I did weightwatchers a few years ago and found it useful and informative. And I lost the stone I had planned. And I've kept most of it off.

I found out things I didn't know about foods I had previously thought of as healthy (nuts, cheese etc)- that they were full of calories and would rapidly pile on the pounds even if they did supply some vitamins or protein at the same time!

The most important thing I learned is that it can only take the equivalent of a biscuit or two to tip you over from what your body needs to maintain itself to what is going to be stored as fat.

However you record your intake, be it calorie counting or "points" - the thing to do is write it down before you eat it - as LilyFestre says "If you bite it, write it". It makes you aware of what your limit is and you will know that by taking the next bite you will exceed your limit will not lose weight.

It really works!