{"id":2315,"date":"2020-10-29T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-10-29T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/slimmingworld.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/?p=2315"},"modified":"2022-04-05T10:55:28","modified_gmt":"2022-04-05T09:55:28","slug":"inspire-i-didnt-even-know-id-had-a-stroke","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/inspire-i-didnt-even-know-id-had-a-stroke\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cI didn\u2019t even know I\u2019d had a stroke\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>A stroke can happen to anyone, at any time, anywhere. It\u2019s the fourth biggest killer in the UK and a leading cause of disability worldwide \u2013 and being overweight is one of the top 10 risk factors.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>To mark World Stroke Day, we\u2019re bringing you the inspiring story of John Schofield, who lost over 14st after a mini stroke motivated him to turn his heart health around. We\u2019ve also got five expert health tips to help you reduce the risk of stroke.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Exactly five years ago, in 2015 I was working at Wythenshawe Hospital in Greater Manchester in the cardiology ward when I suddenly felt unwell and colleagues noticed I was slurring my words. I felt disorientated and couldn\u2019t register what was being said around me. As I was at the hospital already, a specialist nurse took my blood pressure and did a quick ECG. The results showed I had atrial fibrillation, which meant my heart was racing and beating faster than it should. I was referred to a cardiology team and over the next 12 months, I got more and more out of breath doing the simplest tasks, my skin was often clammy and I was still slurring my words.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Eventually, I had a pacemaker fitted to slow my heart rate down, but this didn\u2019t stop me having another incident at work when I felt disorientated, my blood pressure dropped and I was rushed to A&amp;E. After conducting a CT scan of my head, the radiographer asked me when I\u2019d had a stroke. I was shocked. I wasn\u2019t aware I\u2019d even had one! I realise now the first time I felt unwell and started slurring my words, I\u2019d experienced a mini stroke \u2013 something I thought only happened to older people. It was the wake-up call I needed to make a change.&#8221;\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What are the symptoms of stroke?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><em>You can find out more information about stroke on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nhs.uk\/conditions\/stroke\/symptoms\/\">NHS website<\/a>, and the main symptoms can be remembered with the word FAST:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><em>Face \u2013 the face may have dropped on one side, the person may not be able to smile, or their mouth or eye may have drooped.<\/em><\/li><li><em>Arms \u2013 the person may not be able to lift both arms and keep them there because of weakness or numbness in one arm.<\/em><\/li><li><em>Speech \u2013 their speech may be slurred or garbled, or the person may not be able to talk at all despite appearing to be awake; they may also have problems understanding what you\u2019re saying to them.<\/em><\/li><li><em>Time \u2013 it\u2019s important to act quickly, so dial 999 immediately if you notice any of these signs or symptoms.<\/em><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Discovering Slimming World<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;I knew carrying excess weight was putting more strain on my heart and that the pacemaker I\u2019d had fitted wasn\u2019t cheap. I felt that if people had put that much time, effort and expense into making sure I lived, it was time I did my bit to help myself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By that point, I was taking 10 tablets a day \u2013 four in the morning and six at night. I\u2019ve always suffered from asthma and I couldn\u2019t go anywhere without my inhaler. My chest always felt heavy and my legs and joints ached all the time. I wasn\u2019t very active at all and even a short walk to the shop would take me forever and a day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Around that time, I bumped into two school friends in the local supermarket who had both lost weight and they looked so much healthier. I asked them how they\u2019d done it, and they said they\u2019d been going to their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/nearest-group-search\">local Slimming World group<\/a>. I\u2019d tried so many weight loss plans and slimming groups but I hadn\u2019t tried this one, so I thought I\u2019d give it a go. I didn\u2019t hold out much hope but, weighing 26st, I was at a loss as to what else I could do.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Our top five tips to cut your stroke risk<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"500\" src=\"http:\/\/slimmingworld.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/world-stroke-day-slimming-world-blog.jpg\" alt=\"five tips to cut stroke risk-world stroke day-slimming world blog\" class=\"wp-image-2317\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Turning my health around<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;The results were amazing. My Consultant Danielle and the other members in group were so friendly and we had such a laugh, sharing tips and ideas, and their support kept me motivated throughout my journey. They also suggested I use the Slimming World cookbooks to find Food Optimising-friendly meals to try, as I\u2019d barely cooked before \u2013 and I started eating foods I\u2019d never thought about, like butternut squash and aubergines. Within the first two weeks, I\u2019d lost over a stone and, not only that, I was already starting to feel better, too. I had more energy and was less breathless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"836\" src=\"http:\/\/slimmingworld.