freezing cold whenever I try to lose a bit of weight - any tips on boosting my metabolism?

[geekgirl]

I only want to lose half a stone and don't find it too hard to eat less, but I really struggle with being cold whenever I cut down on calories. I feel the cold very badly anyway, but it gets pretty much unbearable when I don't eat my normal amount. Exercising doesn't seem to make much of a long-term difference - half an hour later I'll be freezing my arse off again.
Is there anything I can do to actually boost my metabolism? I have very low blood pressure and a low boy temp usually too - feel like a reptile in cold weather really
Am permanently extremely sleep deprived which doesn't really help either

If you are cold a lot and inclined to put on weight you may have an underactive thyroid.

If you wish to speed up your metabolic rate eat lots of iodine rich foods or take a kelp suppliment. This will stimulate your thyroid into producing more thyroxine and speed up your metablolic rate - please be careful and start on a low dose as can cause sleeplessness and heart palpitations in very high doses.

thank you marmadukescarlet, that's really helpful.
Have ordered a kelp supplement - hope it does the trick. I had my thyroid checked a couple of years ago and it was fine - even though I had some symptoms that are apparently almost certain indicators of hypothyroidism (very slow reflexes in particular joints). Maybe it just needs a bit of a boost.

What tests did you have?

GPs can only test for TSH (Thyroid stimulating hormone) which can be within 'normal' ranges in some conditions (secondary hypothyroidism etc) but you still are not producing enough T3 or T4.

In most cases T3/4 tests can only be instigated by a Consultant or Endocrinologist.