"It's my metabolism!"

Sound familiar? If you're carrying some extra pounds (and having a hard time losing them), it's tempting to put the blame on a sluggish metabolism.

But is your metabolism really the reason it's often so hard to lose weight? And, more importantly, is there anything you can do about it?

WebMD asked experts to explore facts and myths about metabolism—and the good news is, there are things you can do to help boost your body's calorie-burning power.

Make these health habits part of your life