| | |  | Watches & Watch Batteries | | Home » » » | | | | | | | Product Details: | | | Author:
| Connie Guttersen | | Hardcover:
| 320 pages | | Publisher:
| Meredith Books | | Publication Date:
| December 27, 2005 | | Language:
| English | | ISBN:
| 0696228319 | | Package Length:
| 9.1 inches | | Package Width:
| 6.2 inches | | Package Height:
| 1.1 inches | | Package Weight:
| 1.3 pounds | | Average Customer Rating:
|  based on 164 reviews |
| | | | Customer Reviews: | |
Average Customer Review:
 ( 164 customer reviews )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
123 of 123 found the following review helpful:
 Good Food, Good LifeMay 28, 2006
By Diane A. Henningfeld
The concept of the Sonoma Diet is not new; Dr. Gutterson acknowledges her debt to the Mediterranean Diet early in the book. What is new, however, is the emphasis on portion control, handily taught through pull-out diagrams of plates and percentages for each type of food. And the recipes emphasize not only healthy eating but full flavor as well.
So why buy this book?
First: The food is terrific. The recipes alone are worth the price of the book. I have rarely had a cookbook that had such consistently fine results. I've cooked exclusively from the Sonoma Diet for the past six weeks and have not yet had a failed or unsuccessful recipe. I would not hesitate to serve this food to company. In fact, I already have, several time. People always ask me for the recipes I've used. Needless to say, they are very surprised when I pull out a "diet" book to show them the recipe!
Second: this is a healthy eating plan. This is the diet all of us should strive to follow. With its emphasis on whole grains, lean protean, vegetables, fruit, and nuts, in appropriate portions, the Sonoma Diet is a blueprint for lower cholesterol, lower blood pressure, and better health.
Third: Does it work? Certainly, if you follow the recommended portions and daily food intake. I started the diet with about 20 pounds to lose; thus, my weight loss on any diet is slower than for people who have much more weight to lose. In six weeks, I've lost 10 pounds. While this might not sound very impressive, I have lost this weight while not feeling deprived, while eating great food daily, and even having a glass of wine with dinner every night and a small piece of chocolate most evenings! In addition, I have lost 15 inches (5 from my waist alone) and two sizes. This is by far the most effective eating plan I've ever tried, simply because it has so quickly become a way of life. My husband, who does not need to lose an ounce, loves the food as well.
Fourth: Please note that this diet focuses on fresh, whole food, freshly prepared. If you want to eat protein bars and shakes, THIS IS NOT YOUR DIET. If you want convenience food and diet pop, THIS IS NOT YOUR DIET. If you don't want to spend some time in the kitchen, if the thought of grocery shopping makes you ill, if you don't want to slow down for at least one meal a day, you probably ought to look elsewhere! This diet requires planning and food preparation. If you don't know how to cook already, then be prepared to learn.
Fifth: This is not a crash diet or a miracle diet. This is a whole life eating plan. After six weeks, I feel healthy, energetic, and satisfied. I see no reason why I won't continue to lose weight at 1 to 1.5 pounds a week--exactly the rate nutrionists tell us is healthy and sustainable--until I reach my goal.
253 of 267 found the following review helpful:
A comparison of Diet BooksJun 03, 2007
By Arthur Bradley
"Arthur Bradley"
Like many of you, I found myself wondering what the differences were between the various diet programs. What I discovered is that all of the major diet books are well written and share many similarities. None of them offered an "silver bullet" to weight loss - it primarily comes down to keeping your calories burned greater than your calories eaten. There are theories presented about glycemic index, good vs. bad carbs, etc., but at the end of the day it's about calories and exercise.
In this review, I've summarized Consumer Reports evaluations to offer brief summaries of each diet book/program in hopes that it might help you pick out the one that would work best for you. Don't pay too much attention to the number of stars, as it's my own subjective rating based on effectiveness, ease of use, and ability to stick with the diet. Instead, try to discern which diet might fit your lifestyle better.
