My cousin in WA did LA, and lost some unwanted weight, and I was facing pre-diabetes and was tired of the "fad diets" so I called LA and got the exact phone script mentioned above when I wanted to make my appt for another day (more convenient for myself). I signed up to lose 45 lbs in 23 weeks with the 6 wk stabilization and 52 week maintenance. Despite my requests as to what the program was about (low carb, low fat...??) I was never given a straight answer other than encouragement that this was the program for me. I even inquired what/how much food I would be required to buy and was told "only what you want to buy." I paid $890.19 for the program and $99 for the "enhancement pkg" which was my diary and food tip cards.
My first appt with a counselor was 4 days after I signed the contract (too late to cancel obviously). The counselor herself was about 25 lbs overweight, but I figured she was probably heavier before she came here. She was a little cold with me, and kept talking about going home and making hot chocolate with lots of marshmallows and baking cookies, which I thought was weird, being where we were. She never told me that I would be required to purchase the LA Lites, so when I showed up 2 days later, another counselor informed me of 2 pkgs that I was REQUIRED to purchase: one at $825 and the other at $1071. I was flabbergasted. I told her I was upset because the day I signed up, I was told I wouldn't be required to purchase anything. After some high-pressure, she relented and allowed me to go home and discuss it with my husband over the weekend. I went home and read my contract (I am a legal secretary) and my contract stated that they were guaranteeing me I would lose the weight in the time predicted, or they would continue me on the program with no additional costs for service provided I did 5 things: visit the center 3x a week, only consume foods directed by my counselor, follow the counseling, take the service weeks consecutively, and consume LA Lites. It also stated "LA Lites are not mandatory nor required to successfully complete the program, however, you must consume the Lites to qualify for this service guarantee." Nothing about my rebate was mentioned on this contract.
I had another contract for the rebate. It stated "You must comply with the following steps to validate your rebate: one Nu-Lite bar or drink daily during MAINTENANCE, goal weight must be attained during the weight loss phase, complete the 6 weeks stabilization phase, visit the center 1x a week, be within 5 lbs of your goal weight at the conclusion of phase 1, and be within 5 lbs of your goal weight at the conculsion of phase 2." So when I refused to buy the Lites, my counselor told me I wouldn't qualify for the rebate. I told her that was not true and it was illegal for her to tell clients that. I threatened to go to the Consumer Fraud dept of our local DA's office and report them.
After that, she agreed that I would qualify for the rebate and I wouldn't be required to purchase the Lites, but I only wonder what other high-pressure gimmick I'm going to get hit with. I have only been with them 1 week, and I've lost 2.5 lbs, but none of which I credit them. This diet can't be healthy. I calculated my food on BodyTrans... I consumed 963 calories all day yesterday. Can't be healthy. I can't even find any nutritonal value for LA Lites. My counselor is so new, she reads everything off a paper like a play script. My advice to anyone looking into LA as a weightloss aid is to invest your money in a gym, buy a book on eating light, and be sensible. I wish I'd been this wise a week ago. The LA Weight Loss company are wolves and the over weight people are their prey. If you work for them, find a another job where you can really make a difference in someone's life, and get some sleep at night.
Dolores
Merced, California
U.S.A.
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