I don’t know why, but I really want some rice. Can anyone tell me when they tried rice, how it went, etc? You can’t really chew rice so, it scares me a bit. Thanks!

I miss rice so much. My team says not to have it for six months along with bread and all other starchy carbs. I'm also wondering how it will sit with my stomach.

Depends. We were allowed more or less all foods after 4 weeks were over. One should introduce new foods with caution though.

My team says to avoid for 6 months as well. I’ve found that quinoa and cauliflower rice are good substitutes ?

2 hours ago, dpendleton02 said:

I don’t know why, but I really want some rice. Can anyone tell me when they tried rice, how it went, etc? You can’t really chew rice so, it scares me a bit. Thanks!

Did you have by pass or the sleeve ? I have no problems with it myself and I am pretty sure I waited until 6 months post op.

I'm 8 months out and I still can't eat rice. If I really need something to sop up some sauce, i'll use cauliflower rice. Its gross on its own, but good with a sauce.

my program has it we are free to eat whatever after 6 weeks. I also found that in can not eat anything at that point. some things really upset my stomach, one being whole grains. I have not tried rice as of yet though, as I have found even looking at carbs makes me gain weight.

That's very vague Just giving a person who has had issues with food choices free reign post op there needs to be guidelines or you'll end up back where you started and then blame the DR

25 minutes ago, Mikeyy said:

That's very vague Just giving a person who has had issues with food choices free reign post op there needs to be guidelines or you'll end up back where you started and then blame the DR

One could argue into the opposite direction that in giving strict food rules to people having issues with food is setting them up for failure in the long run.

Most have endured their fair share of restrictive diets in the past without long term success and there are enough WLS patients jumping eagerly on the dieting merry-go-round again after "having fallen off the wagon" (i. e. when the burning out has set in after being gung-ho with their restrictive diets in the honeymoon period).

So many people on here are eager to recommend therapy or counseling - you know what an eating disorder therapist (and I personally wouldn't go near any other therapist when it comes to food issues) is most likely going to recommend? A restrictive diet? I think not because that seems to be essentially the worst thing one can recommend to someone with food issues.

First the weight comes off fast, then it slows down, then there is the first stall and the second one, maybe a little gain from water retention - and then finally the frustration sets in. As soon as the rewards stop rolling in big, it gets harder and harder and harder to follow the (self-)prescribed strict diet and/or exercise program. And then the "falling off the wagon" happens, followed by a restrictive regimen again, usually accompanied by the vow of "NEVER AGAIN!!!! THIS TIME I WILL BE SUCCESSFUL ONCW AND FOR ALL".

Sounds familiar? Of course it does because it happened numerous times before WLS. Why people are taking the risk of falling down that dieting rabbit hole again after having WLS is beyond me.

On a side note: I really would be interested in the long term results of restrictive regimen vs. flexible control, not only in terms of weight but also in terms of quality of life and body satisfaction.

The way I understand it is; Once the surgery happens you have 6-12months period where you take advantage of the surgery top Get the best possible results in that time frame.

From preop onwards is your time to make the most out of the surgery and not to take it lightly.

People wonder why the lose only a small amount those are the people who think they can just go easy with their diet where you have others who go hard from day 1 to maximise their results..

Think about it carefully the surgery had the most effect for maybe 6 or 12 months then its up to you to maintain not to go back to bad foods not to slack off just because you hit your goal!

Surgery and healthy lifestyle is not a fad it's a life long change.

There's nothing wrong with a small snack once a month maybe but telling someone they can eat whatever they like after surgery to me is IRRESPONSIBLE!

Edited July 7, 20197 yr by Mikeyy

9 hours ago, summerset said:

One could argue into the opposite direction that in giving strict food rules to people having issues with food is setting them up for failure in the long run.

Most have endured their fair share of restrictive diets in the past without long term success and there are enough WLS patients jumping eagerly on the dieting merry-go-round again after "having fallen off the wagon" (i. e. when the burning out has set in after being gung-ho with their restrictive diets in the honeymoon period).

So many people on here are eager to recommend therapy or counseling - you know what an eating disorder therapist (and I personally wouldn't go near any other therapist when it comes to food issues) is most likely going to recommend? A restrictive diet? I think not because that seems to be essentially the worst thing one can recommend to someone with food issues.

