Ask:

I’m 13, and quite overweight – my goal for the new year is to lose weight and tone myself up, not only for looks, but for my health, too. I want to lose as much weight as I can in six months – my goal would probably be 40, but 20 at the very least. 
How can I boost my metabolism to lose weight more quickly?

Answers:

Answer 1:

Dieters often complain that they can’t lose weight because they have a “slow metabolism.” Unfortunately, many companies capitalize on this misconception by marketing products that promise to give consumers a so called “metabolic advantage” that helps melt away the pounds.  They are useless. There are things you can’t control about your metabolism, and no product ever will. On the other hand, there are simple natural techniques, which will allow you to do it.
What you can’t control about your metabolism:
Age: Metabolism slows about 5 percent for each decade after 40. That’s because as we get older, we tend to lose muscle and gain body fat. Lean muscle mass is more metabolically active than fat tissue. So when you lose muscle mass, your metabolism slows down.
Gender: Men generally have faster metabolisms than women because they’re larger and have less body fat. Men’s basal metabolic rate is estimated to be 10 percent to 15 percent higher than women’s. Hypothyroidism: An underactive thyroid will slow down your metabolism and ultimately lead to weight gain. The good news is that a simple blood test can determine whether you have this condition or not. If you do, you can control it with the proper medication. Genetics: Some people are lucky enough to be born with speedy metabolisms — and others are not.
What you can control about your metabolism: Diet
Don’t eat fewer than 1,000 calories a day. Your body and metabolism thrive on food. When you fast or crash diet, your metabolism will slow down in order to conserve energy. Imagine your metabolism as a blazing fire. If the fire burns consistently with the appropriate amount of high-quality wood, it will burn at a steady rate. But if it doesn’t have enough wood, the fire goes out. If it has too much wood, it can get out control — just like your waistline!  Eat every four to five hours. Our bodies work hard to digest and
absorb the foods we eat, and your metabolism revs up in response. This is called the thermic effect of food. Take full advantage of this
and schedule meals and snacks every four to five hours.  Make breakfast a priority. Studies show that people who regularly eat
a healthy breakfast within two hours of rising are more likely to control their weight. This may be because you’re lifting your
metabolic rate after it’s been in a “resting phase” during the night. Eat protein with every meal: All foods create a thermic effect and
will slightly boost your metabolism. However, eating protein gives your body a bigger metabolic boost than eating carbohydrates or fats. Plus, eating enough protein will ensure you’ll maintain and build muscle mass. (Remember, the more muscle mass you have, the greater your metabolic rate). Make sure to incorporate lean protein into most every meal. Best protein sources: fish, chicken breast, turkey breast, lean red meat, skim milk, nonfat yogurt, eggs and egg substitutes, tofu, beans,
and lentils.
Meal Examples:

• Breakfast: yogurt with fresh fruit
• Lunch: turkey burger on whole-grain bun and a salad
• Dinner: grilled chicken with vegetables and a baked potato
• Exercise

Do aerobic exercise four to five days a week. Aerobic activities, such as running, brisk walking, swimming and bike riding, burn
calories and increase metabolism while you’re working out. Several studies show that aerobic activities cause your metabolism to stay at an elevated level for a period of time after you have finished exercising. Work in strength-training exercise two to three days a week. Lifting weights and other strengthening activities, such as doing push-ups or crunches, on a regular basis will actually boost your resting metabolism all day. That’s because these activities build muscle. And once again, muscle burns more calories than body fat. In fact, if you have more muscle, you burn more calories — even if you’re sitting
still. When it comes to supplements, I do not recommend them. The ingredients that are effective tend to boost metabolism only slightly and they can be risky. High doses of stimulants can make you jittery, and increase heart rate and blood pressure.  The bottom line: The safest and most effective way to boost your metabolism is to eat an appropriate amount of food every four to five
hours, incorporate a portion of lean protein into each meal, and exercise regularly!

Answer 2:

A healthy diet and exercise are the only real ways to boost metabolism. Metabolism is sold as a “fat burner” that can be elevated with diet pills or other stimulants. Metabolism is the amount of calories we utilize during a 24 hour period. Most people ignore the internal organs. Our liver, brain, and kidneys consume over 60% of the total calories we use outside of exercise!
80% of weight loss is diet.
You can eat a healthy diet and lose weight.
You can eat a healthy diet and exercise and lose more weight.
You can exercise and eat a poor diet and not lose and even gain weight.
A good healthy diet high in fiber, lean meats, eggs, complex carbohydrates, whole grains, antioxidant foods, healthy beverages and low in added sugar and salt help people lose weight, lower cholesterol, increase energy, improve brain function, lower blood pressure, reduce cancer risk and have a more positive lifestyle!
You need to eat a lot more food and a lot more fiber!
Diets that exclude foods from any food group are fad diets and do not lead to permanent weight loss or solve any other health issues.
First, try to kick your fiber intake to 40 grams of both soluble and insoluble fiber.
Whatever you do, get your fiber from your food, not from a jar.
Fruits and vegetables have good fiber in them. A high fiber diet increases the metabolism.
Try a breakfast cereal with at least 20% of recommended daily allowance of fiber in it. They are usually low in sugar so there is a double benefit. Blueberries or raspberries on top add more fiber and antioxidants. But fresh or frozen, not the kind in syrup.
Raw nuts are a great source of fiber, healthy fats, and antioxidants. Avocados are the best.
Lots of beans, peas, and grains are high fiber. Whole grain breads. Fiber kicks up the metabolism so you actually burn more calories. These foods will give you more gas in the beginning but if eaten daily, the bacteria in the digestive tract will elevate lowering the gas output.
This will get you on the path for a healthy daily bowel movement. This helps clean the system and aids healthy digestion.
I know it goes against everything you’ve heard but eating lots of the right foods will actually help you lose weight!
Next, take an age appropriate basic daily multivitamin. Don’t look at your multivitamin as nutrition but more as an insurance policy. Think of it as filling in the gaps in your daily diet as opposed to a primary source of nutrients.
Last, you have to drink lots of water to be healthy. But you can disguise it. Fill your glass all the way full with ice before pouring low sugar beverages. Try iced green tea with a splash of orange juice in it for sweet. More antioxidants. Add lemon juice to water for flavor. Slice up a cucumber and float it in pitcher of water. Gives it salty fresh taste. But you must drink up to 100 oz of water daily to help your body get rid of waste and the natural toxins.
You must combine a healthy diet with exercise to multiply the benefit. Whether an hour a day in the weight room or just a 30 minute brisk walk every day, the added benefit of a regular exercise program really do increase and accelerate healthy weight loss.

I lost 30 pounds in 5 months by spending my money at the grocery and gym and have kept it off for two years now. 3% of people that attempt weight loss lose it and keep it off for two years. It is not easy. It is a lifestyle change.
Good luck and good health.