Ryder goers should be mindful of others

February 25, 2008 —

We have been in 2008 for almost two whole months and it looks like some students are keeping up with one of their New Year's resolutions.

In our society it seems that the start of a new year signifies a need to create resolutions about how we are going to better ourselves during the next 12 months.

A popular self-promise includes "to get in better shape" or "to lose those extra pounds."

Advertisements about how to fulfill these promises, through gym memberships to weight loss drugs, seem to run non-stop for at least the first couple weeks of January.

I don't think anyone should waste their money on the newest miracle weight loss drug. Instead, they should use that money to pay for a gym membership or to invest in fitness DVDs because hard work is usually what pays off in the end.

SVSU students can use their free access to the Ryder Center to do what others pay memberships for. From my trips to the Ryder's fitness center, I believe that a number of students agree.

Lately, the fitness center has been busier then when I have gone during past semesters. While this may be good for those getting in shape, it is annoying when the machines you want to use are all in use and other students are waiting on the side for a chance to grab a machine as soon as someone leaves.

Personally, I like going on the elliptical machines with the moving arms or the bikes with a back rest. During my two recent trips to the gym I found myself being one of those students who slowly walked up to the machines, waiting to get on one when someone left.

I have noticed that other gyms ask their members to limit their workouts to 30 minutes on a machine, so I'm hoping that students who use the fitness center will try to do the same. This doesn't mean that you can't get a solid hour workout at the gym, just try to mix it up with more than one machine or by lifting weights for a while

Another alternative, which I have done, is to do a workout in the pool.

There are down times when not too many people are swimming. Lately, I have found that Friday in the late afternoon and Sunday in the early afternoon to be good times for a crowd-free swim.

When I go swimming I usually do laps, which can be very relaxing especially when you can hear the music playing in the background.

I have also seen others doing their own fitness routines in the pool with laps and kickboards.

This gets me back to my original statement that some students are sticking to their New Year's resolutions by hitting the gym to get in shape. While it is good that so many students are trying to get in shape, they need to be courteous of others who are trying to do the same.