We can't all have Heidi Klum's genes, but we can look just as good in our skinny jeans! Photo: Stephen Lovekin, Getty Images

Skinny jeans might be popular, but for many, they bring with them an unpopular side effect -- some extra pudge coming up over the top of those jeans.

A new workout is designed to change all that. The Skinny Jeans Workout, according to CNN, "concentrates on core muscles, balance and posture. A cross between ballet, butt-burning stretches and light weight lifting, the workout involves the entire body." Basically, everything that goes into the jeans (booty, thighs) or affects how you fit in the jeans (abs, back, shoulders) is worked, and those who attend the class regularly swear by it.

Class instructor Tracy Cherpeski Bannister told CNN, "In addition to sort of holding it in, we're also lifting and lengthening and, as we do that, we sort of set our shoulders into place." Hey, good posture makes everybody look 10 pounds slimmer, so it only makes sense that working on muscles that help posture would get you into some smaller, skinnier jeans.

Working core muscles and posture is a great way to combat the effects of rounding ones shoulders while driving or, ahem, hunching over a computer keyboard all day, even if you're not trying to fit into skinny jeans. Does your gym offer the Skinny Jeans Workout?

It was back-to-school for New York students this week, but there was a new policy in place. This year, a new policy went into effect, and students are being weighed as part of their health certificate. The data will enable health officials to map childhood overweight and obesity trends based on location.

There are 12 other states -- Arkansas, California, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia -- with some form of student BMI reporting.

As a parent, I'm not overtly opposed to it. In fact, I remember getting weighed in gym class and during all of my physicals in order to play school sports. I do have a couple of concerns, though. I would hope that student privacy is maintained and their weight isn't being taken in a line where all the kids could see the number on the scale. I would also hope that health and a positive body image is being promoted -- the self esteem of children can be a fragile thing and I hope it's being protected.

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My son has an excess of energy, so I don't know if he's a good example for a general statement. But if your kids are active from the minute they wake up in the morning, until right before bed, then your kids and my son have a lot in common.

When school starts in a few weeks, I know my son will have a rough transition. Given a choice, he'd love to be out riding his bike and playing kickball year-round. And physical activity has such a positive impact on his mood, behavior, and ability to focus. To help keep his activity levels as high as possible, we'll start the same routine we used last year.

• Before school, we'll head to the backyard (as long as the weather permits) and practice soccer moves, he'll ride around the block on his bike, or I'll throw him some pitches. In the winter, we'll have a.m. Dance, Dance, Revolution contests or I'll set up a relay race through the house for him.

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