The Sonoma Diet

Hi everyone,

I'm very interested in this diet from what I've been reading here--I have about 30 lbs to lose. You are all inspiring me to run out and buy the book tonight. I'm a little concerned about losing weight too quickly and then plateauing and becoming bored. Has anyone had trouble with this?

Is there a spot that I can find lacto-ovo vegetarian recipies for the sonoma diet? I bought the book but most dinner menus are meat based. I don't want to lose steam because of bordom with the meals.

I just bought the book. In the back there is an advertisement for the sonoma website. It mentions a free trial week, available in the fall. Does anyone know when this starts and how to access it? I see only the $5.00/week pay $65 up front.

Hey Fellow Sonoma Fans....

My wife and I went on the diet on January 9th of this year. We were very excited about being involved together with a plan. I have to say that his is a diet (argh... i mean lifestyle) that you can succeed with. I have to agree with a previous poster that portion control is king! Yeah, the wave 1 is a little tough, but that is what sets you up to succeed with this plan. Your initial weight loss in that first three weeks will propel you.
W
e still follow the plan to a certain degree almost nine months later and have had a lot of success. I have reached my goal of thirty lbs (very little exercise) and my wife has lost 25-30 (walks 2 miles a day) and fits into clothes she wore 9 years ago. My goal was to lose 30, while hers was to fit into certain clothes. I met my goal within the first 3 months. Since the onslaught of summer our meals have been all over the road and would not be considered diet friendly. We were very much into the meal prep when we first started, but as the daytime hours extended and all of the running and general maintenance around the house kicked back up, our habits went from good to bad. We full heartedly expect to reign in our bad behavior this fall when things slow down. I guess that would be my only problem we've had with this lifestyle..... The amount of planning it takes to eat on the run.

OK... here's the bottom line.

You can do this diet.... my experience is that it was very easy to stick to once you got into it and committed to the idea that it's not a diet, (restricted and limited) but a lifestyle (change what you eat). I dropped my 30 lbs within 3 months and even though I done some serious cheating (beer, all you can eat fish fry in the back yard, pizza, etc.) I have only put 5 lbs back on. I can also say that my blood pressure and cholesterol have dropped to healthier levels as well. This plan works! Your self esteem and overall health will benefit. Stay hardcore for one month and you'll get results. From that point forward you can use your common sense to guide your new lifestyle. It worked for us!

Hey Marie,
Take my advice. DO NOT waste your time or money on the website. The website is only good for about 3 weeks when you begin the diet and then it's the same stuff over and over again.

i was just curious... im at college right now and im a freshman so i dont have a kitchen and hot plates arent allowed. i do have a microwave i can use, and a mini fridge/freezer in my room. Is there any possible way for me to be on this diet?! Oh yeah i didnt mention that i dont have a car to get groceries haha. I usually just eat the cafeteria food... whatevre looks palatable ie)NOT the pizza.
There is a Wawa nearby which is like a 7/11 kinda thing... and thats basically my only means of groceries. any advice?

I'm researching Fad Diets for my high school Anatomy & Physiology class, and I would just like to say that it is very difficult to find failure stories on these stupid websites. Thank you and good night.

I just started the Sonoma Diet. I love it! I don't know about the "zone" diets or "south beach", but I've done Atkins and HATED it! It was too restrictive and made me feel unhealthy, too high in fat! yuck!

This diet is essentially, lean meats, non-fat dairy's and good fats allowed such and nuts and avocados in moderation.

I think that's key - balanced and moderate. It's what a classic compulsive over-eater such as myself needs to practice for life.

I bought the book and started the diet on July 15th. I've lost 18 pounds! And I'm not starving myself! My husband has lost almost 25 pounds. The meals are simple to prepare, but require a lot of advance planning. I plan a whole week's worth of menus at once and shop for them at once. Also, since you have to buy better cuts of meat, etc., our grocery bill is a little higher, but well worth it. The recipes and the "plate portion" idea give you the tools you need to start experimenting with your own recipes. I haven't made anything from the book for the past two weeks, but all of our meals have been Sonoma friendly and delicious! The true test of how well this diet is working will be when I get the results from my physical next week. I'm looking forward to a lower cholesterol count!

I started the diet 6 days ago and have already lost 4 pounds. I know that it is mostly water but it is still exciting. I was a former Atkins drop out. I did that diet for 9 months and lost 58 lbs. I just wish I would have had this diet. It is so much eaiser. The only thing I like about Atkins is that all the support was free online. This one is quite pricey.

