I am desperate! I am trying hard to stay as healthy as possible. I exercise, eat better than I ever have except carbs and some sweets. I am coming off a lot of meds and am finding it to give me much anxiety which I already am diagnosed with and depression for 35 years. Not complaining! I have fought the battles and always God gets me through. So no worries. I just can’t loose weight. I need to loose 30 lbs. I could say so much more but some of u know the story. Tried it all, done it all, praying hard, and heard it all. Just tired. So tired. Just want to do this to feel better about myself, for my health mostly, and when I am sick if I feel I look ok then I feel like doing more but I haven’t lost but 10 lbs. in 6 months and that was in the first two months. After that nothing. Help. Is there anything that will help curve these cravings or help in any way without hurting my kidneys? Sorry long. PLEASE HELP! I eat when stressed or anxious or anything and yes I meditate and exercise. Unless I stay on the floor on my knees in prayer all day which may be what I need or exercise all day NOT HAPPENING .....HELP
Help!!!: I am desperate! I am trying hard to... - Kidney Disease
Help!!!
An appointment with a Renal Dietitian is about your best hope. They will look at your last year worth of labs results and see what your issues are and help you design a kidney-friendly meal plan that works for you based on those results. One other item. You have to cut out the sweets. Those are almost always empty calories. You just have to learn to stick with the diet developed. Plateaus are common with long attempts to lose weight. I speak from experience.
Before I was told I had CKD I made a change in my diet with the help of a nutritionist and lost 130 pounds. Right at that point, I was told I had CKD. I made an appointment with an RD and in the year since have only lost another 25 pounds. The RD switched me off of the foods I had been eating to a different meal plan and the weight stopped coming off. At that point it wasn't about the weight, it was to eat healthily.
The best way to lose weight after going on a kidney-friendly meal plan is to change your exercise routine. Get more active and stay that way. I know you said you were always tired. Start slow, and each week try to do a bit more. Don't get frustrated and don't give up. You didn't put the weight on overnight and don't expect it to come off overnight. Stay away from supplements and weight loss programs that you see advertised. Those are not kidney-friendly.
Exercise, Exercise, Exercise.
Wonderful response!
Great advice!
Cathy,
I understand your frustration as weight has been a life long battle for me.
I agree with Mr._Kidney to see a Renal Dietician who can give you better food choices and combinations of choices all of which you like. In addition, let her/ him know what medications that you are presently taking.
Yoga has also been great as it works with breathing and the inches come off.
I have added fresh or fresh frozen steamed vegetables to my diet daily; cabbage, cauliflower, onion, peppers, zucchini to start. I even may grab some for lunch with some hummus.
I also switched to Carnation Fat Free Original liquid creamer in a small iced coffee in the morning when I am in the mood or need to wake up.
My husband who is not a kidney patient has been eating what I have for the most part and over a year we have both lost weight.
Unfortunately, it takes time for this to happen..the key is to eat healthy and exercise.
Know that we are here to support you...just reach out!
Bet
Hi Cathy,
My prayers and hugs! All of the suggestions by our two amazing friends are invaluable. Do work with a nutritionist/rd on a diet plan. My son did too and it helped.
In addition to the veggies mentioned by Bet, I have also found mung lentils or sprouted mung beans to be very helpful. The mung lentils are also kidney friendly. At least it’s been so for my son🙏🙏. They are also filling and can be had in many ways. These are good carbs, gut friendly and also have healthy proteins. He cooks them with garlic, ginger, turmeric, green chillies and sometimes adds veggies to it too. You can cook it with a small amount of rice to make it a complete meal, Do check with your dietician though. And please do not loose hope. Also walking is such a boon. Even if you can do so for 10/15 minutes to begin with. Praying hard for you🙏🙏🌸
I have worked with a nutritionist and she told me what to eat and what not to eat, to chart it, and to watch my sodium, potassium, etc. That is all I received from her. I had read all this. How is a nutritionist helping u guys? I found it to not be much help. She is with my Nephrologist so would be hard to change. I know what to eat but do not cook much. Have other health issues so hard to do a lot. Exercising is a challenge but getting there. I find I eat right for a week then mess up one day and the weight stays the same. I guess I have reached a plateau. I need to buckle up and keep trying I guess. Sorry a little negative today. Just having a bad week. Next week will be better. I HAVE to make this work for my family! And myself❤️🙏🏻🌈
Hi Cathy,
That has also been my son’s experience with most renal dieticians. But before he went to one, he consulted with a nutritionist that his insurance did not cover but who actually prepared a meal plan with options. He has continued to tweak that based on labs. I have been actively involved in doing research for him and helping him with diet options and recepies. He is mostly plant based and gluten free avoiding wheat products as that’s better for IGA nephropathy. He has arrived at a mostly home cooked simple meal strategy. He knows first hand that diet reflects on his numbers and tries to follow a simple home cooked diet on most days. So I agree that while the nutritionist can give a meal plan it has to be continuously tweaked based on numbers and how your gut feels. None the less it is helpful to have a basic plan laid out🙏🙏
I hardly changed a thing in my diet, changed from milk to soy, eat blueberries occasionally , no red meat or soda which I hadn’t eaten/drank for years anyway, my GFR went from 46 to 53 at my recent 6 month lab work. Pretty excited.
