WW really does work - but you have to be "good" about weighing and measuring and then calculating the points. However, if you are like me, and tend to repeat what you eat often, then it's really only a hassle the first couple of weeks - after that, you can just weigh out the portions and take the points from a prior day's list. Also, the weigh-ins do keep you honest - where I go you need to be scheduled (no meetings) and I try to schedule them on a Monday so that I behave over the weekend. WW is a great program because it really forces you to learn what is good for you and filling vs wasted food (lots of points and not filling) - it also teaches you a great deal about portion size which for me is the main thing that needs to be reinforced over & over. I'm doing it now to lose my post-baby weight plus the weight I gained during the 2 years I did ivf cycle after ivf cycle and like others have said, my only complaint is that it is fairly expensive. I did it 6 years ago in the US and reached my lowest weight in 15 years on it - I was thrilled - but I don't remember it costing as much as it does here.

I've also tried Body Trim - my suggestion is that if you pick this method, look on ebay rather than paying full price for the dvd's etc. It does work, but it doesn't really teach you how to eat when you go off the program - in fact, you are never suppose to go off the program. I guess the same is true for WW but the program isn't restrictive so you really do learn.

I personally think Atkins is gross - it doesn't really teach you much about healthy eating and the side effects (from what I've heard) are nasty - bad breath, gas, etc. You would be much better off doing South Beach or CSIRO as I understand both focus on healthy protein, low GI carbs and good fats. Dukan sounds similar to these from what I've read but I don't know it first hand nor do I know anyone who has tried it.

The Michelle Bridges program intrigues me - it sounds great - the shopping list etc. would work for me but I'm going to stick with WW for now.

OH - and I thought of going to a private nutritionist as well but when I really thought about it, a program like WW really teaches you the same thing, it's just not customized to the same level as with a private nutritionist.