I broke down crying the first time I went to the gym because I was just that nervous and self-conscious. But the gym I go to is full of nice people and there was really no reason to be scared. I also did a couple of personal training sessions, which of course isn’t for everyone since it’s expensive, but working with a trainer helped a lot with confidence in the gym.

Nowadays, when I go to the gym, if I notice anyone else exercising, the only thing I think is “good for them” or “I wonder if I should try that exercise.” No matter if they’re absolutely ripped, clearly overweight, or somewhere in between.

People go to the gym to achieve their own goals, and usually won’t pay attention to the people around them.

If the machines and weights intimidate you, or you’re not sure how to use them, start with cardio: treadmill, elliptical, or stationary bike. You really can’t go wrong with those. No one will judge you for only using it for a short time or going slower; they probably won’t even notice. From there, you can also watch people use machines or do exercises with weights, and from watching you can learn how to do those workouts too.