Izzy,
All I got on the first day was a piece of paper with a 3-day diet, too. The "free" box of bars was given to me when I went back on day 3 to get my plan for the next 3 days. The first day I was there, it was around noontime, and one of the counselors happened to mention that she was starving, and I said "So am I", so she went and got me a chocolate-chocolate bar - very good, but that was my only "perk"!! I think you'll get your free box of something when you go in on day #3. When I go back next, she said I'll get some "gifts" of free snacky food if I buy the bars or whatever else in bulk. I don't plan to do that because I can't afford the "bulk". If I understood her correctly, buying the bars in bulk would make each box be $10 instead of $14 - that's no bargain to me because I'd have to buy 30 some odd weeks worth at two boxes a week -- NO CAN DO!!! As far as the supplements and all that, they can keep them. I really, really, really want to lose my weight, but with a husband and two teens and the cost of everyday living, I cannot pay any more than I've already spent on this program. I'll get to my goal weight eating natural foods, not natural supplements!
Anyway, I'm really hoping it gets better, and maybe some of the "pros" reading our posts can enlighten us a little more.

Hi Izzy and welcome from Knoxville!

I understand about your scepticism and their being evasive. I had a bad experience with a place called Diet Center years ago, so I insisted on knowing everything before I would pay. I'm glad I did, and have been happy on the diet. One recommendation that has worked for me is to exercise several times a week and go on the red plan. It's about 1400 calories a day. I was originally on the purple plan (which is about 900 calories per day) without exercise, and I didn't lose as much weight because I couldn't stick with it and my metabolism slowed. Just my input. Good luck and talk to you again soon!

thankyou thankyou
 

Arvi, first of all thank you for enlightening me. I did mention the free box this morning and I think now they know I know something about whats going on. I bought a few supplments but not going to get anymore This is what happened to upset me. First of all again I dont hear very well and this counselor was writing me notes which was fine one I read her lips more than on occassion then I can do it ok but not at first and I felt she took advantage of that little no. course she hasnt met the real meeeeeeeeee and today she did but she overcharged em the contract had one amount and the cc charge was 125.00 higher and I had bought some supplements but not that much so she said it was tax. ha Well today they decided it was not taxable as to the program so they would credit my account. Now I had rather they credited my credit card but instead the only suggestion they had for oweing me money was to issue a credit which I "could" spend on lites well I didnt even know what Lite was but am smart enough to figure taht one out lol lol so ILet is standdddddd Now I have go buy 40.00 worth of something and personally had rather my credit card be credited but can i demand that and keep going Just decided it was bad hair day but will not write anymore checks or allow anymore charges I paid arm and Leg to do this because I am like you I think it wil pay of in the end. butttttttttttttttttttttttt I do so appreicate your sharing what is going on cause communicaton is hard for me and I can see nwo I gotta get savvy with these creatures the only thing I have going for me is this We live in a small affluent subs. And they wont put up with business practices who do things they shouldnt as to taxes and I dont think they will pull anything else. I hope not. but makes me feel uneasy. LIttle bit Thanks though arvi. Yes you can have fried she told me this morning on the 3 day diet I am on I can fry in butter but no breading so saute is ok that might helpsomeeeeeeeeeeee I Love minute steak but breadgin will have to go lol lol oh meeeeeeeee again at least I got oranges they sure helped. You are great to help me out now i know what those stupid little candy bars cost and I will give them heck lol lol I weigh in again and go on Fri. I did ok today I got hungry but did ok. sick of meat :lol: :lol:

fellow Tennesean
 

bonnie,
Thanks for replying along with arvi. this has been something I wonder if maybe this person I saw yesterday is doing little things like this you can read Arvi's note tells all so far. So I was upset. I have not seen anything she was kind of pushing the sale and then exited very quickly. My husband found the mistake sooooo anyway he will go in if something else happens. I dont like them taking advantage of my not hearing well. I can be mean ;) as most Tenneseans are I live in Germantown and usually most business have to go thorugh so much to get a license that they are really on the up and up so thats one reason I joined it. No one I know here is doing it just me. Everyone is skinny orrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr on WW or they can afford diet garu. anyway I do appreciate all your help I dont want to do a 900 calorie diet either not good for you. But I need constant change and I need the counselor as to support so I can pick out one maybe and go in and see her the same person and taht way be happier cause there were some nice people there too. I just got miss wanna bee lol lol anywayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy We have friends in KNoxville and have not been there in long time but pretty country up your way. Everything in Memphis is in upraor as to the Tyson fight. Its wild over here this weekend. However I think that I am the type person that needs the one on one and thats the reason I did this. Forked over the cash cause I need this and my friends who do use diet garus spend more so hopefully we al get to goal soon. she told me 3 pounds a week was the average hmmm kind of high I thought but she says it wil work. We shall see take care and thanks for all your help I will be here everyday Ihave to have some support :smug:

hi :)
 

