Jamie
04-16-2007, 10:30 AM
How much does it cost to lose 30 pounds?
Saturday April 7, 6:00 am ET
Michelle Warren and Sheyna Steiner
With summer on the horizon, our thoughts turn to the obvious -- how can I lose 10, 20 or 30 pounds before swimsuit season? As panic sets in, ads featuring before and after shots of weight-loss success stories capture the imagination and we muse: "If Mike Bullard lost 30 pounds in seven weeks, why can't I?"
Despite studies saying North Americans are getting fatter every year, people are obsessed with weight loss, and the business of losing weight has ballooned into a $46.3 billion industry. How much would you be willing to spend to lose 30 pounds?
There is no shortage of options when it comes to weight-loss programs. The key is finding a program that fits your lifestyle and budget. Of course, you could always go the old-fashioned route, reducing calories and increasing exercise, but many dieters need added structure and support, not to mention the accountability (there's nothing like a little public humiliation to keep you motivated) that accompanies an organized program.
But paying someone to keep you on the straight and narrow isn't cheap. Remember, the phrase "caveat emptor" (let the buyer beware) was practically coined for the diet industry. Do your homework and remember that there are no shortcuts or magic shakes or bars that will to be your ticket to Slimville.
Here's a quick look at a handful of popular programs and the costs involved.
1. Jenny Craig (http://biz.yahoo.com/brn/070407/21620.html?.v=1&.pf=family-home#1)
2. L A Weight Loss (http://biz.yahoo.com/brn/070407/21620.html?.v=1&.pf=family-home#2)
3. NutriSystem (http://biz.yahoo.com/brn/070407/21620.html?.v=1&.pf=family-home#3)
4. Weight Watchers (http://biz.yahoo.com/brn/070407/21620.html?.v=1&.pf=family-home#4)
5. The Zone Diet (http://biz.yahoo.com/brn/070407/21620.html?.v=1&.pf=family-home#5)
Jenny Craig
The weight loss brand recently marketed by spokeswoman Kirstie Alley boasts a sensible approach to weight loss, advocating an average drop in body mass of about 1 percent, or one to two pounds per week. The program addresses mind-body aspects of weight loss by helping clients adopt healthy eating and exercise habits, as well as encouraging them to examine the underlying causes of their weight problem.
Clients can choose from three membership levels with staggered sign-up costs: Jenny TuneUp, $49, for those who have less than 10 pounds to lose; Jenny OnTrack, $199, a six-month program; and Jenny Rewards, $399 or $358, a 12-month program that rewards dieters efforts and weight loss with discounts on food. There's also an At Home option which is similar to the in-store options except you also pay for shipping and have consultations over the phone.
Sign-up costs include weekly one-on-one counseling, personalized menus, motivational plans and assorted manuals and guides, depending on your membership level. Then, there's the cost of food. The prepackaged foods generally cost $11 to $17 per day, or $77 to $119 per week.
Total cost: $49, $199 and $399 with a payment plan or $358 upfront, not including food.
L A Weight Loss
With L A Weight Loss you have the option to participate through an online center or at a local center. The program shows you how to create your own meals from the supermarket, supplemented with their soy protein bars.
The program stretches beyond just losing weight and includes a stabilization period as well as maintenance. The amount of time you spend in the weight loss component depends on how much you need to lose, and is based on losing an average of two pounds per week. For someone who wants to lose 30 pounds, your cost will include 15 weeks for the weight loss component, six weeks of stabilization and 52 weeks of maintenance for a total of 73 weeks. When figuring the costs, keep in mind that the protein bars are in addition to sign-up fees and weekly fees.
According to complaints on the Internet, some clients say they were told that the program will not work without the inclusion of the bars, called L A Lites.
The company has run into some trouble over the past few years for misrepresenting costs and making unsubstantiated nutritional claims. In 2002, New York Attorney General Elliot Spitzer charged the company a fine and forced them to reform their business practices for misrepresenting their costs and withholding or delaying refunds guaranteed to clients who reached their goal weights. In December 2005, and again in late 2006, Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna settled with several diet centers and required L A Weight Loss to reimburse clients who complained that the centers had misrepresented the cost of the program and coerced them to buy their products after they had signed a contract.
