The Get-Slim 14-Day Diet

Would you believe it if we said you could eat every three hours, watch the tube all day on Sunday - and still get fit?

Okay, there is some work involved, but if you really follow this 14-day food and fitness plan from L.A. trainer Ashley Borden, you will see results.

The Workout
Monday through Saturday of both weeks, do some form of aerobic exercise (i.e., fast walking, jogging, or bicycling) for 30 minutes, morning and evening, at about 70 to 80 percent of your maximum capacity. In addition, add the following moves:

MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY
Do two sets of the following:

15 push-ups. Try the military kind.

20 biceps curls with five-pound weights. Stand straight. Keeping your elbows at your sides, bend your arms and lift the weights to your shoulders, then lower.

20 triceps kick-backs with five-pound weights. Bend forward at a 90-degree angle and place the weights by your hips. Extend your arms behind you, then back to your hips.

20 front and side shoulder raises with three-pound weights. Keeping your arms straight, lift the weights in front of you to shoulder height, then lower. Repeat, lifting weights to sides.

20 rear-deltoid lifts with three-pound weights. Stand with your feet together and bend forward at a 90-degree angle. Lift the weights straight out to your sides to shoulder height, then lower.

TUESDAY, THURSDAY, SATURDAY
Do two sets of the following:

20 squat-backs. Stand straight, feet shoulder-width apart. Stick out your butt and bend your knees until your thighs are almost parallel to the floor. Straighten.

20 step-ups on each leg. Stand in front of a staircase or stepping bench and step up onto one entire foot (not just the ball) while lifting the other knee up to your belly button, then step down.

15 calf raises. Keeping your torso straight, rise up on your toes, then lower.

40 bicycles. Lie on your back, with your knees bent and fingers laced behind your head. Lift your shoulder blades and feet an inch off the floor and "pedal" by bringing one elbow to the opposite knee, then switching sides.

20 lifting crunches. Begin as above. Lift your shoulder blades an inch, then one inch higher, then another, and lower.

How do you lose weight?

The most effective method for weight loss is reducing the number of calories you consume while increasing the number of calories you burn through physical activity. To lose 1 pound, you need an expenditure of approximately 3,500 calories. You can achieve this either by cutting back on your food intake, by increasing physical activity, or ideally, by doing both.

For example, if you consume 500 extra calories per day for one week without changing your activity level, you will gain 1 pound in weight (seven days multiplied by 500 calories equals 3,500 calories, or the number of calories resulting in a 1-pound weight gain). Likewise, if you eat 500 fewer calories each day for a week or burn 500 calories per day through exercise for one week, you will lose 1 pound.

Examples of calorie content of some popular foods and beverages include the following:

• One slice of original-style crust pepperoni pizza - 230 calories
• One glass of dry white wine - 160 calories
• One can of cola - 150 calories
• One quarter-pound hamburger with cheese - 500 calories
• One jumbo banana nut muffin - 580 calories

Any activities you do throughout the day are added to your BMR (basal metabolic rate) to determine the total number of calories you burn each day. For example, a 170-pound person who spends 45 minutes walking briskly will burn about 300 calories. The same time spent on housecleaning burns about 200 calories, and mowing the lawn for 45 minutes consumes around 275 calories.