LA Weight Loss Diet

How It Works

LA Weight Loss Centers menu plans range from a low of 1,200 calories to a high of 2,400 calories and are divided into three phases.

Phase one is for designated weight loss. Clients are assigned a calorie level based on the information from the questionnaire and their individual needs. During this phase, they see the counselor three times a week for guidance, support, education, coaching, and monitoring weight and food choices. “Counselors advise clients on three issues: menu and food choices; movement and how to help them be more active; and mindset,” explains Boyer.

Phase two is a six-week stabilization period that clients advance to after they have met their weight loss goals. Calories are slowly increased during phase two in accordance with client progress as noted during the twice weekly counselor visits.

The last phase is maintenance. Clients are encouraged to check in with counselors once a week during maintenance and remain in the program for at least a year to help keep the lost weight from returning.

Counseling occurs only at the centers. There are no email or phone consultations nor are there any group meetings, online communities, or chat rooms. Some centers have walking clubs and occasionally offer group programs.

Exercise is encouraged although there are no specific exercises or individualized plans. “Most of our clients are not very physically active so our aim is to meet them where they are and build upon it to get them to be more active,” says Boyer.

What the Experts Say

The foundation of the LA Weight Loss plan to eat a calorie- and portion-controlled diet with more fruits, vegetables, lean protein, as well as less fat, sugar, and salt is a healthful one overall and consistent with the recommendations of other health care organizations. You can lose weight if you follow the calorie-controlled plan and get regular exercise just like many of the company’s clients who have been featured in magazine spreads, but you can do it without any special products or supplements.

American Dietetic Association spokesman Milton Stokes says buyer beware of pushy counselors trying to sell their products. “Anytime a company pushes products, a red flag goes up because there is no such thing as a magic pill or potion to help you lose weight. It is all about changing your lifestyle and behaviors, not about bars or supplements” he says. “There is very little clinical evidence that these supplements work,” he adds.

Edee Hogan, a nutrition and culinary consultant in Washington, D.C., agrees. “You don’t need to succumb to the hard sell, commission-driven sales of LA Weight Loss Centers brand products for effective and long-lasting weight loss,” she says.

Even though LA Weight Loss plans contain the basic building blocks of a healthy diet some important components are missing, says Hogan. “The program is sound, but it is so strict that there is little room for splurges and the plan is incomplete — there is not enough information on exercise and food.”

Hogan says she would also like to see a more robust support system. She says support is essential for weight loss and seeing a non-credentialed counselor may not provide the kind of support that is often found in group settings or online communities.

Stokes, too, is concerned about advice doled out by counselors who may not have a strong background in nutrition. “To be sure the information is accurate, check with a registered dietitian who is credentialed,” he says.

Because there are so many franchised centers, advice and plans may vary and so will results. Boyer does say that all franchisees are required to follow the same company menu plans.

Food for Thought

With the help and individual support of their counselors, the LA Weight Loss Centers plan appears to be a safe and effective way to lose weight and change your eating habits. Judging by the testimonials in the media (not just the company’s web site), their plans have worked well for many women. The company, however, has undergone many changes and there have been numerous complaints about its practices, costs, and hard-sell tactics. This plan may be the perfect solution for you as long as you are not coerced into buying anything you don’t need and you are informed of all expenses associated with the cost of the program.

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