When the weather gets cold, most people can't wait to curl up on the sofa in front of the warm glowing lights of the television. But those holiday tendencies to lounge around and eat can lead many to get out of shape.
"Just because it's cold outside doesn't necessarily mean you have to stay inside," said Lauren McLaughlin, a fitness and wellness graduate assistant at The University of Memphis.
For those students who can't stand the cold, the recreation center will be open during the holidays, but with slightly different hours.
The Campus Recreation Intramural Services center will be open normal hours until Dec. 8. Those hours are Monday through Thursday 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., Friday 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. The current pool hours are Monday through Friday 5:30 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m, Saturday at noon to 5 p.m. and Sunday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Beginning Dec. 8, the recreation center will resume normal hours but will close daily at 7 p.m. After this weekend, the recreation center will also be closed on weekends during the break. The center will return to normal hours Jan. 17.
Steve Whistler, the director of C.R.I.S., said winter is a great time for students to start working out at the recreation center.
"This time of year is the perfect time to begin because it's cold, rainy and most people would prefer being inside," he said.
Whistler said that for students who like doing cardiovascular exercise, the recreation center has an excellent setup.
"For someone who enjoys walking or jogging, we've got the best scenario for this weather," Whistler said. "We've got three different types of treadmills."
Whistler said the different modes on the treadmills - such as quickstart, where you can select your own speed, hill mode and a personal training mode with intervals - is what "makes it more challenging and interesting."
"You've got the ability to do your workout in different ways on a treadmill," he said.
If you're worried about missing your favorite show, most of the treadmills have individual TV screens so students can watch "any TV station that's available on our cable network."
The recreation center also offers basketball, racquetball and swimming.
"We've got an indoor pool, so no matter what the weather is doing you can come in and swim," Whistler said.
Suzanne Fenech, the aquatics and safety coordinator, said the indoor pool is heated to 82 degrees, which makes it not only warm but also a great way to keep in shape.
"Swimming is one of the best forms of exercise because it doesn't impact your joints as much as running or walking, and it also works all of the muscles in your body," she said.
Fenech also said swimming is a great way to knock out your strength and cardio workouts.
"When you swim, you're using your muscles and improving your cardio at the same time without the impact," she said.
McLaughlin said that for those who are motivated enough to continue exercising outdoors, bundling up is necessary.
"Layers are really important," she said. "It's really important to keep your ears and hands warm."
McLaughlin also said that if you move your workout indoors, cross-training on different machines is a good way to combat any boredom.
