Kimberly Garrison

NOW THAT IT'S a new year, why not take your fitness routine up another notch - literally - with an aerial workout?

That's precisely what I did a week ago with professional aerialist Shana Kennedy at her Air Play studio on Greene Street in Germantown.

Shana fell in love with the circus as a kid growing up in Natick, Mass. At 15, she mastered the unicycle, then moved on to juggling. While a student at George Washington University, she made a bold move, taking a year off to pursue her passion at Circomedia, the academy of circus arts in Bristol, England.

"Going to circus school really crystallized it for me," Kennedy recalled. "There was really no respect in the U.S. for circus performers. In Europe there are circus schools everywhere. The government funds the circus culture like art. It showed me it was possible."

And possible it is, as this this 30-year-old wife and mother who's expecting her third child certainly showed me. Shana brought out my inner aerialist. Thanks to her, I have yet another cool way to have fun, get into shape and - ahem - test my courage.

THURSDAY, JAN. 11, 2007

• 2:00 p.m. WOMEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Drexel plays Hofstra at the Daskakakis Athletic Center, Philadelphia. Call 215-895-1999.
• 6:00 p.m. GROUP TRAINER BIKE RIDE: Every Tuesday and Thursday night thru the winter, unless circumstances prohibit, there is a group trainer ride 6:10 at Cycle Sport. We follow training videos for a 40min to 1hr workout, not including warm up and cool down. People wishing to "ride" with us need only bring their bike and trainer. The workout is as hard or easy as you wish, so riders of all abilities are welcome. Contact Harry at 610-565-9535.
• 6:30 p.m. TRAIL BY NIGHT BIKE RIDE: Leave Corner Ketch Development (call for directions) for a ride on paved or gravel roads through the White Clay Preserve. You need a hybrid or mountain bike with a set of good lights for the front and at least a flicker light for the rear. There are a few spots where there are ruts in the road so a 10W light beam for the front should be used at a minimum. Bring your sense of adventure. NO GO if the temp is below 40 degrees at the start of the ride (www.weather.com for Newark, DE). We're afraid of ice forming in spots that may be hard to see. For more information, contact Mario Nappa at 302-239-1179.
• 6:00 p.m. ALTERNATIVE TO TRAINING INSIDE HIKE: Social Event, Two Hours +. Come join Suzie (Chesapeake Bay Retreiver) & I for a hike in Fairmount Park. Meet in the parking lot on Bells Mill Road (west side of the path). Bring hiking boots, appropriate clothing and a light. We will hike the hills going out and come back on Forbidden Drive. Any questions, give me a call during the day. Contact Richard Terry at 215-654-5670.
  

(Photo: Steve Falk / Daily News)

NOW THAT IT'S a new year, why not take your fitness routine up another notch - literally - with an aerial workout?

That's precisely what I did a week ago with professional aerialist Shana Kennedy at her Air Play studio on Greene Street in Germantown.

Shana fell in love with the circus as a kid growing up in Natick, Mass. At 15, she mastered the unicycle, then moved on to juggling. While a student at George Washington University, she made a bold move, taking a year off to pursue her passion at Circomedia, the academy of circus arts in Bristol, England.

IF YOU ARE like most people, going on a diet probably topped your list of resolutions for 2007. The problem is that most people fall off the proverbial diet wagon about as quickly as they get on.

(In fact, almost two weeks into the new year you might have fallen off already!)

I have tried my fair share of diets, too. However, I've discovered that the secret to dieting success is cheating. Yes, that's right. I said it and I mean it: I'm a big-time cheater.

Through years of trial and error, I have come to realize that if I eat sensibly 80 to 85 percent of the time, I can sneak in treat cheats 15 to 20 percent of the time and not wreck my diet or my waistline.

Besides, with cheating I don't get bored or frustrated. Instead, I maintain full freedom and flexibility to have it my way.

Here's the latest Philly Fitness and Health Podcast. This week Kimberly talks to Brian Hill, who founded Femme Athletic, a line of activewear for athletic women. Brian talks about how and why he started the company and about their new line of iPod ready workout gear. Be fit, be strong and be your best with Philly Fitness and Health.

