There are lots of people who’d pay obscene amounts of money to increase their metabolism. Who can blame them? Having high metabolism enables you to burn calories quickly & consistently, lose weight with less physical activity, & maintain a healthy weight.

Luckily enough for you, you don’t have to pay for the secrets to effective weight loss & increased wellness. Read on.

WHAT IS METABOLISM?

Metabolism is the rate at which the body consumes calories & produces energy; your body's process for doing this is what keeps you active.

There are several factors that affect your metabolism such as:

• · Your Body Fat to Muscle ratio
• · Your Diet & Meal Frequency
• · Genetics (Yes, it's true. It plays a part.)
• · Your Stress & Activity Levels

Your metabolism may slow for a variety of different reasons, but here are a few common ones:

• - Loss of Muscle Mass due to inactivity (If you don't use it, you lose it!)
• - The Body Consuming its Own Tissue if You're not Eating Enough Calories (Don't starve yourself!)
• - Changes in Exercise Habits due to Aging

Now that you know some of the causes of slow metabolism, here are ten ways to fire up your metabolism & jump-start your weight loss & wellness program:

1. Increase lean muscle mass. Your muscle mass plays a big part in your body's ability to burn calories and shed pounds. To build your new buff body, exercise is essential. Work out at least twice a week with light weights. Between weight lifting sessions, add in a 30-minute aerobic workout.

2. Move your body more during everyday activities. Simple tasks like walking your dog and using the stairs instead of the elevator can not only wake up stagnant metabolism, but also help you shed pounds and feel better!

3. Avoid sugar. Sugar, especially white granulated sugar, helps the body store fat [which isn't what you want...right?]. Try to eat foods that don't cause glycemic spikes – things that keep your blood sugar level. Regular exercise also helps to stabilize blood sugar.

4. Eat breakfast. We've always heard that it's the most important meal of the day. Surprisingly, people who eat breakfast tend to be thinner than those who don't. Metabolism slows considerably if breakfast is eaten mid-morning or skipped altogether.

5. Increase water intake. Water flushes out toxins that are produced through bodily processes, including fat burning. Dehydration (lack of water) causes the body system's operations to operate more slowly, and produces unnecessary stress on the system.

6. Include more high-energy foods in your diet, such as fruits and vegetables, beans and whole grains. Spicy foods can be included too. The capsazin in hot chilies and peppers give the metabolism a boost!

7. Eat smaller meals. Some research suggests that eating 4 to 6 small meals a day, that are timed 2 to 3 hours apart, is much better for metabolism & the digestive process. To make this easier, plan your meals in advance.

8. Never skip meals. Skipping meals in order to lose weight slows down metabolism because your body goes into survival mode - conserving as many calories as possible. Starving yourself may actually cause you to gain weight!

9. Get the right amount of sleep. You muscles reenergize during slumber. Not only that, but the proper amount of rest helps you with the next point...

10. Avoid stress like the plague! Whether it's mental, physical, or emotional, stress triggers the release of a steroid called cortisol, which decreases metabolism. Also, many people eat more when stressed.

If you follow these tips (and others, of course) your metabolism can help you in your journey to health & wellness. These tips aren’t meant to be a "cheat sheet,” but as part of a lifestyle that will afford you maximum vitality & the ability to excel in every area of life.

What other tips do you have that might help others kick-start their metabolism & weight loss program? Don't be afraid...Share them below!