Hi Izzy :) Nice to have you with us. I started LA two months ago, and I had some of the same concerns. I'd tried to diet and exercise on my own, but I had trouble sticking to it. I thought a counselor would be someone for me to be accountable to, so I made an appointment at LA.

I was skeptical of the TakeOff juice, as it sounded like a crash diet, but I did it anyways. I lost 7.4 lbs, which greatly helped my motivation. Yes, it was probably a lot of water weight, but it was nice to see rapid results like that. After that, I began the gold plan. I bought a kitchen scale to weigh my food in, and it's become quite second-nature.

When you get into your plan, you realize it is not about "dieting." It's about changing your eating habits for life. Americans eat so much junk! I realized that the amount of junk I was putting into my body was really over the top, and I'd stopped appreciating sweets for what they are: occasional treats. When I have sweets and high-carb food all day long, those kinds of foods become almost "boring" to me, and I have to eat more to feel rewarded. It's almost like a drug. Diets don't work unless you're willing to change the way you live your life. After all, once you get the weight off, if you go back to binging you'll just gain the weight back. When you reach your goal weight, the counselors will give you more and more food allowances until they determine how much you can eat and still maintain your weight. It really is about learning how much food your body needs. This seems very common-sense to me, and I've been happy with my results.

Yes, it sucks to pay for the LA Lites, but they really are nice treats. It's really hard for me NOT to have chocolate, so the LA Lites keep me from buying candy. I'm a student, so I'm currently below the poverty line :) I inquired at my center about NOT using the LA Lites, and they told me that if I had to NOT use them, they would just adjust my plan. They can do similar things if you are vegetarian or do not like fruits or veggies. They'll adjust things, you just have to INSIST. I also chose NOT to buy the supplements. I just don't trust so-called "fat-blockers." And I'm broke. LoL

Remember that the people who work at LA AREN'T doctors. Most of them aren't nurses or even health care professionals. I looked into working there because they offer a large discount on their products, and they were ready to hire me with a BA in astronomy and physics. They are, at the core, salespeople. They receive a comission. So, some of them can be pushy with supplements, LA Lites, etc... just stand your ground and tell them what you want!! I am still deciding if I want to take a job with them in the Fall. It sure would make things easier in the $$$ department. We'll see.

The value of the program is learning how to eat and having someone to cheer for you (the counselors). The ones at my center are very nice, remember my name, and make me feel great when I've lost weight. This is the first "diet" that has worked for me, and I'm smaller now that I've been in at least 5 years. If it's not for you, I wish you the best in finding that perfect plan for you. Everyone is different and has different needs!

Encouragement
 

xYTx
Your post has given me a little boost this morning - thank you! We all need a little encouragement and it's nice to hear that the program is working for you. This is my first week with LAWL, and I'm having a lot of the same feelings that Izzy is having. I did the first three days with the juice and I'm now on day #2 of my second three days using the purple plan. I'm definitely not getting enough food and I'm hopefully going to get another adjustment when I see the counselor tomorrow. Losing 4.2 pounds with the 3-day juice plan was great, but I'll never last with the limited choices I now have.
Thanks again for the words of encouragement, and keep posting!
Sue

thanks again
 

Xy thanks again for your kind and encouraging words. I feel better today. I am going to try to be positive and I felt "had" but I wanted so much to do this and I need the one on one and again like I say its very expensive to me too buttttttttt just wanted to finally make a commitment that I could keep. I will hold my ground like arvi and make it my diet. I lost another half poundddddddddd and i am thrilled. I read yall in First magazine this morning that an orange at the beginning of your day acts as a fat blocker so I will keep doing. that. I have lost 3 pounds since Mon. but dont have a weigh in until tomorrow today is only second day but had started a low carb diet on Mon. started this on Wed. Thanks again and Arvi and all of you wanted to say that i Hope I have a 4 pound loss by next Wed. I am so proud of you and I think its just super I think with any weight loss clinic they are taught to be pushy but again I have learned which button to push and will if i have to because this is for me and its my money. Now ladies I will shut up and go check my mall booths we have antiques and they scream at me today so I will busy myself and try not to eat so much lol lol hang in there talk later:dizzy:

