Country Roots, the Truth About GLP-1, and the One Thing I Will Not Let You Skip This Spring

I want to let you in on a few things this month. Where I actually come from. What's been keeping me up at night in the clinic. And the one product I will physically chase you down the street to make you wear.

​Pull up a chair.

Michelle Dewald, NP Founder, Magnolia Aesthetics & Wellness

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Something You Probably Don't Know About Me

I grew up on a farm in rural North Dakota surrounded by gardens, fields, chickens, and horses. I’m a country girl at heart.

Nothing made me happier than getting my hands dirty, whether that meant helping my dad with fence work, bottle-feeding baby calves before school, or spending summers outside from sunrise to sunset.

And honestly? We were doing the whole “organic lifestyle” long before it was trendy or packaged up with pretty branding and a marketing budget.

That was just how we lived.

Fresh food. Simpler ingredients. Old-fashioned remedies. Taking care of things before they became bigger problems.

And now? A lot of those old-school philosophies are making a comeback. Turns out grandma knew a thing or two.

That upbringing shaped me deeply, both as a person and as a provider.
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It’s why I’ve never been someone who believes in chasing symptoms or handing out quick fixes without looking deeper first. It’s why I care so much about ingredients, inflammation, hormones, nutrition, stress, and the way everything in the body is connected.

And honestly, it’s why I built Magnolia the way I did.

Not as a place that rushes people through appointments or pushes ten-step routines full of ingredients nobody can pronounce. But as a clinic that actually listens. A place that looks at the whole picture and helps women get to the root of what’s going on instead of covering it up for a few weeks.

Skincare and wellness really are my jam.

I love finding products that genuinely work, treatments that make sense, and approaches that help women feel healthy and supported long term, not just temporarily “fixed.”

That farm girl still runs this clinic.

And honestly, I think that’s why some of what I’m seeing in the wellness world right now bothers me as much as it does.

Because somewhere along the way, we started treating health like something we could shortcut.
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Which brings me to the GLP-1 conversation. Keep reading...

XO, Michelle

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Michelle's Soap Box

The GLP-1 Conversation Nobody Is Having

Now, let’s get real about GLP-1 medications.

Everyone’s buzzing about them like they’re the holy grail, but hold up for a second.

These medications absolutely have a place. We prescribe them at Magnolia when medically appropriate, and I’ve seen them genuinely help people when they’re used correctly and paired with real support.

But what’s happening right now in the wellness world honestly concerns me.

People are snagging these medications online for cheap and treating them like it’s a game. No labs. No real medical oversight. No conversation about protein intake, muscle preservation, hormones, strength training, or what happens after the weight comes off.

Just a vial, a syringe, and a shrinking number on the scale.

And unfortunately, the scale never tells the whole story.

What’s getting lost in the shuffle? Muscle mass. Proper nutrition. Long-term health.

Sure, you might think you’re saving a buck right now, but the long-term consequences can be serious. Hair shedding. Fatigue. Loss of lean muscle. Increased osteoporosis risk later in life. Feeling weaker instead of healthier.

No thanks.

When women lose weight too quickly without enough protein and resistance training, a meaningful portion of that weight loss can come from muscle. And muscle matters. It supports your metabolism, your strength, your hormones, your stability, your longevity, all of it.

This is the part I’m going to keep saying out loud:

A GLP-1 is a tool. It is not a plan.

At Magnolia, we’re all about changing habits, building muscle, supporting hormones, and serving up real nutrition guidance alongside any medical intervention. We care about helping women feel strong, energized, healthy, and supported long term, not just smaller for a few months.

We keep it real, and we keep it healthy.

If you’re currently on a GLP-1 and nobody has walked you through any of this, please come see us. No shame. No judgment. Just honest guidance and a plan that actually protects the body you’re trying to take care of.

Because at the end of the day, the little consistent things matter more than the extreme ones.
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Which leads me into my current ride-or-die product obsession and the one thing I will never stop talking about this time of year.
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Let’s talk SPF.

With love and a little tough honesty,
Michelle

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Springtime Reminders & This Month's Ride or Die

As we soak up the sun and enjoy our gardens this spring, let’s not forget to slather on that SPF.

It’s Skin Cancer Awareness Month, so consider this your not-so-subtle reminder to get your skin checked.

Not later. Not next month. Now.

Pull out your phone, make the appointment, and get it on the calendar. If you need recommendations, ask us at Magnolia. We’re always happy to point you in the right direction.

And while we’re talking about protecting your skin, let’s get into my ride or die.
My latest obsession? MD Solar Sciences.

This bad boy checks every box for me. It uses natural mineral blockers like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide for broad-spectrum UVA and UVB protection, but still feels lightweight, elegant, and beautiful on the skin.

No greasy finish. No heavy sunscreen feeling. No looking like a ghost.

Seriously, it’s a game changer.

I see women spend hundreds, sometimes thousands, on skincare, peels, lasers, facials, and treatments, and then walk outside without SPF on their face. Every single time, UV exposure chips away at all that hard work.

This is one of the simplest, most effective things you can do consistently for your skin and your long-term health.

A few reminders I’ll repeat forever:

• Yes, you need SPF when it’s cloudy.
• Yes, you need SPF in the winter.
• Yes, you need SPF sitting near windows.

And if you’re spending extended time outside, you absolutely need to reapply.

​Also, most women are not using enough. You need about a teaspoon for your face and neck combined to actually get the protection listed on the bottle.

MD Solar Sciences is waiting for you at Magnolia, and trust me, your future skin will thank you.

Happy Glowing,
Michelle & The Magnolia Team

Grab Your SPF

A Final Word

Maybe this is the farm girl in me, but I’ve always believed taking care of your body should feel less complicated than the wellness industry tries to make it.

​I came from a place where you took care of the things that took care of you. The land. The animals. The people around you. Your own body.

​That mindset never left me.

It’s the foundation of how we practice at Magnolia today. Thoughtful care. Honest conversations. Looking at the full picture instead of chasing quick fixes.

So as we head into spring and soak up this season of growth and fresh energy, let this be your reminder to take care of yourself in the long game kind of way.

Build the habits. Protect your skin. Nourish your body. Lift the weights. Ask the questions. Slow down enough to actually listen to what your body is trying to tell you.

And if you found this blog as fabulous as I think you did, pass it along to a friend who needs to hear it too.

We’re always here when you’re ready.

Until next time,
Michelle

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