Photo illustration by CHRIS CODUTO/Arizona Daily Wildcat Pre-physiological sciences sophomore Carmine Vincifora demonstrates how not all equipment can be easily used. Feeling awkward while using a piece of exercise equipment, like this fitness ball, can deter some students from using it again.

UA students share their exercise habits and favorite ways to burn calories while having fun

Nearly half of the fall semester is over, and for some students the fast food, irregular sleeping patterns and alcohol consumption is starting to take a toll.

At first it might show up in the little things: Your pants are a little harder to button than they were in August, or people flat out start mooing at you when you walk by.

But there are plenty of ways to combat the bulge; it's just a matter of knowing how, as some students have discovered.

History junior Brianne Pekar visits the Student Recreation Center about four times a week, where she enjoys exercising on the Precor machines, which simulate the elliptical motion of running.

"(The precor machines) give you a really good workout. It burns a lot of calories," she said.

Helena Hancock, an undeclared freshman, said she also enjoys working out on the Precor machines.

"It really works your butt," she said.

Both Pekar and Hancock said, however, that they have also found exercises that don't work as well for them.

"I don't like the stair machines," Pekar said. "Maybe I just do something wrong, but I don't feel like I get a good workout or anything."

There's not really a workout that's bad. - Jesus Vasquez Rec Center weight room monitor

Hancock said she is "not a big fan" of running, and one of the weirdest exercises she ever had to do was during volleyball practice in high school when her coach made her perform lunges and "defensive slides" around the courts.

"You just look really silly doing them," she said.

Sometimes feeling awkward is enough to get some to stay away from a particular workout or piece of equipment.

Sean Johnson, an electrical engineering freshman, said he first tried using a fitness ball a couple of weeks ago, but he felt strange sitting on it.

"I don't try that anymore," he said.

Jason Geis, an optical sciences graduate student, had a similar experience with the fitness ball.

"I tried that ab ball, and I looked pretty stupid," he said.

Geis instead sticks to playing racquetball with Johnson and others.

"I like the challenge of beating everyone I play," Geis said, adding that he wins about half the time.

It seems everybody has a favorite of their own when it comes to workout techniques.

Liberal arts freshman Robert Canzler said he also likes favors racquetball.

"I like when you can play three-on-three," he said. "It's good competition and you can really make friends."

Canzler said he visits the Rec Center at least four times a week, but mostly to use the free-weight equipment and play basketball.

Canzler said he also enjoys activities such as downhill mountain biking, which he used to do at home in New York.

He used to catch a ride up a mountain on a ski lift and then bike down the snowless ski trails.

Others prefer less-extreme workouts.

Criminal justice sophomore Jesus Vasquez works at the Rec Center as a weight room monitor, and he said one his favorite pieces of equipment is the treadmill.

"It keeps me going at the same pace," he said.

Vasquez said the craziest thing he's ever tried on the treadmill was running 10 miles.

Even though it's a long run, Vasquez still has some control over the difficulty level. "It depends on how fast I go," he said.

It is not uncommon for students to spend hours working out in the Rec.

Pekar said one of her friends works out seven days a week for four hours, spending two hours per session on cardio and two hours on weightlifting.

While many students choose to visit the Rec Center, you can also work out in the comfort of your home with your own free weights or fitness ball.

"There's not really a workout that's bad," Vasquez said.