The dress is bought, the final fitting has happened — the last thing you want is to feel puffy and bloated as you walk down the aisle. While you may have kept up with your already-healthy diet and lifestyle in the months leading up to the wedding, there are certain foods known to leave us feeling a little swollen around the seams. A good rule of thumb is to stick to a basic elimination diet Read more

As bikini season draws near, let me remind you: it is time to draw your navel to your spine and work your abs. Here are nine great exercises for toning your midsection. Remember, the ol' Pilates trick of pulling the belly button in ensures that you're working the deepest ab muscle (known as the transverse), which helps create a sleek midriff. The exercises are divided into three sections: upper Read more

With weight loss on many a woman's brain, limiting calories and certain types of food can mean not getting your fill of essential vitamins and minerals. While maintaining a healthy weight is important for optimum health, make sure your diet includes these important nutrients as well. Source: Flickr User JMacPherson, Thinkstock, and Flickr User ilovemypit Read more

It's only 40 days, but when you're giving up something you love, the Lenten season can seem like forever. Did you give up a favorite food? As Lent comes to a close, it's time to gather recipes for your first indulgent meal. Whether it's caffeine, sugar, meat, cheese, or alcohol that you've been missing, we've rounded up 10 of the best recipes to help you reintroduce the tasty treats back into Read more

We are pumped to share one of our fave stories from Shape here on FitSugar. White bread has pretty much become bad-for-you public enemy number one; who doesn't automatically order their turkey and Swiss on whole wheat? The reason, of course, is that white bread is processed — it's had all of its goodness stripped away, leaving a soft, squishy slice that was all the rage in the last century. But Read more

With bikini season right around the corner, being bloated is the last thing you want to feel. First things first: lay off the soda and alcohol, and stay away from salty, fatty foods (refined carbs, too!). By doing so, you'll feel less puffy and gassy and more ready for the two-piece suit that's calling your name. From there, incorporate these five debloating foods into your diet, and you're one Read more

A runner doesn't need to follow a strict or special diet to be in tip-top shape, but there are a few foods every runner needs to fuel her workouts, improve performance, and speed up recovery time. Keep reading to find out which foods do a runner's body good. Source: Thinkstock, Flickr User Veganbaking.net, and Flickr User janineomg Read more

There are already many proven benefits to following a Mediterranean diet, and now we can add another one: a new study of the dietary habits of about 1,000 people found that the high levels of monounsaturated fats found in a Mediterranean diet may help your smarts by protecting against small vessel damage in your brain. That benefit may help slow cognitive decline as well as prevent strokes. Past Read more

Got weight loss on the mind? Of course you do — you and just about everyone else whose New Year's resolution is to slim down. Arm yourself against your expanding waistline by following these essential weight loss tips. Source: Thinkstock and Flickr User avlxyz Read more

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Shape, here on FitSugar. If you love sushi but are watching your waistline, try these orders — none of which will break the caloric bank. More from Shape.com: Which Food Is Healthier? Sandwiches Under 300 Calories   What's your favorite sushi? Read more