Member of the Month - Erica & Melissa

 To shed an alternative light on the AggieFit "Member of the Month" column, dual members will be showcased for the month July. Melissa Ojeda (right) and Erica Ceniceros (left), students at NMSU, can be found at the Activity Center regularly, displaying a joint effort towards taxing workouts and phenomenal consistency.

Melissa, a sophomore Anthropology major, and Erica, a sophomore Biology major, take advantage of many amenities the AC boasts, including its weight room, cardio room and indoor climbing wall. Performing many of their weekly workouts together, Melissa and Erica express that their drive to reach their physical peak has helped one another become consistent and state that having a partner to train with has kept things enjoyable.

They report that their strength routine is composed primarily of a total-body training format, utilizing both free weights and machines. Always preceded by a rigorous abdominal routine, their strength routine also emphasizes alternating muscle groups each day to avoid conducting the same workout consecutively.

To round out their weekly routine, Melissa and Erica also supplement their workouts with regular Zumba class participation and jogging workouts in the great outdoors.

Melissa and Erica are no strangers to the fitness realm as they both have maintained a considerable amount of physical activity throughout their lives. Erica reports participating in softball and soccer throughout her youth, practicing Tae Kwon Do since the age of 10 and ballet since high school. Her interests have since shifted towards strength and cardiovascular training after enrolling at NMSU.

Melissa reports being active her entire life and beginning a consistent workout regimen since the age of 12.

"I was a very dedicated cross country and track runner in high school and ever since then I cannot go a day without running," Melissa said.   

Within the fitness realm, strength training is often frowned upon by the female population. Concerns of gaining excessively masculine characteristics and becoming inflexible are common practice. Although immense amounts of scientific studies and literature published within recent decades have debunked these concerns to the highest level, Melissa and Erica share their opinions and suggestions to the female population regarding this subject:

 "We feel it is a common misconception that females gain male characteristics because women, for the most part, will not gain the amounts of muscle mass equivalent to a male. Our bodies are really not genetically capable of this without the use of harmful anabolic chemicals.  The benefits we have experienced from consistent weight training are muscle tone and strength.  We've also noticed that we are able to reshape specific areas of our body that we may be having problems with. As for inflexibility, we attempt to stretch as often as possible in order to not only keep flexibility characteristics maintained, but to improve these characteristics as well."

When asked of the overall benefits of training with a partner they report:

"Working with a partner assists greatly because it is easier to stay motivated when you have a friend who is counting on you to show up as well as to push you during the work outs.  It is also great because we make sure our workouts are always fun!" 

Melissa and Erica offered motivational advice to the general public in regards to how they view physical activity impacts their lives:

"Incorporating physical activity within one's lifestyle is important in maintaining a healthy body and mind. Exercising increases one's energy but also decreases one's stress levels which are two very important aspects in a college student's life. Also, exercising releases endorphins which are the brain's happy chemicals! Yay!"

And motivational advice given to beginners pursuing a fitness program?

"Consistency is key! Once you get into a routine it comes easily and you will feel less inclined to skip workouts since you are so accustomed to it. Also, for beginners: try not to do too much at once until your body is used to the physical activity. Just believe in yourself and never give up!"

To leave their final mark, Melissa and Erica rely upon the following quote from Arnold Shwarzenneger as a mantra to their fitness achievements:

"The mind is the limit. As long as the mind can envision the fact that you can do something, you can do it, as long as you really believe 100 percent."

Know someone who deserves to be recognized? If you would like to nominate an individual affiliated with the NMSU community for the AggieFit "member of the month", please contact: smeyer@nmsu.edu or 646-5178