Mary Hartley, M.P.H., R.D., is CalorieCount.About.com's resident nutrition expert. Read on for her guest post about overcoming weight-loss plateaus, and be sure to check back here soon for more of her healthy insights.

It happens to everyone. You are cruising along on the road to leanness, and then screech! The scale is stuck! What can possibly be wrong? There is no one-size-fits-all answer when weight loss stalls, but if you back up and review the facts, perhaps you can explain it. Start by asking yourself five questions:

1. Has your weight been stuck for less than a week?
If yes, then perhaps fluid accumulation has your weight at a standstill. For women, hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle lead to water retention. In addition, anyone can retain fluid after eating a high-sodium meal or too many high-sodium processed foods. And when the ambient temperature and humidity are high, the body becomes less efficient at removing fluid. Fluid may also collect as a side effect of medications, including oral contraceptives, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and others.
Solution: Drink lots of water and keep your sodium intake low to promote diuresis. If you don't see a change within a reasonable period of time, consult your doctor to rule out serious medical conditions.

Are you inspired by Ruby? Just can't get enough of her unique wit and wisdom? Click above to browse inside her book, Ruby's Diary: Reflections on All I've Lost and Gained, in stores now!

Ruby's trainers, Drew and Shazia Edmonds of Train Me 24/7, are here to share some tips that'll help you start and maintain a successful fitness program.

1. Start Small. Many people view a fitness program as an all-or-nothing proposition. We believe that making small changes now will lead to big changes long-term. Want some painless swaps? Try replacing soft drinks with water, dessert with 10-minute "metabo" walks around the neighborhood, or family TV time with play time in the park. Too much change at once can become overwhelming and lead to burnout, so take it one small step at a time. Success will follow!

2. Set Goals. Without goals, it is difficult to measure the success of a fitness program. Be sure to set realistic, measurable and time-specific goals. A goal can be anything from pounds or inches lost to a specific number of workouts completed by a selected date. Ruby loves setting goals to keep herself motivated!

Mary Hartley, M.P.H., R.D., is CalorieCount.About.com's resident nutrition expert. Read on for her guest post about healthy comfort foods, and be sure to check back here soon for more of her healthy insights.

Southern food, fresh and simple, is enjoyed throughout the United States. It's rich, filling and aromatic—but often not so healthy. Anything buttered, smothered, battered or fried adds extra calories that lead to overweight. But Southern food can be made healthier without surrendering that down-home taste.

Whether it's soul food, Creole, Cajun or barbecue, the bottom line is: Cut the Fat. Your food choices and cooking techniques can make all the difference between a healthy dish and an unhealthy one.

Got questions about food, diabetes or nutrition? Get answers in the Ruby Glucerna Chat Forum! Log in to the message boards tonight @ 9p EST to chat live with a nutritionist, just like Ruby does!

*Use Glucerna products under medical supervision

Season two of Ruby has begun! Catch new eps every Sunday @ 8/7c.

Can't wait to see what the Southern charmer has been up to? Click play, above, for her insights on taking care of yourself for the right reasons.

Season two of Ruby is here! Be sure to tune in every Sunday @ 8/7c. And click play, above, to hear this Southern Charmer's thoughts on staying focused during her journey of a lifetime.

Getting ready for a fun summer picnic? Here's a healthy dessert from Glucerna that'll have everyone raving.

Raspberry Mousse Bars
Carbs: 21g
12 Servings

For the Crust:
2 tablespoons sugar substitute for baking
5 tablespoons reduced-fat butter, melted
1½ cups finely crushed Glucerna® Crunchy Flakes 'n Almonds Cereal crumbs (about 4 ½ cups of flakes)

For the Filling:
1 envelope unflavored gelatin
¼ cup cold water
¼ cup sugar substitute
1 bottle (8 ounces) Glucerna Strawberries 'n Cream Shake
1½ cups fresh raspberries, crushed
1½ cups non-dairy sugar free whipped topping
½ cup whole raspberries
Fresh mint

Want to beat the heat? Here's a healthy summer treat from Glucerna that'll leave you cool and satisfied.

Frozen Fudge Pops
Carbs: 16g
8 Servings

1 cup skim milk
1 cup (8 ounces) Glucerna® Chocolate Shake
1-ounce package sugar-free chocolate-flavored instant pudding mix
1-1/2 cups thawed sugar-free whipped topping
2 Glucerna Chocolate Caramel Snack Bars (40 g each), chopped
1/2 cup unsalted peanuts, chopped
8 paper cups or frozen popsicle containers
Wooden popsicle sticks or plastic spoons

Love the taste of fresh summer fruit and the indulgence of a creamy dessert? Here's a healthy version from Glucerna that'll make your tastebuds sing.

White Chocolate Mousse With Fresh Berries
Carbs: 22g
4 Servings

1 cup (8 fl oz) Glucerna® Homemade Vanilla Snack Shake
1/3 cup cold water
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
1-oz package instant sugar-free, fat-free white chocolate pudding mix
3/4 cup sugar-free nondairy whipped topping
3 tablespoons grated sugar-free white chocolate
2 tablespoons almond slices
1 cup fresh raspberries, blueberries, blackberries or mixed berries
Fresh mint (optional)

Mary Hartley, M.P.H., R.D., is CalorieCount.About.com's resident nutrition expert. Read on for her guest post about dealing with summer temptations, and be sure to check back here soon for more of her healthy insights.

Summer is the best time to lose weight. Plentiful produce is a bargain, and eating lightly just feels right. But summer is also time for cookouts, parties and carnivals, each offering opportunities to break the calorie bank.

To lose weight, we must eat fewer calories than we burn. Knowing the calorie impact of foods can make the difference between losing weight and not. The trick is to choose interesting foods that are low in calories and tasty, too. Consider the best and worst options at some popular summer destinations:

Cookouts and Barbecues
Problem: Large portions of fatty meat
Fat is "marbled" throughout the meat, so we might not even see it. And nearly everyone eats larger potions than they should. Fix the problem by choosing fish, shellfish and chicken in smaller servings, or buy fresh low-fat sausages at fine food markets. Veggie burgers, sliced tofu and vegetables also grill well. (Note: The meats listed here are in 6-ounce portions, although 3- to 4-ounce portions are enough for most people.)

Grilled rib-eye steak, 6 oz: 500 calories
Grilled tuna, 6 oz: 312 calories
Shrimp skewers, 6 oz: 120 calories

Let's face it: The majority of the day is spent chained to your desk. Burning the midnight oil can make hitting the gym impossible, especially in these days of the BlackBerry, when getting away from work is harder than ever.

So why not make the office work for you? Los Angeles-based personal fitness trainer Jamie Murphy offers the following exercises that can easily be done at the office—and will add to your daily calorie burn. This routine is great for those days when work has no end in sight. Or better yet, think of it as bonus on top of your regular workout.

Ruby has inspired many of us to start eating right—but here comes Thanksgiving, the biggest challenge of the year for anyone with even a passing interest in getting (or staying!) healthy. Feeling overwhelmed by the tempting dishes you'll have to face on Thursday? Take a deep breath and check out these relatively painless ways to have an enjoyable and healthy Thanksgiving this year.

1. Make a Game Plan. Know you've just got to experience Grandma's mouthwatering mashed potatoes or that delicious creamed corn casserole? Decide ahead of time which one or two dishes are most important to your Thanksgiving experience. Indulge in one reasonably sized serving of each, and forgo the other decadent options.

2. Don't Starve Before the Big Event. Eat a light, healthy breakfast (and lunch, if dinner's on the late side) so your hunger pangs aren't out of control when you sit down to the feast.