'Diet' sounds great but my husband travels 3-4 days a week on business, trying to eat mainly salads and fish. Everyone talks about the recipes - is there any way of doing this diet eating out often? Thanks for any advice

Hello, I have a friend that read the book and loves it. She has lost all her weight she gained from her second pregnancy.

Are there any great Thanksgiving recipes floating around that will fit with Wave 2? My family will rebel in the absence of stuffing or gravy, and sweet potatoes without a ton of maple syrup will be an issue.

Andrea, I don't know specifics of the Sonoma Diet, but I have some suggestions anyway.

First, gravy. I make gravy that is fat-free by using a packet of fat-free beef bouillon, dissolved in water with a few tsp of arrowroot (usually 1 for half a packet, 2 for a full packet). Then add spices you like, and just ignore those pan drippings.

Sweet potatoes. I think that boiling them does make them very very bland, on their own. So the first suggestions are for different preparation methods, like baking them like a baked potato (brings out the natural sweetness in them) or cutting them into thick "fries" and baking in a preheated oven. If you really wanna boil and do the maple syrup thing, I have a wonderful site to recommend (and for the skeptics, no, I'm not affiliated with it or get any kickbacks, I'm simply a satisfied costumer): www.naturesflavors.com They make sugar-free syrups in all kinds of flavors, including maple. They are made with Splenda.

Obs.: Please keep your lectures about how Splenda kills in the Splenda topic, ok? Here is not the place.

I need to lose 10 Lbs. I discovered this after not being able to fit into my suits for work after a two year leave of absence. I have read every diet article I could find but this plan allows you to eat healthy "normal" food! My only complaint is the portions are actually too big for me sometimes (i.e. at lunch).In 5 days I have lost 3lbs-- I'm encoraged.

I started this a week ago & am pretty impressed. The small portion sizes in Wave 1 make the first couple days rough, but I quickly adjusted & now am less hungry throughout the day. The recipes in the book & the companion cookbook have all been great so far. I'm looking forward to the end of Wave 2 when I can try more & different recipes!

WOW! this site really works! i like it! but i have a quiestion... what is a Sonoma diet... like the true defination!!! e-mail me as soon as you can and let me know... thanks

~*~*~*~*~*~*Seira*~*~*~*~*~*~

I'm so excited to start reading the book. I have been a hard core alcoholic for the last four years and just got through treatment. I am looking forward to starting a new healthy lifestyle.I have to lose about twenty pounds and I believe that this could be a great start to getting healthy again. I also love all the foods that this diet includes.

My husband and I each lost 20 lbs on the Sonoma diet. The food is delicious, and although starting it was pretty rough (people who don't eat a lot of vegetables are in for some severe abdominal trouble when they start eating them by the bucketful), we never felt deprived. And the weight has stayed off, even though we've returned to eating the occassional pizza and slice of pecan pie.

This is a diet for people who don't like diets.

i just ordered this book from amazon today. i want to start this asap! there's 3 of us girls that are going to buddy up and help each other and i found this and think it would be great for all of us. any tips/ideas on wave 1 for me to get a jump start on it before the book arrives, i really dont want to wait a week to start! thanks!

Jump start tips: go through your cupboards, pantry, and refrigerator and get rid of junk food, white rice, white bread, sugar, pasta, and potatoes. Purchase lots of Ziploc Twist n Lock containers. You'll want to prep vegetables, etc ahead of time. The containers come in very handy and since they are see-through you can easily locate the item you're looking for in the refrigerator. They're also handy to store brown rice, wild rice, steel-cut oatmeal, etc. (No, I don't work for Ziploc.)

I love this diet!

The book gives good points for a healthy lifestyle. I lost 10 lbs in 10 days as it claims and a total of 15 on the diet without exercise & little effort. Meals do take time to plan & prepare if you follow the diet plan precisely. I have taken the concept & modified my menus to suit my lifestyle.

Does anyone know how many vegetables you can eat for snacks on Wave 1?

there actually was a p

Marci said:
I'd love to try this diet but hate to cook. Especially since I'd probably be making 2 meals, one for my kids and one for me. Are there any quick and easy meals in the book?[...]

I've made the orange chicken sald, and the halibut marinated in honey, soy sauce and basalmic vinegar.. both were really easy.

Yum!!! I grew up with a dad who was a high class gormet chef. These recipes are great!! I am learning to cook not only more tastefully but healthy too! I just picked up a sample book at the grocery store and am blown away. I can finally get my mac n cheese husband to eat some veggies :). Alot of diets claim that you will feel full with the whole grains and fiber containing veggies in this diet it really works. I am astonished. Give it a try better health means a better quality, and sometimes length,of life not just a jean size.

