You have the power to shape your body for better health.

Take the first step in achieving healthy body composition. With fifty million Americans on diets at any time, one would think that we would have arrived at the ultimate solution for weight control by now. But the often-claimed, “simple formula” of “eat less and exercise more” is anything but simple; just ask anyone that has tried.

And what about diets… do any of them really work?  The truth is all diets work… but just for a short time.  Most diets, designed as a quick fix, are often and unfortunately an unhealthy, destructive fix.  Since they rely on depleting the body of needed nutrients in order to stimulate the desired visible evidence of a lower number on the bathroom scale, sooner or later you will find the weight coming back…with a vengeance!

These “lose quick – gain back” cycles have now become part of the problem, adding to obesity.  For example, one metabolism-based study compared a doctor-supervised nutrition and body composition program to a popular over-the-counter diet drink.  Results were dramatically different.  Patients on the doctor-supervised program achieved weight loss from fat and actually increased their muscle mass. The patients on the over-the-counter diet drink lost the majority of their weight from muscle rather than body fat, despite being prescribed the same foods and exercise routine as those on the doctor-supervised program.

So what’s the true secret formula? At The Renewal Point we have found that unless you balance your overall metabolism, your body will constantly work against you.  While you are trying to limit caloric intake following the latest diet book, your body answers with a metabolic “protection” response that causes you to gain the weight back. Thinking that the solution to your weight problem is simply about “will power” is like trying to stop a freight train with your little finger.

Simply put: The only effective weight loss strategy requires metabolic balance. Metabolic balance involves a comprehensive evaluation of all of the body’s functions that contribute to healthy balance: hormones, glandular systems, muscle/fat body composition and blood levels.  Meanwhile a subsequent program should be designed to address the source of the metabolic imbalance.

In order to get a long-term healthy weight loss, we have developed The Renewal Point Metabolic Weight Loss Program; uniquely designed to balance your metabolism and help your body work for you rather than against you. Designed by Dr. Watts, patients team up with nutrition and medical experts to follow a simple, supportive program with the goal of dropping inches and improving health and energy!

Jenna’s Story

Among the hundreds of men and women that have discovered “the last stop” on the often frustrating road to weight loss, Jenna came to The Renewal Point.  She told us that she had tried just about everything. She guiltily admitted that just the night before she had left an Over-eaters Anonymous meeting with a strong sugar craving. With almost no willpower, she stopped at the Tasty Freeze on her way home and quickly downed three chocolate-topped soft ice cream cones. In an initial evaluation, we found that this was not her fault. Looking over a metabolic panel with Jenna, four metabolic problems were discovered causing her body to work against her, creating a sugar and carb addiction. When balanced, Jenna was quickly able to slough her unwanted weight (50 lbs.!). She was then able to build the firm and shapely body that before had been so illusive.

As a result of Oprah’s one week series dedicated to BHRT, (aka Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy), The Renewal Point has had a deluge of interest in the topic.

Women and men are asking, “What are they” and “Are they for me?”

This isn’t the first time BHRT has achieved star status.  In her books, Ageless, Breakthrough, and The Sexy Years, as well as in her prolific media exposure, Suzanne Somers described how bio-identical hormones relieved her menopause symptoms, saving her “life” and her sanity.  She was joined on Oprah’s show by Faith Hill-McGraw and Dr. Oz, all singing the praises of bio-identical hormones. (“The Oprah Winfrey Show”, 1/29/09)

BHRT is not new at The Renewal Point either.  For nearly 20 years, BHRT has been the backbone of our clinical practice.  Patients have found our BHRT protocols a godsend for PMS, mood swings, sleep disorders, perimenopausal symptoms, menopause and other related symptoms and problems.  And, we’ve found that women feel their best when they’re informed about their options so they can decide what works for them.   Let’s explore what is known about bio-identical hormones and how The Renewal Point approaches BHRT so that any decision you make has a medical basis and not simply a pursuit of “star status”.

Hormone Balancing

Your body’s hormones – produced in various glands of your body – act as “messengers,” sending signals to your cells to function, grow, regulate or balance important body processes. Though it is well-known that the levels of some of these hormones fall as we get older, it is not common knowledge that almost all of these hormones diminish during the course of life or change dramatically to life’s stresses. 

As hormone levels fall or fluctuate, they cause the signs and symptoms of PMS, perimenopause, and menopause. The good news is that with a skilled approach that includes testing, treatment with bio-identical hormones, then retesting, your body’s hormones can be rebalanced naturally and safely. Rebalancing hormones using natural bio-identical hormones is the “hallmark” of The Renewal Point’s health and age management programs. 

