When the global stock markets plummet and the grocery cart values send alarm bells ringing in every wallet, people start to tighten their belts. To discover the healthy route of achieving this, Liz Smailes seeks out the professional health portfolio management of Revitalite.

The ‘blackberry–life’ is getting more unfulfilling for many people, and on many levels: busi­ness strains lead to emotional, mind, physical and spiritual ill health. Overload, physical exer­tion, decreased creativity, feeling trapped are within the common symptoms. As people are becoming aware of this, Spas and wellbeing centres are responding by offering refuge and healing in the form of solution-driven retreats and treatments. When it comes to day-to-day management, we all know its hard to teach an old dog new tricks; enter Revitalite.

Revitalite is the brainchild of Dr. Pitchit Suvanprakorn M.D. but as with every suc­cessful practice there is a team of motivated individuals working together to make real his vision.

The doctors and dreamweavers behind Revitalite are the health industry’s answer to a financial portfolio manager. Each patient is treated as an individual, with a tailor made path destined for optimal well-being, hence it is called a Revitalite Healthy Life Management programme.

With the ongoing socio-cultural and psychological changes in our modern society health and wellbeing must be redefined, as resident house doctor Sorawut Khoomkrongtham, MD explained to me. For example, weight management is more about lifestyle modification than fat-busting treat­ments and taking slimming drugs. “If you can’t change unhealthy habits, you can’t effectively control your weight,” he says. “But it doesn’t happen overnight and you have to become focussed on weight loss for health rather than beauty.”

The approach at Revitalite is that health today is more than the absence of diseases. It is more than the physiological normality in terms of weight, blood pressure and cholesterol. It is about the acceptance of the rules of nature. It is about the deeper understanding of the interference of body and spirit. It is about strategies to balance emotions, work and leisure, social interactions and personal desires. Health today is about life.

If you can’t manage life you can’t manage health, and this is where Revitalite is at the forefront of the pioneers in the wellness industry today. For Spas and wellbeing centres of the future it won’t be enough to provide customers with medically correct know-how. It will be crucial to deliver strategies for the actual ‘do-how.’ The do-how is the motivational bridge between know­how and change.

In order to deliver motivation one has to deliver sense. People who under­stand why to change will adopt change. This way change becomes a positive strategy for their very personal goals. People will want to change. Not con­sidering this process of delivering sense leads to unsuccessful pseudo-strate­gies as for example ‘making a diet.’ These are fights against one’s own body and usually end in failure and frustration. Modern health management is life management.

The objective is to merge the beauty and healthy living aspects together, re­placing the original process of health checking at a hospital or repair and enhance appearance by cosmetic surgery, which conveys a rapid result in a short period of time. These advanced technologies lack stability and longev­ity. So just how does Revitalite achieve an authentic approach to wellness so that clients can experience not just pampering but something that can be a turning point in their life?

After walking into Rivitalite each person (a breathing, walking, life portfo­lio) begins by meeting Sorawut Khoomkrongtham, MD. Trained in Thailand and the USA, Dr. Sorawut examines the patient’s Body Mass Index (BMI) reading. BMI, is a new term to most people, however, it is the measurement of choice for many physicians and researchers studying obesity. BMI uses a math­ematical formula that takes into account both a person’s height and weight to gauge total body fat, mineral and protein in adults. BMI equals a person’s weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. (BMI=kg/m2).

This is one of the most accurate ways to determine when extra pounds translate into health risks. Someone with a BMI of 26 to 27 is about 20 percent over­weight, which is generally believed to carry moderate health risks. A BMI of 30 and higher is considered obese. The higher the BMI, the greater is the risk of developing additional health problems.

Heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure are all linked to being over­weight. A BMI of 30 and over increases the risk of death from any cause by 50 to 150 percent, according to some estimates. According to health experts, people who are overweight but have no other health risk factors (such as high cholesterol or high blood pressure) should eat healthier and exercise to keep from gaining additional weight.

“Determining the BMI value and evaluating body composition analysis can help set weight management objectives, like target weight, fat and muscle con­trol,” explains Dr Sorawut. “Our patients receive holistic advice on diet, exercise to build muscle strength and behavioural modification to achieve these goals.”

This brings us on to the second port of call at Revitalite – the resident nutrition­ist. Working together with the medical doctor, the nutritionist will advise di­etary changes relevant to the individual, based on hidden allergies, metabolism reactions etc. and align this with a new weekly shopping list, menu and even cooking lessons at the cooking school on the second floor of their premises. Next to the cooking room awaits the private trainer with a friendly smile in the small but well equipped gym.

Blending a mixture of health, beauty and longevity, a wellness portfolio is tailor-made for an individual’s needs with three portfolio managers working together to ensure optimal overall body care. Over the last three years, the convergence of these industries – medicine, spa and wellness – has given rise to medispas and in one stroke redefined the landscape of medical tourism. People travel from far and wide to Asia in search of change. At Revitalite, that change management is available on the doorstep as a constant watch­dog, if need be.

With an array of new options, centres such as Revitalite have the makings of being a major cornerstone of medical tourism of the future and the trend looks set to stay as consumers want more holistic/alternative therapies in their treatment programmes. The holistic modality at this institution comes to a peak in the practise of Doljit, a mind-tapping technique.

While everyone knows that it’s about sticking to a healthy diet, not many can follow this simple prescription, when their mind is set on enjoying a plate of khao kha moo (rice with pork knuckle) followed by two scoops of chocolate-chip ice cream. An additional approach in weight management, the Doljit technique is a mind strengthening therapy to help promote posi­tive behaviour.

“Say, you enjoy fried food, the aim of the Doljit technique is to make you bored of fried chicken,” explains Dr. Sorawut. “The technique stimulates your sub-conscious while your body is at its most relaxed condition through environmental therapy, with light, sound and aroma selected by the patient. The input of positive information during the treatment will consequentially lead to behavioural change.”

First, a psychologist will perform the Doljit technique, thereafter it’s a mat­ter of DIY, and patients have to self-hypnotise daily, until they adopt healthy habits. Anyone familiar with meditation will be able to relate to this.

Weight control is thus very much a DIY project and can start with positive thinking, but more often than not, we all need someone watching over us to make sure we are of a balanced body and mind.

The minds behind and within Revitalite recognise that true wellbeing can only be achieved when there is harmony between mind, body and soul. Taking into account the convergence of contrasting components – holistic, medical and tradition – when poised to think about investing in one’s health, you may wonder what the wellness centre of the future will look like. Regard­less of whether you chose to inspire change in your own portfolio called ‘life’ now or tomorrow, it is very important that when creating wellness packages all components such as diet, lifestyle, environment and mental, emotional and spiritual are given due consideration.

Revitialite in Bangkok are among the pioneers helping us manage our personal health portfolio for life.