The hardest diet I have ever had to follow...

[Modern Saint]

Life or Death is what it comes down to.

For those who have never had surgery? Have you ever tried a low fiber diet? My goodness, 3 weeks in and I guess that I am getting used to it. Wasn't an easy task but dang trying to avoid blowing out your backside is more important to me.

A low-fiber or low-residue diet limits daily fiber intake (typically 10-15 grams) to reduce the size and frequency of bowel movements, easing symptoms of digestive issues like Crohn's, ulcerative colitis, or post-surgical recovery. It focuses on white grains, tender meats, and cooked/canned fruits and vegetables without skins or seed

Foods to Eat (Low Fiber)

• Grains:
  White bread, white pasta, white rice, refined cereals (Corn Flakes, Cream of Wheat), crackers.
• • Protein: Well-cooked tender meat, fish, poultry, eggs, and tofu.
  • Vegetables: Well-cooked or canned vegetables without skins or seeds (e.g., carrots, green beans, potatoes).
  • Fruits: Canned fruit, ripe bananas, melons, and pulp-free fruit juice
    
    

Foods to Avoid (High Fiber/Residue)

• Whole Grains: Whole wheat bread, brown rice, bran cereals, quinoa, oatmeal.
• Raw Veggies/Fruits: Raw broccoli, cabbage, berries, prunes, dried fruit.
• Nuts & Seeds: Nuts, seeds, popcorn, crunchy peanut butter.
• Legumes: Beans, lentils, peas.
  

Benefits and Medical Uses

• Reduces Symptoms: Helps manage diarrhea, cramping, and bloating.
• Medical Necessity: Used for conditions like Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, diverticulitis, or following intestinal surgery.
• Colonoscopy Prep: Often required in the days leading up to a colonoscopy.
  

Disadvantages and Side Effects

• Constipation: Because this diet creates less stool bulk, constipation is a common side effect.
• Nutritional Gaps: It is typically low in essential vitamins and nutrients, so it should not be followed long-term without medical supervision.
• Gut Health: Long-term use may limit the food supply for beneficial gut bacteria.
  

Tips for Success

• Hydration: Drink plenty of fluids (6–8 glasses daily) to prevent constipation.
• Cooking Method: Opt for cooking methods like poaching, stewing, or steaming to make food tender.

 

[Lerxst]

Good luck adapting....at least you have some extra motivation to get you through it.

I'm on the "every time I go to a doctor, I can't eat the things the other doctor said I need to eat", program.

 

[jp_nyc]

I could live on rice and chicken without any trouble. But I might go insane with those limits on fruits and vegetables. I eat broccoli for breakfast.

 

[Andrew Sak]

I hope you get used to the new diet quickly Modern. Hopefully there are things on the list you enjoy.

 

[tiger roach]

Good luck, I would have trouble adapting to that as well. It is counterintuitive to avoid whole grains etc.

 

[Bob411]

Life or Death is what it comes down to.

For those who have never had surgery? Have you ever tried a low fiber diet? My goodness, 3 weeks in and I guess that I am getting used to it. Wasn't an easy task but dang trying to avoid blowing out your backside is more important to me.

A low-fiber or low-residue diet limits daily fiber intake (typically 10-15 grams) to reduce the size and frequency of bowel movements, easing symptoms of digestive issues like Crohn's, ulcerative colitis, or post-surgical recovery. It focuses on white grains, tender meats, and cooked/canned fruits and vegetables without skins or seed

Foods to Eat (Low Fiber)

• Grains:
  White bread, white pasta, white rice, refined cereals (Corn Flakes, Cream of Wheat), crackers.
• • Protein: Well-cooked tender meat, fish, poultry, eggs, and tofu.
  • Vegetables: Well-cooked or canned vegetables without skins or seeds (e.g., carrots, green beans, potatoes).
  • Fruits: Canned fruit, ripe bananas, melons, and pulp-free fruit juice
    

Foods to Avoid (High Fiber/Residue)

• Whole Grains: Whole wheat bread, brown rice, bran cereals, quinoa, oatmeal.
• Raw Veggies/Fruits: Raw broccoli, cabbage, berries, prunes, dried fruit.
• Nuts & Seeds: Nuts, seeds, popcorn, crunchy peanut butter.
• Legumes: Beans, lentils, peas.

