does weight watchers work?

Good advice so far! I've lost a lot both ways.

The act of paying for a program can sometimes make me take my eating a lot more seriously, even though it's not much money (like $45/month) so sometimes I go for a few months and try their new programs.

The meetings are good for education and support and accountability. And recipes and food ideas. It's nice to have a 'pro' for advice for things like plateaus. They won't feed you b.s. like 'starvation mode' and 'building muscle', in my experience.

I don't like their web site or cookbooks.

If you don't/can't cook, their new Simple Start program might actually be good for you because it gives you a booklet of simple meals to fix and eat the first few weeks, so almost no counting or planning.

Your base points aren't really a feasible calorie level without several portions of fruit, so overeating by overdoing fruit isn't all that likely, unless you really try. For example, if I just ate my base points, I'd only be eating around 1000 calories so if I eat 300-400 calories of fruit a day, I'm right up to a healthy calorie level that still has a deficit. And it's nice to have a world of snacks that you don't have to track. It sure encourages you to eat more produce.

I started WW in October 12 weighing in at 230 left WW in June of 13 weighing in at 172. Started actively here around the time I left WW and have lost roughly 15 pounds. Just using the rough estimate of numbers that I gave you shows that , for me, WW works far better for me then MFP has and probably ever will. I also find that the support for WW and the number of people doing WW is far greater then MFP. If money is an issue stay with MFP if not I would recommend WW for the structure and discipline that it takes. I am not saying that MFP will not work or hasn't work for many people it just hasn't been what I was hoping for for me.

I've never used it but I have several friends who have. Personally, I think it's a waste of money and a sales pitch. Skip the 'point' system and just log food on here. This worked for me:

Log your food. All of it, for 2 weeks.
Look at what you're eating. Cut back to the amount of calories that MFP says you should be eating. You wont be eating much, because what you have been eating is packed with too many calories. You then have to figure out what you can eat that will keep you full and satisfied.
Make one change, such as skipping that morning doughnut and having something healthier for breakfast. I make oatmeal made with whole rolled oats, fresh fruit and Splenda. It takes 3 minutes to cook, while I make my morning coffee! I put 1/2 cup frozen berries in the microwave, with a little sweetener, just until thawed well. I boil the oats on low for 3 minutes. Mash up my berries with splenda, then add my oats. Toss in a few nuts or dried fruit, but measure them as they have more calories. It's easy, and delicious! I found that I was full until lunch time, instead of starving 1/2 an hour later. After that one change, I eventually started cooking omelets, scrambled eggs, etc. I still prefer that oatmeal though!
If you're not already, commit to walking (or whatever) at least 30 minutes per day, minimum of 3 times per week, but you will lose weight faster if you can exercise some how, daily. Lifting on non-walking days is a great way to get into shape. Go at any pace, just do it! Eventually you'll feel better and start going longer, faster, or trying different exercise. Walking is also free! I now walk and run both and I'll be 53 next month!
Then look at your lunch meals. I was eating canned, frozen, prepared 'diet' meals that had about 5 Tablespoons of food in them, and tons of sodium. I found a better and more filling alternative with 2 slices of Healthy Life bread (35 cals per slice!) turkey, lettuce, tomato, and great value spicy mustard. I sometimes put avocado on it. Yum! I add as many fresh, chopped veggies I want to go with that, and a few Tablespoons of ranch for dipping, if I'm in the mood for it. Again, just like breakfast, I was now full and not hungry until dinner time!
Dinner. Grill it. Grill it all. Bake it, Prepare it every couple of days, such as bake or grill chicken so you can make many meals with it. I buy frozen chicken breasts and cook them from a frozen state in the oven until cooked. I then use it for wraps, stir fry, homemade soups, chicken salad, salads, and even to put in pasta. Skinnytaste.com has a LOT of healthy recipes that taste REALLY good and are so much better for you. Most of them are revamped, regular recipes that most of us are used to having, and the recipes are FREE! Eventually you'll get used to cooking.
Grill kabobs with red peppers, onions, mushrooms, and the lean meat of your choice. Serve it with brown rice (or even the instant, 90 second pouches of brown and wild rice, etc.)
Snacks: If you need any, eat a boiled egg, just the whites if you want to feel full with fewer calories, jello with REAL redi whip, fresh fruit, a banana with 1 tablespoon of almond butter. What I try to do is eat something that will satisfy hunger, cravings, yet nourish my body. Even carrots taste super sweet, once you cut out the sugary crap you've been used to eating.
Weigh your food! Don't just measure it! Scooping 1/2 cup of oats into a measuring cup vs. weighing a serving, can make the difference between 50 extra calories you can use for something else.
Once a week, I eat some garbage. Yep, high calorie crap. It may be a Butterfinger blizzard (small or medium), it might be a chocolate covered doughnut, an ice cream cone, a candy bar, a serving sized bag of chips, cookies, etc. Just don't buy a WHOLE package of the above! Stop at a store and buy ONE single serving!

