Times nutritionist Amanda Ursell has created a 28 day, very easy to follow deadline diet, with a fitness regimen from Times fitness expert Matt Roberts.

You'll love the diet - even bacon sarnies are allowed! Easy to follow, delicious meal ideas, and if followed correctly, will make you lose at least 2lbs a week (5-6lbs for people with more weight to lose).

The first two-week part of the diet, and Matt Roberts' fitness regimen are in Body&Soul tomorrow, or on the Health Club homepage now, and the next part of the diet and exercises will be out next week.

Good luck! Let us know how you're getting on.

Looks a great diet. I have a couple of questions - firstly about breakfast; there are 3 suggested breakfasts that have eggs in them, I presume you don't recommend having all of those in 1 week?

Secondly, the photo of spaghetti bolognaise shows a big plateful of pasta with sauce in the middle. I know you recommend 70g but there are surely much more than 70g on that plate in the picture - certainly far more than you would recommend for an evening meal? Doesn't the picture send the wrong message?

Steve, that could be 70g dry weight - it looks (and weighs) far more when you cook it.

I used to just cook handfuls of pasta, then I started weighing my portions before cooking and discovered they were around 100g (uncooked). You really only need about 60 - 70g of pasta - less if you're adding lots of vegetables.

Of course, it could be very fine pasta on a very small plate!

The article looks very interesting. The dishes sound quite similar to what I eat now (the summer porridge was similar to my daily porridge) but I didn't notice any puddings on the evening meal! I always have to have a pudding even if it's fruit!

The exercise regime sounds interesting. I'm sure I could try and fit that into my week. May give it a go. I'm not so sure about me running between trees though - I don't get on with jogging at all. I'll have to try the brisk walking option there.

I'm putting this back up to the top as I have decided to start the exercise section of the 28-day plan tomorrow. Anyone else want to join me?

Tomorrow it's power walk, jog or cycle for 30 minutes, feeling comfortable throughout. Does that mean I wear my big fluffy slippers??? Weather permitting I'm aiming for the cycle.

Well I cycled for 50 mins yesterday - not entirely 'comfortable' as wind blowing at me therefore harder to cycle! But it was lovely with the sea air in my face...

Today it's skipping (must find my old rope), press-ups, sit-ups and squats. Repeat 3 or 4 times. Does that mean that you do the exercise 3 or 4 times over the course of the day or do they have to be in close succession?

Shall report back later! Isn't anyone else doing this?

I'm going to give it a go as well. Went for a 50 minute walk last night, was out for over an hour but got chatting for a while when I was on the home straight. I have nowhere to use my skipping rope though, and I aint gonna do it in the middle of the road. All the kids will laugh at me. Instead I'll use my trampet and bounce for two minutes at a time. Probably will have to improvise a bit on some of the other days as well. As for the tree running, Matt didn't say how long the row of trees is, everywhere is different. i suppose we could always use lampposts if we don't have a park with trees. Looks like my cross-trainer may get a bit of 'different' use this next two weeks, wonder if I could use my rowing machine for some of it.

It's going to be fun trying day two later on, will let you know how it goes. Went swimming at 6.45 as well this morning, did half an hour. Still not very good, can only do the breaststroke. Only practice will help, not done it properly for??????years.

I'll join you! Joined in Jan and haven't really gripped the bull by the horns. Well here goes. Today is as good as any. Run 3 miles yesturday. Have to look at the diet and see what I have in. It did look good. Going to do a DVD tonight while DS is out and the gym Wednesday. Hope I can stick at it.

I have just completed day two of Matts exercise plan, for the skipping I used my trampet, as I didn't fancy taking a skipping rope out into the street. This unfit blob didn't find it as easy as it looked. I'm not used to doing that sort of exercise. There's no way I can do full sit ups at the moment without something to hold my feet down.

I'm sitting here shattered and WAS going to post that I'd failed miserably on the 28 day challenge on day 2 but I feel guilty now as 2 others have joined me. I suppose I could skip without the skipping rope for 2 mins (ie jump up and down) instead?

I only popped upstairs to check my emails and half and hour later.... I'm still here. Must go and sort myself out for tomorrow and do lunchboxes!

Don't worry about it, some of the other days look like they could be fun to walk around. Day 6 tree running in the local park, I'm just wondering how far I have to drive. He doesn't say how long the row of trees is to be either.
I just bounced up and down on the trampet, without a rope for two mins at a time.
It will be fun and a challenge at least Jaki, weekends will be my downfall, with hubby home its hard to keep the routine up- and if were out all day!!!

