I lost 47 pounds following Weight Watchers. It sounds like it could lean toward crash diet territory but the reason it doesn’t is because I did it slowly.  Instead of pushing myself and making sudden changes, I eased into things, learning what swaps I liked (fat free sour cream – yum! fat free cream cheese – gross!) so I could create lasting change. It paid off. After following the plan for two years, I hit my lifetime goal in October 2010. I’ve been at goal ever since.