First the weight comes off fast, then it slows down, then there is the first stall and the second one, maybe a little gain from Water retention - and then finally the frustration sets in. As soon as the rewards stop rolling in big, it gets harder and harder and harder to follow the (self-)prescribed strict diet and/or exercise program. And then the "falling off the wagon" happens, followed by a restrictive regimen again, usually accompanied by the vow of "NEVER AGAIN!!!! THIS TIME I WILL BE SUCCESSFUL ONCW AND FOR ALL".

Sounds familiar? Of course it does because it happened numerous times before WLS. Why people are taking the risk of falling down that dieting rabbit hole again after having WLS is beyond me.

I think that there is a difference in the restrictive diet post surgery then a diet mainly because of the WHY something is restricted. On a diet it’s a self imposed restriction because you want to lose weight. With the surgery it can can physically hurt you (getting stuck, or uncomfortable digestion). I understand that this probably isn’t the case for forever but personally not having certain things has made me come up with healthier alternatives that make me not want the item I’m substituting for.

Just now, Starflower said:

I think that there is a difference in the restrictive diet post surgery then a diet mainly because of the WHY something is restricted.

Yes, there is but I'm not talking about "can't stomach this" here. The restrictions of the peri-operative diet are necessary but anything beyond the healing phase is different from county to country, even different from treatment team to treatment team and what is "allowed" or not is about 100% arbitrary.

I've never heard of this "no starches" for whatever period of time before coming to a US board. Mashed potatoes are a staple food of the German mushy diet phase. Also bread is part of a normal post-op diet once the healing phase is over. We were supposed to start with not-toasted toast when introducing bread before upgrading to normal bread (*yuck*, btw).

I'm still waiting for someone coming up with a study proving that the "no starches, limit carbs and calories to ridiculously small amounts a day" is more successful in the long run than other less restrictive approaches. And I'm not talking about follow-ups up until a year but way beyond that time period, lets say 5 years and beyond.

I also wonder what the next post-bariatric diet hype will be.

Oh ya I understand what you are saying. My plan allows potatoes in the soft food diet and doesn’t say anything about counting carbs. They do say to avoid breads, rice and pasta for up to six months because it can form a expanding gummy ball in your pouch and then there isn’t room for protein because the pouch is so small and you will want to eat again sooner because that doesn’t keep you satisfied for long. Because they tell me the why of it I understand and avoid it but I don’t think there are restrictions after 6 months. That’s up to the pt.

19 minutes ago, Starflower said:

They do say to avoid breads, rice and Pasta for up to six months because it can form a expanding Gummy ball in your pouch and then there isn’t room for Protein because the pouch is so small and you will want to eat again sooner because that doesn’t keep you satisfied for long.

Yes, try rice and pasta with caution first. Some patients can't stomach them. Same with Muesli.

Rice fills me up really quick. For some reason I have a problem with re-heated pasta (starches change their structure after cooking and cooling down after all but I only have that problem with pasta, not with rice or oats). So when cooking at home I use edamame pasta - re-heating no problem. Udon noodles are also not a problem.

20 hours ago, dpendleton02 said:

I don’t know why, but I really want some rice. Can anyone tell me when they tried rice, how it went, etc? You can’t really chew rice so, it scares me a bit. Thanks!

All plans are different. Trust your medical professional before anyone’s opinion. Eat what’s on your plan. Don’t try to reinvent the wheel.

No ones plan is better than anyone elses. *eye roll*?.... No one on this forum or in the USA is on a “NO CARB diet” Carbs sources may look different on each plan. Many of us are successful on our dietitian’s low carb plan. I have no reason to bash any medical professional’s bariatric instructions.

We are adults, choose how strict or lax you want to work your plan. These choices will affect your weight loss surgery outcome.

Things to think about:

Are your food choices slowing/stopping your weight loss?

Are extra carbs and real sugar causing cravings/hunger?

Are you able to stop at one indulgence item - will you continue to make it an entire meal or eat over your calories?

Can you keep food items/choices and stay within your calorie/protein/carb goals?

My maintenance food plan looks much different than weight loss mode. I eat low glycemic carbs to slow/stop my weight loss, (Sweet potato, brown rice whole wheat breads and pasta nothing white or processed). Rice expands in the stomach and bloats me. I’d rathe have other carb sources.