Do you want to lose weight and lead a healthy lifestyle? Being overweight or obese puts you at risk of life-threatening diseases. It’s never too late to take charge of your health and lose those extra pounds. Juicing may help you lose weight through a calorie deficit, especially if you’re consuming juices low in calories. While it’s important to consume whole foods, juicing fruits and vegetables makes it easy and fast to get all those nutrients in a single glass.
Understanding the LA Weight Loss Program
Designed to appeal to dieters who are attracted to the glamour of Hollywood, flashy commercials, and the promise of fast and easy weight loss, the LA Weight Loss Centers diet is a center-based plan offering personalized plans and counseling. Clients fill out detailed questionnaires on everything from their eating habits to their emotional attachment to food.
The diet consists of supermarket foods as well as the company's exclusive brand of nutritional supplements, bars, juices, and snacks. Menu plans, tips, recipes, monthly newsletters, and support from weekly weigh-ins and one-on-one meetings with counselors are all part of the program. There are no points or calories to count. Instead, LA Weight Loss touts a sensible, long-term weight management plan focused on portion control and lifelong weight management.
Counselors interview clients and prescribe a plan that is laid out in portions, not calories. Dieters are encouraged to keep food diaries and visit centers for weigh-ins. They also get support from counselors who are not nutrition professionals but typically former clients trained by company dietitians, says Jennifer Boyer, RD, MS, LA Weight Loss Centers senior director of program development. Counselors have access to registered dietitians if needed.
The Role of Juices in Weight Loss
Contrary to popular opinion, juices don’t cause weight loss. For weight loss, the key is to be in a calorie deficit (you must consume fewer calories than you need to maintain your weight). The calorie deficit will depend on your current weight, goal weight, age, and biological sex. Fresh juice has a lot of health benefits. It gives you essential nutrients and antioxidants without too many calories. That means you’ll have ample energy from the juice to get through your day while you’re eating less.
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Juicing can be helpful in weight loss, but it may not be a standalone solution. It can increase nutrient intake and sometimes lower calorie intake. Juices don’t burn fat per se, but they can help with fat burning as part of a diet and exercise regimen. For instance, green vegetable juices can support weight loss due to their low-calorie content and nutrient density.
LA Weight Loss Take Off Juice: A Key Component
Kick-start your diet program with the simple but effective 2-day TakeOFF KickStart plan. This plan includes the LA Weight Loss TakeOFF Juice, which is a highly concentrated blend of all-natural fruit juices with the vitamins necessary to promote healthy weight loss and is used in conjunction with the Kick-start meal plan.
Tammy: “I use TakeOFF, L.A. Lites… I love that sweets are built into the program… I use Control Trim, and the L.A. Smart Trim Nutritionals." Which products did you use to help reach your goal? “Take-off and the Plateau Breaker were my lifesaver they helped me lose very quickly. I also like the diet that I was on.
This high-potency, energy-boosting supplement combination works hand-in-hand with your menu plan, providing you with the essential formulas that will help you achieve your goal of leading a healthier lifestyle. Get healthy from the inside out!
For details on pricing, contact your local L.A. Weightloss Center for more information.
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General Guidelines for Juicing and Weight Loss
If you want to incorporate more juicing into your weight management diet, you need a juicing plan. You can choose appropriate recipes for the time of day, for example, breakfast, pre- or post-workout, or dinner. Juices shouldn’t be the only thing in your weight loss diet-you should also consume low-calorie meals, ideally rich in protein. However, juicing as part of your weight loss regimen can be used to supplement essential nutrients.
Here are some general guidelines:
- Use more veggies than fruits: If you’re juicing specifically for weight loss, drink more veggie-heavy juices.
- Track your calorie intake: For your weight loss to be successful and sustainable, you must track what you eat and drink.
- Avoid store-bought juices: Don’t drink packaged, store-bought juices, as those are normally heavy in sugars. And that’s the last thing you need when on a weight loss diet.
- Go for cold-pressed juice: Drink cold-pressed juices made with a masticating juicer and reap their many benefits. A slow-pressed juice has a richer taste and a better nutrient profile.
- Save time with batch juicing: If you’re following a proper juicing diet plan, you’d be better off juicing batches.
- Don’t forget exercise: While diet plays the most important role in fat loss, exercise can amplify the effects. You’d be in a greater calorie deficit if you add moderate exercise for at least three days a week.
Specific Juice Recipes for Weight Loss
Vegetable-heavy juices, like those with celery, cucumber, and spinach, are generally best due to their low calorie and sugar content. Avoid juices high in fruit sugars, such as those made primarily from grapes, mangoes, or excessive amounts of apple juice.
Here are some recipes that can be incorporated into your weight loss plan:
- Celery juice: A hydrating, low-calorie drink that supports digestion and helps reduce bloating.
- Green juice: Combine leafy greens like kale (rich in beta-carotene) and spinach (rich in folate and iron).
- Cabbage, carrots, and apple (CCA) juice: A simple recipe with ingredients that are anti-inflammatory and give you a kick of energy without excessive calories.
- Cucumber and Mint juice: Cucumber is low in calories and high in water content, keeping you hydrated and full. Mint helps digestion and has a refreshing flavor.
- Wheatgrass and Pear juice: Wheatgrass supports detoxification and improves digestion. Pear makes it more palatable.
