N. MIAMI BEACH OFFICERS VYING TO ARREST BODY FAT

No more Krispy Kreme doughnuts for North Miami Beach police officers -- they are hitting the gym with a vengeance, and the one to shape up and trim down the most gets a prize.

The police department is holding a fitness contest to see who can lose the most body fat and gain the most lean muscle in 12 weeks. The winner gets $1,000.

``The money has very little to do with it,'' said Assistant Chief Andy Scott, 43. ``I could stand to lose some pounds. I'm looking forward to this because it is not a fad and it is not a pill.''

The get-fit contest is being sponsored by 911 Fitness, a company hired by North Miami Beach to shape up the men and women in uniform. After half a year of working with the staff, 911 Fitness owner Jim Sayih decided it was time to challenge the group.

``There came a point in the summer where people became stagnant,'' he said. ``They needed a little incentive.''

The race to fitness began Saturday with 51 contestants, who include sworn officers and police department civilian employees.

Their body fat and lean muscle were measured. They have until Oct. 24 to lose one and gain the other.

``We don't care about the weight,'' Sayih said. ``We care about what material composes that weight, what you are made out of. You can either have a Cadillac or a Volkswagen.''

The program involves working out and eating right. Sayih preaches eating more small, healthy meals every day, coupled with an exercise schedule of cardiovascular workouts and weight training.

For some, the contest is a way to jump-start a slacking workout routine.

``It has been a year since I had a baby,'' said Detective Pamela Denham, 36. ``Once you have a child, you get busy and you don't concentrate on working out. The type of work we do requires physical strength and stamina. You can't be out of shape, it is not safe. If you have a lot of people doing it, it makes it a lot easier. It makes it fun.''

``I have 21 percent body fat,'' said Officer Orestes Lorenzo, 34. ``They set a little bit of a challenge for us. It is motivating. It is helping me out, I'm more energetic. I wake up in the morning and feel energetic and ready to go.''

Assistant Chief Linda Loizzo, 52, wants to get her 4 p.m. boost from a protein bar instead of a candy bar, lose 15 pounds and go down a belt size.

``The money, a lot of officers have said they will donate to charity,'' she said. ``That is secondary. They are really in it for their own well-being. Also, I think there is pressure to keep up with your peers.''

One person putting all to the challenge is the chief.

``They are going to have to beat me,'' said Chief Bill Berger. ``I'm challenging everybody.''