Wow thats fantastic, im at a loss what to eat since my ckd stage 3 diagnosis so as a result not eating much and lost 2 stone in 3 months, need advice please,
Great u have gotten rid of stones. I know that was painful. As u can read my posts, I am a mess some days and up on a mountain the next (for me personally it is only because I spend time in God’s word and prayer and ask for pray) but we ALL have those times. It is in the valleys that we learn the most because that is where we pay attention and listen and take the time to figure it out. In other words, kick and scream but then read all u can about healthy eating and don’t get overwhelmed like I did. One veggie at a time is my new philosophy. If u don’t feel like eating eat anyway. Something anything healthy. One or two fruits, veggies, whatever u can. Not eating is the worst. I found that out the hard way. I am stage 3b. GFR was 31 now 37. Still have days eating not so good but getting there. U have found the best site. People care and WILL HELP. Honestly, complain to us or to me at least. The bad days I will listen and lift u up in prayer and on the good days tell us how u r doing. It makes us feel better!
I’m eating same as usual just cut out red meat and soda is the advice I got from 2nd opinion Dr. I didn’t eat/drink either anyways. At first I panicked reading the labels in stores so confusing , I did cut out dairy as much as possible and use Soy instead and eat blueberries as much as possible, my GFR went from 46 to 53 recently and I’m so happy.
What works for one person may not work for another. It's more than just "we are all different." One person may be fit and another not. One person may have other health issues and another may be free of everything but CKD. One person may be 26 and another 76. One person may have good labs due to proper diet and exercise and still have a different type of CKD than another.
There are also significant differences between a nutritionist and a Renal Dietitian. I worked with a nutritionist 2 and 1/2 years ago and as a result, lost a lot of weight. A year ago I met with a Renal Dietitian after finding out I was at Stage 3 CKD. The RD looked at my labs and stopped almost everything on the meal plan from the nutritionist and put me on a kidney-friendly meal plan. I've only lost an additional 25 lbs. since then but my GFR has gone from a low of 32 to its current 57.
For years I took, without question, any medications prescribed by a physician. Now I take nothing without first checking it out to be sure it won't cause me with any of my health issues. It's not that I don't trust the doctor, it's that I know they see many people every day and may not remember every issue I have so it's up to me to know what I'm taking and how it will affect me.
Check out davita.com and look at their recipes for someone with CKD. There are other places to go as well, but I prefer that site because 1) I don't use social media, 2) they provide a complete breakdown of whats in the meal and I use that to make adjustments to meet my lab requirements, 3) I put together a Care Team of physicians, RD, pharmacists, and trainers that know I expect them to give me the information I need but are willing to go along with my decision.
You have to be proactive and not give up. Frustration is a big hurdle because we all have good days, bad days, and days in-between. Thomas Edison made over 1,000 attempts to develop a working light bulb. He didn't consider them failures, but 1,000 ways to not make a light bulb work. You can't give up or give in to fear or frustration. Keep at it and go with what works and is best for yourself.
I did not know there was a difference in the renal dietician and regular one. Wow! Didn’t think if that one. Will check that out. Thanks! Also, it is stressful finding “my” fit but after “my meltdown” (sorry) I am ready to plow on. My tests were better and coming off clonipin same time... rough few months. I was taking 3 mg now on 1.5. Coming down farther is proving a challenge but now I KNOW I can make it thanks to many friends and family praying and your help on this site. God Bless u all! Needed the talks. Had to go through that “learning time” and now ready to get back on the wagon per say. Going forward. I WILL do better. Thanks again. God bless u all for caring and my prayers are with u all. I truly mean that!❤️🙏🏻🌈
Hi, just wanted to say that Mr Kidney is spot on with his information. We are all different and what works for one may not for another. One thing that helped me was to stop thinking of kidney nutrition as a diet and instead as a way to eat healthier. The word "diet" has a negative connotation to it in society. Instead of looking at what I shouldn't eat, I look at what I can eat without putting pressure on my kidneys and making them worse. Now I enjoy finding & eating my "allowed" foods. I lost 35 lbs and reached a plateau when I was diagnosed with stage 3b but I understand this can happen and find when I cut back just a little, my weight loss continues, although slowly. Above all, do not give up and don't obsess about the weight and food allowances. This will only sabotage your healthy eating. I read once in a medical article that after 2 weeks of watching what you eat and cutting back, the cravings lessen considerably. This was true for me. You do have to stop thinking about it constantly or your cravings will only remain. This is a great supportive site and we are all pulling for you. Stay strong & proactive!
