It's all in the leader and the regulars - if you can find a good meeting, it's wonderful, inspiring, and interesting. Nothing like sitting in a room full of people who "get it." People exchange tips, bond over chocolate slip-ups, and share successes, on and off the scale.

But if it's bad, it's detrimental. I went to a meeting that was full of middle-aged women who had all been on and off WW for decades without any long-term success, and none seemed to actually think they could do it. The couple of times I went, I left the meeting feeling disillusioned instead of inspired.

Bottom line: I think meetings, and going in-person to WI, are important, and worth it if you can swing the cost.

I loved my WW@Work meetings. Really provided additional help and insight. Sometimes questions were asked that I hadn't run into, then when I ran into them I knew how to deal.

I have gone to meetings that were like the negative ones above. Every meeting is different - and this depends on the people there as much as the leader.

If I had the time to get to a meeting i would get back into them. They really do help keep you on track.

I go to meetings. I was lucky because I found a good leader on my first meeting. Then he went on vacation and there were a couple different fill-ins. One was good and the other was so-so.
I've only been attending for a few weeks so I haven't gotten to know much about other people in the group.
I like going to meetings because of the accountability and going to a meeting is the start of a new week.

LettuceDoThis is right. It is important to find a good meeting. About a year ago or so, I switched meetings for this reason. I actually liked the leader at the meeting a lot. But, the meeting members were just downers who mostly never seemed to lose any weight. It was not fun. I switched to another meeting and really enjoy it so much better.

When we moved to our current area I tried out several leaders before I found one I liked. It is really important to do that.

I truly need my meetings to keep me on track. I enjoy them as well. I think the trick is to find a leader who you are comfortable with and do not let that leader help you make excuses for not really putting yourself into this and truly doing what you are PAYING THEM to do!
I have a leader who I think is a "get real" person and she is great, funny and she influences me. She will lecture us about stuff and truly isn't allowing us to get away with the stuff other leaders do. Unless you are there, you don't get her. But, I think she is the best leader I've ever seen at WW.
She is in this with us and she believes in us all!
I love those meetings and she is the best.
For me, it's like self-hypnosis. If I don't go, it is easy to get off track.

I need meetings too. And, yes, when you find a good leader...stick with her.