You're eating right, finally making it to the gym as planned, but you're still not getting the results you want. What's going on? Your metabolism could be to blame. Having a sluggish metabolism can make it really difficult to increase your core body temperature and burn off those extra calories. If this sounds like the reason why the scale won't budge, you need a better plan for boosting that heart rate and stoking that calorie-burning fire!

Start things off by changing up your workout schedule. If you've been hitting the treadmill and weights on alternate days and aren't seeing results, it's time to try something new. Jump onto the elliptical trainer for a great cardio and resistance combo that will get your heart pumping. Pick up the jump rope and do a few sets between your treadmill run to give your body a new challenge. The goal here is to work just a little bit harder by challenging different muscle groups.

Next, make sure your diet really is up to par. Are you eating three large meals and feel like you're starving in between? The best way to give a sluggish metabolism a boost is to eat small snacks, up to six 'mini meals,' throughout the day. This will give you plenty of fuel to get through a few hours without feeling hungry, and will keep that digestive fire and metabolism running at full speed. Just fill up a lunch tote with your daily meal plan so it's easier to keep up with your healthy routine.

If you're not getting the results you want from your fitness routine, make sure you're getting enough sleep. A lack of sleep can make it very difficult to keep your energy level running strong throughout the day, and you're more likely to overeat or eat the wrong types of foods when you're tired. Make sure you're getting between 7 to 9 hours of rest per night so that your body can effectively burn extra calories all day long.

Revving up a sluggish metabolism is no easy feat, especially if you're already exercising regularly and eating a well-balanced diet. Making a few tweaks to your daily schedule and routine may be all you really need to get that metabolism running in high gear, and start getting the results you want!

It's another week of looming deadlines and the calendar's chock full of to-do items, which means getting to the gym might not be high on the priority list for yet another seven days. If you want to stay in shape, you do have some options outside of the usual gym circuit. A few tweaks to your morning routine, and modifying your daily activities ever so slightly, might just be all you need to keep that metabolism revved up and keep you in shape.

Start things off with a power walk in the early morning. As soon as you get up, throw on your workout gear and head outside for a brisk 15 to 20 minute walk around the block. This will get your blood circulation going and help you enjoy some fresh air before your all-day-indoors agenda the rest of the day. Walking is a great aerobic activity that will keep your heart strong, and give your total body a much-needed workout. Don't forget to stretch before and after the session to avoid injury and pain.

Your next get-fit opportunity rolls around at lunch hour. Instead of brown-bagging it in the company cafeteria, you can eat your lunch on a picnic table outside, then take a brief walk around the building or up and down some of the large hallways around the office. Anything physical will do; climb up a few sets of stairs, give your calf muscles a good stretch outside, and just re-energize your muscles after those back-to-back meetings.

When you finally make it back home, get into the habit of doing a brief 10 to 20 minute yoga routine to elongate and flex all of those muscles that didn't experience the joy of movement as you hunched over your desk all day. Yoga and deep breathing exercises will let the oxygen flow throughout your body, and will help you feel lighter and limber. You can do these right before dinner to give your metabolism a boost before the meal ahead.

Getting and staying in shape doesn't require a commitment to the body-pump workouts at the gym, or even going to the fitness center. Plan your day around some simple exercises so you can keep your body in great shape whether you're hitting the gym, or not!

When the workday feels like a drag and hitting the gym after work feels like Mission Impossible, consider breaking up your day for a mid-day fitness circuit. A quick, high-intensity lunch time workout can give your metabolism a boost and help you log in that much needed gym time. If you have just 20 to 30 minutes to spare on your lunch break, consider jumping into any of these mini-workouts to keep up with your fitness resolutions this season:

Chair Squats
You won't even need to leave the office for this simple routine; just pull a chair away from your desk and do a series of squats by standing up and hovering over the chair base for 15-20 reps. Use a pair of water bottles as weights for extra resistance.

Speed Walking
Put on a pair of walking or running shoes and head outside for a brisk 20-minute walk. Head on over to your favorite smoothie place, coffee shop or just go on a window-shopping hike across town to log in those miles; just make sure your pace is fast enough to increase your heart rate.

Yoga Poses
An empty employee lounge or conference room is the perfect place to de-stress and stretch with a few yoga poses. Find a quiet space where you can center yourself and enjoy a few minutes of bliss; a few focused, intense stretches will get the blood circulation going and help you re-energize in the middle of an otherwise stressful day.

Wall Push-Ups
Another in-office maneuver, this exercise will tone up those biceps, shoulder muscles and upper back. Stand facing a wall about 2 feet away from the base. Push your palms against the wall and lean into the movement to do a standing push-up. Repeat for 15-20 reps or until you feel a burn.

The best time to do undertake the mini-workout is right before you dig into the lunch pack; you'll get to rev up your metabolism before noshing on that meal and may even burn it off faster. A brief, high-intensity workout will help build up endurance and stamina and keep you charged up for the rest of the day; follow the energy spike with a light brown bagged lunch for even more health benefits.

If the daily agenda is full of meetings, appointments and an ever-growing to-do list, there's usually little time to squeeze in a fitness routine. Being stuck at a desk all day can make you a super-productive employee, but isn't exactly helping you stay in shape. When those extra pounds start creeping around your midsection, it's time to take charge and help that six-pack make its debut!

Here are some healthy - and effective - ways to start trimming down, toning up, and working on that perfect figure while making your living

1. Think baby steps-Adding small increments of exercise throughout the day is a great way to keep that metabolism running high gear. Skip the elevator and speed-climb up the stairs for a quick lower body workout, make a few rounds around the parking lot during your lunch break, and run errands during a break without the car. Short bursts of activity can give you that much needed energy boost during an afternoon slump, and these can quickly add up to a full-fledged 'workout.'

2. Bring a lunch-Eating out can wreak havoc on your healthy eating plans, and even the most diet-friendly platter may be laden with extra calories, processed foods and salt. Pack a lunch each day so you can stock up on fresh fruit and veggies, lean meats and whole grains for your afternoon meal.

3. Do some chair exercises-Sneak some light dumbbells into your office drawer so you can squeeze in some bicep curls while talking on the phone, or do some abdominal crunches while sitting in your chair. Making sure you're working with good posture also helps; keep shoulders back, feet flat on the floor and breathe deeply to burn a few extra calories throughout the day.

4. Make up your own office circuit training routine. Got a minute? Do a few push-ups against your wall or with your desk to give your biceps and abdominals a workout (close the door if you have to). Calf raises, leg stretches and even a yoga pose or two can help you get centered and provide a boost of energy -sans the coffee.

5. Load up on water- When you're not drinking at least 8 - 12 glasses of water per day, dehydration can leave you feeling tired, lethargic and shift your metabolism into low gear. Keep a water bottle on your desk and fill it up throughout the day to meet your daily requirement. Water can also flush away toxins, making it easier to lose weight and stay in great shape.

6. Organize a fitness group-Staying motivated to workout during your lunch break, or after work, may be easier with some group support. Get together with some fitness-focused coworkers so you can all take a step towards your fitness goals.

Staying fit in the workplace can be a challenge, but adding activities and exercises into your daily calendar can help you achieve your fitness goals with ease. Get started on your workplace shape-up with any of these six strategies and work your way to wellness in no time!