Hi, Jatopa.
Good luck with the walking, etc. Most of my own exercise has been walking, and it really helps.
I'd been going to the gym recently, to get the last few pounds off, although I've had to stop while we try to make some bad urine protein lab values go away (as I just posted in another thread, I think it's working!).
The treadmill I use in the gym gives you calories burned/minute. Even if it's not 100% accurate, it's had a great side benefit for me: now, whenever I want to eat something fun, I remember how hard I'll have to work to burn it off. Usually, my laziness beats out my hunger; I'd rather just skip the cookie than have more to run off.
Here's a bigger problem for me, though. Because of previous occasional "off" lab values for BP and sugar (which are thankfully fine now), I'm still very careful to limit sodium, sugar, etc. I've already been watching fat and cholesterol strictly for years (I'm also about 95% vegetarian). Well, what's left? Fortunately, I love tofu, which is a low-fat, low-sodium form of protein; I take tofu sandwiches to work several days a week. Well, when I mentioned to the nephrologist last week that I could cut back on my tofu to try to reduce my urinary protein level, she immediately asked, "Why are you eating tofu?!" When I said, "well, what's left?", she told me that tofu contains estrogen-like substances, and she disapproves of eating all soy/tofu products (mainly for women and kids, but also for men). It was news to me, but sure enough, it's all over the Internet.
So, now fat, sugar, salt--and tofu--are out. Carbs? Let's not even go there. I mean, I like vegetables, but I can't live on eggplant and tomatoes alone. Having to watch everything at once is getting to be a bit much. I'm tempted to fall back on the traditional medical advice--just eat less, exercise more.
I'd be interested to hear how other folks are managing their diets, before and after donating.
Maybe there's a whole healthy food group I've somehow overlooked? (I know about fish, but unfortunately I can't stand it).
Good luck, Snoopy