THURSDAY, JAN. 18, 2007

• 8:45 a.m. NUTRITION INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING-MT. HOLLY 2007: 895 Rancocas Road, Suite 3, Mount Holly, NJ. Meet for individual counseling with a registered dietitian who will work with your food preferences & develop a strategy to achieve your goals. Nutrition advice for diabetes, allergies, gastrointestinal disorders, etc. Different fee plans are available depending upon the number of visits you need. Please note that our cancellation policy requires 48 hours advance notice, so that we may make this appointment time available to another patient, otherwise you will be charged $25. For an appointment, call toll-free 1-888-Virtua-3 (1-888-847-8823). *Please note: Some appointments are reserved for gestational patients.
• 11:30 a.m. NUTRITION INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING-VOORHEES 2007: One Carnie Blvd. , Voorhees, NJ. Meet for individual counseling with a registered dietitian who will work with your food preferences & develop a strategy to achieve your goals. Nutrition advice for diabetes, allergies, gastrointestinal disorders, etc. Different fee plans are available depending upon the number of visits you need. Please note that our cancellation policy requires 48 hours advance notice, so that we may make this appointment time available to another patient, otherwise you will be charged $25. For an appointment, call toll-free 1-888-Virtua-3 (1-888-847-8823). *Please note: Some appointments are reserved for gestational patients.
• 3:00 p.m. KEMPER PARK 2007 BIKE RIDE: 13-14 mph, 20-30 miles. Start at Kemper Park, 905 Valley Road, Warminster, PA. We'll start up the rides again for 2007. Will wait for slowest rider, even if it's me. No ride in rain or snow. Call to confirm in case of temps below 25 F. Call David C. Atkins at 215-675-4597.
• 6:00 p.m. GROUP TRAINER BIKE RIDE: Every Tuesday and Thursday night thru the winter, unless circumstances prohibit, there is a group trainer ride 6:10 at Cycle Sport. We follow training videos for a 40min to 1hr workout, not including warm up and cool down. People wishing to "ride" with us need only bring their bike and trainer. The workout is as hard or easy as you wish, so riders of all abilities are welcome. Contact Harry at 610-565-9535.
• 6:00 p.m. ALTERNATIVE TO TRAINING INSIDE HIKE: Social Event, Two Hours +. Come join Suzie (Chesapeake Bay Retreiver) & I for a hike in Fairmount Park. Meet in the parking lot on Bells Mill Road (west side of the path). Bring hiking boots, appropriate clothing and a light. We will hike the hills going out and come back on Forbidden Drive. Any questions, give me a call during the day. Contact Richard Terry at 215-654-5670.
• 6:30 p.m. NEW BEGINNINGS WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY ORIENTATION: An introductory education class for patients preparing for weight loss surgery. There is no commitment at the session to enroll into the New Beginnings program. It covers program expectations, preparation for surgery & care after the procedure. To register, call toll-free 1-888-Virtua-3 (1-888-847-8823). *Friends/family need to be registered due to room constraints.
• 6:30 p.m. TRAIL BY NIGHT BIKE RIDE: Leave Corner Ketch Development (call for directions) for a ride on paved or gravel roads through the White Clay Preserve. You need a hybrid or mountain bike with a set of good lights for the front and at least a flicker light for the rear. There are a few spots where there are ruts in the road so a 10W light beam for the front should be used at a minimum. Bring your sense of adventure. NO GO if the temp is below 40 degrees at the start of the ride (www.weather.com for Newark, DE). We're afraid of ice forming in spots that may be hard to see. For more information, contact Mario Nappa at 302-239-1179.
• 7:00 p.m. WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Delaware plays William & Mary at the Bob Carpenter Center, Newark, DE. Call 302-UD1-HENS.

Here's the latest Philly Fitness and Health Podcast. This week Kimberly talks to Leslie Magnum, who decided at 10 years old to embark on muscle training, who went on to become the "Seventh Wonder of the World," and who has opened a gym in Philadelphia that focuses on personal training.

It's a universal law: Every worthy goal in life takes persistence, dedication and effort.

AS A PERSONAL fitness trainer, I spend my days on the front lines of America's war on fat. Working one-on-one with clients, I hear all their fitness complaints and problems.

Every day my goal is to educate and motivate. I try to cut through the myths and help people get the best and most out of their lives - no gimmicks.

But being a personal fitness trainer is no bed of roses. Sure, I'm in the gym all day, but I'm working, not working out. And when I leave the gym, I face the same temptations you do.

