With New Year’s resolutions fresh on the minds of students and faculty alike, Carmichael Gym has been busier than usual.

Matt Miller, the director of Carmichael Gym, said more people are using the gym at the beginning of the semester than usual.

“In looking at our entrance statistics from the past week, usage is up roughly 50 percent over what it would be for a normal week during the semester,” Miller said. 

Miller said he believes the crowded atmosphere will die down soon.

“Historically, we have seen the push die down after spring break for a couple reasons,” Miller said. “One, the push to get in shape for spring break is over, but also the weather becomes nicer and students take their physical activity outside.”

Students have also noticed an increase in the amount of people working out at the gym to begin the semester.

Hannah LaRoe, a sophomore in textiles, said she enjoys working out on a regular basis. 

She said she has noticed a lot more people working out than usual and said she has tried to avoid the crowds.

“I go as early as possible because it starts to get more crowded after 2 p.m.,” she said.

LaRoe said she has had trouble getting machines she wants as the gym gets busier.

For people who are new to using the gym, it is important to understand how the equipment works and know how to use it properly, Miller said.

“The Department of Campus Recreation does offer free equipment orientations to folks that need instructions on how to use the equipment,” Miller said.

Miller also said students and faculty can always get help learning how to use equipment.

“Students, faculty, or staff can sign up in the fitness suite on the second floor of the Carmichael Recreation Center for that service,” he said. “Or they can always ask one of our students monitoring the fitness center for instructions on how to operate the equipment.”

Miller said Carmichael Gym is working to offer students more incentives for going to the gym.

We are also a collaborative partner with a number of other University departments and Student Body President Jay Dawkins in launching the Healthy State World Tour,” he said. “It is an incentive program that allows students the opportunity to track their physical activity online, and once they meet various milestones they are entered in a drawing for some pretty nice prizes.”

Jeremy Presson, a junior in engineering, also said he thinks the gym is more crowded than at the end of last semester.

He said it was also very busy at the beginning of the 2008 spring semester when students first got back to school, but that it seemed to slack off pretty quickly.  

Presson said he thinks one of the reasons the gym is busier is because students haven’t accumulated a heavy load of projects and homework yet.

“I usually go after I get out of class and it’s convenient for me,” Presson said. 

He said he doesn’t plan to change his usual gym-going activities to avoid the crowds. 

“I usually just try to pick the times with the most ladies working out,” Presson said.