New here...I need help understanding...
 

Hello,
I gotta say this is a terrific forum...
I have been on WW for three months (I have lost 20 pounds) and I feel like I am really just treading water and I am looking for something DIFFERENT.
I am looking for something more effective for me.
I had a friend who started this and absolutely LOVED it.
I am trying to lost about 40 pounds (OK I will be honest and say I would LOVE to lose 50, but I really don't feel I can DO it) before my wedding in March. That seems like a really agressive goal...but I THINK I can do the 40 pounds. I was hoping to get more information on what the program looks like. I have been lurking for the last couple of days trying to glean any and all info available...is there an easier way to figure it out? Like..does anyone have some kind of quick synopsis that they could share, so I know that I am looking at?
Thanks for any and all help you can provide!
--Dee

Check out this link - it will give you a great overview of this diet. It is not exact, but will give you some insight. 50 lbs is possible on this diet over the next 28 weeks; but you have to be real about life happening also, so 40 pounds might be more realistic.

http://www.everydiet.org/la_weight_loss.htm

To be successful you must follow the program very closely. When you do - you will be amazed at the results. I find my journaling is a MUST.

WW never worked for me b/c it didn't teach me the right way to eat - I could still binge on the bad stuff. This program doesn't allow it. I eat better than I ever have!

The success stories on this board are amazing and very motivating! Good luck with your decision and planning your wedding.

I would personally visit the website
http://www.ripoffreport.com before going into one of the centers and signing up, and go to the section in that website under weight control.

Flip through the actual reports there in weight control, and you will see that LA Weight Loss centers have a ton of complaints, and interestingly enough, some of the reports are from former counselors who explain how the company works, and how they are trained in their high pressure sales tactics. It is a good way to be fully aware of how the salespeople are trained before you decide to go into the center, and if you are already a member of LAWL, it is a good way to learn how the counselors "tick" so that you can better combat their sales tactics.

With all of those bad reports out there....weren't you all nervous about trying the program? I wish I would have researched it a bit more before paying. However, there are many people on here with VERY positive results. It seems like if you stick to the eating program, whether or not you choose to do lites, you can be successful. I hope!

I too read all the reports (good and bad...mostly bad). I bought the lites but it was because a friend of mine has had great success with the program and said they were good for her sweet tooth and that's one of my biggest problems. I don't buy the supplements or any other snacks. Teh bars worked out to about $1.40 or so each when i bought them in bulk and I figured I would spend about that on other bars or other junk food I had been buying, so it was well worth the cost. My weight loss weeks cost about $500 and for me it was worth every penny.

As nursegal said, the program works if you follow it, as most will....I think the bigger question is are you going to follow it for life. This is a life style change and this (for me) is a way of eating that I can live with for the rest of my life. I love the fact that I rarely eat anything out of a box or can anymore, I buy all fresh fruits, veggies and meats and I feel so much better for it. I agree with Michelle, that WW never helped me eat 'right', but now I think I have it.

The other thing I'll mention is that I've lost 65lbs and am about 10lbs from goal. I eat out everyday at lunch, but usually at a sit down place and I order fish or chicken with steamed veggies or a salad, but I like that I can still eat out too.

Okay, that's my two cents and I'm climbing down from my soapbox.

Take care,
Jen

Jen: I have to agree with you. I'm very happy that I'm on LA's plan. It certainly does train you to eat well, and the right foods. I was about 5-6 lbs from goal, but blew it the past month with vacations and negelecting my goal. I'm now 13 lbs from my goal. I'm not giving up. If I stick to the plan, I know I will be at goal shortly.

I followed Aphil's link and I have to say, it's not the first time I've read some of those comments. I was lucky to join the plan when the weekly price was $2/week - so my investment was much cheaper than others - and I only had 32 lbs to lose. I do buy the LA Lites - I look forward to the treat. I buy my DH bars that are $1.99/each - so what's the difference other than I pay for them upfront. Cheaper if you buy in bulk. I could never be in sales of any kind. I'm not a big BSer so I'd do badly if I choose that career. LOL!

