LA Weight Loss Exposed

I posted a bit about this program earlier in the week, and after reading the recent comments, I have a couple more things to say that may answer some of your questions.

There's a discrepancy in whether or not the LA Lites are optional- because that varies. Not by state, but by who operates the center. LA has corporate centers (made LA Lites mandatory and there is NO rebate for keeping your weight off anymore) and franchise centers, who are owned and operated by independent business owners. Franchise centers still give you an option to use the LA Lites, and they'll give you a rebate for maintaining your goal. Up until a few weeks ago, corporate centers did the same. That just changed. Franchise centers carry most of the same product for similar prices (except those splash packs, corporate centers don't have those).... I know this stuff because a family member visits a franchise center, and I go to a corporate one. The counselor that I prefer to see regularly is someone I've known forever, and she keeps me up to date with what's happening and changing on the program and in the centers. She tells me anything I wanna know, and I'm familiar with just about every aspect of the program, inside and out.. so if there's anything I can help anyone with, please feel free to ask.

Just started the program with my partner on Tuesday. We go back today after the "Kick-Off" two days.....funny, they were out of the "Take-off drink" and told us to substitute oranges instead....hmmm....anyway, lots of proteins and water for the first two days, which of course leads to lots of peeing and some weight loss. So we shall see. I AM HEEDING THE BLOGS OF ALL OF YOU WHO CONDEMN THE BARS AND SUPPLEMENTS. I will let you know how it goes!

I have read the above blog about LAWL. But can someone explain to me what is their tactic for loosing weight? Do those LA lites work or not? Please answer.

Olena:

It is a pretty standard dietitian diet. The difference is, they've reduced the carb in the diet so that they keep the bars (which are standard, like Luna bars) and the shakes (again, similar to Slim-Fast and other shakes out there) as snacks. Since both of these are full of carbs, it rounds it off to be like a typical dietitian diet. The reason they say they'll personalize it for you is that like any dietitian, they'll give some people are 1,400 cal diet, others a 1,200, others a 1,600, but it is still always a typical low-cal diet. They'll just add for example 1 more fruit and 1 more vegetable to increase a person's calories.

The main reason for success appears to be that they force you to pay a ton of money upfront. So since you invested so much, you feel you have to stick to it.

I just left a local LAWL Center. I considerable amount of cash with me because I had every intention of signing up for the program. I read all of the posts regarding LAWL before I went so I didn't feel like I was entering in to something blindly.

First thing that set me back was that the counselor that came out for me was a male. I asked for a female and he got one for me. The lady was nice and very helpful, the program sounded wonderful and certainly promising. I have hypothyroid disease and so I am plagued by a slow metabolism. I asked if they had experience with clients who had hypothyroid and she said yes, by all means and that the results were a little lower but still satisfactory.

She said exercise was good but that it was not something that they pushed by any means. I had just left my cardiolist's office where he said something quite different after I asked his opinion of LAWL. He said that all I really needed to do was increase my time at the gym and I would be doing great.

The counselor began telling me about the specifics of the program including the bars and drinks. I stopped her and said that I was not at all interested in the bars and drinks. She said that they are a mandatory part of the program as of this year. I explained to her that since the bars are soy based products that they are not a healthy option for me (or anyone who is hypothyroid) to use on a regular basis. She tried to call the dietician with no response, then she told me that it would be best to get a letter from my doctor. At first, I agreed to do that. Then I thought about it for awhile and told her that I would decline the offer because adverse effects of soy for hypothyroid patients is relatively well known and that if they didn't not have that information readily available and expected me to supply it for them then I really was beginning to question the companies real intent.

"Researchers have identified that the isoflavones act as potent anti-thyroid agents, and are capable of suppressing thyroid function, and causing or worsening hypothyroidism. Soy is a phytoestrogen, and therefore acts in the body much like a hormone, so it's no surprise that it interacts with the delicate balance of the thyroid's hormonal systems. High consumption of soy products are also proven to cause goiter."
http://www.thyroid-info.com/articles/soydangers.htm

I thanked her for her time and said that the company placed themselves in a professional capactity -- expecting me to pay over $3,000.00 for the program and their food that I felt would lead to a serious decline in my health. They expected me to trust them enough to pay them that amount of money but didn't trust me enough to know my own body well enough to make my own decisions independently of a doctor. Thanks but no thanks. So now I will keep my money and diet at home like I should have done in the first place.

