Pure Weight Loss
Weight loss counseling center partner with L.A. Weight Loss
BACKGROUND
Please note, Pure Weight Loss has announced it will close all 400 locations permanently, as of January 4, 2008. A spokesperson for Pure Weight Loss Centers cited "fierce competition from the internet, the introduction of Alli, the over-the-counter weight loss pill, and other commercial diet programs, combined with a difficult economic environment…”
Pure Weight Loss was part of a larger conglomerate known as L.A. Weight Loss. A few years back, in fact, L.A. Weight Loss and Pure Weight Loss split off from one another and attempted to operate from two approaches, the corporate-owned centers and the franchised centers. When they re-emerged, in August 2007, they changed the names of all their weight centers to Pure Weight Loss.
L.A. Weight Loss has been a player in the field since 1989, when it opened its first L.A. Weight Loss Center. During peak operations, there were more than 850 L.A. Weight Loss Centers, either franchised or corporate run.
PROS
Pure Weight Loss/L.A. Weight Loss system utilized regular foods that anyone could purchase from their local grocery store alongside personal counseling.
- Personal counseling to determine specific meal programs based on weight, height, age, activity level and medical history.
- Satisfying meals to help clients forego the constant feeling of hunger.
- Pyramid-based food plans that consisted of 45% carbohydrates, 35-40% protein and 20% fat.
CONS
- No longer in business.
- High prices and pushy sales people.
- A class-action lawsuit was filed against the company(ies) in 2002 and won, by customers who proved that the advertised cost of the program was misleading.
- Not able to properly accommodate all customers dietary needs.
FOOD PLAN
Pure Weight Loss worked well within their own guidelines to provide a 45/40/20 split along the food pyramid. However, they became bogged down by depending far too heavily on their supplements and bars. Since the percentage of people allergic to soy and/or in pre-diabetic or diabetic conditions has risen dramatically over the past twenty years, their inflexibility with regard to meeting these client’s needs without using only their supplemental foods, was certainly another source of dissatisfaction.
EXERCISE
No exercise regimen was included within the personal counseling arena, although the counselors did reiterate that we are all healthier when we are active.
CONCLUSION
L.A. Weight Loss/Pure Weight Loss ran with the ball for a long period of time. The number of people who appreciated the program, (web reviews from consumers), was highly mixed, with some praising its effectiveness and others totally disillusioned. The weighted average was close to 50/50. But over and over again successful weight-loss clients suggested the supplement and snack bar component of the plan was entirely unnecessary. Those who stayed with the program appreciated the well-defined menu and strategy that was laid out by the personal counselor, and the one-on-one support that was available. Customers of Pure Weight Loss, or those interested in the program, should visit L.A. Weight Loss, as Pure will go out of business January 4, 2008.
COMMON MISSPELLINGS
pur weight loss, pure wieght loss, pure weight lost
heidi f: my sister got caught up in the whole LA weightloss craze...they talked her into buying all these pills and protein bars and she spent a fortune.. good riddance
penny: i'm not surprised they're closing. once you got in there, it was all about the supplements. there's easier/less expensive ways to lose weight, trust me
mitzi: Loved LA-great plan,the protein bars helped my cholestrol go down 40 points. However corporate sucked from the beginning.They were always moving the couinselors. Just say no to the other supplements!
Anonymous: I have been out the country for the past three months and just went by the office today in Waldorf MD. and seen that they closed their doors. I tried call the corporate phone number but no one ever answers. I want to get the 28 weeks worth of Bars that I paid for...how do I get them?
Melinda: I too have an entire program paid for and I also have bars and juice that I purchased and never got. I was on the plan before I got pregnant. In november I went back to start from where I left off. I had weeks that were still paid for and bars. I then bought a new entire program for me and my mother. Was then told I could not start on the program until I was done breastfeeding. Now I'm done and they are gone. Pure owes me more than 800.00 bucks. How do I get it back without the contract they never handed me. I do have my credit card receipt though with novembers date.
