Hi, Wendy.
Elephant is (alas) correct that being overweight is an issue. My center needed me below a BMI of 30; others demand 25.
For lots of reasons, from long-term implications for BP and kidney health, to the immediate risks of the surgery and anaesthesia, it's really important to get that weight down--and keep it down!
I got my weight down below 30 (though the very last kilo, for some reason, took the longest). Since I also needed to watch my BP to be medically approved to donate, I had to watch not just fat and calories, but salt also. And this is true after donation as well. You will probably notice that many things with lower fat or fewer calories have tons of salt, which can get a little annoying.
It's great that you don't have diabetic or BP issues now. However, how old are you now? Because, as we age, the normal BP and sugar situation might change, so weight control remains important even after donation.
When I was losing weight for donation, I taught myself to view every cookie or French fry I considered eating to be a bullet aimed at my recipient. Crude, but effective. Since donation, though (maybe partly as a reaction to that self-imposed pressure), I've been less successful at keeping the weight off. Maybe I should look at every potential cookie or French fry as a bullet aimed at my one kidney?
In any case, anybody with weight issues, who is considering donating, must be prepared to manage their weight even after the donation.
Good luck! Snoopy