“A Darwin Award Contender”: 57 Times People Just Couldn’t Believe Their Eyes At The Gym (New Pics)

Aside from developing and maintaining positive relationships, getting plenty of sleep, and eating a nutritious diet, one of the best things for your health and longevity is regular exercise. Your body needs movement. And if you spend the majority of your day sitting in a chair (hello, office life!) or on the couch (hi, Netflix!), you’re doing yourself a disservice.

The CDC recommends that adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise every week. This includes brisk walking. On top of that, you also need at least two muscle-strengthening activities every week.

Some of the main benefits of living a physically active life include stronger bones and muscles, a reduced risk of chronic diseases, better brain health, higher-quality sleep, and fewer feelings of anxiety. Overall, if you’re exercising regularly, you’re leading a higher-quality life, and you’re able to do more everyday activities more easily.

To be clear, it isn’t mandatory that you get a gym membership. It’s important that you do the physical activities that you enjoy doing because that will make it easier to develop healthy habits and stay motivated.

If you prefer hiking, swimming, or even weight-lifting in your garage instead of jogging, biking, and using fitness machines, do that. Try out a few things and do what works for you. Just remember that adding a social element to your workouts can help you stay accountable, even if you prefer working out alone.

As per the CDC, in the United States alone, around 110,000 lives could be saved every year if American adults aged 40+ increased their physical activity. Just 10 additional minutes per day would make a significant difference.

Walking, for example, is an accessible way of extending your lifespan. Your risk of prematurely passing away levels off at 8,000 to 10,000 steps per day if you’re younger than 60, and at 6,000 to 8,000 steps if you’re 60+.

For some people, going to the gym is great because it energizes and hypes them up. For others, it’s tough to find the motivation to go. The barrier to entry isn’t just financial, though. There’s a lot of anxiety at play here for some individuals.

According to Planet Fitness, the three biggest sources of gym anxiety are related to the fear of being judged, the fear of choosing the ‘wrong’ gym, and the fear of not knowing where to start.

A few things that can help you overcome your anxiety of being judged during your public workouts are wearing comfortable clothes, working with a trainer to understand how the equipment works, and avoiding peak hours.

It’s easier not to feel like you’re being judged when there are fewer people around. And if you have a certified trainer in your corner, you can quickly get to grips with everything.

Eventually, once you get used to your new surroundings and activities, you should start feeling more comfortable.

Another thing to keep in mind is that not all gyms are built the same way. Some may be all-purpose, sure. But others might be geared more towards serious bodybuilders and weightlifters. Others might prioritize group activities or specialized workouts.

So, it’s best for you to think about the things that you’re looking for in a gym, like the atmosphere, main activities, proximity to your home, university, or office, working hours, etc., before you commit to anything.

Something to bear in mind is that many gyms allow beginners to try out their facilities either for free or for a tiny fee. Test a few places out and see where you feel the most comfortable.

In the meantime, Decathlon stresses that many people experience gym anxiety. They either don’t know where to start or they’re scared to work out in front of strangers.

The upside is that, paradoxically, going to the gym (something you’re already anxious about) and exercising in general can help alleviate your anxiety. “Exercise helps your body release natural mood enhancers, reduces stress hormones, and builds mental resilience.”

The key to building a healthy relationship with fitness is to stop comparing with others (tougher than you’d think) and focus on your own journey. Focus on small, easily attainable goals at first to build up your self-confidence. Put on some good music to hype yourself up. Go to the gym with a friend who knows what they're doing for support.

However, living a healthy lifestyle requires more than awesome progress at the gym. You also need to remember to get plenty of rest and eat a nutritious, varied diet. Everybody is unique, but in general, adults need between 7 and 9 hours of uninterrupted sleep every night. Your body also needs sufficient downtime to heal and recuperate after intense workout sessions.

Living a healthy lifestyle also means cleaning up your habits so that you don’t undo all of the progress you’ve made. This means quitting smoking and heavily limiting (or completely giving up) drinking, and staying clear of highly processed foods.

We’d love to hear from you in the comments, Pandas!

What’s your relationship with exercise and the gym like? Do you prefer social workouts with friends and strangers, or solitude to focus on your gains?

What are the weirdest things that you’ve ever seen at your local gym? What advice would you give someone who has never been to the gym before but is considering it? Tell us all about it!