Anonymous: I had a death in my family and when I returned to the office it was closed. They owe me bars, Shakes, Biscotti and juices. I have no contrcat number and feel like they should have called me so i had the chance to get my bars.
Anonymous: As a former employee I can tell you that unless you hound them you will not get your money back. I suggest contacting their headquarters in Horsham, PA. If I can dig up a phone # or address, I'll post it for you. The plan was great, and I loved helping the clients, but the management and hard sales approach sucked beyond belief, and I'm not surprised they went out of business.
K.F.: I don't usually get caught up in scams because I was taught to always read the fine print. When I signed up for the LA plan (later changed to PURE), I was told I had 3 days to cancel, but you don't find out about the lites until the 3rd day. No lites, no guarantee. I wasn't able to start my plan until after a vacation, which put my finding out about lites around day 12 - too late to cancel. The high pressure sales tactics were very effective, making me feel like the biggest blob on the planet. After a few months on the plan, I was told that I lose weight slower than average, and would need to buy more weeks. I was able to put it off (thank goodness). Now that the company is gone, I am out over 1 years worth of weeks (at $6 per week) and several hundred $$$ of lites. Not to mention all the extras (twists, biscotti, vitamins, the cookbook) they convinced me I had to have. This is the biggest weight loss scam I have dealt with. While I am glad it is gone, does anyone have a clue how I can get my money back?
Anonymous: I joined pure weight loss last October. They advertised cost of $7.00 per week. Then I paid over $300.00 to join and over $900.00 for lites. The high pressure sales was unbelievable. Then, the place was hardly ever open. I would call and get no answer; figuring they were busy, i would drive the 30 minutes to get there only to find the door locked. Their hours changed every week so you never knew when to go. They said I could log onto their site and with my code could access recipes, etc. My pass code wouldn't work-- I told them and they said there were some problems but they were being corrected. They told me to try in 2 days and it would be operating again. It never did. I am out a lot of money and don't know if I can get any of it back. Very depressing!!!!
lori: Maybe there will be a group lawsuit to get our money back. I am also owed a lot of bars. I was gone for a few weeks over Christmas, came back to find they were only open 3 half days a week and the next time I went back, they were closed. No advance notice at all.
Barb: do whatever it takes to get your money back! I wasted about $600 last year. The NH office staff had no medical training and were very pushy. Those bars and shakes tasted like crap and the staff treats you like a child. My advice - go to WeightWatchers.
Juanita: I resigned for 1 year and i year maintenance in July 2007 and put 104 boxes of lite bars on care credit. When I went back after an illness and family issues I learned they were closed. I am out over $2500 and the certified letter I sent to the office in Horshem, PA just came back in the mail. I am really angry that the clients were not given any notice. I want my money back.
Anonymous: I am an ex-employee of Pure Weightloss and I quit in November 2007. Here is some numbers call Hal Levin at 214-346-4350 corporate media person. Vahan Karabajakian is the CEO. Also corporate Director of HR 215-328-9250.
Anonymous: I had read on line that Vahan Karabajakian who was the ceo of the company, had changed his name, was sending money to the terrorist. The person writing the comment had turned him into the government telling them of his findings or suspicions. I have never read anything else about it since. It sounded like he may have been found out and that is why everything folded with Pure Weight Loss. Maybe it was just someone starting a rumor, but with all that is going on in our country with terrorism threats and all it made me wonder, if it could have been true. Has anyone else heard about this? I also am out money and trying to find out what I am to do next. I sent in the form right away, before the stores final closure date, and have heard nothing.
anonymous: this is the # to the court handling their bankruptcy # 215-408-2800 got a notice in the mail
Jennifer: Pure Weight Loss has filed bankruptcy in Pennsylvania. If you go to the website there is a form you can fill out and send to the courts to be a part of the law suit. I have sent mine in on 2/26/08 because Pure owes me over 600.00.
courtney: I too feel scammed by this company. However I put the plan on my carecredit card. I have talked to this credit card company and they seem willing to work out the expenses...so call the back of your card and they will send you a form to fill out....they should credit you alot of your expenses...any others with credit cards call them also and dispute the charges!!!
