LA Weight Loss Diet Food

UPDATE: As of December 2007, Pure Weight Loss Inc., formerly known as L.A. Weight Loss Centers, voluntarily filed for bankruptcy and announced it would be halting operations in January 2008 and would be shutting down its more than 400 weight loss centers.

What You Can Eat

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."

Fitness expert Myatt Murphy is the author of the best-selling books, The Body You Want in the Time You Have, Ultimate Dumbbell Guide and The Men's Health Gym Bible.