cheering you
 

Arvi this note is to cheer you. When I was down you did the same and you have lost a lot of weight. I think you are on the right track I think that we can make this diet work for us and let it be the last one we ever do. It is our choice to choose and when we learn we can we will be happier for it. Soooooo now dont let my whining depress you Just ask your counselor for more calories and see if you can press like Xy says and fit the diet to your mode. You are losing and you dont want to stop now. so I will again shut up and be positive and we can do this we can come in here and help each other. this is a great bunch of gals and I am so thrilled I found you all. so take care and talk later today :)

I definitely agree with having the plan adjusted for you. Most of the old-timers on here know that my plan does not include fruit, which I enjoy about as much as an ice-pick lobotomy. So, instead I have more veggies and dairy.

I know my numbers don't look too impressive right now (I haven't weighed in a week, either), but I have lost 5 inches in my waist on this plan and with my weight-lifting program.

And, YT, I don't do the supplements either. They don't push you to do it if you say no the first few times. I just don't believe in them -- if there was a miracle cure, I wouldn't have to be on this diet in the first place. Plus, you don't know the long-term effects. But I *love* my bars. I only eat the chocolate crunch, and they might as well be nestle crunch, as far as I'm concerned.

Well, I started the take off drink today, so I'll let you know how it goes. Not my strategy for long-term success, either, but I think it will help me past a plateau. Good luck everybody!

Welcome and Congratulations
 

Wow!

Congratulations to all of you who have just started and are losing weight. I'm at the beginning of my third week on the program, and I've lost a total of only 6 pounds so far. It's a little slow, so my counselor and I decided to change a few minor things to speed it up. Also, that I started a step behind when the "TAKE OFF" caused me to gain 3 pounds in three days. I'm still trying to figure that one out, because it worked so well for everyone else. It seems that I have a slow metabolism. In the past, I have never been able to eat more than one meal a day. I don't have an appetite, but I simply could not get rid of my baby weight. Now, things seem to be working in my favor.

I do have a question. Am I the only person here on the GOLD plan? By the way, what is the difference? I wonder if another plan might help me to lose more. I will admit that I was getting a little discouraged. This just seems to be so slow and painful, but at least I am losing...FINALLY. The first two weeks were a see-saw for me. If I had been cheating, I could understand, but it's disappointed to follow the plan, and still not make progress.

So, I am encouraged by those of you who are succeeding at this thing. I'm so glad for the support system and encouragement. I WILL DO IT this time!

Thanks!

Joy

Beginning = 185
Current = 178
Goal = 145

Hi Joy :)
 

Hey Joy :)

I'm on the Gold Plan too. When I first got to LA, they put me on the Red Plus plan. It was a miscalculation on their part, and they were allowing me too much food. I think Red Plus is for folks with a medical issue that prevents them from losing weight as easily as some others, like thyroid problems or gout. I didn't know the Red Plan was for active people. As it is, I do a cardio workout 3-4 times a week (running or aerobics tape), and strength training 2-3 times a week (with rubber resistance bands). Since I started measuring my food (particularly my proteins), I've noticed that I wasn't eating enough of them. It's been nice to have more food, but I think my weight loss is nearing a plateau. uh oh :)

my tips
 

As always, I'm ready with my tips. :lol: Of course, this is just what works for me -- but I think the gist is clear; do what works for you. Joy, I think it's phenomenal that you've lost 6 pounds in 2 to 2 and a half weeks!

1. You are paying them, not the other way around. Make the plan work for you. For instance, I weigh no more than once per week, because I've seen that an increase can bring on "unwanted behavior" :lol: You can also weigh backwards if you feel like you need to go more often, and ask them to only tell you your weight on Friday, for instance.

2. Modify your plan to suit your tastes, like me getting rid of the fruit. The main plans go in this order, from most amount of calories to least: red, purple, gold. You CAN lose weight on more calories, especially if it's easier to stick with it. And IMHO your metabolism speeds up on more. Even the red plan, like I said, has 1400 calories or so. That's plenty low enough for me to lose 2 pounds per week.

