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What is the absolute best way to get your metabolism to speed up? The answer may surprise you.You have probably heard that your metabolism is the key to weight loss, disease prevention and overall health and wellness. The tricky part is that your metabolism naturally slows down with age, and other factors can affect it as well. So... how can you get your metabolism revving and roaring again? Do you tweak the food you eat? Or perhaps the exercise you choose? Which one of these works better? Faster? What is the real secret to weight loss and a healthy metabolism? Dr. Michell Olson, PhD, and Melanie Cole, MS, share how you can improve your metabolism for better health and wellness.

Does spinning make your legs look too bulky? Or is this just another nasty fitness rumor?There are so many myths about women and exercise, especially when it comes to weight training. A relatively new fitness rumor to the scene involves spinning, which is also very much a cardio exercise. Trainers hear it all the time: "Spinning will make my legs look too bulky!" But will it really? Dr. Michell Olson, PhD, and Melanie Cole, MS, take an official stand on the myths of whether spinning (or other leg exercises) will bulk up your legs.

No expensive gym membership necessary! Learn how to tighten up your backside right in the comfort of your very own home.Melanie Cole, MS, and Neal Pire, MS, are both seasoned in-home personal trainers, and now they are starting a new series on Train Your Body where they will actually train your body... for free. In this segment they will focus on tightening up your backside. That's right, the tushy... the derriere... the buttocks; whatever you like to name it, they are here to help you tighten it up and round it out. No expensive gym membership necessary. Learn how to tighten up your backside right in the comfort of your very own home. Get ready for a little soreness (but in a good way) as Melanie and Neal teach you the best exercises for a tighter tush.

Can you truly get an effective workout in your home? Now you can!Melanie Cole, MS, and Neal Pire, MS, are both seasoned in-home personal trainers, and now they are starting a new series on Train Your Body where they will actually train your body... for free. This segment features "Leg Day." Get ready for a little soreness (but in a good way) as they teach you the best exercises for your hamstrings, (the back of your thighs), your quadriceps (the front of your thighs), and your calves (you know where those are). The best part? You can do all of these exercises at home. So put on your workout clothes and follow along as Neal and Melanie Train Your Body. Lets get your legs in great shape! Forward Lunge: With your feet parallel and hip-distance apart, take one giant step forward. Lower your body slowly, bending both knees, and return to standing. Repeat on the other side. Bend your knees no more than 90 degrees. Keep your front knee stacked right over your front ankle. Do not rest your back knee on the ground. Repeat for 10 to 15 repetitions. (Modification) Backward Lunge: Use the same posture as in a forward lunge, but step backward to position the lower leg. Don't let the front knee push out in front of your toes. Repeat for 10 to 15 repetitions. Good Morning: Stand up straight with your feet parallel and hip width apart. Cross your arms across your chest or keep your hands on your hips, if you prefer. Hinge forward at the hips – do not bend your spine at your lower back – as far as your body will allow while maintaining a "straight spine". You will feel a stretch in the back of your thighs. Slowly return to the standing position. Repeat for 10 to 15 repetitions. Heel (Calf) Raise: Stand with your feet about hip apart. Lift your heels up off the floor by pressing the balls of your feet into the floor. Hold onto the wall or a chair, if you need, in order to maintain your balance throughout the movement. Repeat for 10 to 15 repetitions.

Paleo is also known as the caveman diet, hunter-gather diet, and the stone-age diet... but what makes it so popular?Another diet that has made its way into your thoughts, and you're questioning whether or not you should give it a go: the Paleo diet. Paleo has been around for many decades, but in recent years has gained popularity and has actually been revered as one of the top dieting plans. So, what exactly is the Paleo diet? Also known as the caveman diet, Stone Age diet and hunter-gather diet, the Paleo diet focuses on eating wholesome foods containing high protein and high fiber foods such as leans meats and fish, fruits and veggies, nuts and other healthier fats. If the cavemen didn't have access to refined sugar (and sorry to say, they didn't), you shouldn't either. Say goodbye to junk food, processed food and dairy. What else should you know before trying this diet? Professor in the Department of Health and Exercise Science at Colorado State University, Dr. Loren Cordain, PhD, discusses the Paleo diet in depth, including why it's one of the top diets and what you should do if you want to go Paleo.

More states are beginning to legalize medical marijuana usage, which has many vets and animal behavioral experts wanting research done on safety for pets.Times are changing, and for the first time in many years medical marijuana isn't getting bashed like it used to. Regular people, and even doctors, are more open to usage... especially if it helps ease their patients' pain. What about medical marijuana for your aging four-legged companion? More states are beginning to legalize medical marijuana usage, and many veterinarians and animal behavioral experts are raising the importance of research on the safety for pets. Is it safe, and should you use it for your pet? Expert on Animal Behavior, Darlene Arden, CABC, discusses if medical marijuana for your aging pets can help ease their pain.

Do you ever feel paranoid, neurotic and even phobic about certain thoughts that you have? Is that normal? Or nutty?Sometimes you may feel paranoid, neurotic and even phobic about certain thoughts that you have. You don't dare share them in fear of being accused of being "nuts." Certain thought processes or even certain actions that you have done might make you wonder if you are a real-life version of the Looney Tunes crew. How normal is it to think certain absurd thoughts? Are you the only one? For instance, is it normal to think about your own (or a loved one's) funeral? Recent findings show not at all. Readers Digest recently spoke to a panel of experts to get all the right answers to your normal or nutty thoughts. Executive Director for Readers Digest, Courtenay Smith, discusses the development of this story and why you may often wonder if you're normal or nuts.

