The final leaf has crisped beneath our steps; we’ve entered the season some of us have dreaded since it last departed. The sun is setting earlier and rising later, the rain has turned into snow, and the walks around campus are getting tougher by the day. Winter has arrived. While some people find comfort in lounging around and enjoying indoor activities, others tend to struggle a bit more during this time. According to the Mayo Clinic, about 44% of college students experience seasonal depression during the winter months. While there are plenty of ways to achieve a dopamine boost when the weather has me down, my favorite way to lift my spirits is working out.
The Journal of Psychology released a series of experiments that were reported on by PhyPost. The first two experiments involved taking PET scans of the male participants minds before and after doing exercises and the third experiment’s goal was to “assess whether a combination of EMS and voluntary exercise could replicate the reaction time improvements seen in traditional exercise.” Through this study, professionals believe that working out can increase dopamine levels by 30-40%, which can make an impactful difference when dealing with seasonal depression. At Stout, we are incredibly fortunate to have two different gyms on campus: The Recreation Complex and the North Point Fitness Center. Over the past few weeks, I have been examining both locations, so I’m able to report which is best for your fitness preferences.
The Recreation Complex is located on Main Campus and features not only a large fitness center with weights and cardio equipment, but also the rock-climbing wall, the Johnson Field House, and a golf room. The fitness center is on the lower level of the Rec Complex and is open from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. throughout the week, with slightly shorter hours on the weekend. I prefer a spacious gym, and the rec definitely suffices with its tall ceilings and wide space. As mentioned, the Rec Center is on Main Campus and the building houses plenty of sports team practices, meaning this gym can get BUSY if you attend during peak hours. My greatest tip is to avoid the midday rush if at all possible. Your workout will be much more successful if there are machines and weights actually available!
The Rec Fitness Center has a plethora of cardio equipment, including treadmills, ellipticals, and row machines. It also has a Smith machine, as well as free weights and benches. There is also a cable tower that has a row bench, and a lateral pull-down bench built in. In my opinion, the machines in the Rec Center are part of the main reason I believe this gym is preferred. There is a wide variety of upper body machines available, and the machines that work leg muscles are of great quality overall. The leg press is excellent, and the pec/rear delt fly machine is a great addition to an upper body day. There is also a decent amount of stretching and core equipment to begin and wrap up your workout.
The North Point Fitness Center is located in Fleming Hall underneath the North Point dining hall. It is a smaller space filled with natural light from the windows near the cardio equipment, but the lighting reflects throughout the weight-lifting section because of the many mirrors throughout. The area itself is quite tidy and well-organized. There’s one water fountain in the workout room, as well as restrooms and another fountain directly outside the doors. Possibly the most notable aspect of the North Point Gym is that it’s open and available to Stout’s student body 24/7, allowing for a workout fix at any time of day or night!
The North Point gym has a major cardio advantage: the Stairmaster. While this machine is exhausting, it’s an incredible form of cardio, which is why it’s so popular. There are also treadmills and ellipticals if the Stairmaster isn’t your thing. The gym also features a Smith machine as well as a weight rack and benches, similar to the Rec Center. While there isn’t a cable tower, there is a cable machine that can help with exercises such as glute kickbacks and cable flies. There are fewer machines in the North Point gym than the Rec Center features. My biggest complaint, which I’m willing to admit could just be a “me problem,” is that the leg curl machine was painful to use. The padding that sits on top of the quads to keep them supported while working out dug into my thighs, making it nearly impossible to complete my sets. The core and stretching area was well stocked with weighted exercise balls and abdominal machines.
In conclusion, I believe that either location can lead to a good workout. There are certain areas the Rec Center thrives in that the North Point gym doesn’t, and vice versa! If you’re looking for a more intimate location for a workout and prioritize cardio, the North Point gym might be the best fit for you. If you thrive with a crowd and prefer a more intense weight-lifting session, the Rec Center gym may be calling your name. Remember, every workout is successful if you get to the gym; that’s half the struggle!
