It's been a rough morning commute and you've finally made it to the Starbucks counter. A grande Caramel Macchiato and blueberry muffin are calling your name.

According Charles Stuart Platkin's "The Diet Detective's Count Down," you may not want to answer.

The Macchiato with skim milk will cost you more than 220 calories and 40 carbs. You'll have to walk for 57 minutes, run for 23, bike for 31, swim for 27, do yoga for 75 minutes or dance for 37 minutes to burn it off.

Even worse is the muffin (380 calories, 49 carbs). It'll cost you a 98-minute walk, a 40-minute run, 54 minutes on the bike, 46 in the pool, two hours of yoga and an hour of dancing.

Still hungry?

A better bargin might be a grande coffee (10 calories, 2 carbs, 3 minutes walking or yoga, two minutes of dance or 1 minute of running, biking or swimming) and a biscotti (110 calories, 15 carbs, 28-minute walk, 12-minute run, 16 minutes biking, 13 swimming, 37 of yoga or 19 minutes dancing).

Platkin's book also offers advice on creating a food diary and bargain hunting for lower-calorie alternatives. Check out the Diet Detective website for blogs, interviews and more.

-- Amanda Barrett, amNY.com