At first glance, the LifeSize device is reminiscent of an educational toy that a little girl would play with to emulate her mom working busily in the kitchen.  However, this is not kid stuff.

LifeSize food-portion control system that its co-creator, Myles Berkowitz, claims helped him lose 46 pounds and, even better, keep it off for more than five years.  You get to eat six times a day plus a snack.  Co-creator Stephen Kates, a personal trainer and nutritionist, says the secret is that you have to eat less, reports the L.A. Times.

Berkowitz, a filmmaker, became fed up with his weight and his poor health when he went to see Kates, who has a studio in Santa Monica. Kates told him he didn't need to limit his consumption of his favorite food, ribs, to twice a year. He could have ribs whenever he wanted; he just needed to limit the amount.