3. Vary your diet, but also find quick ways to stay on it. I use fast food almost every day in my diet, but I also experiment at home to find things that I like that are on plan, like my pseudo Southern squash casserole.

4. If you can't eat it all, cut a starch first.

5. If you screw up at a meal or snack, don't blow the whole day. The other day I was dying for a fried chicken sandwich, and I had one. But I didn't beat myself up like I normally would have and go on to eat 872 krispy kreme doughnuts or something. And I had lost weight the next day.

6. Use fitday.com. It's a great place to see just what you're eating and track your progress. Especially if you're good about weighing and measuring, you can immediately see if you're doing something to sabotage the process.

Ack. Probably more than you care to know. I'm off to drink some slushy fruit mix. Ha ha. Can't wait to weigh this weekend -- am down to 155 at home, where I'm usually about 1 or 2 less than the center. So hopefully after takeoff I'll have a great weigh-in on Saturday.

Chowza.

Jen

aaaaah!
 

My home scale is usually 1-2 lbs lighter, TOO! On Fitday I've just started using the home scale measurement, since I am about to go away for a job out of state for 6 weeks. I won't be able to go to the center. I will stay on plan, though... so I guess I'll be carting 12 boxes of lites along with me.

I love the idea about weighing backward. I just recently "discovered" that you don't have to go into the center three times a week, so I've stopped too. It's just too discouraging to weigh so often. I can handle once a week.

Guys, fitday.com is great. It's a godsend. It charts your weightloss and all kinds of neat stuff, plus you can share your journal with others. It keeps me on-track to know other people might be looking.

bunny - I miss Krispy Kreme so much. When I lived in Mobile, it was SO HARD to stay OUT of that place when I drove by and the neon sign was all lit up. The closest ones to me now are 3 hrs. away in NYC. I await the day I can treat myself to an occasional KK without feeling guilty and down on myself for breaking my diet.

Another Question
 

WOW...I was gone a couple days and there are a million posts!! I wish I had time to read them all.

Hello to everyone new and good luck on your plans!! If you have any questions ask because we have some veterans here! :lol:

I got cut at work last week, now have an infection, and am sick. I am on antibiotics, but I have a fever and am feeling crappy. Back to the doctor tomorrow. I think they will change my drugs, but we will see.

I have done a decent job at staying on plan, but I have not had all of my foods every day. I am just too tired to cook. I am dreading weigh in on Saturday.

I will check back in soon.
Take care all!

questions and answers
 

Thanks to all of you old pros for helping the rest of get on our feet. I feel more secure here knowing that I have some help and that there are others who are experiencing the same thing I am. As for diets. I have done them all and like Arvi said its time for this one to work. I have lost rapidly but I have not been hungry. I just am not sure why. Was it the psychological reason as to trying to lose something and finally making up my mind butttttttttttt I do want this this time. So I am willing to look over the bad things i experience and try to look for the good. I do have question. I am not sure if things are priced the same all around the country but can you tell me what the lites cost so tomorrow when "Happy Hal" the ornery counselor hits me with buy this and buy that I will be prepared thanks on that one. I did read the supplements ingredients and found some things i did not like other than the fatty acids which I did read are good for you as to Weil but I think that for me i have spent enough and want results now with as natural a diet as possible I dont want to eat chemicals Soooooo tomorrow is my first weigh in and I have learned so much here enough to ask questions. Thanks to all of you I appreciate it I really do. :^:

Jibelle mentioned being "just too tired to cook", which brings a question to mind. I'll ask tomorrow when I go to the center, but I'm wondering how everyone handles those nights that we all have when we're just too tired? I know planning is a key part of any diet program, and ultimately, that's what we all try to do. However, what about those nights when we've had to work late or the car broke down or the "things to do" list has just become overwhelming? Are the Lean Cuisine or Healthy Choice or WW frozen meals acceptable at some point on the plan?
Sue

bunny's tips
 

Bunny thanks for the tips. Just wanted to let you know they will come in handy over here in West Tn. I think I can do this now. I just have to do like you say and remember its my money and its my life here. Thanks again:D

Its Friday
 

Well I am down another .4 pounds according to my scale this morninggggggg I would not have made it the past few days without those oranges. They did not give me the drink that everyone has talked about on here. Seems to be loaded with potassium and would help some. I weigh in this morning and get a new diet to start tomorrow I guess. I am sure i will weigh more on their scales because I will weigh at noon but again I am glad to see my scale numbers fall. By the way I have Tanita scale ( also have a love affair with my scale) but bunny is right the true loss shows weekly we do go up and down some but seeing the numbers fall slowly encourages me to stay on and if I dont weigh but once a week I get ansy. someone before asked about scales and I purchased that one ( expensive) at Bed BAth and Beyond. Read about them on IVillage. com seem to be very accurate. A pound is a pounds ladies Have good day;)

Quick Answers
 

CORRECTION
 

Joy-
I only WISH there were 14 bars in box!! :lol: Would be much cheaper that way.

