LA Weight Loss: Caught Out Again

I thought I have heard some odd claims about protein bars, but "baggy skin"? I think they meant to say that one could carry a lot of them in baggy pants :-)

I have never heard anything good about LA weight loss, but the people who've been scammed by it seem numerous! I'm glad they had to pay if they were ripping people off.

I do know one or two people who did well with LA but mostly I hear complaints.
I think it’s also illegal to make medical claims for products not approved by the FDA for that purpose.
There are some claims that soy prevents saggy skin. It didn’t work in my case when I lost weight the first time. I ate lots of soy and still had some loose skin.

I wish we could hear about one of these scams being caught everyday.

I am a LAWL customer and an very happy with their service. They are so supportive, knowledgeable and nice at my center. I have lost almost 45 pounds in 18 weeks so far and could not be feeling better physically & about myself. I even called my center one time asking about saggy skin when I read about it on a message board and they said Nothing about the bars helping with this. I must say that if someone would believe that eating a supplement bar would prevent saggy skin, how gullible do you have to be. I mean come on. Shame on the COD's at some of the centers for telling people that .. but shame on people for believing it to.

I am on the LAWL plan and I love it. I have lost 25 pounds in about 12 weeks. I eat real food and if I mess up at a particular meal, I know how to adjust for it. The people at my center have always been supportive and helpful. They do try to sell you their products but if you say no, they don't really bug you about it.

I joined LAWL about 5 weeks ago and am down 15lbs. I love the program and I love going in 2-3 times a week and having the accountability and total support. They are always encouraging and have great ideas. I was told about the bars right up front and I happen to LOVE them. They really help me with my sweet cravings. :-)

I'm a customer too and lost 30 pounds. I love the program because it taught me how to eat heathy on my own. It can be a hard program at times but losing weight is hard. Other programs give you the food pre-made so you really are not learning how to prepare healthy food. My center never said anything about protein bars and saggy skin. Too bad some bad centers have lied to people and caused a negative appearence to a great program.

The refunds from L A Weight Loss are only available to Washington state residents. That should be included in the article listed above.

I have been a LAWL mamber for about 6 weeks now and have lost 17 pounds! At my local center the staff are very caring and encouraging. I do buy the LA lites, and I think they are worth every cent! They keep my cravings down and provide me with something sweet. The program can be pricey, but when I think on how much I spent gaining the weight, the cost of losing it isn't bad at all. And have you checked out places like Jenny Craig? You not only pay for the program and have to eat there food, but still buy groceries for the rest of the family! How expensive is that? This way, I cook one meal and choose the sides that are compatible with my LA plan, and enjoy a meal with my family. I simply love LA weight loss!

I join LAWL and spent over $1500 on their plans and so called protein bars and WHAT A RIPOFF!

The first few weeks I lost the lost nothing for 6 months. When I wanted to stop with the protein bars they told be I had to buy a different plan. I quit I figured $1500.00 was more than enough for there so called weight loss plan!!!!!

My husband and I have been enrolled in LA for about 8 months now. The first 5 months were great! Lots of support and true concern for our weightloss. Then it happend. We were told that we were almost out of bars and would have to purchase more to get us thru wieghtloss. (Note you have to do the bars unless medically unable in order to get the refund they promise for reaching goal). anyway, after further investigation I discovered that there were bars missing from my account that should not have been. Their records showed me picking up bars that we do not even like. Turns out the manager was trying to pad her pockets with product and the Area Manager was in on it with her. We switched centers but since they were in the same Area we didn't get rid of the problem. I spoke to the District manager, and she corrected our account. We have since taken home ALL of the bars we had remianing and have put our accounts on hold. We are still sticking with the program, just on our own without the weight ins. For the record, I have lost 52lbs and my husband has lost 54 lbs.