We use bio-identical hormones rather than synthetic hormones because synthetics are typically patented chemicals, many of which are known to have side effects that can include increased risk of cancer.  Bio-identical hormones, on the other hand, are identical to the body’s naturally produced hormones, adding the “missing ingredient” for efficient body function.  They can actually “re-train” your body to function more as it did at a younger age!

Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy

Because everyone’s hormone profile is as different as their finger print, we first must run blood or saliva tests in order to determine their particular values.  The results along with our patient’s symptoms give us clues to prescribing just the right formula to balance each one individually.  (Important: This is not the one-size-fits-all formula of pharmaceutical hormone replacement.)  We then continue careful follow-ups on patients to “tweak” those hormones, if needed.

Many hormones are involved in this balance, as hormones act as individual instruments in a symphony.  If one of the “instruments” is off, the whole orchestra sounds bad.   These include the estrogens (there are three), progesterone, DHEA, thyroid, cortisol (the stressor hormone), testosterone and pregnenolone.  All of these hormones work in concert to stop hot flashes, stifling mood swings, regain youthful skin and a firm body, improve breast fullness, libido, vaginal lubrication, curb weight gain and food cravings. Individual formulas are made up by compounding pharmacists based on each patient’s lab work and symptoms and are available through many different routes: skin cream, pellets, flavorful sublingual drops, lozenges, pills or troques.

Sources of Bioidentical Hormones

The source of bioidentical hormones begins with plants such as soy and yams; a far cry from one of the most common pharmaceutical hormones Premarin®, which is derived from pregnant horse mares’ urine! Our TeamPersonalized and individualized attention is foremost with our team of medical doctors, Physician’s Assistants, Registered Nurse Practitioners, Registered Nurses and staff are expertly trained in the “art” of Bioidentical Hormone Replacement.  Leading our team of experts is Dr. Watts, Founder of The Renewal Point who has been balancing hormones with natural bioidenticals for nearly two decades. (See Bio: Dr. Watts)

Discover your hormone balance – Take the self assessment to determine if BHRT is right for you – call our office for more information @ (941) 926-4905.

The Renewal Point Age Management Program focuses on a scientific and integrated approach to slow down, reverse and even stop many of the signs and symptoms of aging.

While we can’t actually eliminate the process of aging, we can certainly optimize the quality and longevity of life.

How we age is now optional!

To take control of the aging process, we recommend the following simple but powerful process:

• Assess all the essential components of our body’s systems that support and influence healthy aging.
• Access education and advice from qualified doctors, nurses, nutritionists and physical therapists for any corrective actions or therapies required to reverse unhealthy trends in your aging process.
• Apply the knowledge and recommendations on a coordinated plan in order to reach your health goals.

Men and women report a 55% – 85% improvement in:

Energy, Memory, Productivity, Strength, Body fat, Lean muscle, Libido, Sexual performance, Facial appearance, Skin tone, Athletic performance, Pain relief, Better sleep, Sense of well-being, Frequency of illness, and Joint stiffness

We believe that not only should you be able to proactively control illness and the effects of aging – your doctor should assist you with a proactive, preventive and natural approach. The result is a longer life with health and vitality – without compromise.

There’s More to LIFE…and here’s how to find it.

Visualize your life in 10 years or 20…or 30. Are you more or less active? More or less involved with your grand kids? Are you starting new projects, meeting new people, advancing a career or starting a new one …or just hanging on?

In our society today, 80% of health care dollars are spent in the last 20% of life.  That also means that a large part of the later years in life are also spent in doctor’s offices or hospitals, monitoring ailments and limiting or even avoiding the very activities and pursuits that make life it’s richest.

Change the Course – Change the Outcome! At The Renewal Point, we believe you can spend the rest of your life discovering new levels of vitality and vigor – not simply trying to rescue what’s left.

In fact, through The Renewal Point Age Management Program, hundreds of people are finding that the “typical” symptoms of aging can be slowed down, stopped…or reversed!

The Renewal Point puts you in control of how you age by guiding you through a full 12 month “whole health makeover” as you discover the power and importance of getting ahead of the factors that influence health – rather than simply responding to their breakdown.

The air we breathe and the water we drink isn’t pure anymore; the food we eat is not as nutritious and there are pesticides and chemicals everywhere. These destructive agents load up in our body in the form of toxic metals and other harmful chemicals that simply cannot be shed by normal body processes. Chelation is an FDA approved method for removing such toxins.

