likely to go to the gym if I'm planning to take a class because I know there's a specific time I need to be there and I know I can just follow the instructor for an hour and then leave.

I used to find it intimidating to go to my local YMCA gym, so then I joined a smaller, women's only gym.  (It's the sister gym of a local, huge co-ed gym.)  The women's only gym is so much less intimidating and I see the same ladies there all the time -- women of all sizes and all fitness levels.  Everyone is helpful and supportive and I don't feel like anyone's watching/judging me while I'm there.  So you could try joining a women's only gym, or maybe try going to your gym during off-peak hours when there will be less people around.

Good luck!  Getting to the gym is half the battle.