The countdown has begun. The time is near. In less than two weeks, scantily clad bodies will parade along the beaches, salty surf will meet the azure sky ... well, you get the picture. Spring break is just around the corner. But along with this break comes a last minute scuttle to shed the winter weight before braving the beach. It is this thought and this thought alone that makes many college students weak in the knees. Translation: T-minus 14 days until I must subject myself to being viewed in that itsy bitsy teenie weenie yellow polka dot bikini. In other words: It's crunch time.

Some students go to extreme lengths to achieve this rapid weight loss. In fact, I often wonder how much easier it would be for these students to lose weight if they spent half as much energy on practical dietary changes as they do trying to beat the system. Take for instance one diet I have recently observed, the "all-celery-all-the-time" diet. I am sorry to say that celery does not speed up your metabolism.

Nor does it solely contain enough calories, vitamins or minerals to sustain life on a daily basis. In fact, an average sedentary female student would have to consume 420 stalks just to barely have enough energy to drag herself to class each day.

Another popular diet that many people use to lose weight is the high fat/high protein "Atkins" diet. Unfortunately, this diet will not aid your muscles or your head in functioning properly. Many of the foods that are high in fat and protein are practically devoid of any carbohydrates.

Being that your brain is fueled primarily by glucose, avoiding bread and pasta can really make you sluggish. Trying to study for that organic chemistry test? Forget it -- you may find it is very difficult to focus.

In addition, low carbohydrates will actually limit your body's ability to use stored fat for energy. It will also mean your muscles may have a hard time moving, specifically if you are physically active for longer than 20 minutes at a time. It seems a diet extremely low in carbohydrates may actually make your daily deeds less effective and efficient.

So what are some healthy ways to get into shape? Sorry folks, one of the healthiest and most effective long-term ways to shed the pounds is exercise. Does this mean sprinting painfully on a treadmill for hours while your buddies shovel Tostitos into their mouths?

Of course not. In fact, it takes less effort than you may think to get into a workout routine and kick that "six-pack belly" to the curb. Light to moderate exercise that is sustainable for a longer period of time will provide you with the biggest bang for your workout.

After 20 minutes of exercise, your body begins rely on its fat stores more and its carbohydrate stores less. And the best part? The fat being used for fuel is primarily pulled from your gut. Now remember, the longer you work out, the more fat you will burn.

If you are just starting out, this could mean lightly jogging or even walking briskly on a treadmill.

Do you feel that walking in place five days a week could get a bit boring? Well, if you lift weights a few times a week, you will be on your way to a healthy workout routine that will maximize your body's efficiency during exercise.

You can also hike, swim and bike to keep your workout schedule from becoming mundane.

Exercise can be fun, I swear. The more you do it, the better you'll get.

I'm sure that in time you will love whizzing past your roommates as they huff and wheeze on their way to class.

You can lose excess weight with this masterful plan I have just unfolded before you.

For it is watching how many cupcakes you inhale on a daily basis coupled with being physically active that is the key to successful weight loss for most college students.

There are no dieting secrets. It's really that simple.

Trust me.