I joined LAWL because i wanted to lose twenty pounds before my wedding. I should have saved the $1500 and put it towards the honeymoon! The whole program is based on false advertising and hidden costs. Everything there was insanely overpriced...how humiliating to have been scammed into spend $30 on their 'cleansing juice' and the $120 pill packaged. Being in a stressed out spot, I foolishly bought whatever they told me to.
The so-called 'weight loss specialists' who offered 'support' three times had absolutely no certified nutritional training and many looked like they were 18 years old.
And the money back thing is just another scam to keep you buying bars and juice for a whole year. You go broke before you even have a chance to get any money back. I strongly advise people against this program. A weight loss program that actually cares about their clients would not try to take advantage of the people they are supposed to help. There are many other wieght loss programs out there which won't cost you thousands of dollars (like weight watchers, a program which is viertually the same nutritionally as LAWL with the exception of $40 of 'special bars' a week that contain way more carbs than protien), so try those instead. Or save the money for a gym membership!

I think LA weight loss is a big scam. You lose all that weight really fast and apt to put it back on plus. To lose weight you should lose between 1 & 2 lbs a week. Also watching what you eat and exercise 30 minutes a day. I joined Curves 1 month ago I lost 10 lbs. I am happy I am losing it slow because I am doing it healthier. I paid $313 for a year. How much do you pay for all this? No diet pills for me.

I agree, it's a total scam. First of all, their commercials are pathetic- yet so many people fall for it- Also, who has time to go to these meetings THREE times a week- and those bars--that's how they make their money- total bait and switch.
I feel sorry for anyone who has fallen for their lies!

I was very unhappy with my service. I forked out quite a bit to get started in hopes I would lose weight for my wedding day. Instead, I ended up spending so much money on the program because they kept pushing me to buy their products. I didn't feel like they even cared about helping me lose weight - they just focused on trying to sell me different products. I ended up quiting the program. They only gave me $75 dollars back from the $800 I paid them. Needless to say, my husband was very upset with me. They definitely use high pressure techniques when selling their products. I will never again do anything like that...

I'm sorry, but come on! I paid $750.00 for the program which comes out to be about $8.15 per week for 92 weeks!! It is just about the same monthly as Jenny Craig, for more time, without having to pay the for the nasty pre packaged food they give you! The bars are not nearly as expensive and are optional! They taste great and cost less than buying slim fast or similar bars every month! I work out as well and mantain a healthy weight loss according to my doctor. You eat more than enough to stay full and get all of the recommended daily nutrition. If you didn't lose weight, it's probably because you stayed at home eating junk on the sly and skipped working out and blame the program for your own laziness and gluttony. It took YEARS to accumulate the fat and it'll take time to get it all of. Giving up in the first 6 months is a cop-out.

i joined LAWL in 2004 and have nothing good to say about it. not only do they force you to buy the very pricey and disgusting bars, but they're pushy with pills and supplements and other things that aren't necessary. they don't tell you that their deal for getting some of your money back when you reach your goal weight only counts if you buy the bars the entire time.

i had my physician write a note to excuse me from being obligated to get the bars due to an allergy to one of the ingredients, and LAWL wouldn't accept that as a "good enough" reason. the staff was incredibly uneducated and not helpful. i worked the program and stayed very committed, and lost hardly anything, and no one there could tell me why. i was so unhappy with what i felt where very false claims in LAWL advertising...but after your first week you can't get any money back...that's 1500 dollars i completely wasted.

coincidentally, i joined weight watchers about 4 months ago and couldn't be happier. i wish i would've known better two years ago and gone straight to WW. i'd be at my goal weight and have a LOT more money in the bank!

Danielle, I hope the manager and area manager you are talking about aren't in my state. I just joined in upstate new york on Friday and now I'm wondering if I should cancel. Any info would be appreciated.

I joined a few days ago. I can't eat the bars for health reasons. The counselors have been very understanding and careful not to recommend anything I can't eat. We'll see as the weeks go on if they try to push the suppliments, etc.
I feel very hopeful that this will be a successful program for me because I like the one-on-one, I need the almost daily encouragement, and without the bars, it's a very healthy, although low-calorie, diet. No one could live like this forever. Not enough calcium (Oh! They sell a suppliment for that!)