Thank you for all the very helpful info about lawl. Almost signed up but felt a little leary about it all. The " too good to be true " feeling came over me. Now, after reading these posts, only 1 in 10 being positive, I will not be joining. I've been doing "Herbalife" for over 6 mo. and will stop that. Sick of all those shakes and supplements and lots of $$$ too. With all the enormous amounts of healhy foods and menus offered on-line and in mags like "Shape" and a dozen others I've decided to just eat healthy ON MY OWN, WOW!!! What a concept !!! You will always have to be disciplined on eating healthy, why not come up with your own menu. I am so sick of all the "diets" out there claiming that they are not diets but " a healthy life style that you can stick with "forever". I do hope those who have gotten the results they hoped for can maintain, I really do I just cant afford the time and $$$$, sounds like ALOT too!!!!!!!!!

Many thanks to the site host for opening this back up. Obviously, this topic needs to be discussed. Count me among the satisfied customers. I lost 40 pounds in about 6 months 5 years ago, got my rebate, kept half off & returned a year ago, lost 20 in about 3 months, maintained for most of the year. However, my holidays were a little too happy & I was about 9 pounds over my goal weight last week. I told them how much I was willing to spend & my desired time frame & they did design a plan for me. Here it is a week later & I am down 4.5 pounds - halfway there. Yes, I have lost the same weight more than once or twice. But, the accountability, structure and 1:1 help is what does it for me.

I have been on LA program since July. Yup, I bought mostly everything. I am tired of eating the bars. Sometimes it bugs me that most of the counsellors are 21 years old. What do they know about being 50? I have lost 25 lbs. Some days I am up and some days I am down.
The money is a big motivator for me. I don't want to waste the cash without not lossing weight. I have 5 lbs until my goal of 30 lbs. So, I guess LA diet is working for me. I wish I knew you could buy the bars on ebay. I think I will only eat one a day. I am interested to what they are going to say when I reach my goal. I want to get the new daily plan for maintaining my weight.
Overall for me it was postitive support. The most important thing is that my blood pressure is down since I have lost weight and I am no longer a case for a stroke!!! How much is that worth?

I joined LAWL 6wks ago and have lost 16lbs! I'm allways full and find that I actually get to eat more then I was eatin before. Its a total lifestyle change and yes it can get pricey but given the chance to return to fast food and soda pop I choose the healthier route. I'm a mother and I look forward to the day when I can actually keep up with my kids. This is definetly a mental choice. It is a long term goal and for me it is working very well. If u think about it the la lites are not that expensive its just about the same as if one were 2 eat out everydayat mc donald's except one helps u lose weight and one help u gain. Ultumatley the choice is yours.

I would like to thank everyone for your input on LA Weightloss! As a stay at home mom of 3 who's famiy is on a very fixed income, I'm REALLY glad I read this before visiting. Its not that I'm not commited to loosing weight or "afraid" as some say. Its the fact that if I've got to choose between formula for the baby and food for the other kids or some pricey weightloss program...well DUH! I don't have the time or patience to put up with rude people trying to sell me crap I don't need or want. For those of you who can afford it and are doing well, more power to ya! I wish you the best of luck!

I have to agree with Jessie about the bars. If you buy in bulk then the bars are slightly over $1 a day. I spent more in junk food and fast food restaurants on a weekly basis than the bars cost. I understand for those of you who are on a very strict budget that this may not be possible so my sincere best wishes to you in your continued strive for weight loss. I know it is not easy. You may want to consider just joining the online portion of the diet so you can get the advise. It is worth it. It will give you the breakdown of what you can eat and you have the ability to contact the nutritionist with questions.

i went to find out about l.a. weight loss last night. thinking i was going to get a program for $6 a week as advertised on tv. as you said, after weighing in, the representative figured that i would lose my excess weight by the end of may. figuring this cost at $6.00 per week for 19 weeks she came up with a cost of $540.00!!!!!! I can't figure out where she came up with that number as 19 weeks at $6.00 per week comes to $114. where the other $400. came from i don't know. then i was offered a 3 month free payment plan, or $200 down and pay the rest off in 8 mos. she never mentioned the very high interest rate. well, needless to say, they lost a customer. no way am i going to pay $500 for what was advertised as $6.00 per week. has anyone told whoopie what she's representing!!???!!

