We all know that the key to losing and maintaining a healthy body weight is your metabolism. The speed of your metabolism will determine how fast your body is able to burn calories. So obviously a faster metabolism has its benefits. The body is like a furnace, and you can think of your metabolism as the fire that fuels that furnace - a hotter fire will burn calories faster.

So how do you stoke the metabolism fire? Try 'Anna's 4 Metabolism Stoking Tips' on for size:

Weight train - if you don't figure any resistance training into your weekly workouts you're missing out. Think of it like this - the more muscle mass you have in your body, the faster and more effective your metabolism will be.

Eat small, frequent meals - Eat every 3 hours, and keep your meals small and healthy (roughly 400 calories).

Water, water, water - is your best friend, and you should drink at least 8 to 10 glasses a day - more if you work out. It keeps you hydrated, stops you from eating when you think you're hungry, but are actually just thirsty.

Stop dieting - it's confusing your body. Kick the fad diets and just aim to maintain a healthy, balanced eating plan. You should be incorporating lean protien (chicken or turkey breast, fresh fish, lean beef) and complex carbohydrates (whole grains like brown rice, couscous or quinoa and fresh fruits and veggies) into every single meal.