I usually do one frozen meal a week from the guide. If you do not have one...ask for it! I think they call it the fast tracker. It is a frozen meal, dining out, and helpful tips guide all in one.

Diane-
How are things with you? Ready for stabilization yet???

I have a weigh in Saturday morning, so I will post then. Time to get some work done!!!

Take care all-

Went to the center this morning (Day #6). I lost another 2.4 pounds. That's 6.6 pounds in total! I'm thrilled! I'm also extremely pleased to get more choices, and I got the Fast Tracker which is just great! This handy little book answers my questions about those nights when the day has been extremely loooonnnggg and tough, and cooking is just out of the question. I think the only thing that I have an issue with is the price of the LA Lites - OUTRAGEOUS! When the counselor presented me with the 3 options for bulk purchase, I just laughed - I apologized for laughing, but she understood exactly where I was coming from. Anyway, I just purchased 2 books and paid the $28, but I'll continue looking for comparable bars on the market and check in at E-Bay for some bargains.

I think the cheapest you can get lites at the center in bulk is 35% off, or $9.10, so I wouldn't pay more than that for them if you get them on ebay.

Can't remember who said it, but I have the same problem with lean Cuisines and sodium, but I do so love that new thai chicken!

Jibbelle -- so sorry to hear ab out the infection. Keep us posted.

comparing bars
 

OK! I did a little "research" in the grocery store today. I took the nutrition information from my Choc./Peanut Butter LA Lites and looked for comparable bars at the store. I looked at: PowerBar, Clif Bar, Luna Bar, Zone Perfect Bar, and Harvest Bar. I also went to GNC to look at their protein bar choices. Here's what I found.

Two bars at the grocery store compared to LA Lites. They were Zone Perfect and Luna. I tried Zone's chocolate graham and Luna's Chocolate Pecan Pie and Nutz Over Chocolate bars.

Information for Choc./PB LA Lite:

Calories: 170 Calories from Fat: 30
Total Fat: 3.5g 6%
Sat. Fat: 2g 10%
Cholesterol: 5mg 1%
Sodium: 150mg 6%
Potassium: 75mg 2%
Tot. Carbohydrates: 30g 10%
Dietary Fiber: less than 1g 3%
Sugars: 17g
Protein: 8g 16%


Information for Zone:
Total Fat: 7g 11%
Sat. Fat: 1.5g 9%
Cholesterol: 0mg 0%
Sodium: 280mg 11%
Potassium: 85mg 2%
Tot. Carbohydrates: 21g 7%
Dietary Fiber: less than 1g 3%
Sugars: 12g
Protein: 16g


Information for Luna:
Total Fat: 4.5g 7%
Sat. Fat: 2.5g 11%
Cholesterol: 0mg 0%
Sodium: 100mg 4%
Potassium: 105mg 3%
Tot. Carbohydrates: 24g 9%
Dietary Fiber: 2g 8%
Sugars: 12g
Protein: 10g


Bear in mind that, unlike our LA Lites, the Luna and Zone bars had a lot of added vitamins and minerals. They are, after all, nutrition bars. Luna seemed the closest to LA Lites, and they didn't taste so bad. They're sort-of like chocolate covered rice-crispy treats. Zone didn't taste bad either, but the extra fat and sodium turned me off from it.

I couldn't find a good bar at GNC because all of them were HUGE! They were all around 250 calories apiece, meaning I'd have to eat a portion of the bar. I'm not so good at moderation with chocolate, so this is not an option for me.

Both the Zone and Luna bars were a little more than a dollar apiece ($1.30). I think that I could find them cheaper if I bought a box. So, they are cheaper. They have other flavors that sounded good, too. I bought Lites in bulk, and when they run out I am seriously going to consider using the Luna bars.

What does everyone think?

