Veggies, rice and fruit aren't carbs in the way that bread, pasta and cereals are carbs, but they are carbs fundamentally and break down into sugars. They keep your tummy hungry for more and are more likely to send you on the roller coaster of sugar high-lows. If you are looking for a solid cleanse, google the five day pouch test. Ok, technically it's a reboot for people who have had weight loss surgery, but the principles are still solid. Protein does a better job of telling the stomach it is full and keeps you full longer. You will have to scale up to account for having a full size tummy. Other rules to follow:
-no cooked carrots as they convert to sugar when cooked (raw ok)
-no potatoes/yams/tuber
-protein drinks can be your friend BUT check the sugar content as some of those instant breakfast drinks are alarmingly high in sugar. Carnation makes a SF version.
-absolutely no smoothies (those things are sugar bombs and whipping up the fruit turns whatever starch was in the fruit into sugar, all while tricking you into eating four pieces of fruit at one go)
-low fat greek yogurt is your friend. Ricotta is a lot better for you than you would think.
-those who go hardcore go no fruit at all
-aim to get in 60-80 grams of protein a day and keep sugars to less than 20 grams a day. 1tsp./packet of sugar is 5 grams so it's a tough go, I know.
I also have the IBS and the diet wasn't too bad. If anything, it actually improved a bit. Throw in the occasional avocado with balsamic vinaigrette for soluble fibre. If you are going to eat rice, opt for brown over white for the higher nutritional value and fibre content. If you opt to go all out and push yourself into ketosis, expect a few days of headaches as your body voices its displeasure at carbohydrate withdrawal.
I personally do not do protein drinks because they tend to be soy based and I'm allergic to soy, but a good number of my friends take the vanilla/plain ones and go to town on them. Vanilla+instant coffee is supposed to be pretty good, and I have another friend who puts the orange crystal light in the vanilla and she says it tastes like creamsicle.
Check out my friend Kat's blog. We've both had WLS but she's been more ambitious than I and has posted her recipes. I've tried lots of them and they are good and low-carb, and generally low calorie. The black bean brownies are to die for. Yes, they sound revolting but they are not. I swear.
http://geokatgirl.wordpress.com/