Cathy12156dsrjad,
Welcome! What has helped me was to create my own diet plan, and to track everything I ate for a couple of months. I know many people here have used the Davita plan. I used Create Your Own Kidney Diet Plan by Mathea Ford. I took the total amount of calories allowed in a day, which was divided into 3 meals (although you can use 3 meals, 3 meals and 1 snack or 3 meals and 2 snacks). Then, the program calculated the amount of sodium, potassium, phosphorous, protein, carbohydrates and calories for each meal. I tracked this religiously for a couple of months to get a real feel for the plan. I am losing slowly, but consistently. Exercise is also important. Stock up on grapes and cherries, freeze them, then eat them in place of sweets.
Good Luck,
lowraind
Dear Cathy,
As a very large women, I can truly empathize with your feelings. But take a look at what you are saying to yourself. Self talk can be extremely counter productive when trying to lose weight. Ask yourself, why are you trying to lose weight. Is for the betterment of your health or because someone told you? Is this your plan or someone else's idea of what you need to do. Are your doing this to fit in because the media told you you have to be thin? We don't you know. Take a look at this website haescommunity.com/ We try to live our lives for others and not for what we want or need. Figure that out, and then set your intention to achieve the goal YOU set for yourself.
Secondly, stop punishing yourself for off days. Dieting is extremely hard to do long term. It is self deprivation at the highest. We all need to give ourselves a break once in a while. Try giving yourself a "day off" but don't go crazy. I have found that days off I am still careful, but not so limiting. When we crave things, it sometimes is a signal to from our bodies we need something. So stop feeling so bad because your very aware of yourself. That is a good thing. But make smarter choices and enjoy them. One piece of cake is not going to make you fat. If I know I am going to have a piece of cake (which I love) I cut out something else during the day. The body does not know the difference from calories from cake to a carrot. Its all energy.
When you diet, your body actually goes into starvation mode if you cut out too much. What happens then is that your body holds on to food and you won't lose weight. We lose weight on (for example) 1100 calories a day. After a while, our body gets used to that and we do not lose anything more. It is called a plateau and is very common. Then you have to cut back again. Trouble with that is then you can get to a point where you are not eating enough nutrients and feel tired and listless.
Everyone will tell you something to eat and what to cut out. EVERYONE has a diet plan. You need to figure out what will work for you. I highly recommend you see a renal dietician. I had been eating "diet" foods forever and then found out that they were not good for my kidneys. See a renal dietician. The first thing the dietician told me was I was not eating enough. What a shock that was. Once I switched, I lost 15 pounds in three months. But now I am at a plateau again. But I also cut back on my movement because the weather is so hot. I will kick it back in again.
Adding more exercise is good. But don't think that means going to a gym more. Just making more movement of any sort is good. I find working on projects in the garden and around the house have helped me. I am limited with arthritis as to what physically I can do. Exercise is also not punishment. I would not enjoy going to a gym, but I do feel very satisfied when I do something like cleaning out a closet. I found that movement activities I enjoy I will stick with doing.
You also said you were coming off medications. Meds can really mess with your metabolism. Talk to your doctor about what medications you're on to see if they may be contributing to your weight. For example, diabetes medications WILL make you gain weight.
My last piece of advice is be good to yourself. The stress you are putting on yourself is the worse thing you can do. You will not lose weight when your body is in a stress mode. The body holds on to fuel (food) for energy when it is in a stress mode. Stress is also horrible for the kidneys. So give yourself a break and let go.
Peace be with you.
Thank u. I do appreciate u taking the time to care enough to tell me this. I had blood tests yesterday which were good. (Only because of prayer) and I know the past few weeks I was very stressed. I am so much better now and ready to start back on my path to FEEL better not to please anyone. I really suffered through some anxiety (also coming off clonipin) which caused more anxiety so after dealing with both I had to search for my truth and found it in trusting God like I should always do. U guys helped me see this. U kinda told me all I already knew just was not in the frame of mind to listen. I had to get my mind stayed on thee in other words, think positive again. I am working toward that every day so thanks for the hard talks. Sometimes I need people to say things I already know and some I don’t to set me on the path of joy again. Not complete happy go lucky but joy and peace knowing God’s got this. He stays up all night anyway. Why should I? A few bad days. Back to working on renewing my mind!!!! Thanks!
The American Association of Kidney Patients, AAKP, website magazine can be found at the link below. The issue is the July/August edition and contained within is an article of Nutrition and Kidneys. Below the link is a copy of the story you'll find there. I thought it timely to post here since the conversation has been about food and kidneys and I thought it would be interesting to share it with those of you here.
aakp.org/wp-content/uploads...
Kidneys and Food: How Are the Two Related?
