Anyone try WW on the renal diet?

[cattlekid]

So I feel like I should find some program or system for losing weight.  I am currently at a little over 200 lbs and could stand to knock off 50 lbs or so.  I've tried Weight Watchers before with moderate success but this was long before I was in ESRD and on the renal diet. 

Anyone tried WW on the renal diet?  How successful were you?  If not WW, has anyone tried and been successful with one of the online programs (SparkPeople, FitDay, Calorie King etc.)?  Any of these online programs allow you to track your phos and potassium?

Thanks!
 

[Cordelia]

I didn't follow any online weight loss program nor WW. I stuck to the renal diet alone and lost a total of about 60 pounds in about 9 months. I used to wear size 2X clothing and now I'm in a medium to large for shirts, pants.  I was about 220 pounds pre-renal failure and am now 165 pounds. I feel a lot better for it.

I bascially went cold turkey on things I used to drink and eat everyday, like soda and iced tea. I cut out a lot of carbs. Plus, with having to watch my phosphorus, I cut out a lot of dairy. Cheese and milk were eliminated and that's when I lost all the weight I did, plus all the sugary drinks.

Best of luck!   

[cattlekid]

Thanks!  I've found that when I started the renal diet (which admittedly, I do not follow religously), I found that I was being drawn towards sugar.  I've never been one to eat a lot of sugary desserts in the past but now, that's all I seem to be drawn towards.  This of course, is not helping the weight loss efforts. 

I didn't follow any online weight loss program nor WW. I stuck to the renal diet alone and lost a total of about 60 pounds in about 9 months. I used to wear size 2X clothing and now I'm in a medium to large for shirts, pants.  I was about 220 pounds pre-renal failure and am now 165 pounds. I feel a lot better for it.

I bascially went cold turkey on things I used to drink and eat everyday, like soda and iced tea. I cut out a lot of carbs. Plus, with having to watch my phosphorus, I cut out a lot of dairy. Cheese and milk were eliminated and that's when I lost all the weight I did, plus all the sugary drinks.

Best of luck!   

[mcclane]

i second cutting out the sugar.  Also portion control, easier said than done though.

[Cordelia]

You're welcome, cattlekid,      

I had to go cold turkey for the first 6/7 months before I started to gradually wean myself into having small portions intergrated back into my eating habits......

I was the epitome of a junk food junkie  pre renal failure until I couldn't keep food or even water down anymore........

I also used to drink coca cola, a can of it everday and a can of iced tea everyday, before I got sick.... those two drinks were pretty easy to eliminate after I started the renal diet.  I don't even crave them anymore. I do struggle with cheese, not milk, but oh, cheese is so hard for me to stay away from. The renal diet....is not an easy thing to do. My husband lost about 70 pounds eating my renal diet. He still needs to lose more to be able to help give me a kidney. He's still about 30 pounds overweight in the hospital's eyes for him to donate a kidney to me.

I also walked too, it helps to walk even if it's only 15-20 per day. Every little bit helps.

[pitagory]

I haven't done any of the diets ether but if you find one let me know. I am on PD and I have tried to loose weight with no luck it seam like I am gaining more wight. I mostly eat salads and light meals and still no luck. don't drink coke just diet sprite and I don't eat after 6pm. I cant walk because I have Peripheral artery disease on my legs. but I still work and I am on my feet all day. I cant even get on the transplant list until I loose about 30 pounds it is depressing me so much and don't know what to do.

[Cordelia]

          Pitagory

[natnnnat]

i second cutting out the sugar.  Also portion control, easier said than done though.

You're not kidding!  I did portion control a while back by counting every calorie, weighing all my food etc, and it worked really well. I llost 15 kg; eventually I got sick of counting calories, and I decided I had "got it" and could just "eat small portions" and stay at a low weight.  Well.  I've got all those 15 kg back now. Took about two years for them to come off, and about the same amount of time for them to creep back on.  Now I am really trying really hard to do portion control without all that weighing and counting (I used a website called CalorieKing to keep track, and that was very useful if you're interested.)(It meant I was able to eat "normal" food, didn't have to buy anything special except kitchen scales).

