Cannot lose weight through diet or exercise - how do I get the endo to help me? Please help solve my mystery!

[drinkingvodkasingingkalinka]

I've always had a really slow metabolism. I was a slim child but put on a lot of weight when I hit adolescence despite eating relatively healthily and doing a lot of exercise. I tried god knows how many diets but put on weight rather than losing it in most cases and eventually realised it was because my normal diet was lower in calories than pretty much all actual diets (Rosemary Conley etc).

Eventually I just decided to keep cutting calories until I lost the weight. I had to cut to 500 calories a day in order to look healthy (I was told loads of times I looked great despite the fact I was living off apples and my periods stopped). I still have photos from that time and I look perfectly well although I was undoubtedly anorexic despite not looking it. I also realised when I was calorie counting that exercise does not affect my weight one way or the other. Apparently this is the case for one in five of us, according to research.

I started eating more again for health reasons but never went above 800 calories a day for years (periods started again on this level and I put on weight). Then I was prescribed medication for a sleeping disorder which has lead to a lot of weight gain. Since being on this medication I cannot lose weight no matter what I do and I cannot come off it without causing myself other serious problems.

I cut to 200 calories a day and lost a little to begin with but then it stopped and now I do not lose anything, even though this is below my anorexic calorie count. My periods are also unaffected on this level of eating. I lived on 200 calories a day for many years which doesn't make sense and shouldn't be possible but I was so scared of putting on weight that I couldn't lose I didn't dare to eat more. I eventually persuaded my GP to refer me to someone to measure my metabolism. Measurement said I was at the lower end of normal (!?) and that I could afford to eat 1200 calories a day. I was desperate to believe this was true and while I didn't fully believe it could be I slowly upped my calories to this level. I have put on two and a half stone eating at this level but thankfully the weight gain has now mostly stopped (although sometimes I wake up a few pounds heavier than yesterday and don't know why - I calorie count everything). I now eat a healthy normal amount, however, which has solved half the problem as I was very worried about my health with me not getting enough nutrients. But I am left with the issue of not being able to lose weight. I can live at the weight I'm at (12.5 stone) but worry about pregnancy. If I were to ever get pregnant and put on a few stone I would never ever be able to lose it again. I've had my thyroid tested umpteen times and it always comes back "normal" although I understand there is some controversy over thyroid ranges etc.

I've written about this before but many moons ago under a different username that I've completely forgotten (I can't namechange for some reason and mumsnet haven't replied to my emails asking why so always set up new accounts). My apologies to have to repeat the question but as I'm now in my thirties I'm thinking about having a family seriously and I need to solve this problem before I do or else I fear I am destined for a life of being overweight with no way to get back to healthy.

I have an appointment with a private endo on Wednesday but I'm not sure how to approach it or what to ask. Does anyone have any experience with unshiftable weight even when dieting and exercising properly? I'm open minded as to whether this might be a thyroid problem or some other type of problem altogether.

[Haworthiia]

I know it's easy to say, but even things like fidgeting have been shown to burn a couple of hundred kcal a day. That's enough to make a big difference over a few years.

I've had an active lifestyle and been slim and able to eat anything and now alas not due to various things. I'm fat because I eat too much and don't move enough. There is absolutely no point at all in me tying myself in logical knots saying it's my hormones or that alcohol calories don't count. They do.
There is a tiny tiny proportion of the population with actual metabolic/genetic issues that make it too hard to lose weight. Prader Willi syndrome for example.

It sucks, but if you want to lose weight you need to address lifestyle and energy in/out. The op certainly needs to see an endo about her thyroid, but she simply cannot be fat on 200kc a day. The brain alone needs 250-300

[fishonabicycle]

Darling. You sound as though you are really not looking after yourself. After years of vlc diets your metabolism is probably totally wrecked. You do need exercise to build some fat burning muscle. Weights etc not cardio. Make your diet healthy - protein, some good carbs and lots of veg and some fruit. Gradually increase your calories (up to say 1300 per day for a couple of weeks, then up to 1400 for another few weeks and so on. Cut the alcohol. Lots of water. Hopefully should get your metabolism working a bit better but it will take a while as you have had such disordered eating for so long. There is no quick fix. Good luck x