hi there! if theres no registration fee, it will only cost that $12 to for the first visit, and you should pick up the starter kit. It includes the dinning out companion and the food companion as well as a tracker and a case for ALL your stuff for I believe $20, you save almost 10 bucks that way. You'll get your first weeks tracker, the starters booklet (which breaks down both flex and core plans) and your points slider. Every week you'll get a new tracker and then on week 3, you'll get your activity points stuff. I only went to the first meeting and never went back and have done the diet perfectly on my own without useing the activity points method, and I am only 2 pounds away from my goal! Just another option if you want to save some money.