That being said, plenty of people have lost weight using L A Weight Loss. If you decide to give it a try, you're looking at a weekly fee of $5 to $7 that must be paid upfront. Some centers may offer monthly payment plans. You'll also pay a setup fee. That fee amount is not readily available. One center representative we spoke with quoted a setup fee of $174, but none of the other L A Weight Loss clinics we contacted would disclose the setup fee without first seeing the client. The cost of the L A Lite bars will be between $18 and $30 per week depending on whether they're bought in bulk. You'll spend less if you participate online. The initial cost to do the plan online is $219, including a four-week supply of L A Lites, a sample of snacks and vitamins, menu plan and access to the dieters hot line.
Total cost: Calculating the cost with a setup fee of $174 and $7 per week charge, the total cost of the plan is $685 for 73 weeks, not including the cost of food and L A Lite bars; initial cost online $219.
NutriSystem
This at-home system (no office visits or weigh-ins) will appeal to those who don't like to cook. It involves exclusively eating the company's prepackaged meals. The 28-day program includes breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks (you can add fresh vegetables, fruit and dairy). Support is offered through a free Web site.
"Some people lose one pound a week, some people lose three pounds a week," says a NutriSystem sales representative. If, on average, you lose two pounds a week, the diet will take about four months. It's cheaper to sign up for the Auto-Delivery Savings program (the food keeps coming until you cancel it), which costs $293.72, including shipping, per month.
Total cost: $1,174.88, including all food, except fresh greens and dairy.
Weight Watchers
This is one of the most popular diets in the world, probably because there's no such thing as taboo food. The diet is based on portion control and involves weekly support meetings; you can also do the program online.
The Flexible Points plan means each food is assigned a point value and you can eat anything as long as you stay within your allotted points. The Core plan involves a preapproved list of foods. While there are plenty of Weight Watchers food items on the market, they are optional.
Registration is between $15 and $20, depending on location. Weekly meeting fees range from $9.99 to $13.99, again, location-dependent. The standard monthly plan for Weight Watchers Online costs $46.90 the first month and $16.95 for subsequent months. Plan to lose one to two pounds per week for 20 weeks to reach a 30-pound weight-loss goal.
The total cost is between $214.80 and $299.80, depending on location, or $97.75 online, not including food.
The Zone Diet -- not available outside of certain cities
This well-rounded plan is based on a 40:30:30 ratio of daily calories obtained from carbohydrates, proteins and favorable fats. While you can buy a book and follow the diet independently, why not do it like the stars by opting for In The Zone Delivery. The service delivers a customized daily supply of food (three meals and two snacks) by 6 a.m. each day.
Though the service has been available for years in Toronto, Canada, it's relatively new to the United States and started in Los Angeles just a little over a year ago and in New York a few months after that. Kitchens are scheduled to open in 10 new cities this year. A few of the cities will be receiving their fresh meals weekly via FedEx from the New York area until they're fully up and running but the price is the same. Zone dieters in the general vicinity of Las Vegas, San Diego, San Francisco, Dallas and Houston, and South Beach and West Palm Beach, Fla., can look forward to having gourmet food dropped off at their door by 6 a.m., sometime this year.
Signing up for the 30-day plan will cost $39.99 per day. If you just want to try it out for two weeks, you'll be paying $44.99 per day. The average Zone dieter loses between eight and 10 pounds per month, and it will take three or four months to drop 30 pounds.
Total cost: $3,599.10 to $4,798.80
Free advice
These diets are just the tip of the iceberg -- the options for losing weight are endless. Keep in mind that this article isn't an endorsement of any of the programs listed. Before committing to any system, research the company, talk to your doctor and ask questions.
Questions to ask before signing up:
What are the costs for membership, weekly fees, food, supplements, maintenance and counseling?
What's the payment schedule?
Are any costs covered under health insurance?
What is the refund policy?
What are the health risks?
How many participants succeed in reaching their goal and keeping off the weight?
What kind of professional supervision or counseling is provided?
It's also important to be realistic. Ask yourself if you can afford the program and if it fits your lifestyle. If you have the motivation, but not the means, don't fret. Instead, consider two tried and tested methods for losing weight: reduce the number of calories you take in, or exercise to increase the number of calories you burn off.
