C'MON, GET HEALTHY; REVAMPED FIT TV NETWORK PUMPING IT UP FOR 1999.

Byline: Carol Bidwell Daily News Staff Writer

In the past six weeks, you've eaten most of the chocolate in the Western Hemisphere and downed enough eggnog to nearly fill the Salton Sea.

By the time New Year's Eve has come and gone, there you'll be, just like last year: overweight, overtired and overextended. And vowing that you'll shape up.

But this year, help in keeping that always-made, always-broken resolution could be as close as your television remote control.

Fit tv, a reinvented health-and-fitness cable channel, will hit the airwaves about the time the big, lighted ball drops in Times Square.

The network will be available to 50 percent of viewers who receive TCI Cable's digital package and to GTE Cable viewers in Camarillo. Viewers of the FX and Fox Sports Net channels will also get daily one-hour samples of fit tv's programming.

The network was originally founded in 1993 by Jake Steinfeld of ``Body by Jake'' fame as an all-workout station, then known as FiT TV. When Fox bought the workout network from Pat Robertson's Family TV in 1997, Fox broadened the focus beyond simply exercise to also include shows on healthful living.

The new network doesn't only want to help reshape thighs and build rock-hard abs. Instead, fit tv - owned 92 percent by Fox/Liberty Networks and 8 percent by Steinfeld - aims to introduce a sense of fitness into people's entire lives.

``Working out is not your life,'' said Beth Schueler, director of marketing and one of the three founders of fit tv. `` `Fit' means a whole, complete lifestyle: nutritionally, emotionally, spiritually, physically, financially. We're not taking away the workouts, but we're adding aromatherapy, healthy cooking, yoga, outdoor adventures, all sorts of things people are interested in. We're making it '90s.''

Fit tv will initially offer nine shows produced at Media City in Burbank; in February and March, two more shows will be added to the lineup. Shows will be repeated during the day so viewers can fit advice, chat and workouts into the most convenient times of their day.

One program, ``Fitting It In,'' will air at 2 and 5 p.m. daily and fits right into the station's mission statement of being practical and varied. The show sandwiches a 25-minute workout between two segments on how to make healthful meals.

The entire show is jammed into an hour, proving to viewers that they don't need a major time commitment to eat better and work out.

``We want to make this material and information accessible,'' said Jim Schiebler, co-host of the show. ``We want to demystify a lot of things. We want people to be able to implement these tidbits and live healthy lifestyles like us. We want to motivate and encourage and provide information for the viewers.''

Although fit tv shows are designed to appeal to both sexes, there's a definite push to attract female viewers ages 18-49, who as a group - marketers say - spent more than $333 billion last year on items ranging from lotions and potions to minivans.

``Think of it as `Skirtcenter,' '' trumpets a hot-pink flier for the revamped network, designed to appeal to potential sponsors. ``Men have their sports shows, their action shows and `Babewatch.' What do women have? Practically nothing. What do they want? A 24-hour network just for them ... It's the television destination for women seeking a healthy body, spa beauty secrets, or a killer souffle recipe.''

Marc Krigsman, a network founder and vice president of program production and development, said he, Schueler and network president Pyper Davis are trying to ``put together a truly unique group of programs so that women can turn to us any time of day and find information, workouts and entertainment that are relevant to them.''

The trio has an ambitious goal: During the first quarter of 1999, they hope viewers in 10 million households nationwide will tune in to one or more shows.

``Fit Resort & Spa'' is the grabber, a 30-minute sampler that both sets an informal, friendly tone and offers bits and pieces of exercise, cooking, conversation and other subjects that the network's other shows will explore in more depth, Schueler said.

Hosts of the show - former MTV VJ and actor Mark Goodman, and Andi Matheny, former host of the Learning Channel's ``Essentials'' - are fit tv's answer to Regis and Kathie Lee, without the shrieks and bravado. The two admit they're learning as they go in this new venture.

``We're not experts, we're just people,'' said Goodman, a Woodland Hills resident. ``If people see us trying to do this stuff, maybe they'll try it, too. Me, I'll do anything, I'll get into a hot tub. I'll belly dance. I'm open to just about anything.''

Matheny, a Studio City resident, said she's naturally curious and relishes learning new things, from new types of workouts to talking to authors about their theories on how people can improve their lives.

On one show, Los Angeles exercise guru Karen Voight, trainer to entertainer Tina Turner and model Elle McPherson, showed the hosts a new exercise routine using sand-filled green plastic balls as free weights. After the workout, everybody but Voight was panting, and she was still urging the hosts on.

``If you're on the phone, you can fit a little of this in,'' Voight said, pantomiming holding a telephone with one hand and hoisting a green ball with the other. ``It sounds funny, but that's what we need to do, fit exercise in.''

Daily News Staff Writer Keith Marder contributed to this story.

What's on fit tv

In addition to ``Fit Resort & Spa,'' fit tv's signature show, the network's other initial programming will include:

``Fitting It In'' (60 minutes): A gourmet cooking segment followed by a predinner workout that can be done at home.

``American Health & Fitness'' (30 minutes): Offers information on nutrition and exercise and how they fit into a healthy, balanced lifestyle.

``Bodies in Motion'' (30 minutes): Former decathlon champion Gilad Janklowicz teaches easy aerobic routines.

``Fitness Adventure'' (30 minutes): A magazine format that takes viewers across the United States to enjoy outdoor fitness activities such as mountain climbing, camping, white-water rafting, bicycling and hiking.

``Forever Young With Bill Frank'' (30 minutes): Geared toward baby boomers, celebrity trainer Bill Frank shares diet, exercise and grooming tips.

``Naturally Fit'' (30 minutes): Will get the viewer outside with such topics as learning street smarts, becoming familiar with herbal medicine and practicing emergency first aid.

``Yoga Zone'' (30 minutes): Allan Finger of the Yoga Zone Gyms will start with beginners' workouts and progress to intermediate and advanced techniques, allowing viewers to improve their skills from week to week.

``Power Living by Jake'' (30 minutes): Jake Steinfeld, in programs taped at Universal Studios before a live audience, will offer talk and fitness demonstrations with celebrities.

Designed to debut in February and March are:

``Fit on Location'' (30 minutes): Visits with celebrity guests, who talk about how they relieve stress and stay fit.

``Fighting Fit'' (30 minutes): Fat-burning aerobic exercises that incorporate movements of eight martial arts disciplines, including tai chi, karate and kick boxing.

CAPTION(S):

4 Photos, Box

PHOTO (1--Cover--Color) CAN DO

Fit tv wants you to work out, eat right.

(2) Stage manager Ian Schlientz, left, works keeps an eye out for the technical aspects while Andi Matheny and Mark Goodman banter on ``Fit Resort & Spa,'' on fit tv.

Charlotte Schmid-Maybach/Special to the Daily News

(3) Jim Shiebler and Mia Finnegan whip up something healthy on ``Fitting It In,'' which combines cooking segments and a 25-minute workout.

(4) Jake Steinfeld

BOX: What's on fit tv (see text)