I kept hearing about LA Weight Loss on the radio, so I decided to go in for my free consultation. Like stated in a different report, they stuck me in a tiny office until I joined. I am 5'10'', and weigh 150lbs. Not overweight.

I just wanted to lose a little weight, maybe tone myself. I went there seeking information, and they made me feel so fat and miserable, and made the diet sound like some miraculously magical diet that would be so easy. I could eat everything I do now, and I would never be hungry, and it's so easy...blah blah. So I decided to give it a chance. Sweet, eat everything I do now, lose weight? Who wouldn't do it?

Then comes the price. I was charged 11 dollars a week. After talking me into losing 12 pounds or so, the bill came out to $704. But if you sign up that day you get a ten percent discount. So you have to sign up on the spot. Oh, you can't afford it? No problem! We will give you the care credit. $634 dollars later or so I walk out with juice. Lose 4 pounds or so in two days. On top of the world.

So excited this is going to work, they talk me into the second highest LA lite prepay, feeding off my excitement. Another $500 or $600. Then the weight stops falling off. It starts coming back on. I am weighing everything, eating the correct portions, drinking the water, taking the supplements, eating the bars.

I go in there for some guidance, and get a well, good job. Good job? I am gaining weight! Oh, it's just a plateau. Your body is adjusting to the new diet. Cut all beef out of your diet. And condiments. Try fish. I told them before I signed up I hated vegetables. And I really only like beef and chicken, no seafood. They said that's no problem, there is plenty of stuff I can eat that I like. After they have me, what do they put me on? Fish. Vegetables. Beef is too high end. Limit your beef. It says in the plan you can have healthy choice frozen dinners.

Then they tell me that's why I am putting on the weight. Then I told one girl I had not had any starches for a day, and went out and had beer instead. She told me to not worry about beer, keep eating starches, and if I drink to just have more water the next day. One other lady couldn't even tell me if it was ok to put garlic powder on my food. I found out I could by reading the book they gave me. Do they read those books? Oh, and maybe I should start exercising three times a week or so. This will help boost my metabolism.

I wasn't told when I signed up that exercise was necessary to lose weight on this diet. They had me feeling so worthless, I just lost it and starting crying. I was doing what they said to do, and putting on weight. Now they have me feeling so fat, and worthless. I just quit. But I had prepaid for 53 boxes or so of LA lites. So I went in there and told them I was leaving the country for three months on business and needed all my bars so I could stay on the diet while I was gone.

No one questioned this, or how I would receive their support, or what to do once I hit stabilization, or change plans; nothing. They just loaded me up, thought it was so neat that I was leaving for so long. Who in their right mind would pay to have that many bars transported to a foreign country? Not once was my story questioned.

So ends my LA weight loss story. What a rip off. What am I doing now to lose weight? Walking. What everyone should do if they decide it's time to burn fat, exercise. Plus, it's free. And it makes you feel good, because the weight will really be coming off.

ripped off

St. Paul, Minnesota
U.S.A.

Click Here to read other Ripoff Reports on LA Weight Loss

6 Updates & Rebuttals

Range

Houston,
Texas,
U.S.A.

Unethical to enroll you

#2UPDATE EX-employee responds

Sun, August 19, 2007

Bottom line: This company Sucks. Sadly, I use to work for them. They should not have enrolled you in their program. They go by a "chart" in order to figure out what program you get to do. You were probably started on the gold plan or even the blue plan (depending on who worked your chart up). If I remember correctly, someone of your height should weigh no less than 145#. To charge you the amount of money they did was unethical! About the "plateau"...that's what they say when people start gaining weight on their program or when they can't figure anything else out and most of the time, this quiets down the client...gives them justice or something. The reason you were gaining weight is simple, you were intaking tons of sugar from their La Lites. Don't worry with the "Friend of LAWL", she's been brainwashed, just as I was. The radio personalities aren't paid, but they are receiving products for free. I actually dealt with one in our area and once she found out just how much someone would pay on average to loose weight, she stopped endorsing their product!! Many more will follow in her footsteps. FYI, they read a script that the area supervisor has written for them...My lady was saying on air that she was losing on average, 3-4 pounds a week, when in reality, she was losing less than 2 pounds per week. They should name their company "LA rip me off"

Rene

Niskayuna,
New York,
U.S.A.

