The rule is, stay away from anything white and/or bleached. Your body breaks it down too fast for you to use all of it before it is converted into fat. Brown rice is whole grain, and much better for you than white rice. First of all when rice is bleached or under gos treatment, all the nutrients are robbed. And it gos from a complex carb to a simple carb. Complex carbs take longer to break down, therefor released into your body slower and are less likely to convert into fat, as long as you are not over eating. Complex carbs also require your body to use energy in order to digest them, so you are burning extra weight by simply eating complex carbs, instead of simple carbs. I make california brown rice all the time. I do use a small amount of butter, but that can be omitted. To really add some flavor add some crushed garlic, lemon, and herbs before letting it simmer and it tastes pretty damn good. And honestly whats the difference between store bought pizza, and pizza from somewhere else? It all has the same ingredients, which come to the same ending...more fat. Every one enjoys pizza, you just have to ask yourself, whats more important, pizza or feeling good about yourself?. You are doing good with the oatmeal though, its whole grain. Just dont add that butter and sugar, that is so easy to do. Instead add some dried berries such as blueberries or cranberries. These will add calories, so put that into concideration, but they are much better for you than butter or sugar, and they will make the oatmeal much more bearable to eat without butter or sugar. I hope this was helpful man, and good luck on your diet. Remember dont think of food as taste, rather think of food as a fuel for your growth and nutrition.