Dee in AZ: It's very possible to lose what you want by March 2006, probably before then. We will give you all the encouragement you need weather you join LA or not. Like AuditGirl said, it's worth it - but you have to be willing to say NO if you don't want to buy the LA Lites (because they can't refuse you - they will give you a plan that includes more 'real' food). If you are wimpy, just tell them that you have a gall bladder problem - you can't do the LA Lites with that condition. I don't take any supplements, and don't do the Take Off many more (or at least not with their products). If you keep telling them NO and be firm. If your wimpy and afraid to stick to your guns, they will walk all over you and try to talk you into anything. Hey, like that country song "I've got ocean front property in Arizona" - if you buy that "I'll through in the Golden Gate Bridge for free". LOL :lol:

Good Luck with your decison, Sy

I must not have found the right place. I found 173 reports under Weight Control, of which 11 were about LA Weightloss, and only one of those was from a former counselor. For the most part they were from disgruntled users who felt they were lied to or had hard pressure sales pitches. I haven't had either of those problems at my center. Also, most of the complaints were from the northeast (New York, New Jersey). It is good information to have before you go in, but once you've signed on the dotted line the reports do you absolutely no good whatsoever.

On a different note, I went with my cousin today to check into upgrading her 12 week program into a full program. After looking at all the options, she decided to stay with what she had. The counselor simply said, "OK, but if you do decide to upgrade, come see me, all right?" No hard sales, nothing. She is the assistant manager.

I don't know much about LA Weightloss, but I have seen some people have success with it. I just wanted to say that I too was having the problem on WW with eating too much of the "bad" stuff because it was cheaper points-wise in the short term, and I needed a stronger set of guidelines. I switched to their Core program, which is basically more of a focus on whole foods and healthier carbs. I use some of my flex for the bad stuff and follow the 8 healthy guidelines to create a template for meal plans, and it's worked beautifully. No more junk for me beyond the very occasional treat.

Just wanted to throw that option out there. ;)

THANKS, you guys!
 

Well, gosh,
I really really appreciate the support...
You guys are absolutely incredible...reaching out to me, a total stranger!!!
I am going to start the TO program tomorrow AM...(I gotta be able to find some Knudsen's around Phoenix, somewhere).
I have elected to not go to LAWL to go through their "formal" program. I will try this thing on my own (with your help) for a while. If I have troubles and really need one-on-one help...I will consider going in.
I have a WEDDING to save for, LOL.
I have TONS of will power, usually...WW is too free-form for me. :o
I KNOW I can do this...and I WILL.....
I will be checking in here frequently....'cause you "chicks" are the BEST!!!!!
Hope you don't mind becoming my new "support group"??
Thanks for your support, a new, and newly loyal "chick",
--Dee

BTW....THANKS for the file to help me to get started, marbear!!!! That was REALLY generous of you!!! :D

Hey Dee -- jump on in on our monthly thread - love to have you! The program is very liveable once you get in the habit.

Where in AZ are you? Drove thru bits of it last summer. Have an aunt in the Phoenix area.

Julie

Will do!

Good luck to you in losing weight for your wedding! I am just recently married and was not as thin as I wanted to be for the wedding so I can tell you first hand it is worth it to stick to your guns and look healthy. However, no matter how you look it is such a wonderful day! I know planning it all is stressful, but just hang in there! Good luck to you and congrats! :balloons:

Thanks, Mary!
I gotta say...I felt like a health nut when I checked out last night!
Thanks, nursegal81, I am not losing the weight JUST for the wedding...I am losing it for me...and if I wait and lose it after the wedding...I will be pretty ticked off at myself every time I see the pictures...
If I just do as well as I can on this diet...I will be happy with whatever weight I lose...because I will know that I did all that I COULD do to make my wedding day a happy and healthy one!
Plus, we are going to Hawaii...and we are going to be really active there, so I am needing to get into better physical shape (think heavy current kayaking...and scuba diving) for the trip.
--Dee

Won't look at the scales
 

Hi! I'm new to LA weightloss...into my second week. I refuse to look at the scales when they weigh my THREE times a week because I am afraid the number will cause an emotional reaction that will actually sabotage my success. Does anyone get that? Well, even by not looking, I can tell if I have gone up or down based on how the counselor conducts the one-on-one. "Are you getting back on track today?!" So....anybody have any ideas of how I can stop caring about the number and just focus on following the program? Thanks!

Since the counselors do go by the number on the scale, that's how they are gonna react. However if you follow the plan you should go down in weight 98% of the time.

Jenn,
Sorry, I was just re-reading this and realized that I did not respond to your AZ question...
:)
I am currently living in Mesa...but I started out in downtown Phoenix.
I used to live in West Virginia...and then one day...I just moved...
long story, I suppose...(and the beginning of my weight gain, in truth)...
Summation, I came out to AZ to join a guy...we broke up pretty much as soon as I got here...and I was stubborn and stayed....and now I LOVE it...doing my astrological charts it became apparent that one of the most ideal places for me to live would be the Sahara...so the desert life just appeals to me!

