Exercise more. Stop smoking. Lose weight. Drink less.
New Year’s resolutions are made and broken every year. The Student Recreation Center numbers don’t lie: Six of the 10 all-time busiest days at the center have been in January, according to Physical Activity and Recreation Services, and PARS officials said they believe the increase in use is directly related to New Year’s resolutions.
“We experience what any fitness club across the country experiences, which is an influx in use,” said Dennis Munroe, director of PARS. “Our highest-use week is our first week of winter term. The sad part of that story is that we tend to revert right back to normal patterns fairly quickly.”
A 2003 Kaiser Permanente survey found that nearly 60 percent of Americans make at least one health-related New Year’s resolution, but only 10 percent of those surveyed stuck to the resolution.
About 60 to 100 rec center users utilize the weight room at any given time in January, compared to an average of 40 to 50 people, said Chantelle Russell, assistant director of fitness for PARS.
“Last year (in January) we had 132 people in the weight room. That’s pretty unheard of. I just can’t imagine 132 people exercising in there,” she said.
When Russell and personal trainers meet with resolution setters, most are interested in losing weight, she said.
“I would say the majority is related to weight loss and physical appearance,” Russell said. “What ultimately comes with that is feeling better, so we’re happy with that,” she said, adding that personal trainers encourage healthy lifestyle changes.
Rec center usage drops to average use after the first of couple weeks in January, said Glenn Cashel, business assistant for the rec center. After students, faculty and staff swipe ID cards at rec center front entrance turn-styles, Cashel is in charge of keeping track of the numbers, which determine future programs and opening times.
The numbers drop from week one to week 10 every term, Cashel said.
Some 4,351 students used the rec center on the second Monday of winter term in 2005, but 1,061 fewer students used the rec center on the seventh Monday of the term, according to PARS.
Cold weather also adds to the increase in use during January, Cashel speculated, adding that the start of each term is the busiest time for the rec center. Four p.m. to 7 p.m. is the peak use time every day.
A University health educator said not meeting goals can deter some resolution setters.
“We have high aspirations. When we don’t make that progress we want, we just put it to the side,” said Annie Dochnahl, health educator for the University Heath Center.
Poorly defined goals could be the biggest problem for not meeting New Year’s resolutions, Dochnahl said.
“I think that people start with really good intentions and set very big goals that aren’t always well defined, like lose weight or drink less or get more sleep,” she said.
Dochnahl said goals should be specific, like “lose five pounds in the next 10 weeks.”
Professional assistance can also help keep resolutions, Russell said.
“Having a personal trainer is one of the things that helps people stick to workout programs and New Year’s resolutions,” she said. “We don’t do miracles. We focus on safety – starting slow and then building up.”
Students can receive a fitness assessment, take physical tests and track progress at the rec center, Russell said. Students can spend up to an hour with personal trainers, who are University juniors and seniors who have taken the American Council on Exercise certification exam. The rec center offers a free fitness orientation, and personal training starts at $30 for the first session.
Russell also recommended working out with a friend for accountability, finding workout classes of interest and working out at home.
Despite the best intentions of resolution setters, Munroe said he expects similar trends to appear this week.
“If you don’t want to be a statistic, then get some professional help to get it done right,” Munroe said.
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