It's been said that college students don't get enough sleep. They don't get enough to eat, they don't get enough free time. To add to the list, they don't get enough exercise.

Mike Morse, director of programs for exercise and sport activity, said many students do not set their priorities to include exercise.

"That's one of the reasons we're such big boosters of the (exercise and sport activity) program here," Morse said.

Morse's belief that students don't exercise enough is based on two criteria -- his definition of an ideal exercise program and his definition of fitness.

An ideal exercise program consists of an activity that decreases stress and increases the heart rate, done for more than 20 minutes at a time three or more times a week, Morse said.

Morse considers fitness to be the ability to carry out normal daily activities without undue stress.

"It all depends on how you define fitness," Morse said, citing the example that opera singer Luciano Pavarotti is obese but might be fit enough to carry out his daily routine.

The key to fitness is regular exercise sustained over a long period of time, said Tom Griffiths, director of aquatics for intercollegiate athletics.

Many students start off the semester balancing classes, jobs and social lives and don't make room for exercise in their schedules, said Griffiths, who runs the Fitness Loft in McCoy Natatorium.

"Studies will show that people will work out if they can fit it into their schedule," Griffiths said.

Chip Harrison, strength training specialist in the athletic department, agreed that time is a big factor in whether students will exercise.

"You need to pinpoint the things that are important to you -- classes, jobs and socializing," Harrison said. "With 24 hours in a day, it's hard to fit exercise in."

Geography may also play a role in whether students exercise.

"It depends on where you are, too," said Joanne Papinchak (senior-exercise and sport science), a trainer at the Fitness Loft.

She said a lot of students exercise more at school, where there are more facilities, than at home.

Another reason for not exercising is that college students are at an age where they think they're immortal, Morse said.

Harrison agreed, saying, "Most college students are not worrying yet about things like cardiovascular disease."

Students must make exercise a priority if they want to stick with it, Morse said. Goal-setting is also important.

Morse recommended listing the expected benefits of an exercise program as well as the roadblocks you might encounter, such as a penchant for late-night snacks.

"If you set goals, you're less likely to stop. One of the biggest stumbling blocks is that they don't see themselves as ever being able to get in shape, " Morse said.

"(People) that don't exercise probably don't care that much," said Lisa Anderson (junior-business administration). "Some people say just walking back and forth across campus is enough."

Also, people new to exercise find it really is hard work, Harrison said.

"It's not like the beer commercials," he said.

Another important factor in succeeding at an exercise program is doing something you enjoy, whether it be aerobics, weightlifting or even a game of pick-up basketball.

"If you don't enjoy it, don't do it," Morse said. "People can get discouraged when something isn't as easy as it looks. But if you enjoy it it will help you get through the drudgery of learning the sport."

Some people do drag themselves to a gym even though they may hate it, Harrison said.

"It's like eating your vegetables. You might not like it but you realize it's important," he said.

In fact, the most enjoyment from exercise may be the satisfaction afterward, Griffiths said.

"I think most people would say they don't enjoy it while they're doing it," he said.

Michelle Humphrey (sophomore-elementary education) said she often has to get motivated to go to a workout at the Fitness Loft.

"But I always feel better when I exercise. Always," she said.