After one and a half days I have lost over three pounds. Yes, it is water weight, but it sure feels good to see the scale go down. I bought the cookbook but no suppliments, etc. were even mentioned. Cookbook was about $40.00.

There is no question in mind that LAWL works, IF you stick to the program and have lots of money to spend. I joined in March of 2006 and was very specific about needing a flexible program. The counseller (i.e. salesperson) told me I would receive a "personalized" meal plan to fit my lifestyle. After being shmoozed into paying upfront, I came back the next day and was handed the same preprinted material that everyone receives. Then the pressure started ... supplements, bars, meal replacements. When all was said and done, I paid out twice as much as I was told at first. Did I lose weight - yes. Am I still going - no. The people were nice enough and fairly supportive, but the rigidity of the program just doesn't work for me and my lifestyle.

I have been on the program since September. It has been overall a success so far. Down 32lbs as of December. They monitor my eating, my blood pressure, my weight, my inches lost, and even took blood initially. As far as how they run the program, I have not been impressed. I am losing weight mostly on my own willpower. I use the program merely as a tracking function. Before the first appointment I was never told I would have to pay all costs upfront. Only 7 bucks a week the site said. I was so determined to get started on something that I went ahead and let them finance the hefty start up fee. In all the initial paperwork... the bars and such were optional. Couple appointments later, I was talked into buying enough bars to get me through the weightloss portion of the program. Apparently you need to use the bars for optimum success. I eat them as a fill in when I am hungry. They aren't great but not bad. Then they have been pushing the supplements and pills. My bloodwork came back abnormal and I am under the care of a Dr. now to try and discover why the levels are abnormal. I pointed out to them maybe not a good idea to add a bunch of diet supplements since I am not sure why my blood work came back abnormal. They still try to push them from time to time. Recently I came to a stand still for about a week.... and they again convinced me to buy the fast foward juice to remedy this. Yet more money. So something that was supposed to be 7 bucks a weeks a cost me well over 2 grand in no time flat. I don't like the pressure to buy. I do like being able to have the one on one counseling and the constant accountablity. So if I can prevent myself from getting suckered into buying yet more stuff... I will be good to go. Hoping to continue to lose weight. Results have been amazing so far. I would only recommend this program to someone who has tried group programs and hates the mass counseling method. Also keep in mind it is a commitment. You pay up front. Money is gone once you sign up. So be willing to stay the course unless you want to be out of a chunk of money.

Just say no.... No to overeating, going off your diet, and NO TO EXTRAS. I paid $5 a week, and it is cheaper than WW IF YOU KEEP YOUR CREDIT CARD IN YOUR WALLET at your weigh ins.

I have many regrets in joining LAWL, first I spent about $900 at the beginning..had to buy their bars in bulk and of course if you buy several at one time you supposedly save more money...I still have bars that I paid for in advance and they are at the center, I bet they will NOT refund me my money for the ones I don't plan on using....WHAT A SCAM!!! I felt I was misled at the beginning..TOO bad refunds are only available to Washington State residents!!!

I must say that I am sorry to regret you all that I was an employee with that company. I will tell you that I still feel that it is a good program. Maybe not all employees are like I was but, most of the time I would find ways to "beat" their system and put my clients on a program where they did not use the bars. They did well. I adored my clients and wanted to help them. As a former employee I am amazed at what is being said right now. I want to assure you all that as an eployee. It was never my intention to bamboozle my clients. All I wanted to do was help.

Diane said:
I have many regrets in joining LAWL, first I spent about $900 at the beginning..had to buy their bars in bulk and of course if you buy several at one time you supposedly save more money...I still have bars that I paid for in advance and they are at the center, I bet they will NOT refund me my money for the ones I don't plan on using....WHAT A SCAM![...]

