Gym junkies found Ping Center packed with almost double its usual attendance when they returned to Ohio University for the new year.
On average, about 2,000 visitors go to Ping each day. On the first full day Ping was open this semester — Monday — attendance spiked to 4,279, most likely due to a surge in New Year’s resolutions.
“We don’t necessarily encourage students to come to Ping to work off holiday weight,” said Tasha Westfall, interim assistant director. “We try to encourage students to utilize Ping regularly for their overall health. We do this all year long.”
“Roughly one out of every ten people” stop coming to Ping or end their resolution after the first few weeks,” said Christopher Thomas, a personal trainer at Ping, because they “have it in their mind for a shorter time. They’re bogged down by classes.”
Thompson stressed the importance of working out with a partner, a group of people or a personal trainer, which decreases an individual’s chances of feeling intimidated by the setting.
“People that keep track and write down their progress through a journal or a log are more successful than students who just want to be healthier,” said Juli Miller, an instructor in the Department of Social and Public Health. “You can’t measure that. But going from, for example, 130 pounds to 126 pounds—that, you can measure.”
She also said having a coach, rewarding oneself and increasing day-to-day activities can be beneficial strategies for some people.
“If you were just to walk more, take the stairs more, park further away from your destination to encourage you to walk further — all of those little shortcuts will help increase your activity levels, but you won’t have injury associated with them,” Miller said.
Those who are new to working out should gain as much knowledge as possible about equipment, fitness and the overall nature of exercise before hitting the gym, said Kelly Goodison, a facilities assistant at Ping.
“There’s also a flier on the weight room door that has the time that Ping is most busy and the time that it’s really calm,” Goodison added. “So you can figure out what time you want to come where it’s not too busy and you can get a good workout.”
But just because many people fall off the wagon after the first few weeks doesn’t mean everyone will, Goodison said.
“I would say the ones who want to be super dedicated to it will stay committed, but it will be a lower percentage of people.”
@Jordan_Stickle
js350112@ohiou.edu
