If you're looking for an easy way to lose money...
Written: Jul 26 '05 (Updated Jul 27 '05)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: NONE!
Cons: They don't care about your weight loss as long as they have your money!
The Bottom Line: Do not even think about it! There are better ways to throw your money away...
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| neysamiller's Full Review: L. A. Weight Loss |
I admit... I was desperate!
My metabolism is not what it used to be and I've been having a hard time losing weight in the last few years, so I decided to find out what that LA Weight Loss is all about.
You'll walk in and talk to one of their counselors and they'll PROMISE you're going to lose AT LEAST 2 pounds a week, then they'll tell you how cheap the program is and you will be impressed! On my first visit I told them about my frustration with weight loss programs in general, about how the excess weight is affecting my marriage, my health, my self esteem. They tell me my problems are over, and they even get you approved with Care Credit at an indecent interest rate, but you don't care! You want to lose weight and be yourself again!
Their weekly fee is lower than Weight Watchers', and you'll think, "what do I have to lose? Only a few bucks if the program doesn't work, and they guarantee it will work!"
So you sign up and go home with a wonderful feeling of hope and an appointment in the next day to learn more about the plan... THAT'S when it starts!
On your next visit they tell you about the LA Lites, "those wonderful nutritional bars that complement the program and are especially designed to enhance your weight loss". You need to have two a day, and they cost $28 a week, but who cares? You can manage 28 bucks a week... And then there's the "enhancement package" (two exercise tapes and whatnot) for $99. Then on the next visit they'll give you a "one time only" 33% discount to buy the LA Lites in bulk, and you end up spending close to 2,000 dollars before you even start the program! But you are excited and you know it IS going to work, so you go ahead.
They work you little by little so not to scare you off, but as soon as you sign the contract they got you.
Now here's the catch: the program will work for some people, and will not work for some, but they don't care either way, because they already have your money.
You need to go and weigh in three times a week. You show them your journal and they'll check if you're drinking lots of water and measuring your portions, but basically the counselors don't have a clue what they're doing. If you are losing weight, everything is fine, if not, they'll look for something different in your journal and blame that for your failure. Once I was told I didn't lose weight because I had beef the previous day. Another time it was my high fiber morning cereal. "Your body can't process that, it's like you're having pasta every day. You should try something lighter like white bread." What? Wait a minute, the program says I'm supposed to have two carbs a day!
When they can't find anything wrong they'll suggest you use their supplements. Carb blockers, fat blockers, vitamins, essencial fatty acids... They're good at selling their stuff. "This one will halp with your cravings... This one will help your body metabolyze your carbs... That one will give you energy... This other one will really help you reach your goals quicker and blah blah blah..." You decide to give them a try. You never believed those things worked in the first place but what the heck, they should know what they're talking about. Before you know it you're spending other hundred bucks on stuff that you can buy in health stores for twenty, and it's only for a month's supply!
Then they have specials when you can buy three months worth of vitamins for only $300, or they'll have challenges to see who has the most weight loss in any given period of time, and of course you'll need the TakeOFF, or the Jet Start, the shakes, the soups, the snacks, the meal replacements... "Don't worry, we'll give you a discount!"
Then finally, after a few weeks or a few months, you've had it and decide to quit. They'll tell you the LA Lites are non refundable, though NOWHERE in your contract is any mention of that... and you'll have to take home a hundred boxes of candy bars!
I just quit two days ago, so I'm just getting ready for the fight, but I heard you have to wait a looooong time even for the refund they agree to.
I've been doing some homework, and here's some more information about other complaints:
http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/ripoff71940.htm
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/nutrition/la_weight_refunds.html
http://www.oag.state.ny.us/press/2002/jan/jan23b_02.html
I'll update this report as things evolve, but what I have to tell you is
BE AFRAID! BE VERY AFRAID!
Recommended:
No
Approximate Monthly Cost (US$) 250
Food Variety Restrictions A short list of allowed foods
Restrictiveness of Portions Satisfying
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Epinions.com ID:
neysamiller
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Reviews written: 1
Trusted by: 0 members
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