I went into my retirement money to join the LAWL program because after watching the false advertisment and hidden cost on tv, I was told I had to pay over 500.00 to get in the program once I appeared in person to check it out, ofcourse this was money I did not have but was so desperate at the time. I read above where one of the LAWL consultant had a program where it did not involve the bars. I was told I had to buy the bars because it was 35% of the weight loss program. I did lose weight while I was on the program but later had to have surgery due to an injury to my shoulder, which caused me not to be on the program because really could not afford it anymore, so I have gained all the weight back plus. I feel they need an affordable program where the clients don't have to go into their retirement money to become a member. I WOULD LIKE TO TRY AGAIN...BUT CANNOT AFFORD TO!

Well, I contacted my LAWL center today inquiring about how many bars I have left and if I could get a refund for the remainder unused bars. (of course tried to get me to stay on the program, but I refused. The employee told me she would have to pull my file and get back with me. 4 hours have passed since our conversation and I haven't received a call back.

I has a friend who worked at LA Weight Loss and she shared one of the plans with me because she knew I was severely overweight and needed to lose it for my health. I lost over 70 pounds in one year. I got really sick and stopped doing it, and since then I have gained all the weight back and then some (my own fault - I am not saying that you will gain the weight back afterwards. The plans teach you how to eat and you can use that inforamtion to make lasting lifestyle changes but I just didn't). It was kind restricting in certain areas (no sugar, extremely limited starches, etc...), but overall it was a very good variety of food and I did really enjoy the LA Lite Bars. They are the best tasting bar I've ever eaten and curbed my sweet tooth. I plan on starting again this year and maintaining the things I learned for life. I also found some of the bars on ebay so there are ways you can do the program without spending a fortune.

I joined LAWL a little over a year ago. I have been doing great, almost 90lbs down in little over a year, however the last 2 months have been terrible, i cant get back into it and i have atleast another 70lbs to go. When i joined, i was told that i had to get the bars and that the supplements were optional. the bars i dont mind so much, but i went off of the supplements and there was no difference. Nor do i find that the bars curb my cravings any. The diet is great though, if you can manage to be in control of yourself. However, i did go in and spent over 2000$ the first day there. NOT CHEAP!

I've read all of the comments on LAWL and I understand the frustration with the sales pitch. I've been on the plan just under 4 weeks and have lost about 12 pounds, more than I actually think is healthy, but I'm not complaining!
I was completely ticked off when they tried to strong-arm me into buying the LA Lite bars just after I'd paid for the program. They knew I was going to be trouble, however, because I refused the money-back offer and only paid for the minimal amount of "maintenance."
I refused the bulk LA Lite offer and only bought 10 boxes with the holiday "coupon." It was still expensive and I don't plan on purchasing additional. I've also refused to buy any supplements because believe me, if there was a magic pill invented to get rid of fat, I would definitely know about it already!
The program is a bit restrictive, but I believe that it works if you stick to it (and begin a moderate exercise program). I've fallen off the diet wagon several times since I started and have still experienced success.
I've tried every diet and program out there and have spent the last ten years carrying around 70-80 pounds of extra weight, so it's worth it to me to pay about $9 a pound to get rid of it and to re-learn correct portion sizes and how to control my cravings.
In general, I would say that this plan definitely has it's pitfalls with the pushy sales pitch, but if you're strong enough to say no, read the fine print on your contract, follow the plan, make time for some exercise and make a commitment to get to the center at least once a week, success is possible. This is my life and I want to be healty and happy again.
I wish all of you the best of luck with your weightloss efforts. It's not easy!

