too much water

Question
My kidneys are not so good.  I have never been much of a water drinker.  I have to lost fifty pounds in five months.  I have to.  I am going to walk, swim, and do aerobics daily.  I am a teacher, so that is all I am going to do this summer...exercise.  What I wanted to know, is if drinking too much water is bad for you...especially if you have weak kidneys?  Do you recommend only eating fruits and vegetables?  I am going to cut out all sweets, breads, and soda.  Currently, that is about all I live on.  Bad stuff.  I am getting married in October and I weigh 251 pounds.  I really want to be at 199 or less by then.  Is this even doable?  Thanks

Answer
You have a couple different health problems going on here which will affect each other.  You do need to lose weight, hopefully with the goal of becoming healthier and not just for your wedding, although what a great wedding present for the both of you...I would be excited to be your new husband that night!  Increasing exercise is one of the most important parts of weight loss.  Eating healthier will, of course, expediate weight loss while contributing to overall health.  

While it is advised for anyone planning to change their physicial activity or eating habits to see a doctor, seeing a doctor is especially important for you if you have weak kidneys.  Protein, potassium, and fluid intake can all affect the kidneys so you will want to check with your healthcare team to see what is recommended for you.  Normally I would suggest someone wishing to lose weight increase their fruit and vegetable intake, but fruits and vegetables can be high in potassium.  I would also never recommend someone only eat fruits and vegetables; even if someone is planning to beome vegan (eliminating all animal products from the diet), beans, nuts, seeds, and whole grains would add important nutrients to the diet.  Increasing water intake can also be beneficial with weight loss and is important during exercise to stay hydrated, but that advise may not be applicable for your situation.  I would advise you stay away from sports drinks due to their potassium and sodium content.  Unfortunately, persons with bad kidneys are often advised to stay away from tea so your drink choices may be pretty limited.  (I also am not as big a fan of water as I should be, so I feel for you!!!)  

Avoiding low-nutrient, high-calorie foods such as sweets and soda is a good start.  Bread could still be a part of your diet if eaten in proportion with other foods, but if you find it is a "trigger" food which you find yourself unable to stop eating once you start then eliminating bread may help you with your goals.  Make sure not to cut all grains out of your diet, though.  You could try wild or whole grain rice, whole grain cereal, barley, couscous, and whole grain bread.

I do think losing 50 pounds by October is doable...it probably won't be easy, but it should be a goal you can achieve.

I'm sorry I can't help you more but since there is an underlying health condition you really will want someone who knows your history to be giving you advise tailored for you.  If you think of any questions after you have consulted your healthcare team, or if you need something clarified, feel free to contact me again.  Good luck with your weight loss and I wish you well as you begin a new chapter of your life!

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