Someone at my work said they were doing this diet. So I read up about it and you eat a combination of food, but have no real food portion size limits? I wondered about this. I also would like to hear from anyone who's doing this diet how much they have lost in how much time just to get a better idea of the diet.

The Sonoma Diet uses plate and bowl sizes as ways of measurement... 7" and 9" plates and 2 cup bowls. It's a different way of tracking intake, but for a lot of people it is less cumbersome than weighing and measuring things with cups and spoons. There are no specific food combinations, but rather a stress on real food.. lean meats, veggies, whole grains and fruit rather than low cal/low fat artificially engineered stuff.

There is a sticky at the top of the forum titled What is that Sonoma Diet. Might be interesting reading.

I just finished wave one of the Sonoma diet and lost 9 pounds.I don't expect to keep losing that quickly, but Sonama is definetly a great diet because the real focus is on healthy eating.It is pretty simple to follow and the recipes are really good and easy. I feel great and am now going to try and fit exercise into my week. good luck!!

I'm into wave two and I've lost 5 pounds...not a lot, but I've really uped my working out from nil to five times or more a week, so I think I'm gaining muscle as well as losing fat. I'm confident that the pounds I have lost are truely fat pounds, and it keeps me motivated!

Melody,

At the beginning of the year, I was looking at going back to Weight Watchers, I was on it before I got pregnant with my daughter and I did well with it.

Then I came on here, read the information on the home page about the Sonoma Diet, went to the bookstore, spent an hour skimming the book and looking at the recipes, bought the book and haven't looked back.

I have lost 5 pounds, I think this eating plan was my salvation. The concept of the plan is really very simple, some days I think that it's too simple. More important than the 5 pounds that I've lost is the way that I feel. The power foods that are discussed are truly power foods, my energy level is up, I think that my skin looks better, more hydrated, and my hair is starting to take on more shine, I'm hoping from the olive oil.. With the way that the portions are explained, using the different plate sizes, I now truly understand what portions are.

When I was on Weight Watchers, I never understood portion size, I just punched the information into the calculator and if the points worked out I would eat it. Now I'm really aware of what I am eating, and the recipes are out of this world. I don't miss the sweets, especially now that I'm on wave 2 and can have some fruit. I keep some strawberries and blueberries in my freezer at all times, when I really crave ice cream, which is a downfall. I will blend some of the frozen berries, and I end up with my own healthy version of ice cream.

I have lost 7 lbs. and am on week 3 (just beginning week 3 today). This is after having plateaued insanely for many weeks. My own personal plan has been very similar ot this diet, except that this one has taught me about portions and that I cannot really snack on as many pieces of fruit a day as I was (it all adds up, depsite being healthy foods).

I started the diet Jan. 3 and have lost 8 pounds with minimal exercise( and have lapsed a little. Its been a great diet so far adn is teaching me how to cook and cook well. My daughter is 18 months and I want her to grow up learnign the right things to eat, so she is partly my inspiration. The first wave (10 days) you lose quickly. Half of it is prob water weight. IT then slows down in wave 2, but thats good because its better to lose it slowly so it stays off. Its expensive at first becaus of buying all the spices etc..., but that gets better. I would say this is very doable, they have great recipes (im picky) and there is success. You cant go wrong trying this. I hope this helps your decision making. Im now losing a pound and a half every week. The more people have to lose the more they lose in the beginning and vice versa. Good luck with whatever you decide.

I'm in wave 2 and I've lost 5lbs this month, but I really haven't felt hungry, my skin is great and my energy levels are out of this world. So I don't feel like I'm dieting, just having smaller plates of delicious food.

I've not found it too expensive because I'm buying fresh produce and no preprepared stuff, which costs a bomb.

Have a look at the recipe link and see what you can eat!

I have to add that you girls have done a wonderful job. We are supposed to lose slowly, its better for the body, I know, we all want to lose it yesterday.. I lost 3 lb the first week, but my total loss for the month of Jan, is right about 7 lb... The recipes are great, I found one somewhere with broccoli sauted in olive oil and you add mushrooms and rosemary, its wonderful, fragrant and delicious... India

I have bought so many diet books and been so disappointed. Im hoping this diet will be the one that works for me. Congrats to you ladies for your wonderful success stories. I plan to frequent this forum often so I hope to make some friends and get lots of support...barb