Your Bathing Suit Survival Guide: Super-Speedy Toning Tricks

If You Have 3 Days

You Can: Firm up your whole body and drop up to three pounds.

What to Do: "Your metabolism stays elevated for about five hours after exercising, so break your cardio workout into two sessions," says Ian Smith, MD, author of Extreme Fat Smash Diet. "That way, you'll burn more calories all day long."

• In the morning: Do 40 minutes of at least two types of cardio to challenge different muscles and keep your intensity high (aim for about an 8 on a scale of 1 to 10). For instance, jog for 20 minutes on the treadmill, then hit the elliptical for 20.
• In the late afternoon: Do another 30 minutes of moderately intense cardio. Run/walk around your neighborhood, hop on a bike, or slip in a kickboxing DVD.

What to Eat: Aim for a 1,400-calorie diet, says Smith. "Don't go below that, because you need fuel to exercise," he explains. "You should still lose weight because your metabolism is stoked." Load up on lean protein like fish, chicken, and turkey, plus fruits and vegetables -- they'll fill you up for few calories and the water in them can beat bloat. Steer clear of white bread, rice and potatoes, and sugary packaged food.

Inspiring Words: "Plunging necklines elongate your body because they draw eyes up. As for color, peacock blue is forgiving and fun." -- Susan Moses, celebrity stylist to Queen Latifah