Would You Have Paid...?

Would you have paid money (say somewhere between $25 and $50) prior to having your surgery to have access to someone that could answer all of your questions about the WLS process, nutrition, exercise, planning, what to expect before during and after the process, someone who could give you not only the basic plan but help you tweak it to your exercise level, etc. before you started this process?

I am doing a little bit of market research. I am considering starting a monthly seminar locally that would be like 1 to 2 hours long where I would basically talk about losing weight with and without WLS, how to plan, how to stick to a plan, etc. I am considering using a local conference facility that is not free and I am thinking somewhere around $25 per person would cover the room costs. My question is would you have paid to be able to talk to someone before you started this process?

I don't think I would have because I had done a lot of research and I was talking to some of the people on this board long before I actually decided to have the surgery. i also followed a bunch of people on YouTube. But I am wondering if there are others who would, who maybe do not have the perpensity to research like I do.

Let me know your thoughts!

I personally would not- the internet is full of information plus the surgeons all have free seminars! just my two cents!

Yes and no. Before I started my serious research and learned what I know now the answer would have been yes. But after attending various doctor and hospital seminars, and lurking on several message boards, the answer is now no. Before I wanted to soak up all the info I could. But having done that, it is clear that many pre and post op plans are wildly different. Also, individual approach and interpretation is wildly different. As you stated, YouTube is a great resource and its free, as are some drop in support groups. And with all you can take what you need and leave the rest.

I would have paid to hear Keith but I would not have known what questions to ask. I had a close cousin who was one year out ~~ she provided a lot of input and provided answers to the questions I didn't have. I probably would pay $25 for the inservice.

What if you walked away with a program that told you:

• what to do from now until you start your pre-op diet
• what to do during your pre-op diet to get through it
• all the little things to expect after your surgery while still in the hospital
• Liquid Phase Diet Items 
• Soft Phase Diet Items (and recipes)
• What to eat during full foods and what to have on hand
• Exercise Phase (just starting out, after you have a couple weeks/months under your belt, really shreading the weight)

And what if you had access to me during any point in the entire process with whatever amount of coaching until you reach goal (for an additional fee of course)?

I think it would be awesome

I think I would have paid.  To see someone in person who has actually gone through the surgery and been successful would be very inspiring.  My Dr. did not have the surgery so he can give me great information and stats and tell me how his patients recover but not firsthand.  Although it is a popular surgery I, myself do not know anyone that has had this surgery ( or at least I didn't till I came to this site) in person.  When you are just thinking about it sometimes being anonymous and going to a seminar would be a great first step.  Although I personally also feel your time would be better spent writing a book, I think you could reach far more people and they would have a reference to look to anytime they needed it and the information would be all right there.  Where as in a seminar they would only be relying on their own notes and may miss writing down some vital pieces of information.  Just my two cents too.........

 

I probably would not have paid since there is so much available free to us now- seminars, on line info, etc. However, you are inspirational and loaded with common sense information . It would be money well spent. I thank you for all of your input for us here.

My thinking is those free seminars are designed to sell you on the procedure/doctor/hospital not one how to lose weight. I am thinking I could twist it to be a How to Lose Weight (without surgery) or How to Lose Weight Fast (with surgery). I actually think if I had known everything I know now, I probably would not have had the surgery, not because I have any regrets, but because the only thing the surgery actually did for me was force me to control my portions, eating the right foods, exercising, and sticking to the program were still up to me. I think I could get people to lose weight almost as fast as with surgery by educating them on the little details that I learned in the last 10 months.

Nope -- but my doc offers strong support, etc. 

HOWEVER, from a business idea perspective, perhaps there is a market for a "personal consultant" type of business where you meet 1:1 with people.  You could do that in a public place, so there's no fees.  You'd have to find the right marketing tag, like Weight Loss Coach or Weight Loss Advisor.

But that might be a little niche, then you can schedule at your convenience.  Best of luck!