Anyone who is serious about fitness and weight loss knows that raising metabolism plays a huge role in helping you get down to the size and weight you want to have. By raising your metabolism, your body will be able to process the food you’ve taken in much faster and use up the calories, making sure that they won’t linger in your body and eventually turn into fat.

So what are the secrets to raising metabolism? Believe it or not, it doesn’t take a lot of effort. Here are some great tips to keep in mind.

1) Get plenty of sleep. Lack of sleep has a negative effect on your bodily functions and can throw your metabolism off track. This also impairs your body’s ability to break down carbohydrates, which will lead to fat storage.

2) Drink water regularly. Water regulates your metabolic processes.

3) Don’t starve yourself. Some people who want to lose weight tend to think that skipping meals is the secret. This is entirely false. When you starve yourself, your body’s metabolism slows down and hangs onto your fat stores for nourishment. Make sure to eat small meals or snacks throughout the day, but remember not to overeat!

4) Choose metabolism-boosting foods. You not only have to eat in moderation, you should also eat smart. High-protein and fiber-rich foods are your best bets.

5) Move it. Exercise is indeed your best friend when it comes to losing weight. You need to be able to burn more calories than what you eat; and losing them through high-impact exercises makes this happen.

A reminder: Just make sure that you don’t just focus on raising metabolism if you want to lose weight. Weight loss is a process involving not just faster metabolism, but also adequate exercise, proper diet, and a healthy lifestyle.