SPRINGFIELD, NJ — New Jersey Bariatric Center^® is pleased to announce that it is teaming up with the Westfield Area Y to offer Weight Loss Surgery patients an exercise program that is geared specifically for them.

“The ‘Y First’ program is a perfect exercise program for Weight Loss Surgery patients who may be unaccustomed to fitting exercise into their regular routine,” said Ajay Goyal, MD, FACS, founder of the New Jersey Bariatric Center^®. “The ‘Y First’ program eases patients into their new healthy lifestyle in a supportive and encouraging environment. The New Jersey Bariatric Center^® and the Y both are all about giving people who suffer from obesity the tools to get healthy.”

The “Y First” special membership allows weight loss surgery patients to enjoy the abundance of exercise options available at the Westfield Y for an introductory membership fee of only $50. With the “Y First” membership, weight loss surgery patients get full access to the YMCA’s cardio and strength equipment, two pools and more than 50 fitness classes for 8 weeks. Y Fitness coaches will be on hand to show members how to use the appropriate equipment and help to make them comfortable in the facility.

Patients also have the opportunity to join an 8-week Bariatric Exercise Class created just for New Jersey Bariatric Center^®’s Weight Loss Surgery patients. You can sign up for this 8-week class at an additional fee of $56. The 45-minute Bariatric Surgery Exercise class starts Saturday, Feb. 16th at 10 a.m.

All patients who sign up for the “Y First” program will also get a free fitness assessment to determine how best to begin their exercise program. These assessments will be conducted by YMCA personal trainer and staff nutritionist Kim Spaccarotella and personal trainer Walter Foster, who also teaches the Bariatric Exercise class.

Interested patients should contact the New Jersey Bariatric Center^® office or their NJBC Patient Navigator for a referral letter in order to get the special “Y First” rate.

Bariatric or Weight Loss Surgery – also known as Gastric Bypass, Gastric Sleeve, LAP-BAND or REALIZE Band – promotes weight loss in part by surgically limiting the amount of food that can be eaten. As part of the New Jersey Bariatric Center^® weight loss surgery program, patients are encouraged to find ways to fit exercise into their new lifestyle of healthy choices. Weight loss surgery is not a quick fix to obesity but a tool and exercise is an important part of the weight loss surgery patient’s new lifestyle, Dr. Goyal says.

For more information about the Westfield Area Y, visit http://www.westfieldynj.org.

About New Jersey Bariatric Center^®
The New Jersey Bariatric Center^®, a medical & surgical weight loss center with offices in Springfield, Somerville and Hoboken, New Jersey, helps patients achieve long-term weight loss success through the most advanced bariatric surgery procedures, including gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, LAP-BAND and REALIZE Band procedures. The New Jersey Bariatric Center^®’s approach to patient care has resulted in zero mortalities and a complication rate that is lower than the national average. For more information about bariatric surgery, visit www.NJBariatricCenter.com.