Hi Adam,
Muscle mass is often one of the first things to go when you have CKD and are trying hard to be proactive.
Not because kidney disease automatically causes muscle loss, but because many people end up cutting back too much on calories, avoiding protein, or getting scared that their love of being active is hurting their kidneys.
Quick back story: this patient, let’s call him Jonathan, was a lifelong competitive athlete. Getting a progressing CKD diagnosis was a real gut punch for him. He had always loved staying active, and although a recent career change had slowed him down, he still valued exercise and staying strong.
We were working toward a plant-focused eating pattern for him, not a vegan diet, and he described the first several weeks as pretty challenging. Yes, there’s a learning curve for all of us when we make changes!
Eventually, he started seeing some incredible results. His energy improved. He felt better.
But even with all this success, there was still a major shift that needed to happen in how he viewed kidney disease.
As we discussed his long-term plan, he casually mentioned wanting to exercise more and asked if that would be okay. He said he’d like to add more CrossFit and HIIT training, but had always been nervous because of his kidneys.
I asked, “Are you thinking that you need to keep your muscles weaker to keep your kidneys strong?”
He paused and replied, “Well, I haven’t thought about it that way before, but yes.”
His answer highlighted something I hear surprisingly often from people with CKD.
For some reason, there’s a common belief that you have to choose between maintaining muscle mass and supporting kidney health.
Some people worry that supporting muscle health requires a high protein intake, which may be harmful for the kidneys. Others avoid exercise because they’re afraid of putting stress on their kidneys.
In reality, there is a wide middle ground where people can support muscle health while following a kidney-conscious nutrition approach.
The goal is learning how to support both.
I think this belief comes from how most of us learn to think about disease and illness.
When we’re sick, we feel weak, so we rest, slow down, and protect ourselves. That makes perfect sense when you’re recovering from the flu, surgery, or an injury.
But with CKD, it’s a different story.
CKD can make you feel vulnerable, but it doesn’t require you to build your life around the assumption that you are fragile or weak. There’s value in asking how you can continue building strength, energy, and resilience.
That’s why this conversation matters so much.
Exercise is not automatically a threat to kidney health. For many people with CKD, the right kind of movement can be part of protecting long-term health.
In fact, exercising and expanding your physical capacity may actually help your kidneys. This 2023 study found that resistance training helped slow the progression of chronic kidney disease while also supporting bone health and reducing certain uremic markers. And this is far from the only study showing benefits from exercise in kidney disease.
Looking back, the biggest shift for Jonathan had very little to do with exercise.
It came from realizing he had started viewing himself as someone who needed to stay small, careful, and limited because of CKD.
That perspective had quietly shaped many of his choices, including his belief that avoiding exercise was helping his kidneys.
Once he understood that he could support his kidneys while still pursuing strength, activity, and health, his approach began to change.
And this is where getting the right support becomes so important.
At Kidney Nutrition Institute, we don’t want people to spend years shrinking their lives around a diagnosis.
We also recognize that it’s hard to feel strong, active, and energized when your body isn’t getting the nourishment it needs.
That’s why we help people improve their energy, reduce fatigue, and get the nutrition they need through adequate calories, protein, vitamins, and minerals. Nourishment is the foundation.
We also help people understand how to fuel their bodies appropriately if they want to become more physically active, maintain muscle mass, or pursue athletic goals while living with CKD.
Our hope is that people realize they can support their kidneys while continuing to build a vibrant, meaningful, and active life. Having the right perspective matters just as much as having the right nutrition plan in place.
If you’ve been wondering how to balance kidney health, exercise, muscle maintenance, and nutrition that works for you and your life, we’d love to help.
Our renal dietitians work with people every day who want clear guidance on fueling their bodies while supporting long-term kidney health.