The Abs Diet, ****
This book is written by David Zinczenko, the editor of Men's Health Magazine. The diet likes the number 6 - promising "6 pack abs in 6 weeks," by eating 6 meals a day. Each meal is built around the "power 12" foods. There is a strong emphasis on whey supplements. The fitness program was easy to follow but perhaps too strenuous for beginners and seemed better suited to men. Strong points are excellent nutritional content and strong exercise. Weak points are questionable claims about rapid weight loss and "6 pack" abs, and mediocre meal plans. Average recommended daily calories are 1,890, with 7 fruits and vegetable servings.
The South Beach Diet ****
The SB Diet is a slightly more permissive version of the Atkins low-carb diet. It is based on the premise that eating low-glycemic foods (foods that don't raise blood sugar) decreases cravings for sugar and refined carbs. Like many of the diets, there are two phases. In the first phase, fruits, sugar, and grains are banned outright. Phase 2 allows some fruit, high-fiber grains, and dark chocolate. The simplicity of the diet might appeal to many busy dieters. However the emphasis on the glycemic index and insufficient exercise sections are a drawback. Recipes are easy to prepare, but some called for unusual ingredients (a clever cook could make substitutions). Average recommended daily calories are a mere 1,340, with 13 fruits and vegetable servings (mostly veggies).
The Sonoma Diet ****
The Sonoma Diet is an updated low-carb diet with a Mediterranean theme. Again, it is broken into two phases, called "waves." In "Wave 1," the dieter is banned from eating most sweet or refined foods. The much longer "Wave 2" permits fruits and wine. It has a unique method of calculating portions by filling sectors of small plates with specified food categories. The diet is healthy but complex. It is also very restrictive, which makes it more difficult to stay on. Also, the book doesn't offer enough on exercise. The recipes were tasty but elaborate to prepare. Average recommended daily calories are a mere 1,390, with 10 fruits and vegetable servings.
Ultra-Metabolism ***
The Ultra-Metabolism Diet is designed around the assertion that people get fat because their body's systems become toxic, inflamed, and imbalanced. Again, this is a two phase diet. Phase 1 is an initial "detox" period. The longer Phase 2 is a "rebalancing" period. Overall, the dieter must eliminate white rice, refined grains, most red meats, and caffeinated beverages. The theory of your body requiring detoxification goes beyond any scientific evidence and rings a bit of late night television "miracle detox bowel-cleansing pills." The diet is fairly restrictive and complicated. The exercise section was brief but practical. Average recommended daily calories are 1,660, with 12 fruits and vegetable servings.
Volumetrics, ****
The Volumetrics Diet is based on Penn State research. It aims to maximize the amount of food you can eat for a given caloric intake. This is done primarily by eating reduced-fat products, adding in lots of vegetables, and using low-fat cooking techniques. It encourages eating a first course of broth-based soup or low-calorie salad (not heavily laden with dressing, cheese or bacon) to take the edge off your appetite. Recent clinical studies have shown this diet to be very effective. The recipes are appetizing but time consuming. Average recommended daily calories are 1,500, with 14 fruits and vegetable servings.
The Zone Diet, ****
The Zone Diet was designed to keep your blood sugar and hormones at optimal levels so that you can better fight obesity and diseases. It requires that each meal consist of 30% protein, 30% fat, and 40% carbs (based on calories). The diet allows many fruits, but almost no grains except oatmeal. The meals are simple to prepare and nutritionally balanced. But having to keep to the 30/30/40 balance is very tedious and requires lots of preplanning. Recent studies showed that the overall weight loss was below average. Average recommended daily calories are 1,660, with 17 fruits and vegetable servings.
Eat More, Weigh Less, ***
The Eat More, Weigh Less (Ornish) Diet is a low-fat vegetarian diet that bans all meat, fish, oils, alcohol, sugar, and white flour. Their clinical studies suggest that strictly following the diet can prevent or reverse some diseases. Ornish argues that it is easier to make drastic changes to diet rather than small ones. The diet offers the most food per calorie of any of the diets. It is actually lower in fat than current USDA guidelines recommend. Studies have shown good long term weight loss, but a relatively high drop-out rate. Average recommended daily calories are 1,520, with 17 fruits and vegetable servings.
Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution, ***
The Atkins Diet is the grand daddy of them all. As with many of the other diets, it is divided into two phases. The first phase is a two week induction period that bans nearly all carbs. The second phase is only slightly less restrictive, but does slowly add more vegetables, fruit, and wine. Research has suggested that Atkins' dieters are less hungry than on many other diets. But the diet is difficult to adhere to and has a high drop-out rate. Long term weight loss has been shown to be average. The single most glaring concern with the Atkins diet is that the nutritional profile is far outside conventional dietary guidelines. (We've all known people eating handfuls of bacon, eggs, and cheese for breakfast, claiming they were on a diet). Average recommended daily calories are 1,520, with 6 fruits and vegetable servings.
Again, please don't worry too much about my ranking of the diet books - it's completely subjective. My suggestion is to simply find a program that seems to fit your lifestyle best.
Please be kind enough to indicate if reviews are helpful.
Written by Arthur Bradley, author of "Process of Elimination" - an intense thriller in which a martial artist, a greedy corporate attorney, and a sexy conspiracy theorist team up to stop a world-class sniper from killing presidential candidates.
183 of 193 found the following review helpful:
Great approach, wonderful recipesDec 29, 2005
By lapis
I love her approach of "Food is wonderful! Look at all the foods you get to eat!" I also love her "power foods" list which includes blueberries, whole grains, olive oil, spinach and almonds -- it's almost a no-guilt diet...eat things you love and lose weight at the same time. Her recipes look extraordinary and the ones I've tried so far have been amazing -- all fresh food, but easy to find at the grocery store. Her emphasis on flavor and variety is also inspiring -- you don't need to eat celery and rice cakes to lose weight, far from it. There is a bit more emphasis on food combinations than I esp like at this early stage, but I'm following along for a while because it will probably help with the variety issue as much as anything else. How many of us just get sick to death of our diet food and can't bear to eat another bite? With her approach, "diet food" may actually be "great food" that you never want to give up.
57 of 58 found the following review helpful:
Good for familiesJan 21, 2006
By economicat
I thought the overall concept of healthful eating sounded much better than preplanned and scheduled diets, and convinced my husband to try it. I have always wanted to buy lots of fresh produce and lean meats at the grocery store to be a "good mom" to my 2 young kids, but had no idea what to do with all that stuff when I got it home. The Sonoma Diet will teach you how to prepare meals centered around fresh ingredients, and it is flexible - fruits & veggies can be fresh, frozen, or canned for convenience. The main goal is to teach you healthful habits that you can continue with after the diet period.
I recommend the website subscription, though the cost can run up, but you get access to over 500 recipies to pick and choose from. Using these you can create your weekly menus and shopping lists around what sounds good to you. The bonus is that many of the recipies are classified as "family friendly" and my kids will actually eat them, so dinner is easy, and my husband takes the extra portion to work with him for lunch the next day. If you are short on time, there are also slow cooker and quick & easy recipies, but you may not have as much variety.
If you want a diet that is easy for one or more people to use, without having to prepare separate meals or separating food, this is the way to go. You will learn healthful eating habits that will last a lifetime.
42 of 42 found the following review helpful:
Fantastic way to eat!Feb 24, 2006
By Steven Gray
"Michelle Arseneau"
I was very sceptical at first to buy this book..I thought it was just another diet book. But I gave it a try. I read it from cover to cover and then I decided to head to the grocery store. Everything I bought was from my own supermarket, even the wine.
I ate the simple menus and even tried the recipes in the book.
The weight started falling off. The first week I lost 6 lbs, the 2nd week 4lbs...then after that it was 2 lbs.
I have lost a total of 17 lbs in 6 weeks....but the biggest thing was the inches...you see..I wore a size 18 pants and now I'm in a 12. I'm 42 years young b/c I feel young. I have alot of energy and my husband says I look like I'm in my 20's.
You can't go wrong with this way of eating. Just give it a try..you won't be sorry.
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