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Welcome to Northwest Hospital & Medical Center’s exercise and fitness resource! Our goal is to support you with sound medical information and experienced emotional guidance about weight loss surgery as you make changes leading to a better and healthier life.

Enhanced physical fitness needs to be a part of your life both before and after weight loss surgery. Before you start reconnecting with your body’s need for activity, though, you need to understand just how exercise will help you prepare for weight loss surgery. Your next step will be discussing your goals with your doctor. When you call or visit, take along this fitness questionnaire, to help with the discussion. Your physician is an important partner in your journey toward a new life through bariatric surgery.

Now you’re ready to start by increasing your daily physical activity level, as you go about routine activities. Once you’ve added more movement to chores like picking up the mail, going shopping or caring for your pets, you’ll want to try different forms of exercise. Once you find activities you like, you’re more likely to continue exercising. Again, your fitness level is a vital component of your readiness for weight loss surgery. We’ve developed some tips for improving your exercise experience.

Northwest Hospital bariatric surgery patients can also participate in the exercise and education program offered at the hospital’s Cardiac Fitness Center. The medically supervised program includes several services for people working toward successful weight loss surgery, including weight training, aerobic exercise on the latest computerized elliptical trainers and other machines and advice and guidance from experienced physical therapists, dieticians and other professionals focused on your succes.

* We recommend that your see your physician before starting any exercise routine, particularly if you have not exercised recently.

If you have any questions about weight loss surgery and our support program, please call us at (206) 368-1350, or send us an email.