This was the initial force diagram that I created while designing my Cantilever Table, in order to figure out how much weight I needed to counter balance the material weight of the table and the weght of the live loads.  My original design called for a pre-cast concrete block to serve as the counter weight (which I did cast, but didn't use) but after solving the forces, I realized that I would need to use 1/4" steel plates instead becuase they were heavier.  The overall table weighs about 250 lbs, which I have to agree is a little rediculous, but each piece is made to be bolt connected so that it can be taken apart in smaller assemblages.