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I’ve tried many diets over the years, and I was even a Weight Watchers leader at one point. Does Weight Watchers really work, though?

It can be hard to choose a diet plan that works for you. You don’t want to put your money into something that is more of a fad than a real technique.

Weight Watchers is a company that has been around for decades. There’s no doubt that it can work when you’re on the plan. The problem is when you come off it.

I’ve been a Weight Watchers leader in the past. I’ve also followed the plan on and off for many years while I lived in the UK. It’s something that I no longer follow now, and I don’t need it. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t work.

Weight Watchers really works when you follow it

The only way this plan works is when you follow it. You need to be honest with yourself when it comes to tracking things. It’s a lot like Slimming World in the way that it works when you’re there, but it doesn’t work if you stop.

There’s nothing wrong with slipping up now and again. We all have bad weeks. However, you need to be honest with yourself, pick yourself back up, and try again.

The group support is the part that helps a lot of people, and that’s why Slimming World works as well. It’s good to know that you have a leader and fellow dieters going along the journey with you. I do prefer the Weight Watchers groups over the Slimming World ones. The rewards are more personal.

One thing I hated about Slimming World was the “Loser of the Week,” which just happened to be the person who lost the most weight—let’s face it, the people with the most weight to lose* will lose more than those who are close to their goal weight and losing a lot of weight at once is not a good thing. Weight Watchers doesn’t encourage the fast weight losses.

Weight Watchers has different diet plans to suit you

Now, this was almost 10 years ago, but Weight Watchers really works because of the different diet plans. If you wanted to follow a Mediterranean diet, there was a plan set out for that. If you wanted to follow a vegetarian or vegan die, Weight Watchers created a meal plan for that. There really was something for all needs and interests.

There is a point system to follow if you want to avoid limiting your favorites too much. There was also a plan where you didn’t have to count too many points, and you would eat certain foods until you were full. The idea was that you would feel satisfied. I didn’t try the latter as the whole layout didn’t work for me and my needs, but I know a lot of people who found that worked.

One thing I love is the studies that have shown Weight Watchers is great for Type 2 diabetes. I had a lot of members with Type 2 diabetes and I did see people who were able to come off medication and even reverse it. Only Type 2, mind. Type 1 diabetes is very different.

Encourage maintaining your weight loss

I got to Gold as a Weight Watchers* member. As long as I stayed within 5lbs of my goal weight (either side), I was able to keep going to classes for free. This was a great way to encourage people to stick to their weight goals in the future. It’s something that a lot of diet groups should do. Not only is it an incentive for you to stay, but it’s an incentive for others to get to goal. You show that it works.

The problem with a lot of diet plans is that they don’t offer incentives to stay at the weight. The way they make money is through paid members, so they want people to leave, gain the weight back, and need to come back. Now, a lot of people did that with Weight Watchers, but it’s not because of the lack of incentive to stay on track.

Weight Watchers* really works because of the group support. I do firmly believe that. Some people need it. However, it is possible to do the diet at home and still see success. It’s just a little bit harder, unless you can find group support online or with friends.

I haven’t needed Weight Watchers in a long time. The skills I developed while being there have helped me set up good diet plans since. Now I eat well and exercise regularly without the group support and still keep my weight to a healthy level.

MORE: How often should you weight yourself when losing weight

Does Weight Watchers really work for you? Which diet plan do you follow? Share your thoughts in the comments below.