Move More Eat Less January 2011

Welcome to the first yearly edition of Move More Eat Less! For some of you who are just kicking off your year, this is officially Month 1. For me, it is technically Month 13. Yep. A whole 12 months have come and gone and here I am with a renewed focus and energy for the coming year.

The fact that the holidays are over is bittersweet for two reasons: 1) I really love having my kids home and a loosey goosey schedule, and 2) No more excuses to go overboard on Ye Olde Sugary Fare.

Yes, I put on a little in the middle over the holidays, but this time, unlike past years where a slight bit of failure would send me into a tailspin of gastronomic woe, this time it's just giving me the information I need to make choices and adjustments.

Let's take a look at the first layout of the year, shall we:

(click on layout to see it larger in a new window.)

Ahhh. There she is. The Before Me, and the Present Day Me.

Now, some of you who are just starting out may simply want to do a single photo. Afterall, you need a base photo to document your journey. The template (8.5 x 11 or 12 x 12) for this project has a slot for two pictures, but it's really easy to join the layers and create a space for one photo.

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STEP-BY-STEP: In Photoshop Elements, go to the Layers Palette (Window > Layers, if it's not already showing up) and find the Before Photo and Current Photo layers. Hold down your Shift Key to select both layers by clicking once on each layer. When they are both highlighted, go to Layer > Merge Layers.

Now, you have a space for a single photo. Do a Save As for this version of the template and just proceed with your usual Clipping Mask. Keep in mind that this first shot will be your main Before Photo, so make sure you have enough space around you in the shot so that next month, you can drop it into the vertical space.

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Does the taking a photo part bum some of you out? Here's the deal: it's not brave to take a photo of yourself. I'm sorry for not sounding more loving and comforting about it, but I believe it is simply information. In order to make sound decisions regarding your health and fitness, you need an accurate picture of what you look like today. Right now. Period. A photo is one piece of the information you need.

Another really good plan of action? Get a physical in the next few weeks. Get your numbers all figured out: cholesterol, blood pressure, hormone levels. I did this in December of 2009 before I kicked off my journey last year, just to make sure I was approved to begin kicking fitness ass and taking names.

I know that so many of you are starting this journey out now and I want to tell you this: take it one day at a time.

Everyone begins with such verve and passion, and while this is a good thing, it can also lead to some early crashes and wagon jumping. Just do your best to Move a little More, and Eat a little Less. I'm right there with you, in a non-personal Internet sort of way.

Here's to your first month, or to your continuing journey.

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Want to learn more about Move More Eat Less 2011? Click here to learn more about the concept.

I've also started a flickr group for Move More Eat Less. Feel free to start sharing your pages beginning in January. You will find the group by clicking here.

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ENTER TO WIN AN iPOD! There's still time to enter for a chance to win an iPod Nano,  Nike+ Sport Kit and an Original Shoe Pouch. Click here for more details. Content ends Thursday at 9 p.m. C.S.T.

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LAYOUT SUPPLIES: Move More Eat Less 8.5 x 11 template (Cathy Zielske) • Just Linens No. 1 Paper Pack (Michelle Martin) • a scan of kraft cardstock • Avenir font