5 Ways to Boost Your Metabolism

• Making small changes every day helps you use more energy, thereby raising your metabolism and burning more calories. Walk to the store instead of driving or add an extra 10 minutes to your current aerobic exercise regimen.
• Keep your body's fires burning all year long: cut your own grass, put away the leaf blower and use a rake, hand-shovel light accumulations of snow (but check with your health care provider first if you have any chronic conditions).
• When it gets too wet or cold outside, keep moving indoors. Walk the steps in your house or the hallways in your apartment building or office complex. Instead of sitting and watching TV, walk for 20 minutes in front of the set. Swing your arms for extra aerobic benefits.
• Include strength training (lifting weights) in your exercise schedule. It helps create lean muscle mass, which burns more calories than fat does.
• Hold the line on the calories you consume. When you couple that with daily activity, you'll have control of the two most important elements for maintaining a healthy weight for life.