Last modified: Sunday, January 4, 2009 12:00 AM PST Vinnie Rhineheart, 17, a junior at Fruitland High School, runs on a treadmill at Fit-for-Life Friday afternoon. Rhineheart said he works out for track, and he now works out in the mornings rather than after school because of the winter break. Assistant Manager Paul Karo said those who have made resolutions to get fit in the new year should not use a perceived lack of time as an excuse. A healthy priority By Katie Pizza Argus Observer Ontario — As area residents flip calendar pages to welcome 2009, many of those same residents may find their will power to keep resolutions falling faster than confetti in Times Square. “You have to make your health a priority,” Ontario-based Fit-for-Life Assistant Manager Paul Karo said, Friday afternoon. Karo said lack of time is one of the top reasons he hears of for fitness plans falling by the wayside. He said a good workout only takes an hour, however. Though he also works at the Coca-Cola plant in Fruitland, Karo said he spends Friday morning running errands so, when he walks into Fit-for-Life, body- building is all that is on his mind. Karo said he runs into other Fit-for-Life members who lament their lack of time. He attempts to give them a leg up by offering them the opportunity work out with him when he comes in on Sunday mornings. “I’ll tell 10 or 12 people, but when I come in at around 7 o’clock in the morning on Sunday, it’s just me,” Karo said. Karo said he normally sees an increase in members in January but has found that number tapers off by May. On Friday, he said he expected to see an influx of people on Monday. Most new members, he said, are interested in classes like Tae Bo, an aerobic exercise that is a mix of tae kwon do and boxing. One attendee of that class is Ramon Saldivar, 49, Ontario, who has been coming to Fit-for-Life for a year. He said he enjoys the class. Saldivar said his workout routine also includes a daily dose of cardio. “I do 35 to 45 minutes,” he said. “An hour sometimes.” His wife, Elayne Saldivar, 42, Ontario, said she has been coming to Fit-for-Life for about five years and got started because of a family history of diabetes. “I just started for myself,” she said. Separated from the blustery wind outside by a pane of glass, each fitness member ran on treadmills, pumped their legs on stepping machines and moved with graceful precision on elliptical machines Friday afternoon. Three televisions broadcasted three different stations, while some Fit-for-Life members ran on treadmills in front of a wall-sized mirror, with music playing from handheld music players. Their goals were as varied as the people congregating at the club. Vinnie Rhineheart, 17, Fruitland, said he was running because he is on the track team at Fruitland High School. He said he normally runs after school, but, since he is currently on winter break, he has switched to running in the morning. He said he normally runs from an hour and a half to two hours. Crystal Reynolds, 37, Fruitland, said she has been coming to the Fit-for-Life club for four years and started working out for her health. She said she works out six days a week, but her fitness plans do not stop when she leaves the facility. “I’m here for an hour and a half,” she said. “And when I’m home, I do it for 45 minutes.” She said when she is at home, she works out on her elliptical trainer and then runs. Stan Farnsworth, 63, Payette, also cited health reasons as his motivation for coming to Fit-for-Life for a year. Proving the time excuse invalid was Denise Forsyth, 45, Ontario. “I work out on my lunch hour,” she said. Karo said an important aspect of maintaining an exercise regime is to enjoy it. He also said he is motivated by how he looks when he looks at himself in the mirror. He said most people are surprised his 50th birthday is approaching next year because he looks so fit. He also said he has turned working out into a family affair by inviting his son to work out at the club. “This is my hobby,” Karo said of working out. He said he originally did not care much about fitness but changed his tune when he found out how good it feels. “It’s a rush,” he said.