While dietitians advise switching to a whole food, plant-based diet to boost health and shed pounds, and fitness experts recommend a moderate but consistent exercise plan, there are some simple tricks that can help you along the path:

• Lower your thermostat. A study published in the journal Molecular Metabolism said that “cold ambient temperatures” help your body produce vitamin A, which in turn turns the bad white fat into metabolism[1]boosting brown fat.

• Fidget more. Studies show that fidgeting during the day burns 10 times more calories than sitting still. Tapping your foot, shaking your leg, and other signs of restlessness can burn up to 350 calories daily, which is enough to help you lose 30 to 40 pounds in a year.

• Eat protein for breakfast. Consuming high-protein foods at breakfast helps build muscle mass which in turn burns more fat.

• Schedule fat-burning boosts during the day. “One sneaky way to burn more fat more easily all day long is to rev up your metabolism in short intervals at various points during the day,” says Alicia Filley, P.T., founder of The Healthy Hiker. Recommendations include taking the stairs as often as possible while you are running errands or even at home. You can also set your timer and do jumping jacks for three minutes several times daily.