- Tomato and Grape juice: Rich in antioxidants and vitamins while being low in calories. This juice helps reduce inflammation and accelerate muscle recovery after a workout.
- Grapefruit juice: Known for its weight loss benefits. In one study, both whole grapefruit and its juice were found to help reduce weight.
- Kale and Apple juice: Kale is a superfood that supports detoxification and has minimal calories. The apple balances the juice out.
- Carrot juice: Carrots pack in so many nutrients without being calorie-dense. Plus, they contain soluble fiber, which helps you stay fuller for longer.
- Spinach and Pineapple juice: Spinach is packed with iron and fiber. Adding pineapple does the trick to make it more appetizing.
The 80/20 Rule
The 80/20 rule in juicing refers to a ratio of 80% vegetables to 20% fruits. The point of following it is to minimize sugar intake while maximizing nutrient density.
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Success Stories
Weight Lost: Tammy is down 124.4 lbs, and 49″ in 51 weeks. Eric has lost 57.8 and 17.5 inches in just 28 weeks.
Why did you choose L.A.? Tammy: “Since I am still working on my goal, I like that the weight keeps melting off. I am overall happier, more energetic and I have more confidence. L.A. Weight Loss has given me a new vision of myself and not what I used to be or what I was but, a new self." Eric: “I didn’t feel judged when I met with the counselors at L.A.."
Kayla down 90 lbs. Why did you choose L.A.? “I had a family member who joined L.A. and she was successful. What did you like best about the program? Which products did you use to help reach your goal? “Definitely the L.A. Lite Bars. The Chocolate Crunch I use as a treat. When I am at work I don’t have to be worried about being tempted by others with treats because, I already have one."
Elvira from Grand Forks lost 25 lbs. Why did you choose L.A.? “I knew that L.A. would work for me because, I saw how well it worked for others. “The results. With this program I saw the weight come off fast and it was easy. Not only has this program changed the way I look but, it also has changed the way that I feel." “ The support, I really enjoyed meeting with the L.A. Weight Loss Team. I also had tools that guided on my journey. The L.A. Lites definitely helped with my cravings. I also enjoyed many of the other products like the L.A. Nutritionals and the meal replacement drinks."
Is LA Weight Loss Right for You?
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.
Founded in 1989, the company split four years ago, and renamed some of its centers. The breakup allegedly occurred because the company had been the target of scrutiny and lawsuits for false claims and false advertising of fees. Today the company now known as LA Weight Loss Centers is entirely made up of franchised centers.
LA Weight Loss has been criticized by some for this aspect of the program because of what they say is the hard sell and manipulation of the counselors, who earn commission on the products they sell. All of the supplements, snacks, and bars are designed to go along with the menu plans and are optional. "Our counselors are trained to meet individual client needs and some clients need the products and others can succeed without them," Boyer says.
Potential Concerns
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.
The Importance of a Balanced Approach
Juice cleansing sounds like a healthy, natural way to get plenty of fruits and vegetables while eliminating not-so-healthy foods from your diet for a few days. But is it? A juice cleanse involves drinking only fruit or vegetable juices for a certain period of time, usually ranging from one to seven days depending on the goal. Juices are usually pressed, which means that the pulp of the fruit and vegetables is separated from the juice.
While a juice cleanse may help you kick off a weight loss plan, you need to make long-term changes to your lifestyle in order to keep the weight off. That means changing the way you eat daily and getting regular exercise. Instead of drinking pressed juice without the pulp, keep the fiber. Dietary fiber contains vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals and antioxidants, and research has shown that it can help reduce obesity, type 2 diabetes and some types of cancer, including colon cancer.
What’s more, eating whole fruits and vegetables, along with whole grains, can actually help with weight loss. If that is your goal, build your diet around whole foods and lean proteins. Avoid or minimize packaged, processed or sugary foods and drinks that have little nutritional value and lots of calories.
Other Foods That Support Weight Loss
If losing weight is your goal, these foods may help support a healthy weight loss journey.
- Eggs: Increased participants’ feelings of fullness for the next 4 hours.
- Leafy greens: Contain thylakoids, plant compounds that have been linked with increased fullness and better appetite management.
- Fish: Loaded with high quality protein, healthy fats, and other important nutrients.
- Cruciferous vegetables: High in fiber and low in calories.
- Chicken breast and some lean meats: Pack protein and iron and have less saturated fat than other cuts of meat.
- Potatoes and other root vegetables: Boiled white potatoes scored the highest of all the foods tested on the Satiety Index.
- Beans and legumes: High in protein and fiber, two nutrients that promote fullness.
- Soups: Incorporating a vegetable-based clear soup before your meal can also be a way to feel fuller and eat less overall, which may promote weight loss.
- Avocados: Rich in heart-healthy fats, and they also contain a lot of water and fiber, which make them very filling.
- Nuts: Can help improve metabolic health and even promote weight loss.
- Whole grains: Loaded with fiber and contain a decent amount of protein. Notable examples include oats, brown rice, and quinoa.
- Chili peppers: Contain capsaicin, a substance that makes hot peppers like chili peppers spicy.
- Fruits: Low in calories and loaded with micronutrients. Plus, their fiber content helps prevent sugar from being released too quickly into your bloodstream.
- Chia seeds: Highly nutritious and rich in fiber, which can promote feelings of fullness.
- Greek yogurt: Contains a good amount of protein per serving.