@hoepful33250 and @contentandwell - Unfortunately I can relate to this also. I was a skinny thing until I started working full time after graduate school. Before I ate whatever I wanted but I was naturally active enough that it didn't matter (I never even put on the freshman 15 or any weight during college - played on basketball team). Then our first daughter died, my dad died, our second daughter was diagnosed with AS, our third daughter almost died after delivery (turned blue in my arms) and then was diagnosed with PKD and eventually IBS. During all that I managed but was constantly putting out fires, avoiding fires, driving to doctor's appointments, and more stressed than I realized because I didn't know any other life. Life never settled down and my husband and I ate out a lot (busy driving 4 hours round trip to the doctor) so dinner was not cooked, putting the kids needs before mine etc. Things compounded, bad habits developed, and adding 10 lbs a year didn't seem bad at first because I was very thin to start. Now I'm kicking myself. This morning I've been responding to Connect emails so I sit in exercise clothes putting off my exercise routine. I always feel better after exercising (better physically and emotionally) but I still struggle to make it a daily priority. I realize, as I reread this, that I have made a lot of excuses but I realize I have also made a lot of bad choices that I'm trying to change.

@lcamino, You said that you struggle with making exercise a daily priority - Maybe daily is too demanding on both your body and your time. For example, you do have a kidney condition and that is affecting your body in many ways.
I have learned to exercise on only 4 days of the week. My goal is 2 on, 1 off , 2 on , and 2 off(SatSun). I feel better because I am not so tired. And it gives me the freedom to be flexible and change the days if I want. I feel less stressed because it relieves the guilt of an off day.
I give you permission to delay your e-mail correspondence until after you exercise!
Hugs,
Rosemary

@lcamino I agree with Rosemary. I very seldom exercise every day. I usually take one day off - I think it is a good plan when you have a chronic illness. (It takes me a day to recover) Keep at though. Slow but steady will work if you are consistent with the schedule that you set for yourself. Teresa

@lcamino, I know you are concerned about your health overall and your weight in particular. You could have been writing my story. I would like to share what works for me. First, stop dieting! Start making healthy food choices such as fruit for snacks. Second, learn proper portion sizes and stick to them. Most people eat far too much for each portion. Third, eat a well-balanced diet. Remember protein, grains, vegetables, fruit and dairy. Fourth, stop eating 3 meals a day. I eat small amounts when I am hungry, unless I am not hungry and have not eaten for 6 hours (then I force myself). And last, read ingredient labels. I try not to eat anything I cannot pronounce.

My typical breakfast is a banana and coffee. Early lunch is usually two rice cakes and hard cheese (or tuna). Afternoon lunch is usually a vegetable or more fruit. Dinner is meat of some sort (baked or grilled), vegetables and rice. Bedtime snack is fruit, popcorn, cheese and rice cake or vegetable (like cucumber). Once you figure out how much you need in a day, you can make a list. When you have eaten everything on the list you are done. That's why I only eat a little at a time and eat often. I don't like feeling hungry. Avoiding flour, sugar, root vegetables and extra fats keeps me feeling better and cuts many calories. I just checked my BMI (body mass index easily found online) and have moved from the middle of the obese range to near the overweight/normal line. It has taken me a long time (7 years), but there is no yo-yoing.

No one can do this for you and my way might not work for you. But you need to start somewhere and modify until you get to your final destination. Bless you and good luck!

@rosemarya - Your "permission" made me smile. I finally did strength training the day I wrote that post and biked 10 miles on Saturday. I usually plan to take Sundays off from exercise but I find when I don't exercise 6 days a week I start to lose the progress I have made regarding weight loss. I know I have to make better decisions with my eating (my strawberry shortcake was really good tonight) and not be so hard on myself (common problem in my family), but I feel a lot of pressure to lose weight before the transplant. I am confident that my heart is healthier than a year ago and that is a good thing. My bike is getting tuned up so I won't have it until Friday so I will have to use my exercise videos this week.

I think I might underestimate how my "health" impacts my energy level. Sometimes I blame my low energy level on waking up so much at night to go to the bathroom (meds and all that water) and other times I blame being out of shape and over weight for having low energy so I really don't know how my PKD plays into it all. Since my kidneys work well enough that I don't need dialysis I just assume that I can't use that as an excuse for needing an afternoon nap.

@hopeful33250 - Thanks! I struggle with the "slow" part. I want results yesterday!

@2011panc - Thank you for your advice and I totally agree. I do most of what you said except the 6 meals a day. I should try that as I have done it before. I have almost totally cut out bread (eat maybe twice a week). I realize I also have to be more patient. Thank you for sharing.

@lcamino, Have you seen this Mayo link on CKD (chronic kidney disease)? I offer it because it does mention some of the symptoms that you have described.
http://mayocl.in/2fxBXIR
I experienced some mild fatigue early in my liver disease. I attributed it to the hard days of teaching middle school students. But as time went on, my condition remained fairly stable and my fatigue and tiredness increased disproportionately. My GI said to rest when I needed....I still do that-nap when needed.
Rosemary

@rosemarya - I have seen that information but it has been awhile. I think I will just ask the doctor when I see him next month. I think I'm at the stage where my kidneys are still doing enough (no swelling, no itchiness, no nausea, no vomiting, no anemia, potassium level good etc.) and the study meds are keeping my urine flow sufficient so I'm inclined to think it is not my kidney's failing. For awhile I thought my nausea was from kidney failure but my doctor prescribed a med for acid reflux (might be from enlarged kidneys pushing on other organs) and the problem resolved. I do remember asking my doctor why I don't feel more sick (I watched my Dad feel very sick but he was on dialysis before he got his transplant) and he said he said I should never feel that way if I get a living kidney donation. Essentially, the transplant will happen before all those nasty symptoms of kidney failure start. Apparently the kidney is quite a remarkable organ and can adapt, work fully, for a long time before the symptoms start. For example, I have 25% of my kidney functioning but I don't have any symptoms of kidney failure (except high creatinine and a low GFR that is only distinguishable by labs). I guess that is why people can live with just one kidney. But, I will ask the doctor in August.

@lcamino Lynn, I too cannot believe I told my weight! I never even told my husband until recently when I lost a lot.
Unlike you I have struggled with weight all of my life since I was five years old. My mother told me I was so thin that she had trouble finding underwear for me and then I had an appendectomy at age five and immediately my weight started it's upward rise!
JK