dieting for life?

While my Surgeon doesn't give a number on carbs or calories, he does say protein first then veggies and if you have room fruit and starch. So by virtue, you are eating low cab. 60-80g protein and 64oz water...

You can eat whatever you want and tell yourself you don't have to diet.  The only thing that will happen is your weight loss will stop and you will be another surgery failure. 

This is a diet for life and surgery is just a tool that makes it easier.

Dense protein is what makes you feel full; carbs don't stick around and digest quickly, leaving you hungry again.

Like it or not, you're effectively on a diet for life. A "diet," by nature, involves carefully watching what you eat in order to control your weight. You should be watching your protein intake and filling your limited daily calories (since we can only eat so much in a physical sense) with with sensible food rather than empty "junk" calories.

Whoa - back up the truck!  Did you say you're eating pasta and rice at 2.5 months post-op??  And that you are eating 8 oz.??  Oh my god, I was told to NEVER eat that stuff again and was happy to give it up if it meant I could easily lose and maintain my weight loss.  And I can't eat more than 4 oz. of dense protein now at almost 2 months out.  

Your slow loss is probably connected to a higher-than-normal intake of carbs, especially high glycemic carbs (rice, pasta, bread, crackers).  A lot of the really successful people on here (the ones that I followed and copied) routinely tracked their food and only ate 40 grams or less of carb a day during weight-loss mode.  

As for your life revolving around what you need to eat, that's what you signed on for when you had WLS.  We were all warned it was going to be a complete lifestyle change.  And that big of a change means you're really going to have to focus and concentrate on behavior and eating changes until they become ingrained habits.  

I can promise you that it does get easier over time.  You won't feel like your life revolves around food when you're further out.  But for now, yeah...that's the way it is.  

At 2.5 months out you are still in that euphoric honeymoon stage.  At 2.5 months out your can fart and drop 3 lbs.  If you continue doing what you are doing you are guaranteed to become a staticistical wls failure. You need to think about how you are sabatoging your future success with your insistence on doing it your way now. I would demand a plan from your surgeon or follow the advice of all of the people here who have walked down the road to success.

You are very correct Chilipepper and no one wants to go through the WLS to become a failure...I was lucky, my honeymoon stage lasted almost 18 months...

It seems like you need to contact your doctor or his support staff to re-evaluate exactly what you should be eating. The pasta and rice should be the very last thing you put into your stomach. Start with protein, in the amount suggested, then fiber, veggies and lastly carbs, but only if there is room. 

8 ounces of protein or of anything seems like a lot. I am 3 1/2 years out and can only manage 1 small chicken thigh before I feel full. 

Just because you had the surgery doesn't mean that you never have to "go on a diet". we still have to be aware of what we eat, follow the rules and not overeat- it stretches out the pouch or stomach - depending on the type of surgery- and you could end up back where you were before surgery. 

Good luck.

I cannot believe you are eating such foods 2.5 months post-op.  I know it was close to 4 months before I was eating just more than soft foods.  I am 10+ years post-op and I can tell you I still cannot that much.  I still only eat 3 oz. meat; 1/4 c. to 1/2 c. veggies.  I need to eat small amounts throughout the day (6 times a day).  I have lost 153 lbs and put on 25 over the past 10- years (which I was told is normal).  I lost the most of my weight in my first year.  NO you don't diet, but it is a lifestyle change and you have to be more mindful on what you eat.  I can eat almost anything now, with the exception of ice cream, and not have a problem, but I also know when to stop or when to say no to something more healthier.  Protein is your best friend and is a must after WLS.