Would You Have Paid...?

perhaps if it included a strong component about what to do while waiting for approval ... exercise and nutrition.  Also if you could work with someone who specializes in insurance information, that would increase the appeal.

might want to call the local hospitals and ask how many surgeries they do a month, would give you an idea of how many people you might get or how much space you need for meeting.

Film your seminars sitting at your dining room table and post on youtube. You would reach a larger audience. If your purpose is to make money, get some sponsors and let them advertise. Or get a paypal account and ask for donations for your service.

Getting the information out would help a lot of people.

No, but I'm an avid researcher and already know a ton about nutrition, and I paid a lot of money out of pocket for the required NUT visits that I thought were bogus.  I think there could definitely be a market for that sort of thing.  I know there are tons of people who get WLS and have very little knowledge of nutrition and exercise even if they have aftercare with their surgeons. 

My big problem with the surgeons and nuts in their offices is how little they actually know about nutrition. My primary care doc knows literally nothing about it but she tries to dispense advice that literally comes off the damn government food pyramid chart. I wanted to choke her when she was trying to give me advice at my last checkup. They literally get no training. 

And many NUTs just spout the last text book they read. They don't test, they don't experiment, they do not really look at the individual and put together a program they can live with. I cannot count how many people when through their visits post op and all they really heard was Wendy's Chili and they end up eating that once a day instead of what their nut said. This is because the NUT regurgitates a list they developed meeting after meeting instead of really talking to the person and figuring out what they like/don't like and what foods might be best for them.

Totally agreed.

I would not have.  I also think that while you are super informed and educated,  do you have any certifications in nutrition or exercise?  I don't think I would have paid to hear another WLS patient, however successful they might be, speak. No offense or disrespect meant! 

Yeah, that's what keeps popping in to my mind. As a potential customer for this would I care more about those certifications or listening to a guy who lost 170lbs?

No offense taken at all! That's why I put this out there to hear honest feedback on the idea. This has been on my mind lately a lot because I think I can help people. I remember how lost I felt at 384lbs and thinking I could never get to where I need to be. Had I known then what I know now, I probably would not have even needed the surgery. 

I totally think you can too. A woman came to speak to my support group. She is a lapband patient who has been highly successful. She left her job as an attorney and, got her nutrition certification, became a personal trainer and now offers coaching and mentoring.  

Make sure you look at licensing and certification requirements in your state.  Giving nutritional advice in some states is highly regulated and you need to be careful about what advice you can legally give without being a (1) doctor or (2) certified/licensed NUT.

I have actually considered getting certified. Just not sure its worth it. I make a lot more than a nutritionist in my profession and I am not really looking to dispense nutrition advice or make money at it. But this thought has crossed my mind. I was thinking of really spinning this more like a life coach does for other things. In fact weight loss coach sounds like a pretty good spin.