With Thanksgiving behind us - no pun intended - and the holidays in full swing, it becomes exceedingly difficult to choose raw broccoli over that sugar cookie with the pretty pink icing. After the turkey, prime rib and pumpkin pie coupled by endless white chocolate mochas that aid us in speedy gift-shopping, if anyone's in the market for a New Year's resolution that doesn't include a typical gym or an expensive personal trainer, here's one: take the Body Sculpt Challenge.

MKG Martial Arts International, located on Greenwood Ave., has offered a 10-week program called the Body Sculpt Challenge since 2005. It is a fitness program designed for people of all fitness levels that provides personal trainer services in a group setting to anyone that desires to get back in shape, according to the creators of the program, Laura Wilson and Nicole Marinez, who was recently voted as Evening Magazine's Best of Western Washington second Best Fitness Instructor 2007.

"We started the program to stimulate people into thinking that they should make health and fitness a priority in their life. So many of our clients see the rest of their lives improve; it provides stress release, helps with work issues, and changes their outlook on life. The more people that get their fitness and health in check, the more happier people will be in the community" Wilson said.

The MKG Body Sculpt Challenge integrates diverse styles of real martial arts and strength training while offering nutritional guidance and community support through the 5-day-a-week, 10-week program, Wilson said. People of all ages and fitness levels do cardio workouts by using techniques from Filipino stick-fighting (Kali), boxing and Muay Thai kickboxing three days a week. The other two days are dedicated to strength training using resistance bands, medicine balls, and other gym tools, according to the trainers. Wilson and Marinez also send out personal weekly emails to see how members are doing and to provide them with basic nutrition guidelines that depend on how far into the program a member is.

Gillian Zed, a 44-year-old Ballard woman, lost 22 pounds and three pant sizes in her first 10-week MKG Body Sculpt session.

"There is not a middle aged woman on the planet that wants to exercise or alter the way she eats. It is incredibly hard to do amidst family and career and friends and change is not always comfortable. But it is no understatement to say this program changed my life," Zed said. "Nicole and Laura took the spark of hope that I was finally ready to get off my butt and fanned it into full flame. I love how I look and how I feel. I want to work out now. I crave fruit, not pastries and when I'm tempted I laugh to myself and think: is it worth an extra 10 minutes of abs?"

Elana Sadajon, a repeating fan of Body Sculpt, said in a testimonial that she strives on the group setting. She enjoys working out in a community, getting to know people and encouraging each other.

"For over two years I have wanted to be physically active again. Going running on my own was not happening and so I was looking for something in a group setting, that would motivate me and support my health. With Body Sculpt, I am working out an average of five times a week!" Sadajon said.

MKG Body Sculpt just finished their 10th session, Wilson said. They awarded a $150 Nordstrom gift certificate to the person who lost the most weight and inches, and awarded another $150 to a person who meets all the criteria - takes all the classes, takes all the fit tests, participate in their goals and do the nutrition aspect, Wilson said. The trainers also award smaller prizes like t-shirts and kali sticks.

The next 10-week Body Sculpt Challenge begins Monday, Jan. 7 at 8310 Greenwood Ave. North. The 10-week session costs $499, but there's an early-bird special; if you sign-up before Dec. 22 it costs $469. If you'd like to participate in a class, you can come an hour before each of those times. You can sign up on their Web site at www.mkgbodysculpt.com, where you can also read more testimonials.

"We get a lot of people from all over Seattle participating in the program. I was actually surprised when I looked at participant's addresses how far people travel to come to our program two to five times per week," Wilson said.

Mark Magdaleno attends the sessions with a co-worker. He said in a testimonial that his favorite classes are the bag work and kali stick sessions because he thinks they require you to use your mind, making the time fly by faster. Magdaleno also cites the sessions as an excellent stress reliever.

"I feel stronger and definitely have much more stamina and energy. It has motivated me to want to continue to exercise and live a healthier lifestyle," Magdaleno said. "I had been searching for an exercise program that I could do regularly and enjoy - I am very happy to have found it."

Shauna Lundin is a student in the University of Washington Department of Communication News Laboratory and may be reached via bnteditor@robinsonnews.com