I failed today in the end. I am really, really tired and am off to bed in a mo. Had to get up at 4 for daughter's school trip, back to bed at 5 till 7 this morning. Still posting on this instead of sleeping.....

... it's only one day Jaki - look at what you've achieved since January!

I've only had a brief look at this - Saturday's paper is still sitting in the lounge, mostly unread.

As far as the diet is concerned it may be too late for many people on here as we've got something that works. I suspect that you can't really just pick and choose elements of the diet because it's the whole thing that's supposed to balance out. However, it might give me some ideas for expanding the range of things I can eat.

As to the exercise plan, I find it difficult to stick to a regimented day-by-day plan and there are some things I just don't like doing or am no good at - I've never been able to skip, for example.

OMG, my poor little legs were sore today, those squats obviously hit their mark. Didn't make my morning swim today, I've been burning too much midnight oil and was too tired. Friday is the next time the pool has an early session.

Just completed day 3, used a cross-trainer, and kept pushing the levels up and down, and made myself leave my 'comfort zone', which I've been in for quite a while.

I may as well give day 4 a try tomorrow, I've nothing to lose. Apart from flab that is.

I've done day 3 as I walked briskly for 50 minutes! I ought to go back and do day 2 tomorrow! It'll be hard over the weekend as we've got friends coming to stay so I can't go off exercising!! Mind you, day 4 looks like more fun. I can use the bottom step of the stairs for the 15 step ups.

That's day 4 done, that hurt a little bit. Using muscles that I forgot I had, will do something for day 5 tomorrow. Might not be able to report it all back over the next few days, if not I'll note it all down and then put it all on together when I next get a chance.

Think I'll give up on this and start again next week after visitors! Been a manic week and not much free time. Holidays next week.... Hooray!!!!!

I had a go at the weeks exercise still keeping to my plan for low carbs
and after the squats and other exercises I fell the difference. Going to try the tree running tomorrow

Not been able to do a graeat deal over the BH, Sat a lot of walking was done, Sun managed to do just over half of the programme. Hope to get back on track over the next few days. Didn't manage to get the times yesterday, will have to get the next half off the net.

Been trying to keep up with it as much as I can, just done day eight. Just booked our hols, so will need to get bikini fit for November. Were off to Egypt.

Read the exercise plan. How much time does he think we all have! It will surely get results he suggests about 9am and again about mid afternoon. Great if you don't have to work, or get tea when you get home at night. I just read the ideas and will do what I can. I usually manage something for 1/2 hr before breakfast.

Some of the daily exercises are easier to do than others in my opinion so I gave up. I haven't yet read part 2 of the plan.

Day 9

Couldn't stick to it exactly, been up and down stairs all day at work, didn't relish a full 30 mins on cross-trainer, it can be a bit boring. Alternated it it every 5 mins with the rowing machine, also put in a few of the squats and sit up from yesterday as well.

Tomorrow could be interesting cycle at a fast pace, I don't think so when it up and down hill all over. I'll see what I can do though, hope to go for an early swim as well.

Day 10

Didn't go out on my bike, weather garbage-low cloud and fog. Not the best of weathers to cycle on main country roads, with the lorrys thundering by. Did a combi on the cross-trainer and rowing machine instead along with the press ups on other ones. Also did a 25 min swim this morning, pool started to get a bit too crowded.

Wil see what I can do tomorrow.

Day 11

Did a power walk today, about 40 mins, was out for a lot longer but got yakking just up the road from home (twice).

Day 12

Not long done what I can for today, also did a 45 min swim this morning. Don't think I will get much of tomorrows done. It will be hard to work in an hour. Wonder if all the running aroud I do at work will count for anything. haha

So far I've quite enjoyed giving it a go, I have to substitute the cardio work though, and so a different type. The floor work is fine. Next week I'll probably have to do something similar. No one to play with!! Things can get a bit boring at times, work mates think I'm mad, but at least I feel the benefits for what I try to do. Really need to target the waist and love handles.

Well done Jackie, you've put me to shame! I'm just trying to do some sort of exercise each day if I can. The weight's coming off again this week after last weekend's binge so I hope to get back to where I was a fortnight ago if poss.

Really I'm happy where I'm at now but want to target my tummy and get that more streamlined ready for the summer hols when I'm by the pool!

I'm more or less their its just a case of finishing the last little bits, I've got a few months before my summer hols. Were off to Egypt in November, where is it you are off to.

Hi Jackie, we're off to Menorca at the end of July so I've got 8 and a half weeks to lose the weight. I want to shift the excess off my belly so I can wear my tankinis (the shorts and 'tank top' style are as far as I will go!).