I won 26 weeks of "FREE" L.A. Weight Loss and by the time they got through with me, I had paid approximately $400 to them for my program, which required a full year's fee. Free? HA! Not only did they scam me out of the money, it was a total pressure program to buy, buy, buy their protein bars, drinks, etc. I don't have the money to burn and was very explicit about that. I feel scammed out of my money and never lost more than 3 1/2 lbs. even though they rang the bell like I had lost whenever I went in. The second problem was the hours they were open - from 9 am to 7 pm. I work on the other side of San Antonio (a 45-60 minute drive) and my hours were 9 am - 6:30 pm. It was nearly impossible to get in for my required 3 visits per week. My advise is DON'T DO IT! They don't care about you or your weight loss - all they care about is the money in their pockets.

I won 26 weeks of "FREE" L.A. Weight Loss and by the time they got through with me, I had paid approximately $400 to them for my program, which required a full year's fee. Free? HA! Not only did they scam me out of the money, it was a total pressure program to buy, buy, buy their protein bars, drinks, etc. I don't have the money to burn and was very explicit about that. I feel scammed out of my money and never lost more than 3 1/2 lbs. even though they rang the bell like I had lost whenever I went in. The second problem was the hours they were open - from 9 am to 7 pm. I work on the other side of San Antonio (a 45-60 minute drive) and my hours were 9 am - 6:30 pm. It was nearly impossible to get in for my required 3 visits per week. My advise is DON'T DO IT! They don't care about you or your weight loss - all they care about is the money in their pockets.

yo estoy muy feliz con el programa xq he perdido un total de 16 lb en 8 semanas

I have been on the LA Weight Loss plan for about 2 months now. I have lost over 30 pounds. I was never pressured to buy anything. They asked if I wanted the LA Lites (nutritional bars) and other supplements. I simply said no. I went to ebay to buy them and found them to be more expensive (add shipping and handling along with the false representation on ebay) and they were much less expensive to get them from the store. They did tell me that they were optional. The counselors have been great.

Hello, I joined LA Weight loss 3 weeks ago. This is my second time joining because it truely is hard after awhile. My first time on the program I lost 6 pounds in the first week. I loved it. But you basically can't eat carbs. IF you have a sandwich with 2 slices of bread, well that's your complete starch intake for the day! So that gets hard after awhile. Eventually, I couln't take it and I cheated one day. Not crazy, but I had nachos and a baked potatoe that day. And the next day I weighed in at 2 pounds heavier. They told me that it was water retention from going off my plan. WOW. 2 pounds of water in one day of cheating?! I guess that makes sense. But summer called for barbecues and by the end of that summer I was totally off my plan. It's almost like you need to isolate yourself til your weight is off. NObody regularly eats with no fat, no carbs, and no salt. So you have to eat at home with your restrictions. That is HARD! Well I'm back on it cuz winter seems easier to stay in and work on it. I lost 5 pounds in the first week. And have been motivated, but as the weeks go on, it's getting hard again for me. I came back without paying again because i still had time on my plan but this is EXTREMELLY EXPENSIVE!! I will never pay for something like this again. I haven't the money for something that is so unnatural to everyday life. BUt until my plan runs out, I suppose I will keep trying. It does work if you only eat 3 fruits(bannanas, pears and some other fruits are concidered 2 fruits), 3 vegetables(not carrots, corn or peas-cuz they are considered starch), 2WHITE PROTEINS(EGG WHITES, CHICKEN, OR FISH) 1 fat free glass of milk, and 2 low carb breads a day. SO SAVE YOUR MONEY AND EAT WHAT i JUST TOLD YOU AND YOU WILL LOOSE WEIGHT. GUARRENTEED! BUT IT'S HARD AFTER AWHILE. I'm going to keep trying. Wish me luck!!

