The local health and fitness scene has been invigorated by the relocation of the Kodiak Athletic Club, formerly Shoshana’s Gym, to the Eggemeyer’s Building at 3689 Rezanof Drive. Owner Lindsay Knight, who took over the operation in June 2005, has moved the business from downtown to the ‘burbs, and like the results seen with his 150-plus customers, the changes have been terrific.

“We have 30 percent more room, there is room to expand, and it is clean, freshly painted, with lots of parking,” said Knight, former owner of Gold’s Gym in Anchorage. With a new Bowflex Treadclimber and another treadmill on the way, the gym has a little more than before. Plans for showers and locker rooms are in the mix.

One of the great non-mechanical features in 2006 is the Body Transformation Contest that began just after New Year’s. The 12-week program to get people in shape is based on the Bill Phillips’ book “Body For Life.”

“I ran about 200 people through this at Gold’s in Anchorage, over three contests, and I was frankly amazed at the results they achieved. I learned that, if applied, this stuff really works, which makes me confident in what I teach people. If they apply what I tell them, it will work,” claimed Knight, a bodybuilder himself.

As of Valentine’s Day, the 40 people in the program had lost a combined total of 212 pounds of fat, added 106 pounds of muscle, and dropped 133 on the scale since starting in early January.

Although the transformation contest ends April 7, people can begin the 12-week plan at any time.

Knight also offers free classes to the public. One of his recent nutrition lectures drew 15 listeners. He preaches that 70 percent of the battle of the bulge is eating right, the rest is weight training.

One revelation from his class is that you can eat more often and lose fat at the same time as long as you eat correctly — and lift. His visual aids, such as a rubber blob representing what five pounds of human fat looks like and fatty foods reduced to powder that almost look like illegal street drugs in test tubes, definitely make an impression.

KAC offers circuit-training classes six days a week.

One minor surprise for Kodiak Athletic Club has been the surge in the number of females enrolling. Knight estimates two out of three members are women now.

“I think being in the neighborhood helps. Women are taking over the club,” Knight said.

The gym is also open 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays. KAC is also open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

Free-lance writer and self-humiliation expert Nick Sandin has taken Kodiak Athletic Club’s challenge to shed some pounds in the Body Transformation Program. He will be provide reports on his progress and insights into “defattening” himself.