I agree with all of the above posts which comment on the friendly and upbeat attitude at the centres. I believe that there are employees of this company who really are committed to providing good customer service and helping LA weight loss customers to slim down....BUT....there is an element of deceit in this company and it needs to address it to maintain some credability. I was charmed by the manager of the canadian office I went to and happily signed on the dotted line for the credit card which I could use to pay for their products.I blame myself for not asking more questions. They loaded up the amount owing on the credit card to about twelve hundred dollars most to pay for their weight loss bars. I thought that I would owe for what I purchased at each visit. The interest on this card is unbelievable. I would think that this is a program which has been great for some people but I feel duped and cannot get past that I am afraid. Proceed with extreme caution.

Come on people dont you listen when you come in for your first visit? Dont you listen when you call them. They ALWAYS tell you it's not a pay as you go program, which means you pay up front. I think you guys aren't choosing to listen. They did tell me the bars are $29 a week and I could save hundreds of $s buy paying for them in advance. So that told me they would be about $1000. All you do is have to to the math and think about it. I have been on the program for 20 weeks and lost 50lbs. The program works and the la lites are a life saver!! Without using the bars and supplements there is no way I could have lost so much in only 20 weeks. The girls there are great, they help me through all my hard times. Without them I could have never done this on my own. I tried weight watchers and lost nothing, i hate group meetings they make you feel like a little kid. And NO way was I eating a prepackaged food for the rest of my life. You are just bitter you couldnt stay on the program. $1500 in a small price to pay when you feel great and look amazing. Worth every penny if not more!!!

I agree with the last laura. I LOVE the program, so what I paid in advance and I saved money!!! I have spent $600 with Jenny Craig and lost 6 lbs. I went to weight watchers on and off for 2 years lost nothing and paid about $500 over time. La Weight Loss is great! I lost 30lbs in only 15 weeks exactly what they told me I would lose. They call me when I miss a visit to see how I am doing. They preplan my meals, they help me make a grocery list. The girls make me feel good about my self and really care about my success. They told me when I got there and when I called that I did have to pay upfront. I am using the la lites and they are amazing!!! I have never tasted any bar as good as theirs. I feel more energized and full and they help me with all my cravings! Thank you La Weightloss!!!!

I dont know what all these unhappy people are talking about. Since when is a weight loss program cheap??? Unless you get counseling in a bulk session. Do you like to be talked to like your in an AA meeting??? These one on one counselings saved my life. The girls are wonderful at La weightloss. This is the best program I have ever tried. I purchased my program and the bars on the payment plan and I paid it off in 3 months with no intrest!! Thats not too bad, you only pay intrest when it takes you longer to pay. So pay it in 3 months!! I dont regret it for a second joining the program. It was so easy and I could eat what I want. You guys dont know what you are missing!

Thank you so much!! I've just started my 3rd month at LAWL and I've lost 20 pounds! When I think of all the weight that I need to take off, $7 bucks a week is nothing. The bars are excellent and the same expense as buying slim fast bars in the store. I love the program and it really ticks me off to see all of these negative things written about them.

melody, seeing negative comments written about LAWL should not tick you off. it seems that you are a narrow-minded person. so because you've had a totally fabulous time at LAWL and it's worked for you, this has to be the same for everybody else? and if it's not then you get pissed? NO. accept that you're not at the same centre as the people who've had bad experiences and you have not dealt with the same employees. everyone doesn't have the same experience just because you are all using the same company to lose weight.

I joined in late November. After about 6 weeks, I've lost 12 pounds. I do like the program, however, it seems like I'm not getting enough of the right food groups in. I'm never really hungry, but it's stressful planning sometimes. I spent a lot of money upfront, and am still bombarded with "buy this, buy that." The girls at my center seem uneducated (and that bothers me). I want to ask what sort of education they have, but am too embarrassed. Overall, so far, so good. I wish I didn't have to lose weight though :(

mia said:
melody, seeing negative comments written about LAWL should not tick you off. it seems that you are a narrow-minded person. so because you've had a totally fabulous time at LAWL and it's worked for you, this has to be the same for everybody else? and if it's not then you get pissed? NO. accept that you're not at the same centre as the people who've [...]