The Sonoma diet was invented by Connie Guttersen and is a form of the Mediterranean diet. The plan has a main focus of concentrating around ten power foods and managing portions that are big enough to satisfy your hunger, but not too filling to make you feel bloated. The ten power foods are whole grains, almonds, bell peppers, olive oil, strawberries, blueberries, spinach, grapes, broccoli and tomatoes. These foods were chosen because of their nutritional values and big strong flavors.

The Sonoma diet consists of three stages, similar to the South Beach and Atkins diets. The first stage lasts for about ten days and is fairly restrictive with the smallest number of foods and the smallest portions of these foods allowed. The sugar taken in by clients is very limited which may come as a shock for some people. The next phase allows for a much wider range of foods and the weight loss process slows down to a gradual phase rather than a rapid one to help the body get used to it. When the target weight is achieved, the third and final stage is called the maintenance stage where an even wider range of foods is allowed and even some special desserts as a reward.

This diet does not classify itself as anything specific such as low carb or low sugar unlike many other diets. It simply promotes good healthy eating and encourages regular exercise. The key to this diet is plate sizes and measuring the amount of food on different sizes of plates. It also recommends staying away from saturated fats and sugars that are bad for you such as white sugar. This type of diet does not involve any type of meeting or community activities although on the Internet, one can find forums for those undertaking or interested in undertaking the Sonoma diet.

Community activities such as meetings are good because they, in diet plans can be an excellent self-esteem booster. You can meet like-minded individuals and also compliment and congratulate each other. You can share stories and experiences, good and bad, and people will listen. The community aspect of diet plans seems quite a good way to encourage you to keep with your plan and succeed, especially after hearing success stories from individuals just like you. Diet plans generally run on a community basis because they know that this is one of the best ways to help you control your weight.

It is important when thinking about undertaking any kind of diet plan, to consult your doctor or physician first. He or she can advise you if the plan you are thinking about taking is the right one for you. Some work well for some people and some do not work well at all. It is also important to take into account any medication you are currently taking, as some plans are not recommended when taking certain prescription drugs. Finally, it is crucial to stick to a plan once you start it. It requires regular commitment and determination. Many people fall into the trap of mixing plans and seeing which ones work and which ones don't without giving it enough time to see any results. You can find out more information about this plan or any other diet plan from your doctor or physician. There is also a wealth of information available on the Internet. Many diet plans have websites where you can find out such information like exact diet plans, free promotional offers, meet other members, check out your local center if it is a meetings based plan, and much, much more.