Dieting Information, Weight Loss Programs and Diet Pills

Sonoma Diet

Dubbed the "Western Hemisphere's Mediterranean Diet," the Sonoma plan takes a lifestyle approach to weight loss, emphasizing food selection (what you eat), food combination (what your meal consists of) and portion control (how much you eat). With a nutrition and culinary background, author Connie Guttersen, Ph.D., R.D., has carefully constructed meals to enhance flavor and maximize the body's absorption of nutrients, focusing on 10 power foods including almonds, bell peppers and blueberries. Fiber-rich and, in many cases, full of heart-healthy fats, these foods help dieters stay full for longer periods of time. On this plan you’ll reduce portions, by dining only on 9-inch tasting plates and by following suggested food ratios for each meal; for instance, grains should comprise no more than 50 percent of your breakfast. Lunch and dinner plates have recommendations, too. The Sonoma Diet consists of three phases: In the first wave, you'll purge refined sugar and flour from the pantry. Wave 2 incorporates some banned foods, adds fruit, more veggies and wine. In the third and final stage, lifestyle maintenance kicks in.

A registered dietitian, culinary professional and nutrition consultant to the Culinary Institute of America, Connie Guttersen spent 10 years counseling patients in weight management before creating the Sonoma Diet. In her book, Guttersen advises dieters to embrace healthful, whole foods, while simultaneously banishing processed foods, simple sugars, refined flour and saturated fats, and she deserves credit for recognizing that dieting does not equal deprivation. She looks to California's Sonoma and Napa valleys -- home to fresh fruits and vegetables, aromatic herbs and spices, fine wine, lean meats, fish and heart-friendly olive oil -- for food inspiration. The abundant pickings make weight loss an exciting flavor adventure, rather than a test in tolerance, though finding the recommended foods in some areas of the country may be difficult and costly. With a cover line that promises a "trimmer waist and better health in just 10 days," the Sonoma Diet's aggressive first wave may also be too restrictive for some. And while Guttersen offers some fabulous recipes for those with a culinary bent, they may be too time-intensive for many.

Does the Sonoma Diet take and keep weight off?

Since dieters are required to swap out their dinnerware for 9-inch tasting plates, they're likely to take in fewer calories -- and lose weight. A technique reminiscent of gourmet cuisine (think a modest 3-ounce fillet served at five star restaurants), the Sonoma diet maximizes flavor by using high-quality ingredients and minimizes portions. So, in a sense, it's no different than other portion control diets that strive to limit calorie intake.

Is the Sonoma Diet healthy?

Yes, with the exception of Wave 1. Filling up on the 10 power foods delivers maximum nutrition with a minimum of calories. The caveat: Fruit-related power foods are off limits during the first wave and there's very little focus on exercise. That said, the diet itself encourages an active lifestyle, but gives no specific exercise prescription.

What do the experts say?

Tara Gidus, M.S., R.D., National Spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association, likes how the Sonoma Diet encourages enjoyment of food. "So many diets make you feel deprived and like you are in a prison or very restricted. This diet gives you the feeling that you can enjoy food again and still lose weight," she says. And there are good recipes to boot. What she doesn't like: Guttersen's requirement that dieters cut out fruit during the first wave and purge their pantries of flour and refined sugar. "The first wave is too strict and may not be realistic for most Americans." What's more, exercise is only given a fleeting mention, another big drawback.

Who should consider the Sonoma Diet?

This is the perfect diet for foodies and wannabe cooks, particularly if they lean toward the highest quality ingredients -- lean cuts of meat, fresh fish, organic and seasonal produce, herbs and spices. And if they enjoy a daily glass of red, well, that helps too!

Bottom Line

The Sonoma Diet will not result in overnight weight loss. If you have the time and patience to work with new recipes and follow the portion control guidelines, you can lose weight on this diet -- and enjoy yourself in the process.

Checklist

Sonoma Diet Books
The Sonoma Diet: Trimmer Waist, Better Health in Just 10 Days!	The Sonoma Diet Cookbook	Sonoma Diet, The CD