Life Focus: Health

For some students, hiking to class from a parking spot at the outer rim of campus counts as a hard workout, but for others it takes a little more to get the heart pumping and the muscles burning. Getting motivated to actually go workout, however, is another story.

Pedro Sotelo, an exercise specialist at the Wellness Center on North Campus, said students usually make four excuses for not exercising: lack of time, energy, skill or poor weather conditions.

"I don't really work out regularly partly because of lack of time, but also because I don't like working out in a gym filled with a lot of people. It can be very intimidating," said Jen Myers, a senior medical technology major.

In getting past these barriers, Sotelo advises students to look at exercising as something you have to do as if it were a class, or find an energetic friend to go to the gym with.

Developing the self-motivation and willpower to finally start that fall semester resolution to lose a jean size and whip into shape can be difficult. Scheduling a workout is only the first step, actually making the effort to visit the gym, and not merely cast a halfhearted glance at the rows of machines, is a different story.

For students with busy schedules, getting into the habit of working out after a long day doesn't sound nearly as enticing as a new episode of CSI or Lost. In the beginning though, it doesn't mean giving up an hour of life - start slow.

Have a goal of 15 minutes walking on the treadmill, and chances are that once you get going you won't want to stop. The motivation to get started is the hardest part, but once you get into the habit of working out, the benefits will keep you heading back, even at your groggiest, Sotelo said.

German lecturer Hella Jacob regularly utilizes the services on campus and has found the motivation to incorporate exercise into her daily routine.

"I have been doing spinning on and off for about six years," Jacob said. "I like it because it is a set schedule and I can make time for it."

Sotelo said weather is sometimes an issue, especially in Buffalo, but suggests students take advantage of snow related sports like skiing, snowboarding or ice-skating, which can burn a substantial amount of calories.

He also suggests taking advantage of the fitness staff on campus, they are a great resource if someone is not sure how to work a machine or just has a general question about their workout. If you belong to a gym off campus, make an appointment to keep your workout in check and the drive to exercise going.

Sotelo recommends at least 30 minutes a day of continuous aerobic exercise, which can yield better health both physically and mentally. Exercise releases endorphins, famous for that familiar "high" after working out, which are beneficial in reducing stress.

"Stress relief is definitely part of it along with trying to stay healthy," said Suzanne Feinstein, a senior theater and communication major.

According to Sotelo, a workout doesn't necessarily require a three-mile run, there are other ways to get moving.

"People think that a cardio workout is strictly jogging and it's not," Sotelo said. "Any activity that keeps the heart rate up for a substantial period of time is a cardio workout."

For gym junkies both North and South Campus boast indoor gyms, and there are countless intramural sports and clubs on campus to get a little exercise with a group of friends. What better way to stay in shape than taunting friends in a round of dodge ball?

The indoor jogging track, weight room, racquetball rooms and Olympic-sized swimming pool in Alumni Arena are paid for with student fees - take advantage of them. The are also two outdoor tracks, baseball fields, a bike path and grassy areas for a round of touch football or soccer with friends.

To help students stay healthy, the Wellness Center provides free fitness assessments. The test includes checking heart rate and blood pressure, calculating body mass, and flexibility, and is good for tracking improvement.

Additionally, for a small fee, students can have access to professionally instructed classes including Pilates, step aerobics, kickboxing and spinning at Alumni. Personal trainers are also available.

For students who want a little more motivation for a regular workout, the Division of Athletics offers courses for credit, including volleyball, jogging and conditioning, swimming, canoeing, racquetball and yoga.

For those overwhelmed with the idea of starting a workout program, take it one day at a time. Everyone to some degree is just as self-conscious. Even students who have already found their niche in the world of fitness have their bad days.

"Sometimes I love working out and then there are of course the days I dread going," said Tiffany Bates, a senior history major. "I still go because I wouldn't want all my hard work to go to waste."