Today, I have summoned the courage to share my personal struggle with weight loss, working out and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Like many of you, I have wrestled with 25 - or more - excess pounds. I've lost battles with cheesesteaks, chocolate and wine. I've come up with excuses for my weight: "It's my genetics"; "Hey, I'm big-boned"; "It's my metabolism." I've blamed others - like my husband - for my lack of self-control.

The truth of the matter is that there is only one person responsible for my success or failure, my weight loss or weight gain, and that person is ME.

That reality may be painful to face, but it is incredibly empowering to realize that you are the co-creator of your life; you can do whatever you put your mind to.

The camera didn't lie

Look at this photo of me, taken in 2004. I was mortified when I first saw that photograph. I looked at it in horror, because I hadn't realized I had packed on some major pounds.

Sure I was working out every day and sometimes twice a day. But I was also overeating with abandon, having whatever I pleased and not keeping track of my weight.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and this shot spoke volumes. When I saw it, I knew that to get back into my skinny jeans, I would have to get back to basics. It was time to restore balance and moderation in my life.

THURSDAY, JAN. 25, 2007

• 10:00 a.m. 4th ANNUAL UGLY MUDDER 7-MILE TRAIL RUN: Reading, PA. Call 610-779-2668.
• 3:00 p.m. KEMPER PARK 2007 BIKE RIDE: 13-14 mph, 20-30 miles. Start at Kemper Park, 905 Valley Road, Warminster, PA. We'll start up the rides again for 2007. Will wait for slowest rider, even if it's me. No ride in rain or snow. Call to confirm in case of temps below 25 F. Call David C. Atkins at 215-675-4597.
• 6:00 p.m. GROUP TRAINER BIKE RIDE: Every Tuesday and Thursday night thru the winter, unless circumstances prohibit, there is a group trainer ride 6:10 at Cycle Sport. We follow training videos for a 40min to 1hr workout, not including warm up and cool down. People wishing to "ride" with us need only bring their bike and trainer. The workout is as hard or easy as you wish, so riders of all abilities are welcome. Contact Harry at 610-565-9535.
• 6:00 p.m. ALTERNATIVE TO TRAINING INSIDE HIKE: Social Event, Two Hours +. Come join Suzie (Chesapeake Bay Retreiver) & I for a hike in Fairmount Park. Meet in the parking lot on Bells Mill Road (west side of the path). Bring hiking boots, appropriate clothing and a light. We will hike the hills going out and come back on Forbidden Drive. Any questions, give me a call during the day. Contact Richard Terry at 215-654-5670.
• 6:30 p.m. TRAIL BY NIGHT BIKE RIDE: Leave Corner Ketch Development (call for directions) for a ride on paved or gravel roads through the White Clay Preserve. You need a hybrid or mountain bike with a set of good lights for the front and at least a flicker light for the rear. There are a few spots where there are ruts in the road so a 10W light beam for the front should be used at a minimum. Bring your sense of adventure. NO GO if the temp is below 40 degrees at the start of the ride (www.weather.com for Newark, DE). We're afraid of ice forming in spots that may be hard to see. For more information, contact Mario Nappa at 302-239-1179.
• 7:00 p.m. WOODBURY HEIGHTS RELAYS FOR LIFE COMMUNITY KICKOFF: Gateway Regional High School Cafeteria, 775 Tanyard Road, Woodbury Heights, NJ. Call 856-616-1650 Option 3, x301.