Counselors are sales people, ONLY

#3UPDATE EX-employee responds

Sun, November 05, 2006

I too went through the "intense" training. It is training to SELL BARS and SUPPLEMENTS called Product Solution. There is always a solution to a problem with a product. One client has 5 years of bars. They are not informed and so emotionally upset they buy anything. I am surprised a 5'10" 150 was allowed to join; there is a weight guide and she is under it. We are told to sell at any cost we make our own "specials" and CARE CREDIT or Do not do it. That is their own program for you 25% interest. Someone must come investigate. I see it as fraudulent sales. I left as many do after a couple of months. They hire all the time because if you have any ethics you will not do this.

Joanna

Baldwin,
Wisconsin,
U.S.A.

To The "Friend of LA Weight Loss"

#4Author of original report

Fri, November 03, 2006

Ok, so radio personalities don't get paid to try the diet; they only get it for free. So they save a thousand dollars...kind of like getting paid. Next, why did I call and get an appointment? I stated in my prior essay that I wanted to get toned. So here is a question for you, "Friend of LA Weight Loss." If you "spend quite a bit of time on the topic of borderline eating disorders," then why was I manipulated into believing I had to lose 12 pounds? The people who would have been intensely trained like you knew my height and weight, and that I didn't need to lose weight. Are you sure you don't spend quite a bit of time on the topic of manipulation and finding people's weaknesses, and in turn feeding off them? SCAM!!

Sound Beach,
New York,
U.S.A.

Friend of LA Weight Loss

#5UPDATE Employee

Sun, March 19, 2006

In regard to the consumers that have issues with LA Weight Loss, I have to simply state the facts: First of all, Radio personalities are NOT paid to promote the LA Weight Loss Program. Radio personalities that are interested in losing weight are sought out, come in for an intake interview just like any other consumer, join the program, and talk openly on the air about their experience with it. They are given free program, no strings attached, because the Company is that confident about it! To the Consumer that had 'only' 10 pounds to lose, and now states that she wasn't overweight: Why did you call and go in for an appointment? We go through some pretty intense training to become Counselors, and spend quite a bit of time on the topic of borderline eating disorders. These are people that are obsessed with their weight and have poor self image. They also claim to need help learning to eat right, and pretty well convince all concerned that they have found the answer to their prayers. Very soon after, they are disillusioned,again, and the program becomes the enemy. This is an extraodinary weight loss program! It's a common sense lifestyle that incorporates every food group. I have helped people that have had serious issues ranging from diabetes, ( got them off their glucovage) high blood pressure, (got them off their meds)FAILED gastric bypass, (because you need to change the behavior) and let me not forget to mention the incredible 76 year old woman who had both knees replaced. Lost 100 lbs with me and gave me her cane as gift! The products are superior and they work, but the program is meant for people who actively want to change their lives for the better, and are willing to change!

Amanda

Cambridge,
Minnesota,
U.S.A.

Similar Experience

#6Consumer Comment

Wed, January 25, 2006

In response to the last consumer comment, Minneapolis is NOT a hick town, we were actually just dubbed the "Most literary" city in the US. However, I agree that our local "celebrities" will do ANYTHING for a buck. My mom had a similar experience with LA Weightloss. They put her through the mind games and RIGHT NOW deals. She decided not to go through with it after she left. She called and told them that they pressured her into the sale and once she was out of their office, she regretted spending over $1000 on their service. She got the run-around and refused to pay the remainder. They put it on her credit report and everything. She buys into a lot of the gimmicks, but this company sure came off as being respectable at first. I agree that walking is the best solution - you can do it alone or with the family and yes, its free. Definitly don't need a bunch of skinny broads using you as a guinea pig for their weight loss ideas. Good luck to you!

Jason

Edina,
Minnesota,
U.S.A.

Minnesota radio

#7Consumer Comment

Tue, November 15, 2005

The Minnesota posting referred to a radio spot regarding LA weight loss. The character that advertises LA weight loss on the CBS radio affiliate in Minneapolis (Mike Lynch) has been pitching the story that last week he lost another 5-10-20-25 lbs, etc. for months now. By now, he must weigh in at a theoretically impossible minus 474! Of course, these hick-town (and Minneapolis is really just a big hick-town) radio "personalities" will pitch anything, such as a weight loss program or an air-chamber bed, to supplement their wages.

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