World-wide experience for over 40 years has shown Chelation to effectively address circulatory problems, hardening of the arteries, neurological problems including Parkinson’s and neurological and degenerative diseases such as Diabetes and Arthritis. Dr. Watts is a Fellow of The American Board of Chemical Metal Toxicology and has trained The Renewal Point staff in the highest standards for Chelation therapy.

More Accurately Than A Mirror……Your Skin Reflects Your Health.

Vitamins and supplements are necessary today more than ever because our food contains fewer nutrients, our environment is more toxic and almost all Americans have nutritional deficiencies as a result of poor or insufficient eating habits. Men and women who routinely take supplements live 6-8 years longer, and healthier!

10 Reasons to Take The Renewal Point’s Vitamins and Supplements: 

1. Pharmaceutical grade, made with superior quality ingredients
2. Checked for impurities
3. Best absorbability and bioactivity
4. Vitamins that are hand picked by Dr. Watts and personally used by his family daily
5. Our patients tell us that they can feel the difference
6. Money-back guarantee (not made by local stores)
7. Knowledgeable staff
8. Staff Ph.D. and Certified Nutritionist to assist you
9. Simple ordering process
10. To your door shipping

Vitamins and supplements may be used to help in the treatment of the following:

It’s not a secret any longer; struggle with weight loss is uncomfortably common. Diet books, magazine articles, declarations from our government, informercials – they are all screaming that we have a problem… as though we didn’t already know. And if you are like most that are uncomfortable with the dress or pant size you surrendered to on your last shopping trip, you have tried it all: Hollywood diets, miracle pills, torture gadgets, gym memberships – even starving yourself from everything that tastes good! And none of it works. “There must be a better way”, you say. And there is.

First let’s look at why weight loss is a struggle in the first place – especially for women. It goes all the way back to prehistoric times when food was scarce and the climate was colder. Women needed extra “padding” for their special role as child bearers and over tens of thousands of years, women’s bodies developed special mechanisms for regulating various hormones. As a result, women metabolize insulin, progesterone, estrogen and cortisol (the stress hormone that builds up fat) differently than men and therefore accumulate fat quickly and burn it slowly. Now that might be a terrific survival mechanism if you’re wardrobe consists of tiger skins and you live in a cave, but this is not good news when your lifestyle is intentionally more comfortable and when sugars and carbohydrates are abundantly available.

Modern thinking has presented dieting as the solution; that is, limiting calories and restricting intake of fats or carbohydrates. But the problem with dieting is that it usually doesn’t support healthy body function and often causes loss of muscle, further retention of fat or other severe health risks. You may weight less, but you won’t be as healthy. The real key to successful weight loss is in adjusting the body’s metabolism. This means balancing hormones, getting rid of toxins and giving the body a chance to restore its natural equilibrium.

Judy came to see me at The Renewal Point after diligently trying to lose weight without success. Though she was eating healthy food and exercising for a year, the extra pounds would not come off. Extensive blood analysis showed that she had high lead and mercury levels and hormonal deficiencies. Once we began to eliminate the toxins and then balanced her metabolism she started to lose weight seemingly without effort. Soon her energy increased and she happily reports, “I am waking up feeling refreshed and ready to go. I feel better now than I ever have before.”

Judy’s results are not unusual. At The Renewal Point we have developed a 6 to 9 month weight management program that has consistently produced tremendous results. On average, women lose 5 to 10 pounds a month.

Cathy is another Renewal Point patient. She was surprised to find how easily the program fit into her lifestyle when, after three months, she had dropped two sizes and lost 17 pounds. And her persistent knee pain had disappeared!

The Renewal Point Weight Management program is a health program, not just a weight loss cure. The idea is to build the body up, improve blood pressure, cholesterol, glycemic and insulin levels and balance hormones. As a result, many patients find that after several months other metabolic problems such as fibromyalgia, depression, anxiety and certain gastrointestinal disturbances disappear as well. They become both healthier and slimmer at the same time. Our goal is to create a healthy body composition therefore retaining or increasing muscle tissue while eliminating excess fat. This requires a three-pronged attack:

• Motivation and support
• Balancing neuro-endocrin hormone levels
• Exercise and eating healthy food

While all three are essential for success, neuro-endocrine balancing is the linchpin of the program. Through medication, I adjust the levels of the brain hormones serotonin and dopamine, which control our cravings. Once patients eliminate sugar and carbohydrate addictions, most that could not lose weight before suddenly finding it easy to shed those extra pounds.

