There are dozens of fad diets promising quick and easy weight loss, but the truth is there’s no magic formula, powder or pill to melt away weight. The trick is really no trick at all: A reduced-calorie diet coupled with exercise. You don’t have to deprive yourself of your favorite foods or sweat for hours to see results, either. In fact, experts often advise that you shouldn’t make changes you can’t sustain over the long term. If you get frustrated, you’re more likely to give up.

 

 

While you might think of California or European countries for superior wine production, North Carolina is holding its own with a much sought-after wine industry. Here are five activities — from tastings and tours to festivals — to bring out the wine lover in you.

The fifth of May is called “Cinco de Mayo” in Spanish and is a Mexican national holiday. It is also celebrated throughout Mexican-American communities in the U.S., perhaps arguably to a grander and bigger extent.

A BBQ is as much about food as it is a social gathering. What’s not to like about sampling other people’s cooking while your kids play in the fresh air? If you’re tired of making your tried-and-true potluck dishes, perk up your repertoire with the following spring BBQ ideas.

Many people put off saving for retirement because they don’t realize how many investment opportunities are available. Yet starting young gives you more time to grow your savings through investments such as Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) and 401K savings plans, mutual funds, Certificates of Deposit (CDs) and even purchasing real estate.

If you’re looking for an awards show that transcends the bland and boring, the 2012 "MTV Movie Awards" promises some wackiness and fun as well as large doses of unpredictability. Airing live from the Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City, Calif., on June 3 at 9 p.m., the show is a telecast featuring MTV viewers’ favorite stars, films and music.