Just as an update on my progress...
I have lost 10 pounds to date....since August 6...so, roughly 10 pounds in 3 weeks!
my future sister in law is begging me for the diet...
--Dee

Hi, just curious why could you not give her the diet plan...ha i am so glad its helping you and all. happy for you. keep up the losing. LaDean

No problem
 

I must say that I am pretty satisfied with my center. I've only been going for a few weeks, but have not had any problems. I told them I did not want to do a year of maint., so I signed up for 11 weeks. I probably could have skipped that, too, but I thought, why not? I told them I wasn't going to buy the bars in bulk. They said ok. Told them I wasn't going to do supplements, and it was no problem. Never any pressure at all. Now yes, they did mention about the guarantee, but I wasn't concerned about that part of it. So basically, I paid $349 for a year's program (loss, stabilization, and maint.), which I don't think is outrageous. I think it's just important to be educated before you go in the center, and remember that you have the right to say no. You're the customer. YOU have the right to say no. It sounds like there are some really awful centers and counselors out there, so check out your center. Talk to some of the clients leaving the center to see what they think.

Gal in AZ...you are Awesome!!! What center did you go to? Curious, because I am going to refer my future SIL to one...I think she would do better with someone to support (that she is paying for...AKA accountable to).

Regarding sharing the diet, LaDean...LOL...not sure why I am not wanting to share! If someone had not been willing to share with me I would be still trying to make WW work for me...I think the answer is...with all of the crack down on e-bay, I became paranoid...I gave her the information on Sunday, shortly after I posted. I was hoping to keep it a secret until I lost enough weight for it to REALLY be noticable.

My fiance was so proud of me he was bragging to his mother who told his sister that it was easy...because I had lost 10 pounds in 3 weeks. :)

Dee in AZ - I live in Prescott, so I go to the center up here at the Prescott Gateway Mall. Your SIL is probably in the Valley, but I hope she finds a good center down there, too.

My center
 

I read the rip off website before i found this one ( that is whay I was so glad to find a positve website). I have only been on the program for a little under two weeks, but so far my experience has been fine. Today they tried to get me to buy Excel, but then i realized that the 120 pills was only a month supply and i would like to see where i can get on my own before beliviong I have to depend on the supplments, but it wasn't a problem with me turning it down.

Has anyone tried the supplements? I'm scared that once I take them I will want them forever and be spending way to much money...are you weaned off of the supplements in stabilization?


Well I'm from Indiana, but i live on the border so I go to the center in Lansing, Illinois (right outside of Chicago)

Has anyone heard of any problems from people who actually used the lites not being able to get the rebate back?

Honestly, I wouldn't recommend that anyone take any of the LAWL supplements and vitamins. There is a cheaper alternative to their Take Off Juice, Luna bars in place of the Lites if you wish to save money, and so many ways to make the plan cheaper.

Vitamins are much cheaper in a regular store, and their supplements such as carb blockers, and all the other stuff you do not need to lose weight. Any effect they may have is really minimimal at BEST-if a pill could make you lose weight, then we would all be thin. It is simple calories in vs. calories out. Eat less, move more.

I agree with Aphil, I wouldn't (and haven't bought any of the supplements). I basically told them if I can't lose weight eating real food than I was meant to be fat and they've left me alone. I do have to say I buy their calcium supplement because there isn't enough calcium in this plan and I like theirs the best of all the ones I've tried. I try to get them when they are 30% off and there they are in line with everyone else's prices. I also think think the EFAs are worthwhile, but as Aphil said, you can find these anywhere and at much better prices.

Good luck,
Jen

I also agree with what Aphil posted - I haven't used any of the LAWL supplements -- I buy a good multi, add EFA's (becuz the diet is really low in fat, and there's lots of research about those being good for you) -- and I try to remember to take an extra calcium -- not so good about that. I do drink the Crystal light that has calcium added to it. The complete supplement package was quoted to me at over 100$/month, which is way too much for this chick!

Mary - EFA's are for health (skin, hair, and brain power, plus probably more) , but since the diet is so low in fat, I think they also help in keeping things moving thru the digestive tract. .

In fact, one of the counselors said they recommended regular doses of EFA to help that, if people are having trouble.