Renewal Point Weight Management patients start with a comprehensive assessment that determine body composition, hormonal and toxin levels and a metabolic history. We review the results, set goals and agree on a diet and an exercise program. It is rare that the program calls for a restriction calorie intake or food volume.

Replacing sugar and carb laden fare with natural, healthy food is the answer for all but a very few. Medication is often prescribed, if necessary, to break sugar and carbohydrate addition. Patients come in for required checkups at least once a month, but if greater support and encouragement is requested, we can set up appointments to meet with a nutritionist or the doctor as often as once a week.

Results speak for themselves. As Lisa, says, “After three years of struggling with weight, a simple hormone balancing has changed my life for the better. Had I known years ago, I would have saved myself a lot of heartache.”

By Dr. Dan Watts

– artiicle as printed in August 2006 issue of West Coast Woman –

High school biology taught us that fat was just a type of tissue in our body, dead weight we have to carry along for the ride. Some of us have more, some less. But recent discoveries show that fat cells are more than that, actually communicating with our body’s network of hormones to tell us when we are hungry and what foods we are craving.

This communication system is in fact so effective that no amount of “will power” can override the urgings these little guys create. You might say, “I knew something was sabotaging my diet!” And that may be true. However, keep in mind your dieting attempts may even be making the problem worse.

The way it works is this: The body is run by the neuro-endocrine system, a network of hormones that allow your brain, glands and organs to communicate with each other. When you diet, it works for awhile because–let’s face it–anybody can lose weight when they cut back on total consumption of calories. But this “starve to lose” strategy only stimulates a “warning signal” to your body, saying, “Wait a minute, we aren’t getting enough calories to maintain the weight we’ve grown accustomed to. We need to start storing up nutrition (in the form of fat) because it looks like a drought is coming!”

So what happens is that you have unintentionally triggered a type of metabolic efficiency that actually causes you to gain fat more efficiently. Whatever you lost in the first few days comes back with a vengeance! This process accelerates as we age. Our body’s hormone system begins to deplete and the imbalance triggers some of the same reactions.

The real key is “adjust your thermostat”–that is, we need to help our body find a new “comfortable weight” so that we can adjust our eating plan and still satisfy our body. The most effective way to adjust that thermostat is to balance the hormones which “tune up” the neuro-endocrine system. In my 20 years experience in hormone balancing, I have never seen a weight loss regimen succeed over time, unless this system is in tune.

When patients come to see me at The Renewal Point, we evaluate the following:

• Insulin–called the “fat hormone” can fluctuate and cause uncontrollable carb and sugar cravings.
• Thyroid gland–controls our metabolism. When thyroid output diminishes, we feel run down, depressed and gain weight. 
• The adrenal glands–in charge of cortisol and adrenalin production. Imbalances also cause sugar and carb cravings as well as fatigue, anxiety, stress and weight gain.
• Leptin–the main hormone that controls our appetite, responsible for setting our body’s “weight thermostat”.
• Neurotransmitters of the brain–principally dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine control appetite. When out of balance they cause addictions to sugar and carbs as well as other addictive substances such as alcohol, tobacco, etc.
• Estrogen–too high or too low can cause weight gain.
• Inflammatory hormones (like cytokines)– cause weight gain and other problematic symptoms such as fibromyalgia, gastrointestinal disturbances, headaches, joint aches and muscle aches.

At The Renewal Point, we adjust these hormones as needed, to restore the body’s natural balance and to reset the weight thermostat. Although some conditions require prescription medication for a brief time, we prefer bio-identical hormones, which are exactly like the ones your body makes naturally. With the neuro-endocrine system back in harmony, patients achieve remarkable results in a relatively short time.

One patient, Cathy, went on the program because she was overweight, felt low on energy, and suffered from joint pain in her knees. “I completely changed my outlook,” she says. “I eat six meals a day–protein for breakfast, nuts and apple snacks, and good whole organic food.” She now exercises regularly, has dropped to her optimal weight (two dress sizes smaller), and her knees don’t bother her anymore. She feels great, both physically and mentally.

The women and men who graduate from our weight loss program feel healthier, more vibrant, more alive, and –by the way–yes, thinner. It’s a long-term transformational approach, rather than a quick fix, yo-yo diet. As Cathy says, “This is something I can do for the rest of my life.” 

Our high school biology class had some of it right: some of us have more fat than others. At The Renewal Point we believe you have control over just how much fat you have to live with.

You Say “Diet!”– Your Body Says “Eat!”