From http://biz.yahoo.com/brn/070407/21620.html?.v=1&.pf=family-home
Saturday April 7, 6:00 am ET
Michelle Warren and Sheyna Steiner
With summer on the horizon, our thoughts turn to the obvious -- how can I lose 10, 20 or 30 pounds before swimsuit season? As panic sets in, ads featuring before and after shots of weight-loss success stories capture the imagination and we muse: "If Mike Bullard lost 30 pounds in seven weeks, why can't I?"
Despite studies saying North Americans are getting fatter every year, people are obsessed with weight loss, and the business of losing weight has ballooned into a $46.3 billion industry. How much would you be willing to spend to lose 30 pounds?
There is no shortage of options when it comes to weight-loss programs. The key is finding a program that fits your lifestyle and budget. Of course, you could always go the old-fashioned route, reducing calories and increasing exercise, but many dieters need added structure and support, not to mention the accountability (there's nothing like a little public humiliation to keep you motivated) that accompanies an organized program.
But paying someone to keep you on the straight and narrow isn't cheap. Remember, the phrase "caveat emptor" (let the buyer beware) was practically coined for the diet industry. Do your homework and remember that there are no shortcuts or magic shakes or bars that will to be your ticket to Slimville.
Here's a quick look at a handful of popular programs and the costs involved.
1. Jenny Craig (http://biz.yahoo.com/brn/070407/21620.html?.v=1&.pf=family-home#1)
2. L A Weight Loss (http://biz.yahoo.com/brn/070407/21620.html?.v=1&.pf=family-home#2)
3. NutriSystem (http://biz.yahoo.com/brn/070407/21620.html?.v=1&.pf=family-home#3)
4. Weight Watchers (http://biz.yahoo.com/brn/070407/21620.html?.v=1&.pf=family-home#4)
5. The Zone Diet (http://biz.yahoo.com/brn/070407/21620.html?.v=1&.pf=family-home#5)
Jenny Craig
The weight loss brand recently marketed by spokeswoman Kirstie Alley boasts a sensible approach to weight loss, advocating an average drop in body mass of about 1 percent, or one to two pounds per week. The program addresses mind-body aspects of weight loss by helping clients adopt healthy eating and exercise habits, as well as encouraging them to examine the underlying causes of their weight problem.
Clients can choose from three membership levels with staggered sign-up costs: Jenny TuneUp, $49, for those who have less than 10 pounds to lose; Jenny OnTrack, $199, a six-month program; and Jenny Rewards, $399 or $358, a 12-month program that rewards dieters efforts and weight loss with discounts on food. There's also an At Home option which is similar to the in-store options except you also pay for shipping and have consultations over the phone.
Sign-up costs include weekly one-on-one counseling, personalized menus, motivational plans and assorted manuals and guides, depending on your membership level. Then, there's the cost of food. The prepackaged foods generally cost $11 to $17 per day, or $77 to $119 per week.
Total cost: $49, $199 and $399 with a payment plan or $358 upfront, not including food.
L A Weight Loss
With L A Weight Loss you have the option to participate through an online center or at a local center. The program shows you how to create your own meals from the supermarket, supplemented with their soy protein bars.
The program stretches beyond just losing weight and includes a stabilization period as well as maintenance. The amount of time you spend in the weight loss component depends on how much you need to lose, and is based on losing an average of two pounds per week. For someone who wants to lose 30 pounds, your cost will include 15 weeks for the weight loss component, six weeks of stabilization and 52 weeks of maintenance for a total of 73 weeks. When figuring the costs, keep in mind that the protein bars are in addition to sign-up fees and weekly fees.
According to complaints on the Internet, some clients say they were told that the program will not work without the inclusion of the bars, called L A Lites.
The company has run into some trouble over the past few years for misrepresenting costs and making unsubstantiated nutritional claims. In 2002, New York Attorney General Elliot Spitzer charged the company a fine and forced them to reform their business practices for misrepresenting their costs and withholding or delaying refunds guaranteed to clients who reached their goal weights. In December 2005, and again in late 2006, Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna settled with several diet centers and required L A Weight Loss to reimburse clients who complained that the centers had misrepresented the cost of the program and coerced them to buy their products after they had signed a contract.