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/john-schofield-body-world-stroke-day-slimming-world-blog.jpg\" alt=\"John Schofield before-world stroke day-slimming world blog\" class=\"wp-image-2318\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>By the end of last year, just two years after joining Slimming World, I\u2019d completely turned my life around. I\u2019d lost 14st \u2013 over half my body weight \u2013 gone from a 60in waist to a 32in one and was feeling so much better. Now, I don\u2019t take any medication, I no longer need an inhaler and I don\u2019t have any aches and pains in my legs. I\u2019ve got a brand-new wardrobe too, after going from size 5XL to a medium or small. Plus, it means I can buy clothes so much more easily, rather than just from specialist shops or online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Before I lost weight, I\u2019d usually skip breakfast, then snack on pork pies and scones until lunch, when I\u2019d have a pie, pasty, sausage roll or burger. Now, I fill up on eggs for breakfast each morning, I snack on fruit and I make sure I eat three meals a day. I\u2019ve given up beer, too, which I used to drink every night. I still love burgers, but I make them myself using lean mince \u2013 the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/this-fathers-day-treat-dad-to-the-big-daddy-burger\/\">big daddy burger<\/a> is one of my favourite recipes \u2013 and I\u2019ve discovered a passion for cooking. I prep my meals most mornings before work, dicing and cutting veg for that evening\u2019s tea, and I\u2019m a big fan of the slow cooker. I\u2019m really proud of my meatball chilli.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/snuggly-season-get-cosy-with-our-slow-cooked-stews-and-soups\/\"><strong>MORE ON THE BLOG: Snuggle up with slow-cooked stews and soups<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Prior to joining Slimming World, I used to drive past joggers and joke to my kids that\u2019ll be me one day! Now, I walk everywhere rather than get in the car and I regularly walk 4\u00bd miles to my dad\u2019s house, which takes me just under an hour. I recently ran a 10K, raising \u00a3700 for The Ticker Club (a local heart charity). The old me would never have believed I could do that.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Life during lockdown<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>During the coronavirus pandemic, I&#8217;ve been working as a healthcare assistant on the Covid-19 infection-control ward. Being on my feet for 13-hour shifts and wearing the PPE, which is like something out of <em>Star Wars<\/em>, has been a real challenge \u2013 one that would have been much harder if I\u2019d been 14st heavier and constantly struggling for breath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"500\" src=\"http:\/\/slimmingworld.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/john-schofield-world-stroke-day-slimming-world-blog.jpg\" alt=\"John Schofield after-world stroke day-slimming world blog\" class=\"wp-image-2319\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>At the height of lockdown, I struggled to stay on plan, as all the panic buying led to empty shelves and my usual ingredients were nowhere to be found. Sheer exhaustion meant I forgot all about my good intentions and I soon started to put on weight. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I lost my way during lockdown, but being able to attend group in person again has really helped to remotivate me. I feel back in control and full of recipe ideas and inspiration. I\u2019ve seen first-hand the impact of coronavirus and hearing about the increased risks of being overweight if you contract Covid has made me so relieved I\u2019m in good shape \u2013 and also more determined to stay that way. I know what I need to do, and I don\u2019t want to throw it all away.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>MORE ON THE BLOG:<\/strong><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/inspire-i-quit-smoking-while-losing-10st\/\">Brian Farmer quit smoking and lost 10st to give his bank balance a boost<\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/inspire-my-blood-pressure-was-dangerously-high-now-its-at-a-healthy-level\/\">Losing 12st helped Paul Holmes tackle his dangerously high blood pressure<\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/ive-reversed-my-type-2-diabetes\/\">Tracy McCormack lost 16st and reversed her type 2 diabetes<\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/my-weight-loss-surgery-failed\/\">After a failed weight loss surgery, Vincent turned to Slimming World and lost 8st<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Discover how a frightening health diagnosis spurred John Schofield to lose 14st<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":2316,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[22,25,23],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2315"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2315"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2315\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2316"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2315"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2315"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2315"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}