CURVES AHEAD GYMS CATER TO WOMEN OF ALL AGES AND FIGURES.

Byline: Peggy Hager  Staff Writer

LANCASTER - JoAnn Chartok was so impressed with an exercise program she discovered in Tehachapi that she decided to bring it to the Antelope Valley.

Chartok is now owner of two of the four Curves For Women 30-minute fitness and weight-loss centers that have recently opened in the Antelope Valley.

``I found Curves in Tehachapi. I went. I fell in love with it,'' Chartok said. ``It's a wonderful way of helping people. It's a program that works.''

Curves locations can be found around the United States, Canada and Spain.

The first center owned by Chartok opened at 2835 W. Ave. L last May. She opened her next center at 727 W. Lancaster Blvd. Dec. 17.

The centers are limited to women, so patrons are not self-conscious about their appearance.

``Me, I was just embarrassed strictly because I was so heavy,'' said Chartok, who has lost 40 pounds using the program.

Patrons use a system of exercise that alternates hydraulic resistance machines with aerobic recovery stations. Customers spend 30 seconds on each machine before moving to the next one.

The machines use fluid rather than weights.

``You work at your own body's capabilities,'' said Chartok.

Corie Doran of Quartz Hill has been working out at the West Avenue L location for one month and is pleased with her progress. She recently had her first weigh-in and was happy to discover that she's lost 12.66 inches and 3.75 pounds. Her goal is to lose a total of 50 pounds.

``It was different from any other exercise place I've ever seen,'' said Doran, a 56-year-old grandmother who said she couldn't find the time to exercise at a gym where she had a membership.

``I felt self-conscious being in front of all these men,'' she added.

She likes the Curves' atmosphere .

``It's like one big family,'' Doran said.

During the month of March, the Curves chain will be hosting the fourth annual Food For Friends food drive. Any member who brings a bag of nonperishable food items, exercises three times a week and loses five pounds and five inches, will be awarded a limited-edition Food For Friends T-shirt.

The food will be donated to Antelope Valley food banks.

In addition, anyone who would like to join Curves and brings in a bag of nonperishable groceries from March 11-15, will have the normal service fee waived. The monthly fee is $29 a month.

(The center at 38709 Tierra Subida is not participating in the food drive.)

There are four Curves for Women centers in the Antelope Valley. The Avenue L center is open 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 3 to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. to noon Saturday. For information, call [phone]. The center on Lancaster Boulevard is open 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday; for information, call [phone].

There are also two centers in Palmdale. The center at 3005 E. Palmdale Blvd, is open 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday; for information, call [phone]. The one at 38709 Tierra Subida, Palmdale, is open 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3:30 to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday; call [phone].

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(color) JoAnn Chartok, owner of two Curves for Women locations, says women feel comfortable in the exercise centers.

John Lazar/Staff Photographer