I am starting wave 1 for the 2rd time. I lost 7# the first time and was knocked off track by the holidays. I have about 30# to lose. I love the foods allowed in this diet and feel healthy and satisfied even in Wave 1 except I was excrutiatingly hungry for carbs during the first three days. In fact while shopping at the farmer's market for veggies on Day 2 a woman was standing near me with a chocolate chip cookie which smelled so good it actually crossed me mind to steal a bite! I didn't. Amazingly after Day 3 I had incredible self control because of the lack of cravings. So hold out until the cravings are gone when starting - it's worth the wait! Also Trader Joes is a great place to shop for inexpensive foods to meet diet requirements ie; the fresh mixed cooking greens, stir fry veggies, frozen & canned peppers, frozen fish, nuts, whole grain pastas, tortillas, and cereals(love Kashi 7 puffed grains - very filling). I hope that's helpful to someone. Best Wishes!

I have beeb on the Sonoma Diet since June 2006, and have lost 28 pounds. It has been so rewarding when people mention how good I look. I own a used book store, and have told many of my customers about this book. So far, six other women have started the diet with a total weight loss of 175 pounds. I am taking my book in to the store tomorrow to show some other customers who want to look it over before purchasing it. I love the fact that I no longer have heartburn or indigestion. I plan to remain on this Sonoma Diet for the rest of my life.

I am thrilled with the recipes and very much enjoy the food but I am allergic to any color of bell peppers--peeled or unpeeled. I get severe gastric burning and indigestion. Since they seem to be a mainstay of the diet I am trying to substitute with other veggies but am feeling somewhat limited. Any suggestions? Thanks!

can u give me a 1 day sample menu?

My name is Jen and my friend and I had to do a report on this diet and try it and turn it in as a homework assignment, we did it together, followed all the rules (except the wine part we are only 17) we enjoyed this diet with a little added excercise. Congrats

Marci said:
I'd love to try this diet but hate to cook. Especially since I'd probably be making 2 meals, one for my kids and one for me. Are there any quick and easy meals in the book?[...]

There are a few express meals - although i use them more for lunch than dinner, as they're wraps, salads etc.
But honestly I was put off when i first saw what looked like indepth receipes but when i actually tried a few of them, i realised they were easy! Just stock up your cupboard with lots of spices - this diet is all about tasty food - thats why i'm loving it so far!

I lost 7lb in the first 10 days. Im on Wave 2 now. I mostly make tuna steaks or pork chops with roasted vegetables - such tasty meals. I have salads for lunch - and you can even have wholewheat pitta or wraps! The scrambled egg on toast is a nice breakfast too. The hardest thing for me was actually not being allowed fruit in the first 10 days!

I was recommended this diet by a friend at work who is having great success with it and I am very excited to try it. I have been trying to stick with a 40-30-30 plan but it is very difficult to create meals and contantly think of what to eat. Now I can just create a healthy list of things to buy and start with the express Sonoma plan until I get to Wave 2. Wish me everyone! And luck to all of you too!

With the online plan, does it have a partners/couples program?

Thanks for the Chopped Salmon Salad recipe. I've been on the Sonoma Diet for a few weeks and have seen great results! I love hearing about recipes that other people have used. I saved some money on the sign up by going through Cashbaq for Sonoma Diet.

Thanks again!

~Cyndy

This seems to be pretty popular - looks like it has a good variety of foods.

LOL first time here. I love the advice: "Be civil."

Honestly, though, I loved the Sonoma Diet. Wasn't on it long, though, because we moved and book got lost in the process. But the food plan was indeed very pleasurable. Especially wine part ;) Will go back to it soon as we locate the book in all the boxes (refusing to pay for a new one, when I know it's around somewhere), and will report on its effectiveness in the long run.

Love this page as much as my own. Will bookmark this for sure.

2 Thumbs up!

I would like to cancel my online sonoma diet account. Please let me know how to complete that action.

wel i am on the south beach alomost my 2nd wk..i have been ok iwth it i thought i was doing well but i only lost 4 pounds i have like 30 to lose so that was sad for me..
i have almost every diet book and dont want to start over on a new one but hate all the foods on so. beach...and soooooooo little carbs get added as soon as u get any weight gain u back off on carbs again

anyone have any help for me??any suggestions as i dont have book to read i have no clue how u eat on this SONOMA diet.
thanks for any helppppppppppppppppppppppp
i need these 30 off NOWWWWWWWWWWWWW u nwo how it is

i do thinki eat too much for supper time meal and i eat too many carbs so not sure this sonoma is ok for me>???

thanks again
susie