Kidneys are an important organ and perform several functions in order to keep our bodies healthy. Food is an important substance we consume in order to provide our bodies with the fuel and energy it needs to maintain life. But, just how are our food choices related to the well-being of our kidneys? One of the functions of the kidneys is to remove waste materials from the food we eat. By doing this, the kidneys help regulate important nutrients such as sodium, potassium, protein, acid content, and various vitamins. Thus, the food we choose to eat actually matters to the kidney. For a person living with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), food choices are especially important. Because, in CKD, the kidneys lose some of their ability to filter these nutrients, putting the person with CKD at-risk for unsafe levels of nutrients building up in the body. As the CKD progresses, the kidneys have a more difficult time filtering these nutrients, eventually leading to adverse consequences. If you have been diagnosed with CKD, you have probably been given a list of things you are “not” supposed to do, and, dietary restrictions are no exception. Since a large percentage of persons with CKD also have diabetes and hypertension, which come with their own unique dietary restrictions, it is not uncommon to feel an extra level of anxiety related to food choices. You may find yourself asking, “Is there anything I can eat?” For some, this becomes a frustrating question, and frustration may lead to poor food choices. Instead of allowing this to have a negative association or allow it to feel complicated, let’s consider shifting our attitude and approaching our food choices in a positive manner. Your personal eating habits are where health and disease intersect, but the good news is that it is never too late to choose healthy eating habits. Here are a few tips for ensuring your kidneys and food choices relate positively:
1. Avoid artificial foods: The food choices you make will have an impact on your kidneys so choose natural foods, and aim to avoid anything artificial. Artificial foods have been processed, they try to mimic natural foods, and often contain ingredients that are not easily pronounced. They should simply be avoided!
2. Be mindful: Ask yourself, “Will this food choice make me feel like an athlete or will this food choice make me feel tired?” Being aware of how certain food makes you feel (e.g., bloated, mentally cloudy, sluggish, etc.) will help you make better choices. Think before you eat!
3. Choose plant-based proteins vs. animal based proteins: Protein demands change depending on the CKD stage. Therefore, it is important to know your stage of CKD to know how much protein you should be eating. But, when you do choose a protein, it is wise to choose plant-based proteins over animal-based proteins to support reducing the toxic products in your blood.
4. Do plan your meals: While planning takes time, it is worth the extra steps to lessen the risk of making poor food choices when hunger strikes. Preparing your meals at home will help avoid choosing fast food and artificial foods that tend to be very high in sodium (salt). Also, when you prepare your meals at home, you are in charge of the ingredients. This is especially important when you need to avoid certain nutrients to prevent further complications.
5. Establish healthy eating habits: Eat slower, and avoid getting too hungry or too full. Try keeping a food journal as this will allow you to be more mindful of what you are actually eating.
6. Finally, be kind to yourself! Eating should be enjoyable and not feel punitive. And, if you do make an unhealthy choice, acknowledge it, and next time, choose a healthier option!
It is important to understand that as CKD progresses, your individual dietary restrictions will change. So, maintaining communication with your healthcare provider is essential. Living with CKD requires a careful consideration of your current relationship with food. Part of being in a successful relationship with food requires healthy eating habits. Making a shift in approaching your nutritional management may be challenging, but it is not impossible. You are powerful, you are strong, and you are who makes the difference when it comes to how you choose to fuel your body. Now go and be empowered when it comes to making healthy food choices, and remember that making positive changes in your diet will make a positive difference in your kidney health.
By: Nancy K. Uhland, DNP, FNP-C is a nurse practitioner in the renal division at The George Washington Medical Faculty Associates in Washington, D.C. Dr. Uhland serves as a board member on the District of Columbia’s Board of Nursing and is President-elect of the Nurse Practitioner Association of the District of Columbia. She is a member of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.
Hi hon, I understand. Doctors these days have lost their compassion!!! And I'm sick of it! I am being weaned off my antidepressants ONLY because none work for me anymore. Is your doctor taking you off your antidepressant??? THAT is a tragedy waiting to happen!There is a new one for people like us with long term depression and my new doctor is putting me on it after this wean, about 4-5 more weeks. It is called us.trintellix.com/depressio...
Also, I know I would benefit from higher mg on my weak water pill, and he won't do it!!!I am looking for a new kidney doctor! To add...Christians are going through hard times! IF you want more support from compassionate Christians online, go here:
youtube.com/channel/UC9_-Rx...
God bless you! 
Thank u, spiritscript! That means so much. And I am coming off clonipin and a few others so with my thyroid I do get quite anxious and depressed. But God is our Great physician and I trust in Him however it is difficult some days. Just have to go thru it I guess but WE WILL BE OK THRU HIM WHO STRENGTHENS IS🙏🏻🌈
Thank you so much Hon. I REALLY needed to hear this today.
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