Brandy: You really need to sit down with your counselor and/ or email the nutritionist. Unless you are a very picky eater (not to be insulting b/c I am, I am a no vegetable person) there are many foods you can eat. Between regular food, carb cravers, restaurants choices, frozen meal choices, the diet is really not bad. I suggest the nutritionist only b/c they did help me. As I said, I have trouble with veg. I am on the blue plan (2.5 protein, 3 fruits, 3 veg, 3 starch, 1 dairy, 1 fat and 2 la lites. The nutritionist kept me on blue but swapped a little. Now I do 2.5 protein, 1 veg, 4 starch, 3 fruits, 1 dairy, 1 fat and 2 la lies. This is a little easier since i like lettuce and can get down one salad a day and sawp for sauce or green beans on a day I do not want to eat salad. Good luck.

he rebajado 18 lb con LAWL pero si es muy caro llevo 9 semanas de estar llendo y me gusta pero siento temor de las deudad

it is the first time that i hear about LA weight Loss i am usualy using a weight loss pills and it is realy works but i want to read more about LA weight Loss
because of that i am here
thank you

I JUST JOINED 1 WEEK AGO AND I HAVE LOST 5 1/2 POUNDS. I'M NOT SURE WHAT PLAN I AM ON BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE COLORS, JUST A BOOK. I AM ON ABOUT 2200 CALS/D, I DO CONSUME THE LA LITES, AND I JUST PAID 1300 FOR THEM TO LAST THROUGHTOUT MY PROGRAM. I ALSO HAVE SUPPLEMENTS WHICH I PAID FOR UP TO 3 MONTHS @ 3OO. MY PROGRAM COST IS 522 TO BE ABLE TO LOSE 50LBS WITH REBATE OF HALF MY MONEY IF I LOSE WEIGHT BY 6MONTHS AND KEEP IT OFF FOR 1 YR. YES THE PROGRAM IS EXPENSIVE, YOU DON'T GET TO FIND OUT HOW EXPENSIVE OR HOW IT REALLY WORKS UNTIL YOU JOIN. I WAS DESPERATE, I WOULD NOT HAVE JOINED IF I KNEW HOW EXPENSIVE IT WOULD BE OR HOW IT WORKED. I JUST WANTED TO TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT. I THINK THE PLAN WILL WORK IF I STICK WITH IT AND EXERCISE. MY BIGGEST INCENTIVE TO MAKE IT WORK IS HOW MUCH MONEY I'VE SPENT.

Hi
I have been reading all of these reviews and it has thoroughly upset me and made me feel like an absolute fool for falling in the trap! I am currently trying to get my money back. I have lost 6 pounds in 2 weeks, but I do not feel like I can eat out unless I want grilled chicken salad and I have to measure everything which makes cooking for the whole family a feat. Also coming to the center 3 times a week is unrealistic especially for one trying to lose baby weight (I have a 7 week old). They don't tell you about the bars until it's too late. I have spent to date around 1700 in two weeks. I find Weight Watchers to be a more practical "diet". Please respond if you have been successful at getting a refund and how you went about that. Thanks

I am an LA Weight Loss success story. Yes it is an expensive program to follow but I have learned which foods to eat without depriving myself and I have learned portion control. I knew it would be an expensive process to lose weight but I fine that it is a relative cost to feeling healthy and amazing. I've lost nearly 70 pounds in a little over a year and feel more like myself than ever. So to anyone who has tried every other diet like I had, you may want to try this one too. For the first time in years I can wear a little black sexy dress and I have LA Weight Loss to than for that.

I have to agree with Tina. I have been on the diet since Jan 3 and have lost 9.3 punds as of last Sat. Granted most is water weight to start but that is ok. Each person needs to take control of their own life. Unless I lucked out, I dont understand how people can say honestly they had not idea of the cost. It is listed on the contract and in the contract it states about the LA Lites. Each of us are adults, we are responsible to ask questions before we sign anything, even a diet contract.

