By SUSAN PARK

It happens to all of us at one time or another in our lives.

When that 12-pound Honey Baked Ham and pumpkin pie mysteriously disappear overnight (Could Uncle Ted have taken some home?), we look in the mirror to find it hasn't really disappeared at all.

That's when we think about exercise. Sometime after Thanksgiving, we think about our New Year's resolutions for the coming millennium.

National polls show that the most popular resolution is "lose weight," followed by "exercise more." Big surprise as winter months approach.

But this year, we in North Seattle have an alternative:

University Fitness, a newly opened, local family owned and operated fitness center in the University District, offers the alternative to cookie-cutter national chain fitness centers.

Ironically, University Fitness is located in the old Keg restaurant, at 4511 Roosevelt Way NE, where I myself spent many a holiday meal (before a waiter told on Shawn Kemp and I boycotted it).

Those who remember the restaurant's beautiful solid wood wainscoting and brass fixtures need not despair - Rick Clark who renovated the space was able to save most of the best features, including the large plate glass windows that line the first floor and balcony where I sat and ate Thanksgiving turkey a few years ago.

Clark has turned the business into a real family enterprise. His father Clint Clark helps out by manning the desk in the morning. Rick's wife, Janet, is the "financial expert," and even their 12-year-old son, Ryan, is the official "baby-sitter assistant" at the in-house day care.

Not to short change Ryan, he can actually do much more. Since he had a day off from school at Briercrest in Lynnwood, he took the time to show me around the newly constructed fitness center while his father busily attended to customers and staff.

I first met Ryan (who his dad calls, "Rag, the Spagman" after his favorite book about a man who picked rags up off the street that were really broken men) while attending Calvary Temple's Christmas Festival this year where the Clarks are long-time members.

Ryan says he likes to sit at the desk the best since he can "talk to really great people." At other times he helps out in the day-care by playing with the children of customers. The day-care, which is currently only open in the evenings, offers parents the opportunity to bring their children as young as one in while they work out. Starting at only $2 an hour and 25 cents every additional hour, it's a deal you can't beat. Janet Clark says she plans to add morning hours this year.

Even kids Ryan's age work out on the weights. Starting at age 12, kids can work out in the gym with their parents.

Rick Clark, founder of University Fitness, says after 12 years of managing health clubs for others, he wanted to open his own. He and his wife chose the location because, "the U-District was sadly lacking a fitness facility," he says.

The new 7,000-square-foot facility features 50 fitness machines, two lines of Selectorize Equipment, 1,200-square-feet of free weights, and 36 cardiovascular machines. The facility is arranged on three levels, with the basement dedicated to Mac Truck yellow plate loaded equipment. Rick says he chose yellow because he thought it would be "exciting" and "it wouldn't be boring." The upper level holds many popular light fitness machines. The entire renovation including equipment cost $500,000. A new ceiling and flooring and two large dressing and shower rooms were constructed. A new parking deck beside the facility offers plenty of dedicated free parking, a real concern in the U-District.

Rick and Janet Clark have both worked in the fitness industry for many years. Clark first began as an instructor at age 20 in the Puget Sound area. He later moved to California where he met his wife, Janet, who was working as a receptionist at a racquetball club. Rick was later transferred back up to the Seattle area to manage stores here. He and Janet continued a long-distance romance until getting married 14 years ago.

Janet continued to work for a short time after she had Ryan until it became too difficult. She would take him to work with her as a newborn where he would "swing and sleep, swing and sleep." She made the difficult decision to stay home to be a full-time mother.

Rick says one of the major decision makers for opening his own facility is the desire to spend more time with his son Ryan, "during the teenage years before he went off to college."

In addition to flesh-and-blood family, Rick also thinks of his employees as family. Janet says Rick's management style was what impressed her when she first met him. "I always figured I'd rather work for him than anybody else. He listens to people."

For more info, call 632-3460.