Don't focus so hard on skinny jeans that you miss the one of the most powerful side effects of eating right and exercising -- being a happy person most of the time. You know, one of those spring-in-their-step types that genuinely loves their life, sleeps like a baby, smiles easily and is filled with boundless energy. Elizabeth Somer's new book, Eat Your Way to Happiness, reminds us the right foods coupled with exercise have a synergistic, immediate effect on your mood and cravings -- critical factors in the size of those jeans.

A registered dietitian and author of Food & Mood, Somer knows her stuff. The book includes 10 easy-to-understand diet secrets peppered with real-life success stories. If you're clueless about healthy eating, but feeling like you've got to do something to shed weight and lose your bad mood, this book is a terrific tool to educate and motivate. If you're a layman-genius in diet and fitness, Somer's assessment tools will help you identify your food and fitness areas that need tweaking.

Here's a sneak peek at a few of Somer's secrets and promises:

Week 10 marked double digit weeks spent on "The Biggest Loser" ranch, as well as a clothes, hair and emotional transformation for the final six. It was a soul-searching makeover week, draped in glitz and glamor and awash in happy tears, family reunions and a chance to tell the world how eating right and working out changes lives. Contestants showed off noticeably slimmer waistlines in gorgeous off-the-rack clothes for dramatic effect. After the stage lights dimmed, makeover week weight loss was kind to some and not others, delivering a heated elimination confrontation.

Goodbye X-Sizes, Hello Jawlines. Besides seeing famous designer Tim Gunn try to convince Rebecca to sport the leopard print blouse, makeover week had fans buzzing with one visual excitement after another. No more X-men and women ranch t-shirts, this is the moment contestants slip into real clothes and designer haircuts. They looked thin this week because nearly 500 pounds of fat is gone between the final six. Instead of a visit with Tyra Banks, Season 8 contestants stepped on stage to speak about their weight loss journey to a 300-plus audience.

Morbid Obesity Has Its Reasons. Jillian's skinny jawline dropped when Rudy stood on the stage and shared with the crowd he lost his 14-year-old sister to leukemia when he was just 12 years old. Jillian ended up pulling Rudy into a one-on-one counseling workout back at the ranch, pointing out his unresolved grief must be acknowledged to continue to grow. Rudy shared that knowing what started his weight gain is a critical piece to keeping the weight off permanently. Liz told the audience she lost herself while serving the needs of others. However she's shining the spotlight back on herself. If you're overweight, obese or just in horrible shape -- why? How did you develop negative eating and fitness habits? What can you do emotionally to shore up your resolve for a lifetime of healthier choices? Forget the next diet trick -- for eight seasons now, Jillian has said this makeover of heart and soul is one of the most critical strategies for permanent weight loss.

Welcome to creamy, frothy, holiday drink season. Nothing like blustery temperatures to switch your alliance with coffee and cream to a pumpkin-flavored latte, mocha with whip, hot chocolate with extra marshmallows. But we all know those drinks add up calorie-wise, and you need to bank all the calories you can for the three or four holiday parties that truly matter during the next six-weeks indulgence.

No sense in diving into peppermint mochas until the hot pumpkin drink crave is satisfied. America supposedly runs on Dunkin' -- so how many calories in a Dunkin' Donuts medium Pumpkin Latte?

The Dairy Council should tweak their "Got Milk?" mustache campaign to "Got Chocolate Milk?" That's the flavor most prized by kids in school, yet despised by many nutritional advocates concerned about the alarming rise of childhood obesity. One cup of low-fat chocolate milk has about 6 teaspoons of sugar versus 3 teaspoons in one cup of white skim milk.

The dairy industry has launched its high-priced Milk Processor Education Program, or MilkPEP, marketing campaign to save the brown stuff from villainous nutritional advocates who'd rather wipe off those chocolate mustaches. Their fight-back slogan in the video above? "Raise your hand for chocolate milk." The campaign says when you strip sugared-up milk from schools, kids won't drink white milk, losing out on critical nutrients they're already deficient in -- calcium and vitamin D. The campaign is sending the message chocolate milk isn't in the same nutritional poorhouse as soda and candy. Parents are happy their kids are drinking it, taking it away does more harm than good.

