If you're kick-starting 2006 with a new diet or hopping back on the Weight Watchers wagon after a Christmas blow-out, iVillagers top tips for success will help shed the pounds in no time

• What's it all about?
• Tailor-making your diet
• Is it really that easy?
• Allow yourself a treat
• Survive the danger zone
• How to maintain your target weight
• Get started!

What's it all about?
It's one of the most recognisable diets in the world, but what does Weight Watchers actually involve? The WW Pure Points programme allocates points to just about every food you can think of, based on its fat, fibre and calorie content. Then, depending on your weight, height and sex, you're allocated a certain number of points each day. So long as you don't eat more than your daily allowance, and you exercise regularly, you should lose weight steadily.

Their latest plan, NoCount, has a list of 'free' foods for dieters from which to pick and choose, plus points per week for treats. You can follow the diet through meetings, at home with the help of books or online.

Tailor-making your diet
iVillager melbal35 says finding a flexible plan that works for you is the key to success:

'I lost a stone following the WW points diet at home simply by adding up my daily points from my WW book and cooking lots of delicious WW recipes. I'm not a meeting-goer and am fairly fussy when it comes to food so tailor-making a diet to suit really worked. Going to a weigh-in doesn't appeal to me - far too embarrassing and time-consuming. But for others, I know that they couldn't do it without the meeting support. What I like about WW is that you have lots of options enabling you to follow the plan in the best way for you.'

Is it really that easy?
According to cl-joycebabe, WW is a doddle:

'Weight watchers is great, and there are now two plans you can follow, Pure Points and NoCount. Points is as it always was, though there is a new way of working out how many you can have. On NoCount there is a free food list, from which you select three meals a day, and are allowed 21 points a week, for extras. Best of all, some fruit and lots of vegetables are 'free' on either plan so you can eat as much as you like! I think it's the most straightforward diet around.'

For more info on WW and the point system, visit the iVillage Weight Watchers board

Allow yourself a treat
Don't forget, the odd treat along the way won't hurt (especially if included as part of your points allowance). For you chocoholics, iVillager lozloz25 suggests this:

'I've just been into Boots and they have Cadbury's Dairy Milk and Dairy Milk Mint Chip bars that are only 90 cals each! The bars are as thin as those Animal chocolate bars you can get. I think that if you're really desperate for a taste of proper chocolate then these will do the job for very few points.'

hellysbelly also recommends:

'Saving up points during the day or week so that you can have a treat is a great way to stay on track. If you know you've got a party and that there's no way you'll be able to stay away from the wine, simply save up points during the week and 'spend' them as a treat on whatever you fancy at the party.'

Survive the danger zone
All dieters have danger times during the day or week when that willpower wavers. In order to get through, iVillager klongland reveals what works for her:

'I go to the gym on a Saturday and Sunday morning which sets me up for the day as I always feel better after going (even if I don't feel like it). I also save some of my points from the week so that I can have a nice treat on Saturday night - maybe two glasses of wine or a takeaway. I find that helps to keep me motivated. If I feel hungry then I drink water or distract myself by logging on to the iVillage Weight Watchers message board and reading everyone's weigh-ins and how well they're doing. I weigh-in first thing on mondays so that is a good motivator - I don't want to have put any weight on over the weekend.'

hellysbelly says planning is key:

'Recognise your 'danger times' and plan accordingly. Drink plenty of water and try to plan ahead as much as possible. Stock up on healthy foods plus fruit to snacks on. Weekends are especially hard, but if you plan ahead and are as prepared, you should be able to beat those cravings.'

How to maintain your target weight
You've reached your goal - congratulations! What now? Many dieters wonder how many points they should stick to in order to maintain their goal weight. iVillager kbsg suggests the following for your average daily point allowance:

'Answer the following questions to work out your weight maintenance points:

1. Are you female?
   Score 3 (male score 9)



2. How old are you?
   16-20: score 5
   21-35: score 4
   36-50: score 3
   51-65: score 2
   over 65: score 1



3. How many stones do you weigh?
   (ignore the lb number. Someone who weighs 12st 4lb would score 12)



4. How tall are you?
   Under 5ft 4" - score 1
   5ft 4" or above - score 2



5. In your main occupation, are you:
   Sitting down most of the time - score 0
   Occasionally sitting, but mainly standing - score 2
   Walking most of the time - score 4
   Doing physically hard work most of the time - score 6



6. Do you want to:
   Lose weight - score 0
   Maintain your current weight - score 6

Now add up your score, this is now your daily POINTS allowance.'

Get started!
The ultimate way to stay on track is with the iVillage Weight Watchers messageboard where you will find all the help and support you need from fellow Weight Watchers at iVillage.

Whether it's a query about the points total of those four Bacardi Breezers you put away last night, an interesting new recipe or just a virtual shoulder to cry on when you feel your willpower wavering, someone out there will be able to help you with any Weight Watchers issues you may have. Good luck!