Dieting Information, Weight Loss Programs and Diet Pills

LA Weight Loss Diet

LA Weight Loss clients are basically paying for a lot of common sense nutritional advice about portion control and recipes. One major problem with the program is that when clients make their frequent visits to the center to meet with counselors, they're often given the hard sell, encouraged to purchase the company's exclusive line of weight-loss supplements. In fact, many of the counselors aren't certified nutrition experts or dieticians, but employees who work on commission from the supplements they can sell you during your check-ins. This can make it impossible to judge if dieters are being supported or preyed upon with each visit. It's also the reason the company paid a total settlement in 2006 of $100,000 to past clients who felt misled.

Because they claim to have over 40 different types of custom-designed programs to choose from, it's hard to pinpoint exactly what specific foods you may be instructed to eat. However, if you eliminate all the products the company will try and sell you, certain elements of the diet are universal, no matter which program you're on.

There aren't many banned foods with the exception of sweets, candies, processed pastries, which get slowly introduced back into your diet in the third stage. Even caffeine is fine to have in moderation, although they do instruct clients to cut back on salt and sugar. The types of meats you're allowed aren't your usual diet staples, such as chicken and fish, and actually include everything from veal, meatloaf, hamburgers, beef kabobs, lamb chops and pork. There's even recipes for apple pancakes, banana nut crepes and Mexican omelettes. Basically, you can eat any of the meals they recommend as long as you stick to the portion sizes you're supposed to eat daily. That may seem like a dream diet, but since each program limits your caloric intake to 1,100 to 1,800 calories, the tiny portions followers eat may leave them feeling "fooled" instead of "filled."

Is the LA Weight Loss Diet healthy?

Yes and no. Essentially, their approach to eating more protein, fruits and vegetables and less fat is very similar to what many nutritionists already recommend. However, if you're asked to use a plan that limits your caloric intake below 1,500 calories a day, you could miss out on certain key nutrients.

What do the experts say?

Although most of the nutritional advice they stress is sound, basic, albeit expensive advice (such as eating smaller portions, drinking plenty of water, watching your salt intake, adding more fruits and vegetables), "you really don't need the special products they offer to lose weight," says Milton Stokes, M.P.H., R.D., spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. "You simply need to adopt smarter eating habits that they can stick with for the long haul." His advice: "If you ever see 'special' products being offered or 'suggested' as part of any weight-loss plan, that's an immediate red flag."

Who should consider the LA Weight Loss Diet?

Dieters with money to burn.

Bottom Line

If you can fend off the high-pressure sales pitches and accept that you're paying money every week to check in with a counselor that may be no more qualified to issue nutritional advice than you are, then feel free. The truth is, any diet that requires you to restrict your caloric intake will cause weight loss. The real question is, can you afford to pay a lot, just to be told to eat less?

Checklist