Time for a makeover: the desire to reinvent yourself as new and improved is a universal human quality

Our "makeover" theme this issue is particularly apropos because in addition to giving you the tools to make over your diet and your workouts, we also did a little refurbishing ourselves, retiring some old items and ringing in the shiny and new.

Among the first changes you'll notice is an upgraded Hot Lines (page 14)--the column that features your letters. Other improvements in this issue to look for:

Our Get Energized column becomes Shape Your Life Quiz (page 28). We hope you'll have fun with this enlightening, interactive page. It's designed to help you get a new perspective and understanding (see the "Instant Insight" discussions that follow each question) on tough issues like motivation and willpower.

More quick, easy-to-act-on fitness coverage. Check out our short Cardio Special ("Workouts That Rock," page 100) that features three exclusive cardio-machine workouts designed around your favorite music; you'll find them incredibly inspiring. And also see our four-page exercise special, "Make Over Your Abs" (page 128). It's a simple-to-follow program that doesn't require any gym equipment, yet is ultraeffective.

Weight-Loss Workbook page in Live Healthy News (page 72). Need tips, insight and motivating ideas targeted to your weight-loss goals? Check out our new monthly page devoted exclusively to providing you with practical information about achieving and maintaining a healthy weight. We're delighted to have weight-loss expert James O. Hill, Ph.D., join us as a columnist who will offer strategies success in the maintenance phase--probably the hardest and least recognized or supported aspect of dieting.

A new Weight-Loss Diary author. We're delighted to kick off 2005 with our new diarist, Imani A. Dawson. For more on Imani and what she's hoping to achieve, see her debut entry (page 104). We know she can do it, but for all the details on how she manages, stay tuned! For an update on our 2004 Weight-Loss Diarist, Shape Style Director Jacqui Stafford, and her performance in the New York City Marathon, check out our February issue.

And on our website, Shape.com, we've added a weekly instant reader poll, so don't forget to pay a visit and vote! We'll be using some of the results, the first of which you see this month (your favorite vacation destinations), on the new Hot Lines page.

We're happy with the improvements we've made; we hope the new year brings you the same satisfaction with positive change!

Anne M. Russell, Editor in Chief

Anne@Shape.com

COPYRIGHT 2005 Weider Publications
COPYRIGHT 2005 Gale Group