FYI: I’ve written this post in response to a large number of readers who have emailed or messaged me to ask about my weight loss and how I did it. I am not a weight loss expert and what has worked for me, might not be appropriate for you. I have been seeing a Neurologist, ophthalmologist and endocrinologist every 6-8 weeks for the past 18 months. They are the experts and have provided me with the information needed to lose weight.
If you have any concerns about your health, please seek professional medical advice. Don’t ignore any signs or symptoms your body is presenting you – if I ignored things, I would have little to no vision left by now.
Over the last 12 months or so I’ve had to make significant changes to my diet. This is because in May 2015 I was diagnosed with a fairly rare condition known as Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension, or IIH for short.
IIH is due to increased levels of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) being present around the brain and spinal cord. This puts pressure on the brain and optic nerves which results in headaches, visual loss, poor peripheral (side) vision, pulsative tinnitus (ringing in the ears) and short temporary episodes of blindness.
In chronic intracranial hypertension, the increased CSF pressure can cause swelling and damage to the optic nerve—a condition called papilledema.
Chronic intracranial hypertension can be caused by many conditions including certain medications such as tetracycline, a blood clot in the brain, excessive intake of vitamin A, or brain tumor. It can also occur without a detectable cause. This is idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH).
Prior to being diagnosed, I had been suffering from all of the symptoms listed above. A lumbar puncture and MRI confirmed my Neurologist’s suspicions and so my new life of weekly blood tests, 6 weekly neuro visits and swallowing more medication in a day than I previously had in a year, began.
It was during my second visit to the Neurologist that he gently suggested weight loss as a way to speed up the process of putting my body into IIH remission. He mentioned that for some women, weight loss helped lower the CSF pressure around their brain. If it did that for me, I could get off the medication sooner.
As I was given a referral to an endocrinologist who specialises in weight loss, I thought how unfair it was that carrot sticks don’t taste like chocolate cake. I also thought that after years of battling my weight, I was now faced with two options.
Put the cake down or lose my eye sight.
And that was what I told myself every single time I was faced with a food dilemma in the months ahead. “Put the cake down Smith, or lose your eye sight.”
A switch was flicked and I was so focused. Nothing and no one was going to get in my way. I was going to win this battle and if that meant eating boring food every single day for as long as it took, then I as going to do it.
I get asked a lot if it was hard and honestly? Once I made the decision to actually do it, it wasn’t hard at all. Mainly because the thought of not being able to see the faces of the people I loved terrified me.
I was quite happy with how I looked before I lost weight and I think that’s why I’ve always failed in the past. I didn’t really want to lose weight. I didn’t really need to lose weight. But for whatever reason, I was given IIH and now I had to lose weight.
This is how I did it.
What I Eat In A Day: Breakfast
1/2 cup Carmen’s Fruit Free Muesli with skim milk and a cup of coffee.
Lunch
Three large crackers with cheese and tomato is my go-to lunch when I’m working from home. I’ll add a side salad if there’s left overs from last night’s dinner in the fridge.
If I’m out I’ll grab a sandwich, a salad or two poached eggs on toast.
Lunch is always washed down with a coffee.
Dinner
Dinner is usually a salad or chicken/steak with wholemeal pasta/rice and veggies.
Jamie Oliver recipes are my go-to for inspiration. They’re always packed full all of flavour and everyone in the family will eat them.
Snacks
Cutting down on snacks was one of the biggest changes I made to my diet.
My usual snacks are either:
- a Carmen’s fruit free muesli bar
- a piece of fruit
- a smoothie bowl
- a Frosty Fruit iceblock
Blend 1 cup raspberries with 1/4 cup milk (add more or less depending on what sort of consistency you like) until thick and smooth. Pour into a bowl and enjoy!
Alcohol
I didn’t drink much alcohol at all during 2015 and most of 2016. It wasn’t a conscious decision, more that the medication I’m on for the IIH made me feel very unwell for the first 6-12 months I was on it. As a result, I didn’t feel like drinking at all.
I also didn’t feel like eating much which did help with weight loss, but 24/7 nausea for a good 6 months isn’t a weight loss tool I’d recommend!
The results
on right: wearing
I’ve lost 24 kilos. Unfortunately that hasn’t managed to put my IIH symptoms into remission. However I am on half the amount of medication I was on 12 months ago and I don’t need a permanent shunt inserted into the base of my skull to drain the excess CSF fluid that my body insists on producing. I consider those to be both very good outcomes!
I have another appointment with my Neurologist in a few months, so I will give you a further update then. In the meantime, I’m off to have a cup of coffee and enjoy the view. I might be a little bit hungry most of the time, but I can see just about everything. There is a lot to be grateful for x
Leave a Reply