The first few weeks of each new semester brings swarms of students to the CSU Recreation Center with aspirations of being able to work out regularly and stay in shape the rest of the year.

Reality sinks in as the semester progresses and coursework, jobs and other obligations push out the time for physical fitness, Rec Center officials said.

“The busiest time of year for us is at the beginning of fall semester,” said Rec Center Associate Director Cody Frye. “As the semester goes on numbers start to drop a bit, although there’s an uptick once the weather gets colder.”

Card swipes confirm the trend, according to the Rec Center. The first two weeks of class this semester saw almost 46,000 visits, while the second two weeks saw approximately 38,000 visitors enter the Rec Center.

“It’s like New Year’s resolutions,” said senior economics major Jose Rodriguez. “People feel like they want to be fit, start doing the workouts then see how hard it is and start to lose interest.”

Workout partners Mac Dohm and Zack Dickerhoff both said they try to use the center four or five times a week but as the semester stretches on homework and a job make this a tough commitment to keep.

“Everyone’s excited at first so that’s why there’s so many people but it dies down,” said Dohm, a senior political science major. “I work so much so it’s hard for me to make it here as much as I’d like.”

He added, “it’s always nice not to have the crowds” at the end of the semester.

The other high usage time of year is the two weeks before spring break.

“That’s not surprising. People want to do what they can to get in shape and look good if they’re going on vacation,” Frye said.  “After spring break, the numbers really drop off through the rest of the semester.”

Frye explained that he hears many students, especially freshmen, comment that the Rec Center is free to use. That’s not the case, he said. Students pay mandatory fees every semester that goes towards the Rec Center.

“Just because they don’t pay upfront doesn’t mean that they’re not paying for it,” Frye said. “Our goal is for every student to find something about the program that interests them and to use the facility. Having all this in one area on campus is a rarity.”

Senior Reporter Austin Briggs can be reached at news@collegian.com.