Not just that, though that is a very good reason.  It's not always a
matter of not having the will power so much as not having the support
they need within the family.  It's very hard to stick to a good eating
habit if the rest of the crowd are still on a chocolate and chips
regime.  (I'm lucky in that all three of us do well on the WW type food,
and my menfolk can have their little indulgences if they want them)

Some folk (I include myself here) are VERY strong willed and determined
(not to say pig headed!), but find time to think about and take care of
their personal needs very difficult.  Physically setting aside the time
to share a common area of concern with others can be a real boost.
Also, when things don't quite go to plan (and they do go wrong at times)
it's good to have others there to discuss this with and mull over
alternative strategies to get going again.

In my meeting we rejoice in the successes, forbid the 'I only lost a
pound this week' blues (a pound is good!), and provide support when
things go the wrong way on the scales.  I find the discipline of going
to the meetings helps me a great deal, as does the planning of meals,
and writing down everything I eat.  My loss is substantial (57 at
present, but it was up to 63), and I find the slow progress advised by
WW very helpful.

If you're sure you can do it on your own then don't worry about WW.

In the event that you're just using a poor choice of words and not flame
baiting I will gladly explain why some people benefit from a plan like WW.
First off, it's not a weakness to seek support or structure in weight loss
efforts.  If anything it is sometimes more difficult to face a bunch of
strangers and deal with a sensitive issue like body weight.

WW provides a structured but flexible plan to help people eat properly and
manage portion control. The support offered is what you make of it.
Attending the meetings is as much an educational function as it is a social
one.  Lots of ideas and tips get traded in the course of a typical meeting.
WW is also proven to be three times more effective than other plans for long
term weight loss.

I wouldn't consider fixing my own transmission, installing my own hardwood
floor, or cutting my own hair.  These are things I could do physically or
could even read a book to figure out, but I probably wouldn't do any of them
well.  I know people who do all of those things for themselves.  For me,
weight loss is not a DIY thing.  I have plenty of other skills and talents.

At the risk of feeding a troll...

You say you can lose 50 pounds in 13 week. Thats a deficit of 1923
calories/day. You think you can achieve this through calorie control,
and that it's common sense.

Good luck

Ray

PS you could do worse than join weight watchers if only to learn
something about losing weight, 'cos right kown you don't have a clue.

I think you make a mistake in thinking that people are "too weak" to
lose weight on their own.  It's not about being "weak" at all: the
people who join WW *are* on their own from week to week.  They make all
the same food choices you're planning to make, and they're going to
encounter all the same hardships that you're going to encounter.

There are two real differences in the motivation for doing so, though:
First, WW is not free, and as a participant, you're going to be more
motivated to get the pounds off if you're paying to do so.  Second, you
have someone to answer to.  WW takes away all that denial that dieters
like to give themselves and forces you to pay attention to what kinds
of choices you're making.

If you can do it yourself, great!  If you find you have trouble, give
WW a try.

its not a matter of weak or strong, its a matter of what works, and I have
tried it all except, Atkins, HMR and surgery, meetings, the structure of WW
and this groups have assisted me in losing almost 90 pounds, if that's weak
then here I am 90 pounds lighter and hoping to get even weaker, Lee