Starting Over, Again

If you ever think you're alone in this dieting merry-go-round, try going to a weight loss orientation group. I spent a few hours tonight at Kaiser listening to the pitch for their version of a Weight Loss Program. And, it was a full house. Easily 30-40 people there. I was planning on signing up to do this whole weight loss thing. (Yes, again) However, I waited a full hour and there were still 10 people ahead of me to sign up. I would still be there now - each sign-up took about 15 minutes. Wow. Even the woman doing the registration was shocked. She said she'd never seen that many people wanting to sign up for the group. I think there were about 20, out of the 30+, that were ready to go for it.
This just goes to show how many people are out there that want to lose weight. We all know it's a serious issue, but wow ...
I do have to say it's inspiring. All these people ready for a change, wanting to take (somewhat) drastic measures to get thin. I enjoyed talking to a few of them. I could see how a group dynamic could really be a big support for weight loss.
I'm just not 100% yet. The group doesn't begin until the end of August. I'm ready to start again NOW. If I wait (weight!) until August 26, will I gain even more weight? Can I do it on my own? Should I try first? Argggh! I'm not sure what to do. I don't have to decide right this second, but I do need to make a decision by tomorrow. The initial payout is $250 for the medical testing. I don't have to do the program, but the money is non-refundable.
I think the biggest issue for me, once again, is the money. It's pricey. When you consider how much I spend on food it's not TOO bad, but it's still not cheap. Since this isn't necessarily easy information to find, here's a rundown on the program fees:

Initial Health Assessment: $250
Monthly Program Fee: $360 (Weeks 1-20)
Monthly Program Fee: $280 (Weeks 21-30)
Monthly Program Fee: Free! (Weeks 30-82)
Food: $90+ each week

Grand total: $4,300 (for the entire 18 month program)