Is this ad campaign more about shoring up kids' bone density or a scare tactic to fatten sales (and kids in the process)? Marion Nestle, professor of nutrition and food studies at New York University and author of Food Politics, points out this new ad campaign is really about milk sales. Schools represent more than 7 percent of total milk sales, and more than half of that is flavored milk. She even jokes MilkPEP's chocolate milk offensive is great material for a little Colbert satire.

Yet some nutritionists do defend chocolate milk. "It's better to get the milk in with a little bit of sugary flavoring than have them pick almost any alternative," Connie Weaver, head of the department of Food and nutrition at Purdue University, told the Associated Press. But don't forget about all that extra sugar. Renegade lunch lady Ann Cooper estimates the extra calories in chocolate milk can add up to 5 pounds of weight gain over a typical school year.

Have you ever been on a Medifast diet? If you were, you might have been wearing leg warmers at the time -- this diet invention has been around since the 80s.

You won't be grocery shopping much on the Medifast diet because you're required to buy their food. Medifast diet developers say you'll lose weight fast, with a two to five pound weight loss each week on the Medifast 5 & 1 Plan. You eat often on this diet, but in very small doses. The 5 & 1 followers eat five pre-packaged Medifast meals each day, followed by one Lean & Green Meal featuring a lean protein, vegetables and condiments from their approved list of options. With 70 Medifast diet selections, you're not sucking down diet shakes all day. Food choices include chili, stew, soups, oatmeal, scrambled eggs, bars, puddings and a few other mini-meals. But forget that turkey panini with veggie chips for lunch.

Medifast is all about calorie restriction. Depending on which meals -- or, really, bars and shakes -- you choose, you're getting around 800 to 1,000 calories per day. Not much, especially if you're simultaneously inspired to clean the junk off your treadmill and start exercising.

"Someone who is generally going to use Medifast is considerably overweight to begin with and not engaged in any physical activity anyway. The recommendation is for the first two or three weeks on the diet, don't do any exercise at all," advised Constance Brown-Riggs, registered dietitian and spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. She doesn't think Medifast can support rigorous exercise, but followers can engage in more moderate activities such as walking.

Brown-Riggs has put dozens of clients on the diet over the years with great success, noting it's a good way to jumpstart weight loss for the busy person who doesn't have time or won't take time to consider their food choices.

"It's a good way to get them started. Success breeds success, and once they're able to start losing, it's easier to transition them from Medifast to a regular eating regimen," Brown-Riggs said.

Nutritionally-speaking, meals do combine protein and carbs, so you can allegedly lose weight and retain lean muscle. They also have designed a meal plan for people with Type 2 diabetes. This diet isn't cheap, a four-week package of Medifast meals costs about $300. Comparatively, Nutrisystem costs about $350 a month, the Cookie Diet is about $240 and the high-protein Atkins diet sells a variety of a la carte bars, shakes and cuisine. The cost of the Jenny Craig diet depends on menu items ordered. Jenny Craig says their clients spend $1 more a day than the average American spends on food, but this ballpark cost remains a mystery until you start ordering.

Instead of choosing diets that require pre-packaged meals, try shopping the perimeter of the grocery store -- where the produce, lean meats and dairy are located -- and writing down all of your meals in a $5 food journal.

Week 9 at "The Biggest Loser" nearly exploded with stress thanks to head-to-head alliances and a major producer curve ball -- double elimination. Yes, two contestants headed home to slim the count to a near-finale six contestants. Read on about the dreaded red line, a circus spat for immunity and plenty of stressed out weight loss.

