Trends at the University Student Recreational Complex indicate yearly spikes in fair-weather fitness enthusiasts. Last year’s numbers indicate that UREC visitation is at its prime right now and will drop off in a few weeks.
After the beginning of the spring 2012 semester, about 3,300 students visited the UREC daily, according to the Coordinator of Marketing at the Department of University Recreation Kendra Bayne. That participation rate dropped approximately 39 percent in February, as only 2,000 students entered the facility per day.
To prevent students from becoming part of that 39 percent, Lacee Breeden, coordinator of fitness and wellness at the Department of University Recreation, offered five tips to remain motivated: set realistic goals, start slowly, make it fun, bring a friend and make a schedule.
“There definitely is an increase in Group X participation and personal training registration [in January],” said Mark Romanowski, fitness and wellness graduate assistant and personal trainer.
Using unfamiliar equipment and seeing people who have already met — or exceeded — the exercise goal someone is pursuing can be intimidating, Romanowski said. He said encountering these scenarios at the gym may discourage individuals from reaching their fitness goals if they lack guidance and a partner.
“What they need to focus on is themselves and only themselves,” he said.
Bayne said students go to the UREC less frequently once classes begin.
Accounting sophomores and cousins Garrett and Jared Arceneaux have selected a particularly rigorous New Year’s resolution.
“Our New Year’s resolution was to become fit enough to join the Navy SEALs, but not to actually join the Navy SEALs,” Jared said.
The Department of University Recreation will hold a new program, Tiger Fit, from Feb. 4 to April 19, Breeden said.
The Tiger Fit program is free and has a point system for participation in certain classes and intramural sports. People with enough points in April can use them to redeem prizes and push themselves closer to receiving a grand prize that has yet to be announced.
The goal of the Tiger Fit program is to encourage students to sustain a healthy lifestyle year-round — not just through January or February, Breeden said.
Tiger Fit also offers educational classes that do not include physical exertion.
“We have actually been collaborating together with the [Student] Health Center to help us on this program,” Breeden said.
Some of the classes revolve around eating healthy and they address more efficient ways to exercise, she said.
Trends at the University Student Recreational Complex indicate yearly spikes in fair-weather fitness enthusiasts, and last year’s numbers indicate that the UREC visitation is at its prime right now and will drop off in a few weeks.
After the beginning of the spring 2012 semester, about 3,300 students visited the UREC daily, according to Coordinator of Marketing at the Department of University Recreation Kendra Bayne. That participation rate dropped approximately 39 percent in February, as only 2,000 students entered the facility per day. In order to prevent students from becoming part of that 39 percent, Lacee Breeden, coordinator of fitness and wellness at the Department of University Recreation,offered five tips to remain motivated: set realistic goals, start slowly, make it fun, bring a friend and make a schedule.
“There definitely is an increase in Group X participation and personal training registration [in January],” said Mark Romanowski, fitness and wellness graduate assistant and personal trainer.
Using unfamiliar equipment and seeing people who have already met — or exceeded — the exercise goal someone is pursuing can be intimidating, he said. Romanowski said encountering these scenarios at the gym may discourage individuals from reaching their fitness goal if the individual lacks guidance and a partner.
“What they need to focus on is themselves and only themselves,” he said.
Bayne said students go to the UREC less frequently once classes begin.
Accounting sophomores and cousins Garrett and Jared Arceneaux have selected a particularly rigorous New Year’s resolution.
“Our New Year’s resolution was to become fit enough to join the Navy SEALS, but not to actually join the Navy SEALS,” Jared said.
The Department of University Recreation will also be holding a new program, Tiger Fit, from February 4 to April 19, Breeden said.
The Tiger Fit program is free and has a point system for participation in certain classes and intramural sports. People with enough points in April can use them to redeem prizes and push themselves closer to receiving a grand prize that has yet to be announced.
The goal of the Tiger Fit program is to encourage students to sustain a healthy lifestyle year-round and, not just through January or February, Breeden said.
Tiger Fit also offers educational classes that do not include physical exertion.
“We have actually been collaborating together with the Health Center to help us on this program,” Breeden said. Some of these classes revolve around eating healthily and address more efficient ways to exercise, she said.
Accounting sophomore Garrett Arceneaux, left, helps fellow accounting sophomore and first cousin Jared Arceneaux, right, with his push-up set in the UREC on January 13, 2013. They both have the New Year's resolution to meet the Navy Seal's fitness requirements just to see if they can do it.
