Okay, Boo, let me tell you my experience.
I joined last Friday night with my 14 year old DD. She needs to lose 50 pounds and I need to lose 40. I lost weight very well in 2003 on WW. I was able to eat pretty much what I wanted and lost 22 pounds in 12 weeks. However, I moved clear across Texas away from everyone I knew and regained the weight.
DD, on the other hand, never did well with WW. She was always hungry. Since she will be entering high school next year, she has been concerned with losing some weight. She is very pretty and has a lot of friends and interests, but she has a picture in her head of what she wants to look like in high school. Since WW didn't work, she started counting calories and was barely losing.
Then, we looked into LA Weight Loss. I was able to join at the rate of $4 a week for each of us (it was a 2-for-the-price-of-one special at our center). I also had to pay a $169 program enhancement fee for each of us. The price came to $377 per person for a year's worth of LA Weight Loss. Our center also allows you to pay in installments over 3 months if you can't make the entire chunck in one payment.
They put us both on LA Express which is like doing 2 days of Atkins. For my carb loving self, it was torture. I did go in after the 2 days and had lost 1.6 pounds (and I weighed at night on the 2nd day). The first couple of days on my plan - they give you a weight loss plan geared to your weight loss goals - was a little torturous. I kept remembering all the stuff I could have on WW and still lose...
However, I had a breakthrough today. I realized while I was slicing a kiwi fruit that I would never have chosen a kiwi (1 point) over a French Twist (1 point). While WW is a great program and healthy one as well, I have a habit of turning it into a junk fest. This is going to be healthier for me by forcing me to make real changes in my diet. By going in 3 times per week, it will keep me honest with myself - no room for fudging on myself.
It seems like a lot up front, but you have to remember that you are paying for an entire year (or whatever route you decide to go). I believe that it works out to $7.25 per week for my program which is not bad at all.
I have already changed programs with LA Weight Loss. After 2 days on the Gold plan with LA Lites (nutrition bars which they give as samples your first few days), I have been switched to the Red plan without Lites. Unlike a lot of LA clients, I despised the taste. There wasn't any big deal made about it, they just switched my program. Of course, they don't guarantee the 2 pound per week weight loss (I believe I'll hit it or come close anyway), they were happy to make the change for me. I also believe that the rebate (there is a plan that has a rebate - we didn't choose that one) hinges upon using the LA Lites.
You should go into a center and talk with someone. Ask to see an example of the diet plan so you can get an idea of how much you can eat. My plan has 3 starch servings - not a lot for a carb lover like myself. However, I have been very careful with my planning and so far, so good. I'm even going to the movies tomorrow and having popcorn (you'll get a Free to Live binder with tip cards for every situation - amusement parks, concerts, sporting events, shopping trips, sports bars, etc - with food and how to count it). There is enough food on the program so that you should never really feel hungry. There may not be enough "fun" food, however.
It seems sort of like a complicated game right now as we figure out our program. But, DD and I both are glad that we made the commitment to ourselves.
Let us know what you decide,
Andi
I was thinking about trying out LAWL but would like to know a little about it first..