Benefits and Medical Uses

• Reduces Symptoms: Helps manage diarrhea, cramping, and bloating.
• Medical Necessity: Used for conditions like Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, diverticulitis, or following intestinal surgery.
• Colonoscopy Prep: Often required in the days leading up to a colonoscopy.

Disadvantages and Side Effects

• Constipation: Because this diet creates less stool bulk, constipation is a common side effect.
• Nutritional Gaps: It is typically low in essential vitamins and nutrients, so it should not be followed long-term without medical supervision.
• Gut Health: Long-term use may limit the food supply for beneficial gut bacteria.

Tips for Success

• Hydration: Drink plenty of fluids (6–8 glasses daily) to prevent constipation.
• Cooking Method: Opt for cooking methods like poaching, stewing, or steaming to make food tender.

"Fruits: Canned fruit, ripe bananas, melons, and pulp-free fruit juice"

Not saying this is wrong, I have no idea which is right but, just last week I say something that said ripe bananas are good to relive constipation. Green bananas help stop the runs..

 

[bsman]

I had to do that for a day or two prior to a colonoscopy. It was great fun for me, since we've been doing the low-carb thing with lots of fruit and veggies for years and only whole grains.

 

[liamks]

Life or Death is what it comes down to.

For those who have never had surgery? Have you ever tried a low fiber diet? My goodness, 3 weeks in and I guess that I am getting used to it. Wasn't an easy task but dang trying to avoid blowing out your backside is more important to me.

A low-fiber or low-residue diet limits daily fiber intake (typically 10-15 grams) to reduce the size and frequency of bowel movements, easing symptoms of digestive issues like Crohn's, ulcerative colitis, or post-surgical recovery. It focuses on white grains, tender meats, and cooked/canned fruits and vegetables without skins or seed

Foods to Eat (Low Fiber)

• Grains:
  White bread, white pasta, white rice, refined cereals (Corn Flakes, Cream of Wheat), crackers.
• • Protein: Well-cooked tender meat, fish, poultry, eggs, and tofu.
  • Vegetables: Well-cooked or canned vegetables without skins or seeds (e.g., carrots, green beans, potatoes).
  • Fruits: Canned fruit, ripe bananas, melons, and pulp-free fruit juice
    

Foods to Avoid (High Fiber/Residue)

• Whole Grains: Whole wheat bread, brown rice, bran cereals, quinoa, oatmeal.
• Raw Veggies/Fruits: Raw broccoli, cabbage, berries, prunes, dried fruit.
• Nuts & Seeds: Nuts, seeds, popcorn, crunchy peanut butter.
• Legumes: Beans, lentils, peas.

Benefits and Medical Uses

• Reduces Symptoms: Helps manage diarrhea, cramping, and bloating.
• Medical Necessity: Used for conditions like Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, diverticulitis, or following intestinal surgery.
• Colonoscopy Prep: Often required in the days leading up to a colonoscopy.

Disadvantages and Side Effects

• Constipation: Because this diet creates less stool bulk, constipation is a common side effect.
• Nutritional Gaps: It is typically low in essential vitamins and nutrients, so it should not be followed long-term without medical supervision.
• Gut Health: Long-term use may limit the food supply for beneficial gut bacteria.

My father did three weeks of low fiber before his colon resection and I cooked every meal for him, so I know exactly how draining that routine gets when you are counting grams at every sitting. What saved us was poaching chicken until it fell apart and mashing carrots and potatoes into soft bowls, since texture mattered as much as fiber content. If you want to take a look at how commercial kitchens keep poultry tender and uniform, the same logic of gentle heat and consistent portioning applies at home, and it made his meals predictable when everything else felt chaotic. Drink more water than you think you need because constipation hits hard on this diet, and ask your doctor about a multivitamin since you are missing nutrients for weeks. Keep going, the finish line is closer than it feels.
Tips for Success

• Hydration: Drink plenty of fluids (6–8 glasses daily) to prevent constipation.
• Cooking Method: Opt for cooking methods like poaching, stewing, or steaming to make food tender.

I did a low-fiber diet for a couple of weeks before a colonoscopy a few years back, and the first few days were rough. I missed fruit and salads more than I expected. But once I got into the routine of white rice, eggs, and canned peaches, it wasn't so bad. The hardest part was remembering to drink enough water, otherwise things got worse, not better. It's definitely not something I'd want to do long-term, but for a short stretch, it did what it was supposed to do.