Sweat pours down her back as the sun beats down on her. Her feet pound on the pavement in a rhythmic pattern. Left, right, left, right, left right. She’s been running for 58 minutes. “Two more minutes,” she continuously chants in her head. “Two more minutes.”

Freshman Jasmine Nickel works out four times a week. She mainly likes to run and train for soccer to improve her skills. “I work out because I don’t want to be fat. I want to stay healthy and feel good about myself,” she said.

Working out is beneficial not only short term such as maintaining a healthy weight and being physically fit, but also in the long run to lengthen one’s life. Consistently exercising is essential in staying healthy whether that may be going to the gym or going for a run around the neighborhood.

Nickel doesn’t like to work out at the gym and prefers the comfort of her own home. “There’s less pressure when I work out at my house,” Nickel said.

Freshman Jevan Leyh prefers to work out at home. “I have a home gym downstairs,” Jevan said. “I don’t have to pay to belong to a gym.”

According to Leyh, he works out “to stay in shape and look good for the ladies.”

Leyh works out fives times a week. Some exercises he does include benching, curls, triceps, shoulder shrugs, and crunches.

According to a survey conducted by The Patriot  on April 24, 82.6 percent of students go to the gym to stay fit.

Senior Tia Miceli agrees. “Working out keeps you healthy at a young age. It’s a confidence booster also,” she said.

Miceli used to work out three times a week. However, she is now taking a break from the gym and relaxing. “I just took a break,” she said. “I got lazy, but I would like to start again because senior week is coming up.”

According to Miceli, benefits of working out include “being able to walk upstairs and not lose your breath.”

According to senior Julia Wilbert, “Being able to fit in all the clothes and look good” is another benefit.

Unlike Nickel, Miceli and Wilbert enjoy going to the gym to work out.

The majority of students, 54.2 percent, belong to a gym. The Arena Club is the most popular, with 27.7 percent of students owning membership there.

“You see everyone else working out, and it motivates you,” Wilbert said. “The gym also has better equipment.”

To work out, Miceli uses the treadmill and elliptical. “At the gym, you can also bring friends,” Miceli said.

Junior Rawlison Zhang was motivated to first start working out after wrestling season ended his freshman year.

 According to Zhang, he works out “to stay fit and not gain fat.” His goal is to maintain his body weight.

“It’s fun in general,” Zhang said. “Once you start running, you want to keep moving. Lifting weights develops muscles, and males like muscle.”

Zhang also is conscious of what he eats. “I don’t like fried foods because they’re way too greasy, and they make me break out,” he said. “Instead, I eat healthier foods like wheat bread, 2% milk, and baby spinach.”

However, Zhang is not alone in eating healthy. 73.3 percent of students, are on a general weight loss diet.

According to Zhang, “Eating healthy and working out prevents you from getting diseases. Your body is gonna break down if you don’t.”

Sydney Setree is the Print Chief for The Patriot and jcpatriot.com.