By Shauna Scott Rhone
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Have you broken your New Year's resolutions yet? Deby Weik of Independence says she's determined to keep hers: to lose weight. She's already purchased a video copy of Pilates for Dummies.

"However," says Weik, 48, "knowing me, it may never leave the wrapper. I need more motivation and I would never, ever work out unless I was alone ... too distracting."

For other Tristaters with this weighty dilemma, help is as close as your TV's remote control. Today's workout shows run the gamut from yoga to low-impact aerobics to kickboxing.

PBS is the non-cable local leader in fitness shows, with six morning programs on aerobics and yoga (Channels, 48, 16, 14 and 54). Sit and Be Fit stands out as an excellent low-impact show for beginning students. Three yoga programs, Lilias! III and V, Priscilla's Yoga Stretches and Wai Lana Yoga, offer flexibility and de-stressing. Body Electric and Classical Stretch round out the free TV offerings.

On cable, look for fitness shows on Oxygen, WE, ESPN2 and ESPN Classic, Fine Living, The Word Network, The Travel Channel and Lifetime Television, which has been home to television and video dynamo Denise Austin. Her shows and videos broadcast her belief in staying active, no matter what shape you're in.

"The best part about working out at home is the convenience," says Austin, who hosts Daily Workout and Fit and Lite weekday mornings on Lifetime. "You can have your own class right in the privacy of your own home any time you want. You're right there, where you don't have to find a baby sitter. And it's perfect for cross training."

Carol Tomko of the new FitTV cable network says the fast pace of today's lifestyles is a good match for fitness television. Thirty minutes of a good workout and you're out the door.

"People ages 25-54 are interested in a new fitness way of life," says Tomko. "This is a comfortable time of life for them, to be able to integrate fitness and television in the privacy of their homes. It's a huge opportunity for people who haven't figured out how to bring it into their busy lives and still have time for the other important things."

Tomko, the network's general manager, is banking on that opportunity. FitTV's parent company, Discovery Networks, has refashioned the former Health Network to become the go-to channel for fitness, health and nutrition. FitTV, which relaunched Dec. 29, has a wide range of instruction and education components for beginning exercisers, workout addicts and people who want to live a healthier life. The network's shows feature cardio workouts, body conditioning, lifestyle programming and performance sports taught by fitness experts, dietitians and athletes from around the world.

"We hope to appeal to everyone," says Tomko. "Some viewers want to know 'How did Angelina Jolie train for Tomb Raider? On our show, Secrets of Superstar Fitness, we answer that and a lot more.

"There's such a huge variety of approaches to fitness," she says. "For example, you can interact with your own personal trainer who has a show and is available online. Whether it's 6 a.m. or 6 at night, viewers will be able to find the workout they want."

Sixteen other shows are new to the airwaves or carryovers from the Health Network. Combined, they represent 21 hours weekly..

FitTV is locally shown on digital cable (only available on channel 111 on Time Warner and channel 130 on Adelphia).

Denise Austin says women typically find time for others but not themselves.

"As women we find so many excuses for not exercising," she says. "We'll say, 'I'm not a member of a gym so I can't work out.' But it doesn't take a gym to get in shape. If you can go for 10 minutes of my show, add another minute next week and make exercise a habit. Eventually, you'll make it up to 15 minutes and then the full 30. You'll start to burn fat and within six weeks of regular exercise, you will see a difference."

Austin admits she works out only 30 minutes a day, but she does it every day. The key is to just get moving.

"Get started and be on your way to get more energy to do things you love to do. Be consistent with it, and remember, you deserve to look and feel your best."

Exercise programs on the tube

PBS offers Sit and Be Fit (7:30 a.m. Monday-Friday on Channel 14), Lilias! III and V (6:30 a.m. Monday-Friday, Channel 48), Priscilla's Yoga Stretches (6:30 a.m. Monday-Friday, Channel 16), Wai Lana Yoga (6 a.m. Monday-Friday, Channel 54), Body Electric (6:30 a.m. Monday-Friday on Channel 54; 7 a.m. Monday-Friday on Channel 14) and Classical Stretch (6 a.m. Saturdays and 7:30 a.m. Sundays on Channel 54).

Oxygen, WE, ESPN2 and ESPN Classic, Fine Living, the Word Network, the Travel Channel and Lifetime Television all offer exercise shows; consult your television guide or individual Web sites for times and details.

FitTV (formerly the Health Network) offers 16 shows (21 hours a day) on Channel 111 on Time Warner Cable and Channel 130 on Adelphia Cable.

The man who started it

Who started exercise shows on TV? Jack La Lanne, often called the Godfather of Fitness, is a pioneer who opened the first modern health spa in the United States in 1936, and in 1951, brought exercise to TV.

Although in his late 80s, Jack and his wife Elaine still speak all over the world, inspiring people to a better life, physically, mentally and morally.

The original shows are broadcast at 7 a.m. Monday-Friday on ESPN Classic

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E-mail srhone@enquirer.com