Hi Tracy,
you are truly a lucky person then. I am a very responsible health professional who has asked them many questions. They usually have had no answer especially regarding health questions. I have asked questions I know the anwer to just to see their intelligence level. I was told only about the enrollment fee, joined and THEN was told about the LA lites and take off juice which has to done every 14 days. I was sold on the idea I could enjoy meals with my family without cooking a separate meal. I was sold on the idea that I could go out to eat and enjoy a meal. Money is not an issue for me...I am very well off. My issues are a much bigger one than that. It is that I was sold on lifestyle that this diet is not living up to. Really, the first 2 days consist of the Atkins diet essentially...you can't expect to eat with your family doing that! You have to do that every 14 days!! I don't call going out to eat to have a grilled chicken salad good. If you eat something other than that you use all of your starches. To top that off, eating out makes you gain "water weight". So be prepared to gain weight at the weigh in! I told them I am a carb eater and was told this is not a low carb diet...untrue. And as for eating with family and only cooking one meal? Yeh right! When you have to measure every portion that is impossible! So responsibility is not the issue at hand here. If so, it seems 90 percent of the folks on this blog is irresponsible. Hey, maybe you should become a LA rep...it seems like you would be perfect! I do not have unrealistic expectations. I know dropping weight takes time. I know it also takes exercise (something which the reps do not even go in to). I just think there are much better diets that teach a better way of life at a cheaper price than this one!

I don't understand why they don't promote exercise at LAWL...at least they never did to me. When I would say I was working out they were always just very concerened about how many hours I was working out because if it was more than 5 hours I had to eat more food. What???? To loose weight don't I have to eat less/exercise more, not exercise more/eat more? The other thing that upset me is when I first joined they offered a 10% discount but it was only good that day. I had a lot of weight to loose so the program was over $1500 and that is a lot of money and I wish they would give you a day or two to consider the costs and be able to talk to your spouse about it. I haven't lost all my weight but I have used all my weeks and will NEVER go back. I'm better off on my own and with the support of my friends and family!

I joined LAWL 4 days ago and have been reading blogs and combing Ebay for the Lites. I was appalled when I was told after 3 days, I had to take advantage of the bulk buying of 108 boxes. I love bars and I think they would be an advantage for me, but I am not willing to pay $1000.00 when I have already paid $1100.00 for the program plus supplements. I have lost a little and I think I can make it work but I doubt I will be eating many Lites. Thanks for all the comments and complaints and positive words...it all helps to hear opinions.

I for one absolutly LOVE this program. Yes, it was a little pricy at first but they worked with me and I paid THEM monthly after I put down a deposit. You also on top of your weight loss get a year of maintenance. I'm good at loosing weight but keeping it off is hard so the maintenance program will be the deal sealer. You eat your own food though so I was still able to eat what my mom cooked for dinner and go out to eat. I did think the bars were expensive but if you can't buy them you don't have to. It's cheaper when you pay for them all up front but you can buy them every week as you need to like I do. I spend that amount of money when I wasn't dieting on junk food so it's really no different. And, the center I go to in Hickory, NC guarantees your weight loss so I will get half of my money back after I loose the weight. You can't beat that!! Everyone is nice too and they help plan your menus if you get confused. I like the plan.

I was on the LA Weight Loss plan for only four months. Even though I lost 30 pounds and close to 30 inches I didn't like the staff at the center. When you don't lose an inch between sessions they can make you feel like you are a failure. That's why I ended up leaving. However, I would suggest it to someone who needs to lose say, thirty pounds in just a few months. The program works but you will need additional support other than the staff. I agree you can purchase the bars on Ebay. Just pay for the set up fee and weekly fees.

Melissa and all: I hope I did not offend any of you. That was not my intention at all. I think sometimes the biggest problem can be the centers. I also have found out that some centers are corporate and some are franchise. I can't remember which way it went. I go to one that requires I buy the bars and does not rebate your money if you lose so much by a certain point. The others do not make you buy the bars, it is optional and if you buy the bars and lose x amount of weight by a certain time period they will give you your money back. I am starting to notice also some differences amongst the workers. My center for the most part is really good. Yes, the told me everything upfront, even about the bars, they have not really pushed me to buy supplements. I bought on my own to see if they really work and to use when I go on my vacation next month. But they do not always follow through. Supposedly they were going to do my blood pressure every visit b/c my doctor says I am borderline. I had a guy counselor who always did it and my chart was marked as such. Not sure if he is gone since I have not seen him but no one else checks it. I do need to say something b/c my doctor really wants to know. But I am not sure it is accurate. Their numbers were way off from my doctor. And all they said was good it went down. To a point Nichol made about the exercise, I went in on Saturday and I was lucky I lose 4.3 pounds. I said to my counselor that I was very excited but I knew I needed to get back to the gym. The answer I was given was "yes, you can but look, you are on a diet that you dont even have to exercise to lose". You are right. Exercise should be promoted. Losing weight is good, but exercise will help build muscle that will help burn fat and maek your heart stronger. Bets of luck to all of you. I am in for the long hall since I also paid all the money too. I just hope my streak of losing continues. If you are on the plan, and dont care for the staff, I strongly suggest getting the online version. The is a community board that is very supportive. I am online all the time with it.

