DE Assistant Features Editor

Losing weight, bikinis and pumped up bodies are just some of the reasons a few SIUC students say they are sticking with their New Year’s resolutions to exercise more.

Although the Student Recreation Center is used by many students, second semester is the time of year when the building becomes crowded, Jason Green, a Center supervisor and junior in social science from Lawrenceville said.

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This is the time when people make resolutions to work out more, he said. They usually stick with it until spring break.

Warmer weather and the beach are good reasons to get in shape, but bikinis are the real driving force behind her New Year’s resolution, Amy Troue, a senior in special education from Murphysboro, said.

I just feel and look better after I work out, she said. Spring break and swimsuit season are approaching fast. It’s finally the year when I’m going to make sure I stay in shape for spring.

Troue plans to fit a specific exercise time in her daily schedule. She said she is going to make sure she works out at least three times a week.

My schedule is hard, but I’m going to make time to work out after class, she said.

New Year’s resolutions have an unusual way of disappearing mid-month and rekindling again the following year, Emily Robbins, a junior in special education from Fairfield, said.

To make sure she sticks with a regular exercise program, Robbins has recruited her friend Kate Shonkwiler, a sophomore in radio-television from Decatur, to work out with her.

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I’m the one who’s going to have to be mean and call her to keep her going, Shonkwiler said.

Robbins said one of the reasons she is working out is to still fit in her wedding dress in June, while Shonkwiler said she wants to regain lost muscle.

I used to work out all the time, Shonkwiler said. I want to gain my muscle mass I lost back again.

Even people who have a regular work out regime use the new year as a time to improve their exercise program, Jason Freeman, a junior in exercise science from Flora, said.

Freeman said he resolves to build up his body mass this year and lay off the junk food he ate over break.

I want to get bigger, he said. I need to get in better shape and stay consistent in my workouts.

Freeman said participating in sports keeps him actively in sports, but he turns to the television for real inspiration.

People I see on TV keep me motivated, he said. When I see someone the size of Arnold Schwarzenegger, I feel pretty flabby and want to go work out.

John Massie, coordinator of sports medicine, said people beginning to exercise or trying to get back into shape should start slow and set realistic goals.

Don’t expect to see vast improvements in a short amount of time, he said.

Massie said if a person is unsure about a particular exercise machine or program, they should always ask for advice or assistance. But, first and foremost, exercisers should listen to their bodies.

If your body begins to hurt, you should stop, he said. In the beginning of the year, we (sports medicine) see a lot of people with New Year’s resolutions who have hurt themselves because they pushed their bodies too far.