The luna bars look like a pretty good substitute. I think, however, they are going to give you a hard time at the center. Be prepared for their sales tactics...they make little money on the program costs, it all comes from supplements and la lites. They are pretty pushy...at least at most centers.

I went to the doc today about my arm...where I have the cut. The cut healed very nicely but there is a lump undert the skin about the size of a small marble. If the antibiotics that I have been on since Monday do not clear it up by this coming Monday I have to go get it x-rayed to see if there is some kind of drebris in there. And if there is...oh man....they are going to cut it open! ARGH!!! *keeping fingers crossed* I hope the antibiotics are just working slowly!!!

I have cut myself a million times...the one time it happens at work I get an infection...and what a mess it is with insurance, workmans comp, safety investigations, etc.

Anyone else have a weigh in tomorrow?

I agree about the luna bars. They are good but I am finding that I am getting a very bad complexion from them. I know it's from the chocolate. So I am thinking about not taking them anymore. I am going to find something that I can eat. Something more healthier then what I would normally eat. I too was on lawl but couldn't afford it anymore and dropped out. Now I wish that I could still do it. I really need to get back to the gym but have had surgery on my little toe and can't go just yet:( SOOOO I am still trying to do it on my own.

I agree that they will try and stick you with the cost of their food. I think it's WAY over priced. I was getting the luna bars for anywhere from $1.17 to $1.39 a bar. Wal-mart has the best prices but the selection sucks. My favorite one is the smores YUMMY, YUMMM, YUMM!!

How is everyone doing on there weight now that summer is finally here. I have gained 10 lbs:( When I get the clear from my dr. I am going to be the queen of the treadmill again. I am going down to the Ozarks with my boyfriend next month so I have to feel good for that. I will let you know my progress.

Karen

yeahhhhhhhhhhhhh
 

Ok my first weigh in and feels like I just have been on this 2 days but lost 3.4 pounds in 3 days yeahhhhhhh so I was excited. However just like you say they pulled out their little tabloids and started showing me the prizes for buying in bulk. I did not not not receive a free box That seemed to be ignored so if I cant have a free box whateer it is ( please advise) then I wont buy anything else. I dont want to be shorted I also asked aboutthe drink everyone had used and they said you can have that in two weeks. Ok then i asked for the tracker as to restaurants and she said you get that in the 4th week. Sooooooo do they do things differently with other peopleeeeeeeee orrrrrrrrrrrrr is there some set pattern. Ok I am now placed on the purple plan but I asked this little lady who was helping me today waht I could use in place of the lites and she said "nothing" lol Ok ladies worked in hospital for years and some medical background and I will find a replacement for me nutrionally but I wont eat those things. I hate them. I wont buy boxes anymore because if they are not going to let me taste it first they can keep it Besides look at how much sugar they have. I dont want to eat sugar I want to lose weight :?: and and and I was glad to see the purple diet lol lol:^: causeeeeeeee meat was getting old. really was soooooo choices were good. Thanks Joy for the price info on the lites They are the same here. I did Arvi buy some cheetos that are baked and have no sugar in them pretty good 10 bags for 10.00 Really expensive but when on the run I need something in bag like that. I admit that the lites just didnt appeal to me They taste like plasticcccccccccc yuckkkkkk so I wll find something to eat in place of them Any suggestions

xY Gosh thanks for that info and going to all that trouble to find something to replace them if possible. I would eat a bar if it had low sugar and tasted good but have not found anything. Did anyone try the slimfast bars I wonder how they rate I wll look my husband is eating those I may can drink the cholcate drink as to hot choclate but I want vitamins and I am not very happy with the lites.

Arvi congrats on your lossssssss See you proved it can be done without their supplemnts and without theirrrrrrrrr food items. Oh on teh chart she showed me today was a big old blue (optional) as to the lites and etc.ooooooooo I reminded her that that page says optional so I rather not do it please. Pushy is not the word for it lol. But I think that I can do this as a one on one program and just keep asking for products. The lady today did tell me they just opened on Mon. so they are not very organized there but like Bunny said Its our money we should be able to make some choicessssss and today I did. Felt more in control:s:

When I first started my center gave me for free: one of each box of cereal bar, one of each box Delights, 2 or 3 boxes of LA Lites (my choice of flavors) and 5 or 6 bags of popcorn and cheese curls. It was great because I really got to find out what I liked.

