A 20-year-old man who has seen significant improvements in his epilepsy since losing weight wants to raise awareness of the difference weight loss could make to people with the condition.
Daniel, from Sandbach in Cheshire, had struggled with his weight ever since he was diagnosed with epilepsy aged five. He says: “I put on weight as a side effect of the drugs I was given, and it was definitely coupled with bad eating habits too. I’d have a McDonald’s for lunch and a KFC for dinner and not really think much about it. I struggled to do exercise as well because, although I always wanted to be active, going to the gym or other strenuous exercise would often bring on a seizure.”
Over the years Daniel, who is one of seven children, gained more weight and his life became increasingly blighted by epilepsy as he struggled to do things that other teenagers could and spent a lot of time in and out of hospital. He would suffer up to 30 partial seizures a day and one grand mal (full) seizure every couple of weeks, often leaving him with lasting side effects such as memory loss, extreme tiredness and low self-confidence.
It was while in hospital after suffering yet another grand mal seizure that Daniel reached a turning point. He says: “Things had got pretty bleak and I was miserable, I felt like I was always just waiting for the next big seizure. While I was lying in my hospital bed I overheard the doctors saying that perhaps some of my seizures could be weight-related because my weight and my epilepsy together might be too much for my heart and my brain to cope with. Then another patient Richard, who’d actually gone blind because of his epilepsy, told me that he and his wife had lost 8st with Slimming World and that had really helped him. I became determined to do something about my weight – it felt like my only option.”
However, Daniel was apprehensive about joining a slimming club and instead tried other weight-loss methods including dieting alone and going to the gym. Unfortunately the diets left him feeling hungry and his fitness regime had disastrous results as he suffered six grand mal seizures after six consecutive visits to the gym. Daniel says: “I knew I was going to cause myself some serious damage if I carried on, so I remembered what Rich had said and gave in and went to Slimming World with my mum. I’d put off going to Slimming World because I thought I’d be in a room full of women and I was so nervous that I don’t think I said more than one word to anyone, but my Consultant Julie and all of the other members were really welcoming – and they weren’t just old women! I soon started to feel more comfortable and now I love going to the group every week. I’ve made so many friends and they’ve been a constant encouragement.”
Daniel, who lives at home with his parents and younger brother Jacob, began following Slimming World’s Food Optimising eating plan and ditched his junk food diet. He says: “I’ve always been a sucker for fast food because I wasn’t much of a cook and it was quick and easy, but I’ve learned about healthy eating at Slimming World. I’ve realised that it doesn’t mean starving yourself and there are lots of healthy meals that are really simple to make – I love having a big bowl of tuna pasta and can make a great chicken curry and rice.”
Daniel’s dropped from 18st 8lbs to 13st 6½lbs and lost 15 inches from his waist, going from 47” to 32”. As he lost weight Daniel was able to start exercising without triggering a seizure and he’s now teaching martial arts as a volunteer.
Slimming down has had a huge impact on Daniel’s epilepsy, leaving his doctors astounded. Today he suffers less than five partial seizures a day and his grand mal seizures are far less frequent too. Daniel says: “My doctors can’t believe it. They thought there might be a link between my weight and my epilepsy but they never expected losing weight to make such a big difference so they’re delighted – and so am I. Walking into my Slimming World group was without doubt the best decision I’ve ever made – it’s changed my life – and I really want to share my story with other people who have epilepsy to make them aware of what a difference losing weight could possibly make to others.”
Daniel, who’s been unable to work because of his condition, also hopes to train as a Slimming World Consultant to help other people lose weight like he has done. He says: “Before I lost weight I was a shadow of the person I am today, back then I’d never have dreamed I could stand at the front of a group of people but now I’ve got a new level of confidence. I’ve always felt like an outsider because of my epilepsy and my Slimming World group is the first place I’ve ever felt worthwhile and part of something.
Take a look at the video of Daniel talking about his weight loss