Looking for a Pilates Student Discount? Here's Why We Offer One.

I remember being a senior at Michigan State University when a friend asked if I wanted to join an eight-week fitness challenge. I hadn't worked out consistently since playing high school basketball, so I figured it was probably a good idea. The challenge was simple: two workouts a week for eight weeks.

On the first day there were about 30 people in class, and before we even got started the coach looked around the room and said, "By week eight, fewer than ten of you will still be here."

My friend and I laughed. Yeah, okay. We were convinced we'd be two of the people who finished. So every Tuesday and Thursday we rolled out of bed before sunrise and walked to this little studio just off campus for the 6:00 a.m. class. Eight weeks later, the coach was right. There were six of us left.

So what made working out in college such a challenge for those other 24 people?