I blame it on a friend of mine here at Uni.  We sit in a collection of desks for PhD students. She is an amazing cook.  She makes cakes with no flour and no fat.  They are insanely delicious. She also makes delicious cakes with both flour and fat.  The other day she made one with ....

but hang on, this is meant to be about losing weight, I apologise for thinking about cakes.
One trick I used when I got started was, whenever I wanted to snack, I either ate an apple, or had chopped up celery on hand and ate that.  The idea is, that you get a lot of fibre (which is good for your metabolism, and also reduces the risk of bowel cancer I hear) and also gave me something to "crunch" on.  A lot of my eating is about wanting some "crunch". 

I hope you find something that works for you longterm.

[Cordelia]

I also cut out all juice too besides the sodas.......all I drink is water now. Are you on fluid restrictions at all?

[CebuShan]

I have never done WW. I lost 65lbs. I had lost 20 before I was diagnosed and the rest after. I didn't try, I simply didn't eat. I had no appetite. I had been fat for so many years that I didn't even realise how much I had lost until one day I was getting ready for Church & my skirt slid down my hips! Of course, I was running late and didn't have time to change so I found a paper clip to hold me together!       I asked my husband to take me shopping that day. I was shocked to discover that I had gone from a size 18-20 (XL) to an 8-10 (M)! How stupid is that that I didn't even notice? My husband, GP & Neph were concerned because I wasn't eating and I was borderline as far as definitely needing to be on dialysis. they talked me into getting a catheter and trying dialysis for a while. Both my drs assured me that if it didn't work I could have the catheter removed. Well, the morning after my first treatment, I was actually hungry for the first time in almost a year! I was in the hospital and my neph came in my room to find me eating breakfast. He just about did a little happy dance! Since then, I follow the renal diet very close but if I REALLY crave something, I go ahead and have a small portion. I have found that I have lost my taste for sweets. That used to be my downfall. I do know that if I miss a treatment, I lose my appetite again.      I am a member of Spark People to give me more incentive to walk. Getting a dog has helped and I have a walking buddy near me that I found on Spark People. I guess what I'm trying to say is, for me, being active is more important than portion control. Ok, I'm done now!     

[Cordelia]

It's really amazing just how renal failure can affect your appetite.

I couldn't eat anything or drink anything by the time I landed myself in the hospital, almost on death's door. I had No appetite whatsoever and couldn't even keep a sip of water down without vomiting it up. It was horrible. Something I hope and pray       I never experience again.

[natnnnat]

for me, being active is more important than portion control. Ok, I'm done now!     

Yes, that is what Gregory would say I believe.  He is in very good shape now, maybe a bit too thin;  he walks every day.  He doesn't eat between meals, and he doesn't have huge meals, but he doesn't think about portion control, I'd guess.  I'd ask him, but he's not here.

[Rain]

Just a note : I have  not been over weight.  I have the opposite problem of gaining weight. But I do have some advice on what helped with my sugar cravings.

Prior to dialysis I was on a low protein diet to maintain kidney function.  (didn't work, I think it make it worst).

After dialysis I had to cut out all my diary and the sugar craving begun.  I was a huge sugar addict would crave candy or high carb foods.  After doing some reading on the Weston A Price Foundation Traditional Foods diet, I learned that my body was craving sugar due to the lack of protein and fat.  After to discussing with the dietitian I was allowed to eat 1.5 g of protein per Kg of body weight.

I started eating a deviled egg for snacks, some protein in my lunch (usually left overs from the night before) and a portion of meat at dinner.  I also added butter, to veggies and cooked using coconut oil and macadamia nut oil (nut oils only have trace amount of potassium as the actual nut).  The cravings went away and I had more energy.  And i have yet to gain an ounce.