Big If's.....

I'm posting on several boards to get as much response as possible- Thanks! Hi everyone,  It's been on my mind for a while and I ahve decided to take action.  So,  I thought I'd put it out there, see what comes back and depending on the response, try to put together set of a comprehensive results.  Thanks in advance for your help ( and for not FLAMING me...:) ! If you had to take a "written" test to help you understand if you were prepared to deal with, take on, cope with WLS, would you take it?  What quetions would be on this test?   If there were a test to help you determine where you needed to improve your skills and habits in order to have a successful WLS,  what would be on it?   If there were a test you could take periodically to assess your strengths and weaknesses in your pre- and post-WLS progress, would you use it? What topics would it cover? if there were a workshop for your "circle of support" to take to help you on your journey, would you ask them to participate? Why or why not? Would this be a one shot deal  or a series of workshops? If there were a test  devised to suggest and/or assess which WLS would be most successful for you, would you take it?  What questions do you think should definitely be on it? If there were an assesment you could use to determine if your WLS medical team was a good fit for you, would you use it?  What questions would be on it?  What info would you "have" to know? How would you define WLS "success"? How would you define being "WLS-challenged"? Thanks again!!!!

ps Actually it is something for me personally-  I am not writing a paper or publishing anything-  just want to know if others think this might be a useful tool or approach to WLS.  The only thing I would do with the info is make a post of the results here on OH.  And if there is anything significant- I hope it can be helpful for others to see and find something maybe they weren't aware of or didn't think of.  

I'd take one test, maybe.  I self-evaluated, mainly gathered as much current information about wls as I could find. Books helped me the most, written by people who did it. My friends and I at work also evaluated the surgeons in our area.  We looked at how many surgeries, schooling, rating.  I wouldn't go to too many workshops.  It hit me hard when I went to one informational meeting about wls how many people were way worse off than I was. Not that I don't have room for improvement, but some folks had never exercised, still smoked, had many surgeries behind them (pretty much all related to being heavy).  Looking at that crowd, no wonder 25% of wls suregies are considered successful. Those folks had two strikes and two balls against them out the gate!  My definition of success:  to lose 75% of excess weight and keep it off forever.