The gym I go to at school is co-ed but I got a summer membership by my house and it's a women's only franchise. I have noticed that having a women only gym seems to make people more comfortable because I see people from all different levels of fitness and at all different weights learning the machines together. My gym offers a Curves-type circuit class and one of the trainers instructs people on the machines who are unfamiliar. My suggestion would be to look around and find an environment you think you can be comfortable in. As you get used to the machines it won't be so intimidating and it won't matter what everyone else is doing or what they look like. I think having a routine of your own helps you focus on yourself instead of worrying what everyone else is doing.

thanks for all the answers, alot of good idea i just guess i have to get up and cross that mental river once and for all

now i am scared

I'm with everyone else - I used to be terrified of going to the gym. Now I'll even go to a strange hotel gym when I'm traveling! The thing that turned it around for me was realizing that NO - not everyone in the gym is in Olympic shape, NO - most women (even if they ARE in Olympic shape) don't wear tight little spandex outfits, and most importantly NO ONE cares what I'm doing or how I look doing it. Except for the very occasional elitist (and poo on them anyway) people are at the gym to do their own thing and not to watch other people. Don't be afraid to ask for help from the staff (that's what they're there for) and remember that it's one of the few places where it's not considered rude to strap on some headphones and completely ignore everyone else in the place for as long as you're there.

It's like Dr.Phil says - You may not be so worried about what other people think of you if you realized how seldom they do.

I say go for it, you can always change your mind!

doing things for the first time is always scary (well for me it is >.<). But you will feel so good afterwards, you really will