By Dr. Dan Watts
– article as printed in October 2006 issue of West Coast Woman –
 941.926.4905

You may remember Junior High Science class. They taught us that “your skin is the largest organ in your body”. And we thought “wow” … and perhaps never gave it another thought. But if your skin really is your largest organ, might it also be your most important?

Your Skin REFLECTS Your Health

The health of your skin can – and does – impact the health of virtually every other organ and function in our body. Not to mention how critical the health of our skin is to the way we look and feel.

Do you have a Plan for taking care of your skin?

At The Renewal Point, we believe taking care of your skin requires a comprehensive plan – not just another “facial” done with exotic fruit extract or the latest jar of crème packed with mysterious ingredients.

Soft, brilliant skin requires attention to what you eat, the quantity and source of the water you drink, the supplements you take, your daily care routine and many other facets that are so often overlooked by typical “spas” and salons.

The Renewal Point provides expert guidance by physician-trained and directed aestheticians that hold their own credentials and training as skin care technicians.

And our most important credential? Commitment to your overall health and beauty!

There’s More to LIFE…and here’s how to find it…

Visualize your life in 10 years or 20…or 30. Are you more or less active? More or less involved with your kids or grand kids? Are you starting new projects, meeting new people, advancing a career or starting a new one…

…or just hanging on?

In our society today, 80% of health care dollars are spent in the last 20% of life.  That also means that a large part of the later years in life are also spent in doctor’s offices or hospitals, monitoring ailments and limiting or even avoiding the very activities and pursuits that make life its richest.

Change the Course – Change the Outcome!

At The Renewal Point, we believe you can spend the rest of your life discovering new levels of vitality and vigor – not simply trying to rescue what’s left.

In fact, through The Renewal Point Age Management Program, hundreds of people are finding that the “typical” symptoms of aging can be slowed down, stopped…or reversed! 

The Renewal Point puts you in control of how you age by guiding you through a full 12 month “whole health makeover” as you discover the power and importance of getting ahead of the factors that influence health – rather than simply responding to their breakdown.

Invite The Renewal Point’s team of experts to guide you through a “whole-health makeover”! Led by Dr. Dan Watts, The Renewal Point Age Management Team works closely with you for a full year as they assess and monitor Dr. Watts’ 10 Longevity Bio-factors – the essential categories of health that most impact how your body ages.

The 10 Longevity Biofactors…

The Renewal Point Age Management Program focuses on ten, critical “Longevity Bio-Factors” that turn your age management journey into a refreshing discovery of new health and perspective.                       

Hormone Balance

Hormone Balance, as it turns out, is the most critical component to overall health and quality of life. With a skilled approach to testing, and treatment with bio-identical hormones, your hormones can be placed in balance to support every gland and function critical to health.

Physical Conditioning

Physical conditioning is more than a health club membership.  Considering your body composition, strength, flexibility, bone strength, aerobic capacity and muscle and joint health a proper and – most importantly – doable program can be designed into your life routine.

Nutritional Health

Did you eat your vegetables today? Sure, everyone knows that diet is a key to good health, but how do you know if your balance supports your unique metabolism—or whether or not you have a nutritional deficiency or sensitivity to any of your favorite foods and the implications they may be having on your long term health? The only way to know for sure is with proper testing and expert guidance.

Toxicity 

Frightening but true: over seven billion pounds of toxins are released into the environment every year…and are filtered through or contained in our bodies!  The source of many known diseases, toxicity can be limited or eliminated with proper guidance and a natural approach.

Healthy Immune System

Vulnerability to infection, cancer and other diseases related to our Immune System. Assuring its strength and function makes the difference between spending the last 20 years of life at the doctor’s office…or having fun with the grand kids.

Metabolic Health and Efficiency

How effectively our bodies process nutrients connects directly to our immune system, maintaining a healthy weight balance and overall well-being.

Cardiopulmonary Health

Still an uncomfortable truth: Heart Disease is the number one killer in America. More frightening is that most heart attacks and strokes come without warning symptoms. Good news? Most heart attacks don’t need to happen with proper, early detection.

Neurological Health

A sharp mind is usually not associated with aging – but it can be.  With proper testing and focus on neurotransmitter balance, brain function can be maintained and even restored as we age. 

Skin Health

Easily overlooked as a “total health” remedy, tending to skin health can prove a powerful and simple remedy to symptoms of aging.  Besides, who doesn’t like to improve the mirror’s reflection?   

Medical Wellness

And good “old fashioned” medical treatment is an age management key as well. Just be sure your medical solutions are treating the cause, not just the symptoms.There is a big difference between knowing what to do and acting on what you know…and in the matter of health and longevity, action can save your life.