Sorry for such a long rant, I just wanted to show that you can eat healthy foods, have the occasional 'treat' and still lose weight. You don't need weight watchers, fads, or have to work out every single day.

I hope this helps. YOU can do this!

WW absolutely works. I lost 50 pounds a few years ago with WW. Where I messed up is once I became a Lifetime Member, I quit going. Wrong!!!! So now I have to start over, but that's my fault; it would have been free for me to keep going!

WW was great for me because it held me more accountable. When you know someone else is going to be weighing you in, you are more likely to "be good."

By the way, you don't have to cook to diet. I cook on Thanksgiving day...that's it!! I lost the whole 50 eating out every day. It's about portion control and good choice as with any plan.

My favorite part of WW is you get more food. With there system all fruits and most veggies are FREE, so you aren't counting those. Basically you can snack on them anytime you are hungry without going over your daily allowance.

To answer your question, yes, it does work.

Weight loss is calories in vs calories out. That doesn't change if it's WW, MFP, Jenny Craig, or something else. Weight Watchers just hides calorie counting in their Points system, but that doesn't change it.

I found more success and visibility into my eating/exercise patters here on MFP because I'm tracking calories, not some made up marketing formula. I learned more about what I'm eating and how I'm using that energy by just tracking the calories and other nutritional information. Bonus points for MFP being free. All I was really doing on WW was paying someone else so I could count calories.

My favorite part of WW is you get more food. With there system all fruits and most veggies are FREE, so you aren't counting those. Basically you can snack on them anytime you are hungry without going over your daily allowance.

The problem with this is that you CAN overeat on healthy food. While they may be "free" points-wise, they are NOT free calorie wise. Yeah, most veggies are low in calories, but some fruits can pack a hefty punch. If you eat all of your points then start eating fruit because it's free, you can overeat calorie wise and still gain weight.

The pro about weight watchers (if you do it in person in a WW Center) is the lectures and community aspect.

This is the main difference I find in WW and MFP. Some people need a face to face group and person for accountability. WW is the number one rated weight loss center for a reason. But as previous posters have stated all of them work if you work the program and if you don't give up trying to find your path in whichever road you decide to use. Best wishes to you on your journey.

The problem with this is that you CAN overeat on healthy food. While they may be "free" points-wise, they are NOT free calorie wise. Yeah, most veggies are low in calories, but some fruits can pack a hefty punch. If you eat all of your points then start eating fruit because it's free, you can overeat calorie wise and still gain weight.

This x1000000

Seen it time after time at slimming world groups, theres no such thing as free food! MFP will show you where WW and SW fails.

If you eat all of your points then start eating fruit because it's free, you can overeat calorie wise and still gain weight.

How much fruit would you eat in a day if you were trying to learn to eat healthy and lose weight? 400 calories maybe? That is well within what they 'budget in'. Your points goal isn't your calorie goal. And if you don't lose on the plan as is, they tell you to take a look at your fruit intake and see if it's reasonable.

It works in the same way counting calories works. Save the money.

It works in the same way except if you want more inclusive face to face support.
I'm very lucky to have a family who are 1000% on board with supporting me and changing their ways too... Not everyone is so lucky and the extra support from a group sitting can keep you on track.

I love all my MFP friends, but its no comparison to suceeding alongside human beings face to face.

If money is not an issue then why not? If support isn't something you need then why bother?

Find what works for you.

Exactly!! And sometimes we really need to evaluate it when we use money as an excuse not to pay for WW. True some really can not afford WW but others can if they evaluate how much extra money they spend on fast and junk food or other none essentials. Ask yourself am I worth it?

Again, find what works for you and whatever plan you use, never give up until you find a lifestyle change for you. Keep pressing forward!

WW worked well for me the first time I joined, after my first baby. Years later, I tried it again several times with no real success.
Why did it work in 1989? Because initially it was based on exchanges, like the Diabetic diet. You ate a balanced diet of Protein, Fat, Carbs, etc. You were limited to 3 servings of starchy carbs per day, and 6 servings of Protein, and 3 servings of Fat. Add in 2 milk exchanges and 2 fruit, plus unlimited non starch veggies, and it was a solid health plan. I lost all my baby weight plus more, and changed my eating habits so I kept the weight off for many years.

Then they went to the Points system and basically you could use all your points on donuts if you wanted. Gone was the nutritional counseling. I was so frustrated as to why I couldn't lose weight when I was staying within my points. No one knew anything about Insulin resistance, or PCOS and their effect on your diet. The original exchange program was much lower carb and higher protein than the average diet, and that is why it worked so well for me. Took me joining MFP to find out that bit of info.

MFP is better in the regards that you count calories and macros. Much easier to find that info on a label than how many WW points is costs.

If you need the accountability of weighing in every week, and the group meetings, then give it a go.
But whatever you try, nothing will work without YOU working it. There is no magic program.

If money is an issue another program to try is TOPS. I tried it but it was too social for me. I was not looking for a social club.

I'm sure it works, but it costs money when you could just enter in your calories and exercise in MFP.