They also put me on the orange drink and special meal plan for the first 3 days. When I went in on the third day, they gave me the meal plan, all the free stuff, the dining out and frozen food guides.

Izzy...either your center is different from the others, or they have changed the way they do things. I wouldnt be suprised if either is trued. Over the last few months....we have found a lot of differences between what the centers are telling us! Just do what you think is best for you. Find something that works...keeps you losing....and stick to it! That is what I did and 50 lbs later, I am still losing slowly but surely!

the perks
 

Jibbelle. I appreciate your giving me this info. Arvi has mentioned in her posts that she got a free box also so they have not changed that part. I think I have a problem and its something I will call them about shortly. I will find out exactly whats going on and just tell them I Have a friend whose doing this in another area I want to know exactly why I keep being put off. But I wanted to lose the weight. I am not purchasing anymore junk until I at least have a free sample or two even one would have been nice. And when I aske why I cant have the drink they say n two weeks well fine I am losing without it or if I choose to use it for plateau thennnnnn thats ok The deal now is I am wondering if they are overcharging me. But at least now I know whats out there and thanks for helping me by sharing. course they do not answer questions much on web sight but maybe thats what I will do go there for some help as to their web sight and post some questions. I cant be expected to purchase dsomething I hvae never seen nor tasteddddd so the ball is in their court Maybe they feel I am not ready for choices as to fast food Thats fine but Arvi is just a little bit ahead of me and yet she has received these perks so I think I need to confront them asap. I have gotten nothing free and nothing to help me know whats out there Maybe they do have that option but there is another one here in this city and I am understanding that I can go to that one if i choose. Might have to. Thanks again any other input here is apprciate if I have to fight I will My husband is very upset because he says you have nothing in your hand but a plastic sheet of papper lol that they chose for you soooooooooooo I even told her today that milk made me sick and she said use another dairy they are either stupid or not very smart whichever is worse:dizzy:

I am posting with a HUGE favor and if you all say that it is not possible I truly will understand. I have been very interested in this weightloss plan, but the nearest center is over an hour away from where I live and over 2 hours from where I work--I was wondering if any of you would be willing to share this diet with someone who can't get to it or afford the fee in exchange for becoming a big time weightloss partner to all of you. I have been floundering for a long time now and need desperately to lose 40-50 pounds. If you would feel so inclined I would be forever in your debt and post here to help out with support til my fingers couldn't type anymore! Thanks in advance for any help that you can give me!!!!

Izzy,
I think you should definitely post on their website and ask some questions. Like I said, I got my free box of bars on day #3, and then today, #6, I got my "Fast Tracker" which is great. I was told originally that I'd get a bunch of free goodies when I bought in bulk, but I chose not to do that, so didn't get any more freebies. And my counselor that I met on the first day and met with again today is wonderful and she didn't pressure me at all. I told her I'd be checking for alternative bars and checking E-Bay, too! After all, $400 isn't a drop in the bucket, and I'm certainly not coming up with several more hundred for CANDY BARS! Good luck and keep us informed!
I forget who posted about the comparison shopping - but thanks so much, I'm going to give those Luna Bars a try. I actually did try the Slim Fast chocolate peanut bar which is very good, but only has 1 gram of protein, so it's not "up to par" with the LA lite.

pissypeople
 

Well I am maddddddddd to say the least lol but I will not buy another thing and I wll call the tol free number if I dont get what everyone else has gotten and its not fairrrrrrrrrr but then when you are deaf sometimes people take advantage of the fact that you dont hearrrrrrr and I can make an impression they shall never forgetttttttttttt Arvi I could demand live caption lol lol lol nad tel them i Need you to fly in and do it lo llo and make them pay you in free lites lol lol lol for life oh goshhhhhhhhh I am loosing it lol lol. I plunked down 426.00 thanks for sharing at least thats about right I have 53 pounds to lose and gave me 18 weight loss sessions at 3 pounds each I dont know if i can do that or not and maybe shes counting on that so she can get more moneyyyyyyyyy but there is an ADA and I will do whatever I have to to communicate I am gameeeeee but not for longgggggg lol I am sure they are wondering where I am getting my info lol lol All I wanted was to lose weight and be able to have some counseling and some help Just was so confused i found 3 fat chicks and La here and I will be forever greatful Yes I do feel that maybe they do have an option to do things differently and maybe they choose not to give me the tracker but I am going on vacation next week and asked for it just for that in case no mention of anything else. Its kind of sad to be hadddddddd :(

