Sonoma Diet

This is a low-carb diet created by registered dietician Connie Guttersen; it is designed to help dieters lose weight for life. The plan is quite simple with no calorie-counting or deprivation. According to the Sonoma diet’s philosophy, the trick is to eat the right amounts of the right foods instead of depriving yourself. The diet uses a plate for portion control, and almost no foods are forbidden, including wine after the initial phase. The Sonoma diet emphasises the pleasure of food and encourages participants to savour their food and eat it slowly in order to appreciate its taste and textures. While many dieticians are positive, the dearth of carbs and sweets in the first phase can make it difficult for many dieters to stick to the diet plan.
The first phase of the diet, called Wave One, lasts 10 days and is the most stringent part of the diet. Throughout the diet, dieters are encouraged not to eat foods with added sugars, refined white flour, and many other heavily processed foods. This is especially true in the first part when daily caloric intake is around 900-1100 calories for women and 1100-1300 for men. Dieters are not allowed anything sweet during the first period, not even fruit and most sources of starch are discouraged. Dieters are allowed to eat lean protein sources, beans, low starch vegetables, some low-fat dairy, low-carb condiments, a small amount of nuts, and some healthy oils.
During Wave Two, the second phase of the diet, dieters are allowed an extra 200-300 calories and encouraged to eat more whole grains, add a glass of wine on occasion, and eat a larger variety of vegetables. Wave Three is the maintenance phase and dieters are allowed to add many fruits, vegetables, and grains back into their diets.