With the beginning of a new academic year and a new expanded campus fitness center, now is a great time to embark on a new health and fitness program, says Human Performance and Sport Professor Joe Quatrochi. The good news, he adds, is that it takes less time than many people think to get results. "From a health perspective and a disease prevention perspective, people can get away with far less than they think."

Noting that the majority of Americans are obese, Quatrochi encourages people to simply get going. "We have a new facility here on campus that's light and bright and has lots of new equipment. You don't have to spend hours working out to receive a huge benefit." Everything counts, he adds. "If it takes you 10 minutes to walk to the fitness center from the South Classroom, that counts. If you take your dog for a walk, that counts."

And now, it's more convenient than ever to fit in a workout at lunch or between classes, even if the weather is bad. Earlier this summer, the new Campus Recreation at Auraria fitness center opened, and it features more space and new equipment, including treadmills, stair machines, elliptical trainers, stationary bicycles, free weights, resistance machines, exercise balls and a stretching area.

To achieve health benefits, Quatrochi suggests 30 minutes or more of moderately intense exercise most days of the week. At the new fitness center, a workout might be a full circuit on the resistance training machines to work the upper and lower body. Aerobic work would consist of using the treadmill, exercise bicycle or stair machine. It's important to precede a workout with a warm-up and end it with a cool down, Quatrochi adds.

Faculty and staff may use the center for $75 per semester. The fitness center is in the PER/Events Center, room 110. For more information call Campus Recreation at 303-556-3210 or go to http://www.mscd.edu/~cra.