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What is a Rice Diet Plan?

Sara Schmidt
By
Updated Feb 26, 2024
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Many different types of diets exist to help people tame their weight problems and get fit. The rice diet plan is a rigid plan that promises rapid weight loss. The rice plan involves reducing stress, limiting calories, and ingesting only whole foods on a largely vegetarian diet plan.

Dieters, known as Ricers when following this diet, are said to lose 20 to 30 pounds (nine to 14 kilograms) during the first month of the program. Up to three and a half pounds per week may be lost following the initial first few weeks. If dieters follow the exercise plans, they may lose more weight as well. Only 30 foods are allowed on this diet plan.

During the dieter's involvement in the rice diet, he or she can expect to eat from a very detailed meal plan. This food plan includes severely limited amounts of fat, sugar, protein, sodium, processed materials, and calories in general. It also includes high complex carbohydrates as well as whole foods in order to detoxify the body. This low calorie diet plan is said to help prevent or reduce chronic illness as well as treat heart disease, stress, hypertension, obesity, kidney disease, and diabetes.

A key factor of the rice diet plan once included checking into a Rice Diet Program facility for four weeks. This can be quite costly, though it promises quick weight loss. With the production of the Rice Diet Solution book, dieters can now complete the program at home. Like the program facility, however, the book still details extra activities required of dieters, such as yoga, meditation, and mindfulness. It also includes weekly menu plans and recipes.

Some foods a Ricer can expect to eat include fruits, vegetables, wholegrain starches, lean protein, and nonfat dairy items. The diet consists of three phases. The first phase, known as the detox phase, consists of consuming only 800 calories per day. Many physicians believe that this severely limited intake of calories is dangerous to one's health.

In phase one, dieters can expect to eat two starches and two fruits at each meal. Slowly a nonfat dairy product and vegetables are added into the diet, raising the caloric intake to 1,000 per day. During phase two, calories gradually increase to 1,200 per day. Phase three raises the daily amount allowed to 1,400 calories until the amount of weight loss desired is achieved.

Since the rice plan is very limiting in terms of protein and calcium, it is recommended that participants follow the program under the supervision of a physician. Women who are pregnant or nursing, and children, should not use the rice diet plan. People who have had a colon resection, diabetes, kidney problems, or other metabolic disorders should refrain from this limited diet.

The rice diet plan is also very low in calcium and vitamin D. People with a deficiency in these areas should not embark on this diet plan. Those who do are advised to take a multivitamin supplement. The rice diet plan is also not considered to be a sustainable meal plan in the long-term, and people may gain back weight quickly.

WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Sara Schmidt
By Sara Schmidt , Writer
With a Master's Degree in English from Southeast Missouri State University, Sara Schmidt puts her expertise to use by writing for WiseGeek, plus various magazines, websites, and nonprofit organizations. She published her own novella and has other literary projects in the works. Sara's diverse background includes teaching children in Spain, tutoring college students, running CPR and first aid classes, and organizing student retreats, reflecting her passion for education and community engagement.

Discussion Comments

By anon1006172 — On Feb 09, 2022

I am currently on the rice diet, eating only rice and fruits. In three weeks, I have only lost 4kilos. I seem to have hit a plateau. Exercising is so hard, since I am always tired. I plan to go on for at least another two weeks to see if I can shed any more weight.

By anon113951 — On Sep 26, 2010

My son and I went on the rice diet June of this year. He has lost 50 pounds and I have lost 30. We followed a book published in the 80's with only rice and fruits at first. No hunger after the first week, no hunger now, eliminating the salt seems to eliminate cravings.

By shoeshopper — On Sep 25, 2010

heart297- I have had a lot of success on the rice diet. I did the diet for about two months and lost 20 pounds. The diet was difficult to stick to at first, but it gets significantly easier after a couple of weeks. Your body adapts to the food you are eating and you begin to crave other foods less and less.

By SilentIce — On Sep 25, 2010

heart297- I have followed the rice diet meal plan during certain time periods over the last couple of years. The first time I did the plan, I did it for a month. I was able to lose about 15 pounds that first month. I did not lose as much weight the other times I did the diet. I think that my body adapted to the meal plan so it did not work as well.

For me, the rice diet was very hard to follow. You can only eat certain foods and it is almost impossible to go out to eat while on this diet. The first time I did the diet, I was hungry all the time. I never felt satisfied. I was only able to stick to the diet because I have a lot of self-control. If you do not have a significant desire to lose weight, you will likely not be able to stick to the diet.

By heart297 — On Sep 25, 2010

Has anyone had any success on the rice diet meal plan? Was it hard to stick to the plan?

Sara Schmidt

Sara Schmidt

Writer

With a Master's Degree in English from Southeast Missouri State University, Sara Schmidt puts her expertise to use by writing for WiseGeek, plus various magazines, websites, and nonprofit organizations. She published her own novella and has other literary projects in the works. Sara's diverse background includes teaching children in Spain, tutoring college students, running CPR and first aid classes, and organizing student retreats, reflecting her passion for education and community engagement.
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