Sonoma Diet Review
Sonoma Diet Review
The Sonoma Diet is a weight loss diet that promises you a rich, succulent way of living and dining, where you are permitted to indulge in a number of low-calorie, nutrient-dense foods. The diet is completed in 3 waves, and ends with a long-term plan for living and eating healthfully. It was created by registered dietician Connie Gutterson, and is well-known for its inclusion of dark red wines.
The first wave of the plan lasts for 10 days and is, of course, the most restrictive. The list of no-no’s includes foods with saturated fats, refined white flour, and added sugar. During the first wave, it is advised that you eat ten different “power” foods including almonds, bell peppers, blueberries, broccoli, extra-virgin olive oil, grapes, spinach, strawberries, tomatoes, and whole grains.
The second wave of the diet includes a wider range of fruits, vegetables, sweets, and wine, and the third wave is permissive of almost all food except for refined foods, hydrogenated oils, and excessive desserts. By signing up for the diet online at www.sonomadiet.com, you can access a number of resources, including a dietician available for questions, a number of healthy recipes, and a message board to communicate with other dieters.
The biggest problem with The Sonoma Diet is that while it claims to be centered around whole grains, the diet consists mostly of fruits and vegetables. Only one of the ten “super foods” contains a reasonable amount of carbohydrates or protein, and while the super foods do contain a variety of important vitamins, they consist mostly of water and natural sugars. There is also little attention given to meats and/or soy products, which would make it difficult to meet your protein needs. Without protein, it is likely that a large part of your weight loss will be due to muscle loss, not fat reduction.
Another problem with the diet is that it is obviously designed for the upper classes. By offering "generous amounts of delicious, nutrient-dense foods," the Sonoma Diet is making a connection to the luxurious eating habits of the upper classes in the early 16th centuries. The emphasis on expensive seafood fillets and gourmet wine is clearly meant to appeal to the wealthy, and the subscription charge of over $200 a year is a tad too much, in my opinion. Simply put, this diet will be difficult to follow if you don’t have the money to spend on pricey foods and membership fees.
The Sonoma Diet claims to be a healthy way to lose weight, but the first wave of the diet closely resembles a detox diet. The extreme calorie restrictions and list of off-limits food is a bit unreasonable, and certainly doesn’t contribute to a “healthy” weight loss diet. It is meant to jumpstart your diet, but at a length of 10 days, it is more likely to discourage you and look for a different, less restrictive plan.
The Sonoma Diet is more of a fad diet than a realistic plan for long-term weight loss. Save your money and invest in a plan that will give you more gradual results through a regimen of healthy eating and exercise.