new bulletin
 

Well its Friday night and its quiet and I decided to call the toll free number that is on the web sight as I have a friend who said she felt that L A diet centers were universal and that meant that they all had the same rules to apply so that if someone wanted to visit one when out of town they could. The toll free line will ring into your nearest LA location so there is no home office no. from the web sight. So just have to go back in on Monday and ask them face to face why do I have to do things so differently than the rest of the people I know on this diet. I cant be that much older or fatter. Sooooo maybe take my husband and get some help maybe they are telling me things I dont hear. Please forgive me for bogging you all down with this because I just feel so alone in this matter and want so very much to get my money's worth I dont have any input Just gave me a diet and thats it and I think what worries me more than anything is this counselor that I am using charged me for tax and yall there is no tax on any products or services but I had to call her attention to it Was she going to put that in her pocket and if so what in heavens name can I do about it. I just want to lose weight not get into arguments but they have just handed me this purple diet and said I will be on this for one month Hard to think as others diets are being analyzed and adjusted to meet concerns and eating habits and likes and dislikes anyway I wish you all luck and will let you know how this turns out In the meantime all I can do is just try hard like Jibbelle said and so the best I can. :(

izzy's boards
 

I feel Like this is now izzy's board and i have hogged it and whined but I wanted to share what happened this morning so that if you are having problems with your centers you will know that things can be changed and that issues can be solved. First of all I am deaf so My problems are different from most but my husband got on the phone with me as my interpretor this morning and we talked with the lady in charge or counselor and now I am happy. I think I paid for too many weeks but was assured that those mistakes would be accounted for. I wont have to pay any more money and I can try to lose the weight at a good pace and not be pressured. she gave my husband all the info, apologized for all the inconvenience and said that she would buy back my lites I could not eat. She also set up an apt. time so that I can use the same counselor most of the time and get the one on one I need I again told her that all I wanted was to lose the weight but with natural grocery store regimen which I had been told I could in the begining. I feel like some of the rest of you here that I have spent enough and I dont like those bars and drinks so far. anwyayyyyy girls I voiced my complaints and my issues and they have been resolved and just wanted to share it with you. Without you I could not have done this. Because in your posts to each other you gave me enough info to realize I had gotten into a mess and that I did have rights as it was my money and so now you see that if you do have a problem perhaps there is help. Maybe i paved the way for more handicap people to be able to do things like this without a constant uproar. Now I can calm down and concentrate on losing the weight and doing things i want to do for me. I have been beside myself about it for too long and I have taken up way too much board time here. Thanks for letting me vent and I love all of you for your help always. I wish you the best hang in there and lose that weight. and keep it off ;) Pam

To AdoAnnie:
 

Hi there, AdoAnnie :) Welcome to our thread.

I know how it is to be low on cash. I am a recently-graduated college student, and money's really tight. Let me try to help you as best I can:

There is nothing mysterious or magical about weightloss. Simply eat fewer calories than you burn during the day, and you will create a "deficit." Do this over a week, and you may notice a change. When the deficit reaches around 3500 calories, you have lost a pound of fat. Fat is, after all, just stored energy that fuels us through our daily activities. Even if you do not exercise, you burn calories in your daily life. You can do this by purchasing a calorie-index book (at most bookstores... it lists foods and caloric values for them), and keeping track of what you eat vs. what you burn. I use a website called www.fitday.com for this, and it works great.

All LA Weightloss is selling, since their supplements and foods are optional, is support from its counseling staff. We visit them a few times a week where they either cheer us on, chastise us, catch our mistakes, etc... Since counting calories can be time consuming, they do that for us as well by grouping certain foods (veggies, fruits, starches, proteins, etc...) and giving each client an allowance of servings of these foods per day. The allowances depend on the activity level of the client, his/her health, and his/her weight to lose. This is pretty analogous to WeightWatchers' points system.

So you see, there is no great secret to be gained. It's all in the motivation. I have tried just counting calories and experienced some success, but I am tied to this program now because I plopped down a couple hundred dollars. I will receive a portion of it back when I reach my goal.

I, myself, am on a payment plan and have not yet fully paid off the program. I imagine many folks do the same. Good luck to you, and really check out fitday.com. It's a good tool.

Hi Pam,
Glad to hear that you've solved your problem. Good luck in your weight loss journey - and keep posting!
Sue