In order to get your metabolism going and to burn fat and calories, you can do a variety of things. Here are five of them:

1) Don’t Skip Breakfast

Breakfast is ideal to jump start your metabolism, and it prevents feasting later in the day. Just a cup of coffee is not enough: sure, caffeine and a little sugar may suppress your appetite and give a little bit of energy — but not more. But in the long run, just having a cup of coffee in the morning and no breakfast at all will back fire into severe hunger, and this is your ticket for overeating later.

So, have a great breakfast, including complex carbohydrates like whole grain (oatmeal or granola is good), protein and a little fat (low-fat yogurt or milk) works just fine, keeping your energy levels even and hunger has not a chance.

2) Eat More Often

Eating at least four times a day or every three to four hours is a great habit. Why? Eating regularly helps to stabilize blood sugar. This is important, because when your blood sugar drops, you will be very likely to eat — and a lot. Or when you work countless hours without eating your body will slow your metabolism down, saving energy he might need later. This effect hurts every weight loss effort. So, keep your blood sugar stable and steady and you will be able to control your appetite in an easier and better way, by keeping your metabolic rate high in the same time.

3) Eat Protein At Every Meal

Having protein at every meal has great advantages: it helps to reduce appetite. It take more time and energy to digest. And finally, you feel full longer than if you had just carbohydrates alone. Recent researches have shown that you can have more protein without harming your weight loss program or cutting calories.

Here are a few products containing protein: turkey whole wheat, vegetarian chili, hummus and pita or protein snack bars containing not less than 12 grams of protein, preferably more.

4) Hold Off On Snacking

Grabbing a snack for a quick energy rebuild when you feel tired is not a good idea. Why? Do not confuse true hunger with fatigue. If you are feeling tired, go for a walk. 15 to 20 minutes if enough: it raises your heart rate and gives just the boost of energy you need. Then take a large glass of cool, clean water. If you are truly hungry (not that appetite here), grab a protein and complex carbohydrate rich snack. This can be whole wheat crackers and peanut butter or cheese.

5) Consume enough for your body’s needs

There are two things that slow your metabolism: eating too little and eating too infrequently. But to burn fat, you want to boost your metabolism. For that, you have to eat. So do not slash your calories too drastically.

Cut out some of the extra stuff instead: soda, packaged goods or candy. Stay away from processed foods, since they tend to be high in calories and fat and low in vitamins, minerals and fiber.

These five easy steps should boost your metabolism. The only thing (and the most difficult one) is to put it into action. Start slowly but surely, day after day — and the result will show up.