That being said, plenty of people have lost weight using L A Weight Loss. If you decide to give it a try, you're looking at a weekly fee of $5 to $7 that must be paid upfront. Some centers may offer monthly payment plans. You'll also pay a setup fee. That fee amount is not readily available. One center representative we spoke with quoted a setup fee of $174, but none of the other L A Weight Loss clinics we contacted would disclose the setup fee without first seeing the client. The cost of the L A Lite bars will be between $18 and $30 per week depending on whether they're bought in bulk. You'll spend less if you participate online. The initial cost to do the plan online is $219, including a four-week supply of L A Lites, a sample of snacks and vitamins, menu plan and access to the dieters hot line.
Total cost: Calculating the cost with a setup fee of $174 and $7 per week charge, the total cost of the plan is $685 for 73 weeks, not including the cost of food and L A Lite bars; initial cost online $219.
NutriSystem
This at-home system (no office visits or weigh-ins) will appeal to those who don't like to cook. It involves exclusively eating the company's prepackaged meals. The 28-day program includes breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks (you can add fresh vegetables, fruit and dairy). Support is offered through a free Web site.
"Some people lose one pound a week, some people lose three pounds a week," says a NutriSystem sales representative. If, on average, you lose two pounds a week, the diet will take about four months. It's cheaper to sign up for the Auto-Delivery Savings program (the food keeps coming until you cancel it), which costs $293.72, including shipping, per month.
Total cost: $1,174.88, including all food, except fresh greens and dairy.
Weight Watchers
This is one of the most popular diets in the world, probably because there's no such thing as taboo food. The diet is based on portion control and involves weekly support meetings; you can also do the program online.
The Flexible Points plan means each food is assigned a point value and you can eat anything as long as you stay within your allotted points. The Core plan involves a preapproved list of foods. While there are plenty of Weight Watchers food items on the market, they are optional.
Registration is between $15 and $20, depending on location. Weekly meeting fees range from $9.99 to $13.99, again, location-dependent. The standard monthly plan for Weight Watchers Online costs $46.90 the first month and $16.95 for subsequent months. Plan to lose one to two pounds per week for 20 weeks to reach a 30-pound weight-loss goal.
The total cost is between $214.80 and $299.80, depending on location, or $97.75 online, not including food.
The Zone Diet -- not available outside of certain cities
This well-rounded plan is based on a 40:30:30 ratio of daily calories obtained from carbohydrates, proteins and favorable fats. While you can buy a book and follow the diet independently, why not do it like the stars by opting for In The Zone Delivery. The service delivers a customized daily supply of food (three meals and two snacks) by 6 a.m. each day.
Though the service has been available for years in Toronto, Canada, it's relatively new to the United States and started in Los Angeles just a little over a year ago and in New York a few months after that. Kitchens are scheduled to open in 10 new cities this year. A few of the cities will be receiving their fresh meals weekly via FedEx from the New York area until they're fully up and running but the price is the same. Zone dieters in the general vicinity of Las Vegas, San Diego, San Francisco, Dallas and Houston, and South Beach and West Palm Beach, Fla., can look forward to having gourmet food dropped off at their door by 6 a.m., sometime this year.
Signing up for the 30-day plan will cost $39.99 per day. If you just want to try it out for two weeks, you'll be paying $44.99 per day. The average Zone dieter loses between eight and 10 pounds per month, and it will take three or four months to drop 30 pounds.
Total cost: $3,599.10 to $4,798.80
Free advice
These diets are just the tip of the iceberg -- the options for losing weight are endless. Keep in mind that this article isn't an endorsement of any of the programs listed. Before committing to any system, research the company, talk to your doctor and ask questions.
Questions to ask before signing up:
What are the costs for membership, weekly fees, food, supplements, maintenance and counseling?
What's the payment schedule?
Are any costs covered under health insurance?
What is the refund policy?
What are the health risks?
How many participants succeed in reaching their goal and keeping off the weight?
What kind of professional supervision or counseling is provided?
It's also important to be realistic. Ask yourself if you can afford the program and if it fits your lifestyle. If you have the motivation, but not the means, don't fret. Instead, consider two tried and tested methods for losing weight: reduce the number of calories you take in, or exercise to increase the number of calories you burn off.
From http://biz.yahoo.com/brn/070407/21620.html?.v=1&.pf=family-home