Nutrishop in Chico finds new owners and delivers a brighter future for Butte County residents

Nutrishop Chico DROPPING PANDEMIC POUNDS

With summer finally here, and more revealing outfits making their debut, most of us are quickly realizing we didn’t do much over the spring to shed those pandemic pounds. Between lazily bingeing Netflix series after series, eating copious amounts of takeout, and finding solace in sweets, it would be a miracle to have not consumed twice the normal calories over the past 18 months, while also burning half the usual. Add most gyms being closed or operating at limited capacity to the aforementioned list of poor life choices, and you have the perfect recipe for unchecked weight gain. “When it comes to weight, it can be far easier to take off than it was to originally put on.” Marc Wesley, of Nutrishop in Chico said, “Nutrition is 90% of the equation. If you know what you’re doing, you can help turn your body into a fat-burning machine by simply adjusting the vitamins and supplements you take.” Luckily, he and his wife, Shuree Wesley, know exactly how to do that.

“Owning and running a nutrition store has been a dream of mine for years.” Shuree remembered, “I started studying to be a nutritionist before the Camp Fire, but losing our home and belongings put a pause on my progress. While working through the loss, I experienced marked depression, and I had to make a conscious effort to make a change and create a new path for myself. I began focusing on my health and getting back into shape. I cut the junk out of my diet and focused on making sure my body received what it actually needed each and every day. The difference became clear in a few short weeks, and just by supplying my body with what it needed to operate at its peak, I was able to start the healing process—body, mind, and soul.”

Marc and Shuree took the journey together, committing to not only make their lives better, but also the lives of their family and employees at M&S Wesley Tree Service, their eponymous company which you’ve undoubtedly seen doing tree work throughout Butte County. They found that by encouraging both family and employees to join them on their health and fitness journey, they were creating a network of support and a means for everyone to better themselves. The result—happier people with more energy and drive. When Chico’s Nutrishop store on Forest Avenue was listed for sale in May, they decided to buy it and bring their passion for nutrition to the rest of the community.

“The experience has been absolutely amazing!” Marc said, “Each day we have community members visit in search of a healthier version of themselves, and we have the knowledge and products to help them on that journey. From protein powders to supplements, and fat burners to energy and mood enhancers, we have everything someone could need to jumpstart their health and fitness journey, allowing them to get the most out of every workout and achieve their goals faster.” Indeed, Marc isn’t bluffing, as hundreds of items stock the store’s shelves, and they seem to know everything about each one. If you’re looking for weight loss, check out Gamma Lean. Interested in building muscle? Try the Hydrapro. Trouble falling asleep? They’ve got a number of supplements for that too. Product-after-product, we went down the line before realizing a full explanation of each would keep us occupied for hours. Suffice to say, if you’re looking to lead a more balanced lifestyle, they have you covered. They also have the ability to analyze your progress with the Inbody machine, a full-body scanner that can provide a comprehensive picture of your body’s health. “It’s a great way to track the effects of the new life choices you make after committing to bettering your health and wellness.” Shuree said, “Changes within our bodies take place immediately, but can take a few weeks to begin showing themselves externally. This is where most people get frustrated and give up on their journey. Having feedback from a machine like this keeps people focused and on the path to achieving the results they seek.”

Marc and Shuree will be moving Nutrishop to Meriam Park this summer, expanding their inventory, and providing even more opportunities for the community to get healthy and maintain a better way of living. In the meantime, you can visit them for all of your nutrition needs at 1141 Forest Avenue in Chico. Your body will thank you in ways you can’t imagine.

chico dermatology AND The spa next door

When a little house that had been turned into a family medical practice at 774 East Avenue became available in 2013, Dermatology P.A. O. Jay On and his wife, Barbara, saw it as an opportunity to fulfill a vision years in the making. A practicing member of Chico’s dermatology community for 31 years, O. Jay had long dreamed of opening his own office, and the centrally located property allowed him to do just that, eventually growing into so much more than he initially envisioned.

Growing up in Yreka, O. Jay graduated from Chico State and, later, Stanford’s Physician Assistant program in 1989. He returned to Chico to practice with dermatologists, Dr. Schwartz and Dr. Richey, members of Chico Medical Group; he assisted Dr. James Woods in Pediatrics and Dr. Jimmie Roberts in Nephrology as well. Though he enjoyed working in the three separate practices, he found his passion in dermatology and decided to focus on it completely, taking a permanent position with Dr. Schwartz and never looked back. When Dr. Schwartz retired in 1997, O. Jay took over his practice alongside Dr. Richey, while also traveling to lecture at Stanford and with various pharmaceutical companies and dermatology groups. When Dr. Richey decided to retire, he took the opportunity to strike out on his own.

“Barbara and I opened Chico Dermatology’s original office in 2013.” O. Jay said, “We started the office in a smaller building, but knew we would eventually purchase the lot next door. When it became available, we bought it, designed a brand-new complex, and built it from the ground up.” While O. Jay was designing the new office for Chico Dermatology, he found there was extra space, so he added a spa to provide complete skincare for his practice. As luck would have it, his longtime colleague’s daughter, Gwynne Schwartz, was an educator in the skincare industry. He brought her onboard and the rest, as they say, is history.

“I have been an educator for Gottschalk’s, Macy’s, and Bare Minerals.” Gwynne expressed, “I absolutely love bringing my knowledge and passion for skincare to our clients, and when O. Jay and I connected, I knew the position was the perfect fit for me!” Together, the two developed a fully patient-led experience aimed at increasing patients’ knowledge of skin

health, individualizing skincare plans and treatments to address their needs and concerns.

“The Advanced Clinical Spa is a natural extension of O. Jay’s practice, enabling him to offer whole skin care health.” Gwynne adds, “As his patients have questions or a need for a little extra help with acne, dryness, discoloration or aging skin, we are able to offer the benefits of the spa.” With two talented aestheticians, the spa offers HydraFacials, skin perfecting peels, and skincare education. The spa is a flagship location for Skinceuticals medical grade skincare whose vision is to “prevent, correct and protect” your skin. Skinceuticals is an innovator of antioxidants, developing the Duke parameter for the most efficacious use of Vitamin C. With multiple patents on ingredients, delivery systems and formulas, Skinceuticals is cutting-edge medical-grade skincare backed by science.

Naturally, all visitors are welcome and can schedule services and learn about products, à la carte, with or without a prior visit to the dermatology practice. You can book an individual service or there are wonderful 6-month and 12-month memberships for clients who want to see them on a regular basis. The membership runs $99/month and entitles you to one peel per month while offering a 10% savings on products and other cosmetic services. There are options to upgrade your service to a HydraFacial or Deluxe HydraFacial when desired.

Chico Dermatology also offers other cosmetic treatments including injectables, RF micro-needling, laser hair removal, IPL and Inmode Evolve for body remodeling, muscle toning, and cellulite treatments.

Barbara noted the importance of Chico Dermatology and its spa being a hometown and family-oriented business. “One of our daughters is my assistant and the other is one of our M.A.s.” Barbara said, “Everyone is here because they share a desire to help people in our community and provide them the best care possible.”

Visit Chico Dermatology and our Advanced Clinical Spa at 774 East Avenue in Chico, or call (530) 774-2650. You can also find them online at www.Chico-Dermatology.com