It seems Iowa State University students, faculty and staff who ate too much fudge or tubed too many football games over break are hitting the pavement to the nearest work-out facility.

“We are busier in January than in any other month,” said Joel Marsden, assistant manager for Ames Racquet and Fitness.

“We probably have twice as many new members [in January] as our second busiest month.”

February is the second biggest month for fitness clubs with members trying to keep their New Year’s resolutions.

“People don’t believe that New Year’s [resolutions] play such a big role, but when I ask people why they came in, their answer, a lot of times, is ‘I just needed to do something this year,'” Marsden said.

“Weight loss is the big one [resolution], but I hear more often that people just want to feel better. People are a lot more sedentary now than 10-20 years ago,” Marsden said.

People with the goal of working out to feel better will be much more successful than those with the goal of losing weight, he said.

“People get really caught up in weight loss,” Marsden said. “There are nice benefits to losing weight like having your pants fit better, but weight loss can be depressing sometimes.”

He said there are other benefits to exercise besides weight loss.

Working out can provide immediate gratification through stress release, energy increases and better sleep, he said.

With a steady line of sweats-clad exercisers waiting to use Stair Masters, stationary bikes and weight machines, the LIED Recreation Center, has also seen an influx of people working off the holiday pounds.

While Ryan Jenner, a senior in industrial engineering, admitted he was working out to fulfill his New Year’s resolution to lose 15 pounds. Kyle Viesselman said he did not make exercise a resolution for 1997.

“I don’t make [resolutions], because I don’t follow them. I just like exercising,” said Viesselman, a senior in chemical engineering.

He said he will continue to work-out three to four times a week, but may try visiting the recreation facility earlier in the day to avoid the rush.

“It is actually busier than I’ve seen it in months. There are long lines for machines, especially the bench [press],” Jenner said.

“From about 4 (p.m.) to 6:30 (p.m.) it’s real tough to get on some of the equipment,” said Donna Fennema, ISU staff member.

“The stair stepper and some of the weights are the hardest to get on,” she said.

Fennema, who has been at ISU for eight years, said the migration to the recreation center happens every January.

“Always about now everyone is trying to get in shape for spring break. A lot of girls, and guys too, want to get in shape for swimsuit season,” Fennema said.

“Some of the kids you see all the time, but others want to try a new thing,” she said.

Fennema said she thinks exercise has become more of a social activity in the last few years.

The opportunity to work out and still spend time with friends makes the recreation center a popular hang out.

Conversely, Marsden said at Ames Racquet and Fitness, exercisers are more interested in getting a good work out in as short amount of time possible.

Activities like tennis and racquetball, which take longer and require more equipment, are not as popular as they once were, he said.

“Ten years ago people hung out at the health club. Now they are more down to business,” Marsden said.

Aerobics, treadmills, stationary bikes and Stair Master are popular activities at Ames Racquet and Fitness because they accelerate the heart rate in a fairly short amount of time.