Metabolism can be defined by how much energy is available for you at any given time through the burning of fat calories, this causes the body to be working in overdrive. If you are not active then this rate is usually incredibly slow. So here are several different ways that you can speed up your metabolic rate.

*Exercise - When you do some form of exercise such as jumping up and down on a mini trampoline during those two minutes of commercials you can speed up your metabolic rate. The more you do it the more your metabolism will adjust to work faster and after a while this increase will be the normal rate of your metabolism. Any form of exercise involving strength training and cardio will give maximum benefits.

*Walking - Walking on an inclined treadmill that is set at an angle of ten to fifteen degrees or up a hill either one will help with weight loss and the large oxygen deficit that it causes will speed up your metabolism. This oxygen deficit forces the body to burn fat for its energy needs immediately.

*Water - Cold water can give a momentary boost of approximately eight to thirty percent when it is drunk cold.

You should know how many calories you take in during a day's time. You need to know this because you have to figure out how many calories you actually need to make it through your day. An easy way to do this is to take 11 times the amount you weight, 12 if you are more active. This isn't exact but it will be close. Use this figure for one to two weeks then adjust it to fit your weight loss goals and get results.

Just by eating meals more often can change the rate at which you lose weight. This doesn't mean to eat more literally, it means to have more, smaller meals, and you should eat four to six meals a day as opposed to the three a day you were always taught. This is due to the fact that if the body is without food for a period of more than 3 three hours it will slow the metabolism to protect itself. When you eat at least every three hours the body is constantly breaking down the food and this helps keeps metabolism going and causes it to speed up.

Most people don't realize that sleep is very important when trying to speed up your metabolism. A regular sleep schedule with at least seven to eight hours a night works best to help in your efforts and make them more effective.

Your metabolic rate is one of the controlling factors in losing weight and learning to control your rate of metabolism is not as hard as you may think. These simple suggestions will make it easier to achieve this.