Fitness program set for Monday

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » A free fitness program, “Muscles in Motion,” will be held from 6-8 p.m. Monday at the Embassy Suites by Hilton at 86 Congress St. in Saratoga Springs.

The event is presented by the Saratoga Bariatric Surgery and Weight-Loss Program and is open to anyone considering bariatric surgery, has undergone bariatric surgery, or is trying to lose weight.

The monthly support group provides information and support about all aspects of weight loss through various topics presented each month. No registration is required and the program is not limited to people who have been patients at Saratoga Hospital.

“Certified athletic trainer Lisa Muscatello will be pre-

senting valuable pre-op and post-op exercise information that is useful even for those not considering surgery,” said Bariatric Program coordinator Terry Bedard. “It’s not enough to just lose the weight. Your spine changes, everything changes. We have found that it is easier for patients to progress post-operatively if we start them right from the beginning, becoming used to a few fitness tasks before surgery. Lisa will also cover overcoming stigma at the gym, adjusting to the weight loss, and demonstrating exercises to strengthen the upper and lower body.”

The Saratoga Bariatric Surgery and Weight-Loss Program at Saratoga Hospital has been granted full accreditation as a comprehensive bariatric facility by the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program. The program serves patients from across the Greater Capital Region including Albany, Schenectady, Troy, Glens Falls and the North Country, as well as Western Massachusetts and Vermont.

For more information about the program or the support group, call (518) 693-4699 or go to: www.saratogabariatriccenter.com.