L.A.'S Sweat Shops

FITNESS PHILOSOPHY: ''Do your diet, do your exercise, and get a life. Contribute to the world,'' advises center director Greg Isaacs. ''The mirror part will come.'' And it'd better: You can't escape your own reflection in this body-conscious space.

WHAT'S HOT: Playing basketball with George Clooney on the gym's outdoor court.

THE BUZZ: With all the stars around, it's one of the best neck workouts in town — if you can get in. It's open only to WB employees. One high point: Arnold Schwarzenegger was spotted offering free advice to gymgoers while he was filming Batman & Robin. ''I think about it, and I still get chills,'' says Isaacs.

5 CRUNCH
8000 Sunset Blvd.

LOCATION: Just off the Sunset Strip.

ATMOSPHERE: Melrose Place meets Romper Room. The club's eye-catching steel sculptures and primary colors are so distracting that you might not notice Nicolas Cage, Elisabeth Shue, or Laura Dern working out nearby.

FITNESS PHILOSOPHY: The membership brochure claims, ''We warmly welcome people from all walks of life and do not foster competitiveness or elitism,'' but in the end this place is built for beautiful people — right down to its shadow showers, which silhouette bathers and are visible from the check-in desk.

WHAT'S HOT: ''Gospel Moves,'' an aerobic workout led by church-choir-like singers, and ''Afro-Brazilian,'' where Jeff Goldblum and Marisa Tomei (when she's not in New York City) kick off their shoes and dance to the beat of live drummers.

THE BUZZ: Post-workout, the juice bar is the place to be. Ben Stiller prefers the Maximum Fat Burner punch; Angela Bassett gets the Wild Bunch fruit juice blend.

6 THE SPORTS CLUB/LA
1835 Sepulveda Blvd.

LOCATION: Right off the 405 freeway, near Fox, Sony, and MGM studios.

ATMOSPHERE: Dynasty-style splendor. One hundred thousand square feet designed to pamper, from the luxe Michaeljohn hair salon to the (physical) rehab center to the pool deck with cafe service in the summer.

FITNESS PHILOSOPHY: Fitness? Who said anything about fitness? Of course, they've got all the latest exercise equipment, but wouldn't you rather just get your car detailed and hit a club-sponsored wine tasting?

WHAT'S HOT: Monday night — if you're not at Mortons. ''On Friday, everybody goes to Skybar. On Monday, they come here to work off the weekend excesses,'' says general manager Daniel Miller.

THE BUZZ: Hit the steam room to eavesdrop on Hollywood dealmaking — Variety reported that one producer heard about a hot spec script in the sauna.