Valerie Bertinelli's weight loss tip

Valerie Bertinelli spoke to That's Fit about her secret for maintaining her 40 pound weight loss.

"I run most days of the week," the actress said, "about 5 to 8 miles a pop, sometimes with my trainer."

As much as I respect the former "One Day at a Time" star's decision to enlist in the U.S. Army, I feel compelled to offer this advice for everyone else:

You don't have to exercise to lose weight or maintain your weight.

Really, it's true.

Now, if you want to exercise, go right ahead. If you enjoy running, or even if you run and you don't enjoy it, more power to you.

But it's just flat-out depressing to read that the secret of somebody's diet is a workout routine befitting an Army Ranger.

Losing or maintaining weight is all about math. You have to burn more calories than you consume, or you have to consume fewer calories than you burn. Most exercise, like walking on a treadmill for twenty minutes, doesn't burn enough calories to offset a chocolate chip cookie.

If you count calories, honestly and accurately, you can lose weight or keep it off without exercising.

The secret is to know how many calories your body burns when it's just going about its normal daily activities.

Here's another secret: Google "calorie requirement calculator" and when you find one, plug in your honest numbers. When the calculator asks for your activity level, tell it you're sedentary.

Hey, it's just you and the calculator. Who's gonna know?

The calorie requirement calculator will tell you approximately how many calories your body burns in a day. The number will vary based on your gender, age, height and weight as well as activity level.

If you count calories accurately and stay under that number, you can sit in a La-Z-Boy chair and watch soap operas all day and still lose weight.

So if you don't feel like running 5 to 8 miles a day (dear God), don't be discouraged. And if you don't want to spend your money on Jenny Craig food, that's okay too.

Personally, I like the SmartOnes frozen entrees from the supermarket. (This isn't a paid endorsement, no free products have changed hands.)

For tips on making calorie counting easier and other genuinely helpful information (no running shoes needed), pick up How to Make Money and Lose Weight: A simple guide for everyone. You can get it at Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com and other online booksellers, or ask for it at any bookstore.

At $9.95, it's the perfect after-Christmas gift to yourself.

Five to eight miles a day. Please.

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