Your wedding day should be one of the best days of your life, but all the planning can be a huge stressor. How can you stay calm, cool and collected?You just got engaged to the love of your life and you are overjoyed with emotions. Planning the wedding should be a fun, exciting and happy time... right? Staying within a budget PLUS trying to please yourself, your partner, your parents and your soon-to-be in-laws can drive even the most grounded person to insanity. It's no wonder typically easy-going women turn into bridezillas. It happens to almost everyone, so why aren't more brides speaking out about the true stressors involved with planning a wedding? Turns out it's not just the bride-to-be that gets overwhelmed. A recent survey found that 23 percent of men said they found planning their big day was the most stressful life event. Is there a way to stay calm, cool and collected through all the planning? Bridal coach and stress management expert, Jeri Kadison, shares how to stay stress-free throughout the planning of your big day.

Learn which precautions to take to ensure your four-footed family members stay safe during harsh winter months.In the dog days of winter, challenges can emerge when you're trying to take care of your four-footed companion. If your face feels tingly, your hands have gone numb and your body is frozen from the bone-chilling wind, can you imagine how your pet feels? Tolerating the cold can vary for dogs based on their breed, coat thickness, activity level and body fat storage. You wouldn't want to spend hours locked outside of your home when below zero temperatures set in, so why would you let your dog? There are ways to make those daily walks and exercise trips more comfortable; not only for you but for your dog as well. Founder and Director of Family Paws Parent Education, Jennifer Shryock, CDBC, shares crucial information to keep your dog safe and warm this winter.

News of the week, toxic dangers, and plastic surgery secrets. You don't want to miss this!Straight talk from the docs!  Dr. Mike and co-host Joe Galuski discuss more of the most prevalent health news you need to know from the past week. Plus, find out "What's Toxic & What's Not" from toxicologist and regular contributor, Gary Ginsberg. More from RealAge 10 Things Happy Couples Do

What if you had access to a doctor's care and advice 24 hours a day, seven days a week? Dr. Brian Allard wants to make that happen.Have you noticed it's getting harder to see your doctor when you or your child is sick? Some are pointing to a national shortage of primary care doctors. For you, it could simply be a problem with travel. This is where MD Plus comes in. The telemedicine company -- which operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year -- may represent the future of medicine. Dr. Brian Allard, CEO of MD Plus, will explain how telemedicine allows you to get answers from a qualified medical team or speak with a licensed physician in your state, who can even write you a prescription. Join Dr. Allard as he explains how 24-hour access to medical advice can give you priceless peace of mind. Bonus! More from RealAge 3 Diet Tips for Headache Relief

Join Dr. Roizen and his expert guests for the latest health news, wellness advice and most up-to-date research from around the world.World-renowned physician, Dr. Michael Roizen, MD, continues to update your understanding of the meaning of health by providing an in-depth review of the most impactful health headlines.  Joined by his co-host, Joe Galuski, they discuss the health news that matters most to you. The duo is later joined by Dr. Brian Allard, co-founder and CEO of MD-Plus, a nationwide concierge tele-medicine company serving all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Bonus! RealAge Tip Dry Eyes and the City

The crucial missing piece of the ACA, the Affordable Care Act, according to host Christopher Springmann, is health literacy.The crucial missing piece of the ACA, the Affordable Care Act, according to host Christopher Springmann, is health literacy. Simply put, it's one thing to sign folks up for the ACA, it's something else to train people to be effective, efficient patients by changing their old ways of engaging the American healthcare system. It's all about which door do you want to walk through for service, the emergency room or the hospital front door. Bill Wright, a research scientist with Providence Health and Services in Portland, Oregon, discusses the visionary Oregon Health Study (2008) the first-ever randomized controlled experiment to measure the impact of access to Medicaid for low-income adults. The economic and social consequences of not changing patient behavior and delivery methodology are staggering. In 2012, Providence Health and Services alone spent almost $88 million for free and reduced-cost medical care, health services for under-served patients, and other government-sponsored medical care.

One of the most visible signs of aging occurs in the skin, where previously firm, healthy collagen strands give way to wrinkling, dryness, and looseness.One of the most visible signs of aging occurs in the skin, where previously firm, healthy collagen strands give way to wrinkling, dryness, and looseness. Fortunately, nature has provided nutrients -- that when applied topically -- can increase your own production of collagen and protect it from the damaging effects of sun, wind and stress. In this segment, Dr. Mike explains the ways in which your habits and environment are aging you, and how estriol cream, vitamin C serum, and vitamin A oil can boost your own natural collagen production to create more beautiful, firm, and younger-looking skin.

The secret to anti-aging success is that unlike an automobile, the human body is a self-repairing system.In his exciting new book, Never Feel Old Again, scientist Raymond Francis offers a simple road map to anyone who wants to slow (and even reverse) the aging process. As he explains, just like an automobile, the body ages as a result of a lack of maintenance and accumulated repair deficits. The secret to anti-aging success, however, is that unlike an automobile, the human body is a self-repairing system. The key is to eat for your cells, helping them stay in good repair, keeping the body biologically young even though it is becoming chronologically older. Join Dr. Mike and Raymond as they share how you can preserve youth for years to come.