Many students at West Texas A&M University find kickboxing a fun and challenging form of exercise that helps maintain their health during college.

Colleen Pitts, WT Assistant Women’s Soccer Coach and former college athlete, believes that college students should find a workout routine that best suits their schedule and ability.

“I feel that you have to find what works for you,” Pitts said. “If you want the results you set out to get, then be all in, and be all in for you and no one else.”

Pitts claims that despite being a college athlete, working out and staying in shape has not always been easy. She had to learn to go from being a college athlete to staying in shape on her own.

“It was difficult after my college athletic career ended,” Pitts said. “Your body gets used to the early morning workouts and practices and the constant schedule, and then it just stops.”

The former college athlete knew she would need a coach to make her stay on top of things. She was able to find a system after college that worked for her and held her accountable.

“Fortunately, I was introduced to kickboxing and have found a ‘coach’ and people who keep me accountable for my workouts,” Pitts said. “I found what worked for me in the end.”

Pitts’ workout schedule differs from day to day depending on what is going on that day.

“I have been doing kickboxing Monday, Wednesday and Friday in the mornings for about an hour,” Pitts said. “I have had some Tuesdays and Thursdays that I will get up at 6 a.m. and run around campus with my two dogs.”

Pitts is not the only one who has found ways to stay in shape at WT. The university offers a program called Shape Up through the Virgil Henson Activities Center that allows students to become the teacher of an exercise class. One student found that kickboxing was a class that came naturally to her, and she eventually became the teacher.

“The Shape Up program is a number of workout classes offered through WT,” Jordan Johnson, senior Animal Science major, said. “It has helped me tremendously, specifically Stephanie Stampfli, who used to teach the class. I enjoy teaching kickboxing because it is a pretty rough sport, and I enjoy that kind of stuff I like to be able to take my anger out and be aggressive.”

Johnson had not always been the model college student when it came to health and exercise but when started practicing kickboxing he noticed that with this sport he can increase t levels very easily.

“Out of high school, I got a rodeo scholarship to Clarendon College and spent two years on the rodeo team, then came to WT,” Johnson said. “I gained almost 50 pounds during my time at Clarendon, so when I came to WT, I decided I was going to lose the weight.”

Johnson found Shape up and started her new healthy lifestyle. She believes that working out relieves stress and helps keep the weight off.

“The amount of stress a college student endures can be challenging,” Johnson said. “Some of us stress and gain weight or develop bad eating habits, so it is important to find a healthy lifestyle that works for you.”

Johnson’s kickboxing class is held on Mondays at 5 p.m. and Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. in the Mirror Room on the second floor of the Virgil Henson Activities Center.

“I try to put my health and fitness first,” Tiffany Tipton, senior General Studies major, said. “I try to stay healthy by going to Jordan’s kickboxing class in the AC every week and trying to fit in an hour of exercise every day.”

Tipton believes it is important to keep moving and to make time to be healthy. She knows it is better to make the time for herself.

“This is the body I will have the rest of my life,” Tipton said. “I need to take care of it.”

Pitts encourages students to not feel stressed about working out and exercising. Take time out of their day to start exercising can be the biggest hurdle to overcome.

“If you do not work out one day, then it will be okay,” Pitts said. “We are human, and we want that burger on the weekend, so go for it.”