There is something so delicious about the taste of Mediterranean food. Perhaps it’s the freshness of the ingredients, or the blending of the herbs and spices that come together just right to make your mouth water over the sights and smells of the food on offer. Whichever it is, there is no denying that a choice dish influenced by the Mediterranean can enhance all the other plates around it.

While many people want to lose 10-15 pounds to look better or to fit in their old clothes, there are some very compelling health reasons to lose the weight as well. Coupling these appearance and health reasons can be a great way to motivate you to lose weight and maintain a healthier lifestyle. The short-term benefit is always the fun new outfits and the compliments from friends, but being healthier and more active always pays off in helping you live a longer and healthier life.

When a new year begins, we are so full of optimism and excitement. However, this quickly fades, and we return almost immediately to our old patterns. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Here are five tips to keep you organized regarding your weight loss regime and motivated all year round for a healthier way of life.

With New Year’s day rapidly approaching, it is time to set your priorities and make some health and fitness resolutions that you can stick to the whole year. So how can you make resolutions that you will want to do day in day out? The trick is to make your goals smaller in size, so they are more achievable. You want to set resolutions which are challenging yet doable. Here are five of our favorite new year resolutions to make 2017 the best year yet!

Entertaining during the holiday season can be a lot of fun. It gives you the chance to bring out your favorite snack recipes and share your cooking with your family and friends. You can decorate the dining room and make it a real colorful occasion. December gives you the opportunity to go all out, focusing on presentation and adding personalized touches to the dining table. Well thought out displays like small candles and floral bunches can make a dramatic difference. A festive centerpiece adds a real feeling of warmth to the occasion, sparking great conversation and creating wonderful memories.

Can you believe the holidays are already upon us? The holiday season is a truly fun and festive time of year for most of us. For others, the holidays are quite stressful, especially if you’ve been dieting and exercising to lose weight throughout the year. It’s nearly impossible to avoid all those delectable holiday foods and treats this time of year – they’re everywhere! To help you this holiday season, we've put together a healthy and satisfying dinner menu that you and your entire family can enjoy. These recipes have lower calorie and carb counts than you might think, so you can indulge, guilt-free, without worrying about sabotaging your weight loss efforts.

If you’re in the process of losing weight or just getting started, you may be picturing yourself with firmer, stronger abs. It’s important to know that although you will lose weight by eating a well-balanced diet that is low in carbs, performing core strengthening exercises are also needed to get that flatter belly. Something to keep in mind is that building stronger core muscles is not all about developing “six-pack abs.”

People make the decision to lose weight for a variety of reasons. For some, they wish to look better for an upcoming event, such as a wedding or high school reunion. For others, weight loss becomes a critical necessity due to health and/or medical issues. Regardless of why you choose to lose weight, you should keep in mind that choosing a healthy way to do so has positive long-term effects. Healthy weight loss affects many aspects of our lives - from looking better, to boosting your self-confidence, to improving your health. Before starting on your weight loss plan, it’s also a good idea to personally assess the way you feel about your own body image.

There is a common misconception that people in general – and women in particular - cannot lose weight once we hit a “certain age.” So many of us simply accept the belief that it’s impossible to win the ongoing battle against our slower metabolisms once we hit forty-something. As a result, we often simply surrender without even trying to lose weight. In all truth, losing weight does become more difficult as we get older. However, it’s not impossible to shed those excess pounds, and you don’t have to resort to painful weight loss surgery in order to do so. As long as you’re willing to work a little harder, you’ll continue looking and feeling great well into your forties and beyond. Read on to learn more about the steps you can take to naturally boost your slower metabolism and lose weight after forty.

Summer is right around the corner, and so are the cool summer fashions. The hot weather usually means wearing lighter clothing and swimsuits. Are you excited about breaking out the shorts and sleeveless tops? If not, don’t worry because you still have time to get in shape. Perhaps you have already been losing weight but still want to tighten and tone your body in time for the summer months. Either way, these slim-down workout moves will help you look and feel your best. The workout focuses on shaping up your “bikini zones” - upper arms, abs, butt, and thighs. Get ready to break out those shorts and sundresses and look fantastic in them this summer!