Red Line Pitch. Producers flipped everyone out this week with a nutty red line. The contestant with the worst weight loss fell below the red line and was sent home immediately, no vote required. The next two lowest weigh-ins fell below the usual yellow line and duked it out at an elimination vote. What's your take on the red line -- producer curve ball or spit ball? Let us know in the poll. Don't forget, the show's decision makers appeared to listen when fans complained about the early season cursing. On-air trainer potty mouths are a rarity these days.

Does Anyone Deserve It More? Jillian and Bob seemed worried when they heard about the new red line. Jillian said it out loud -- Shay needs the ranch more than others, and her larger size makes it tougher to compete on the scale. Bob and Jillian need to keep their trainer heads on and calm down with a little yoga. Child's pose works wonders. I think they're just angry two are leaving their gym flock this week -- finale heat is on -- no one necessarily deserves it more.

Transformation is Now. "Life happens right now, Rebecca. Transformation happens right now, not yesterday, and not tomorrow," said Jillian. She's right, of course. Take a close look at what you plan to eat today, write it all down, then take a long walk after dinner. Start your transformation each day. If you're really serious, check out Season 5 winner Ali Vincent's powerful advice in Believe It, Be It. She's still strapping on her bodybugg.

You're celebrating and you didn't even know it -- November marks National Peanut Butter Month. Unless you've got a nut allergy, it's a big month for the creamy stuff.
PB fans love it spread on a sandwich, smeared on hot toast or stirred in oatmeal. Those living diet-dangerously lace that heaping tablespoon with semi-sweet chocolate chips, then rationalize it all down saying peanut butter is a terrific source of protein.

If you're a regular pb-lover, it's time to arm yourself with the nutritional facts. For starters, how many calories in two tablespoons of peanut butter?

Ziploc is marketing a new snack bag sized for a pack-and-go 100 calories, and food corporations have been touting 100-calorie-shot salty and sweet carbs in feather-light bags for awhile now. Worth it? FitSugar recently asked readers if the 100-calorie Ziploc bags were cool or not cool, and the vote is about split.

One commenter pointed out 100-calorie snack portions are not all the same -- consumers stuffing this bag full with mixed nuts or dried fruit will swallow way more than 100 calories. And plastic bags won't save the planet. How about some self-control and a piece of fresh fruit or tupperware full of fresh veggies instead?

What's your favorite 100-calorie or so snack to keep you thin? Ziploc says about 28 grapes, 2 tablespoons of mixed nuts and one small orange are good choices, but how about this -- a fresh apple served with an iPod and treadmill.

Here are a few more 100-calorie snacks over at AOL Health.

Less students are slouching in their desks these days, they're sitting attentively upon colorful exercise balls. While many kids report trading a chair for a cushy ball is fun, classroom-designed ball chairs are really about improving learning, reports the Chicago Tribune. Perching atop a ball chair requires kids to constantly engage their core muscles, which is simultaneously turning on their pre-frontal cortex for better mental engagement and less impulsivity.

It's not just school children, either. In a study that looked at college students on exercise balls, the students overwhelmingly prefer a bouncy seat, they self-reported improved concentration and focus, according to a study done by John Kilbourne, a movement scientist at Grand Valley State University. You can bet primary, intermediate and middle school teachers are seeing this same effect or they wouldn't let a single ball chair roll into their classroom. Put your worry to rest about kids tossing their rubber chairs around the room -- they don't scrawl on their bodies with dry erase markers, either -- that's why there's a teacher in the room.

As the mother of an ever-moving, second grade boy, one of these bouncy balls would be a welcome addition at our dinner table. But kids aren't the only clients. Ball chair-seller WittFitt has seen a serious rise in sales the past few years, and their comprehensive sizing tool and personalized assistance can get you the right ball for your home or office. Beyond a standard stability ball with feet, WittFitt offers the Evolution Chair with a moving base, FitBALL Seating Disc and a FitBALL Chair.

If you're slouching right now, and sitting on a ball isn't appealing, perhaps you might try vibrating yourself straight.