Iam an in progress LA Weightloss sucess story to date I have lost 50lbs and I love it. I did get pressured to sign up for care credit and the bars, the pills, shakes I got pressured for it all but I said NO! I know what I can afford each time I weigh in and if I weigh in one week and cannot afford LA Lites then I say sorry maybe next time. The bars are for those naggin cravings for sweets. You have to simply say no with out aploigizing for it. I would recomend this program to anyone and I am even considering working for them.

If nothing else the LAWL gets you fat pigs off of your couch

I have a question and I hope someone can help me. I'm on LAWL and I reached the end of my "plan" before I hit my goal weight. I'm almost there (after purchasing extra weight loss weeks), are they gonna make me pay for maintenence once i reach my goal or is that included? i'll flip out if i have to lay out any more $$$!!!!

This is to Piggy Jones. That is rude. Kidding or not, it is rude. I am not sure the condition you are in, but not everyone is just sitting on the couch thinking themselves thin. Dont make judgements about people you do not know.

Jenn: I was told that if I did not reach my goal weight, I would need to buy more weeks. Not sure why. I would rather take from maintenance and then pay more if I feel I need them.

Tracy: Yes, I purchased weight loss weeks already and i'm using those right now (im still in weight loss and using the extra weeks)...what i was scared about was that i would have to purchase maintenence, but i guess since i haven't gotten there yet i won't have to because i already bought them?? ahh i think im confusing myself!! i'm going to ask them tomorrow, but with them i feel like i get the runaround most of the time.

One more thing i want to add...

to all of you who feel like you are sucked in...just look at your results. that's what i always do, the pounds really do fall off of you and that's what should keep you going!!! just keep it up and you will do great.

i haven't reached my goal weight yet but that's because i cheat somedays, but you know what? that's normal. we can't be robotic and eat that way every single day, you'll go crazy and then its just a matter of time before you binge and start gaining again. just try not to think about it too much and good luck!!

Jenn very good points you brought up. I have only been on since jan 9 so right now it is not so bad. But I am starting to crave those things i used to eat, hotdogs, kilbasi (sp?), baked beans. All they said was: "you can not eat those until maintenance". Yeah right. Like I am going to go without for a year depending on how long it takes. I think every once in a while it I treat myself, I am not going to worry about it. And if I lose .1 pound, it will be better than nothing.

I just want to let everyone know that I just got a refund back from LAWL. I told them that what they were doing was ielegal. I told them I was going to get others that had been taken advantage of and file a class action law suit. Told them I was going to file a complaint with the Attorney General's office. They listened. I joined Nov 29, 06 and got my refund this month. So don't give up. Go get'em. Make them give your money back. I told them up front before anybody even talked to me that I was not going to use their products. I am illergic to some of the contents. They still tried to sell them to me. Good Luck

I have read through the majority of these posts, and I was upset by some of them. I work at la weight loss and I love my clients, I never pressure them to buy anything. We disclose the price of the lites in bulk before the clients pay and sign the contract. no one has to do them at our center. I feel bad for the people who do not get great counseling, I give 110% to every client I see (and is about 20-30 a day). This job is emotionally draining especially when counselors get yelled at for a client gaining weight when THEY not me have eaten off plan.

I follow the plan, any diet is a struggle I have done WW and now La and I love LA much more, I eat much healthier than on WW. I never blame anyone but myself for my weight, and when I have a small gain I only have myself to blame it happens to everyone and on every plan we are all human.