THURSDAY, FEB. 1, 2007

• 3:00 p.m. KEMPER PARK BIKE RIDE 2007: 13-14 mph, 25-40 miles. . Start at Kemper Park, 905 Valley Road, Warminster, PA. We'll continue to hope for good weather and ride farther with the increasing light. No ride in rain or snow. Call to confirm in case of temps below 25 F. Contact David C. Atkins at 215-675-4597.
• 6:00 p.m. ALTERNATIVE TO TRAINING INSIDE BIKE RIDE: Come joins Suzie (Chesapeake Bay Retreive) & I on a hike in Fairmount Park. Starting at the Bells Mill parking lot (west side of the path). We will hike the hills out and come back on Forbidden Drive. Hiking boots,a light and appropiate clothing for the weather. Call during the day if you have a question. Better than working up a sweat in a gym and healther. Contact Richard Terry at 215-654-5670.
• 6:00 p.m. GROUP TRAINER BIKE RIDE: Every Tuesday and Thursday night thru the winter, unless circumstances prohibit, there is a group trainer ride 6:10 at Cycle Sport. We follow training videos for a 40min to 1hr workout, not including warm up and cool down. People wishing to "ride" with us need only bring their bike and trainer. The workout is as hard or easy as you wish, so riders of all abilities are welcome. Contact Harry at 610-565-9535.
• 7:00 p.m. NEW BEGINNINGS WEIGHT LOSS SURERY ORIENTATION: Barry D. Brown Health Educ Center, 106 Carnie Blvd., Voorhees, NJ. An introductory education class for patients preparing for weight loss surgery. There is no commitment at the session to enroll into the New Beginnings program. It covers program expectations, preparation for surgery & care after the procedure. To register, call toll-free 1-888-Virtua-3 (1-888-847-8823). *Friends/family need to be registered due to room constraints.

Here's the latest Philly Fitness and Health Podcast. This week Kimberly talks to Cherron Perry-Thomas, a raw foods lifestyle coach in Philadelphia. Perry-Thomas explains the benefits of a raw foods diet and how to get the most out of it.

WOW! YOU GUYS really dug last week's column ("True confessions of a personal trainer," 1/18/07). I want to send a sincere thank you to all the Daily News readers who took the time to e-mail me their thoughts.

It is my heartfelt desire that, after reading that column, each one of you will be more optimistic, empowered and relentless in your personal quest to live your best life. After all, good health and fitness are gifts that only you can give to yourself.

The column struck a nerve with so many of you, I believe, because it helped you face truths many of you have likely been avoiding. The fact of the matter is, most humans view change as painful or with fear. Most of us resist embracing a healthy lifestyle because we view it as punishment, or we fear failure - or even fear success.

Get out of your own way

Being fit, healthy and strong is a choice. The problem is, we often get in our own way with various excuses.

THURSDAY, FEB. 8, 2007

• 10:30 a.m. SILVER SNEAKERS AT THE MERCY EASTWICK FITNESS CENTER: Mercy Eastwick Wellness Center, 2821 Island Ave., Philadelphia. Silver Sneakers is an exercise program designed specifically for senior citizens. Classes incorporate strength, mobility and cardio exercises, and are designed for different levels of fitness. Classes are open to fitness center members only. To learn how to join, please call 215-863-6106.
• 3:00 p.m. KEMPER PARK 2007 BIKE RIDE: 13-14 mph, 25-40 miles. Start at Kemper Park, 905 Valley Road, Warminster, PA. We'll continue to hope for good weather and ride farther with the increasing light. No ride in rain or snow. Call to confirm in case of temps below 25 F. Contact David C. Atkins at 215-675-4597.
• 6:00 p.m. GROUP TRAINER BIKE RIDE: Every Tuesday and Thursday night thru the winter, unless circumstances prohibit, there is a group trainer ride 6:10 at Cycle Sport. We follow training videos for a 40min to 1hr workout, not including warm up and cool down. People wishing to "ride" with us need only bring their bike and trainer. The workout is as hard or easy as you wish, so riders of all abilities are welcome. Contact Harry at 610-565-9535.
• 6:00 p.m. ALTERNATIVE TO TRAINING INSIDE: Come joins Suzie (Chesapeake Bay Retreive) & I on a hike in Fairmount Park. Starting at the Bells Mill parking lot (west side of the path). We will hike the hills out and come back on Forbidden Drive. Hiking boots,a light and appropiate clothing for the weather. Call during the day if you have a question. Better than working up a sweat in a gym and healther. Contact Richard Terry at 215-654-5670.
• 6:30 p.m. TRAIL RUNS: Trail Run Thursdays Runs consist of approximately 4 to 5 miles of unique trails varying in degrees of difficulty, but all within the serene confines of the Wissahickon Valley. NO FEES, no shirts, no pants required. All runners, speeds, skill levels welcome! Fun food and Cash Bar afterwards courtesy of the Valley Green Inn/Wissahickon (meet in front of Valley Green Inn). Call 215-849-9080.
• 7:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Saint Joseph’s plays Xavier at the Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse, Philadelphia. Call 610-660-1712.