Collagen, Charlatans & Expensive Urine

aka That One Time I Gave a Supplement a Go

So, let’s get this out of the way early: I don’t really get on board with things.
Especially not powders, potions, or magic elixirs that promise to fix your skin, your joints, your gut, your mood, your bank account, all for just $89.95 per serve.

I’ve worked in the fitness industry for a long time. Long enough to know it’s full of big promises made by people who aren’t qualified to promise anything and even less qualified to deliver.

Honestly, the fitness industry has always been the Wild West of wellness: snake oil salesmen, charlatans, insta-famous “experts,” and “fitfluencers” pushing the next trend like it’s gospel …. until it’s not.

Sound jaded? Probably. But there’s another side of this industry, people like me who see through the BS, hate the hustle, and are hellbent on not becoming “that guy”.

So when someone brings me the latest trend, I’m that person who says, “Cool. But where’s the science?”
If your response is “TikTok,” I’m out.

Enter: Collagen.

It’s been floating around in the background of the supplement world for a while. Not shouting. Not making six-week transformation promises. Just… vibing.

For ages, I brushed it off. I don’t really do supplements (unless you count coffee.) Most of them are what science lovingly refers to as expensive urine.

Whey protein? Sure. Creatine? You bet.
But most of the rest? Straight through the kidneys and out into the great beyond.

But now I’m at that age.
The age where you're not quite old, but your knees disagree.
The age where collagen isn’t just a beauty thing pushed to 20 year old’s trying to "glow". It’s whispered about for tendon repair, joint health, recovery… stuff I actually care about.

So I did it.
I threw caution (and $40) into the wind and said:
“F*ck it. I’ll give it a go.” (Well I threw some caution. I also made my friend Jen do it with me, because apparently I’m bold, but not reckless).
Turns out peer pressure works both ways.

And I’m not going to lie - I feel good.
Better than I expected.
Less hobble, more bounce. Fewer aches. Like someone quietly oiled my joints while I wasn’t looking.

Could it be a placebo?

Absolutely.

Ask me in a few months and I might say, “Nah, it wore off, now I’m back to my old lady shuffle.”
But for now? I’m a little shocked. And I’m starting to wonder what else I’ve missed out on because I was too busy shouting “SHOW ME THE DATA!”

So why am I telling you this?

Because maybe collagen is for you.
Maybe your body is ready for a bit of help.
Maybe giving it the building blocks it needs to heal isn’t such a wild idea.

Or maybe your brain is just really clever at finding hope when you're desperate to feel better.

Either way, I’m not saying you need collagen.
But I am saying… maybe it’s okay to experiment, even if the science is still catching up, as long as it’s safe, not outrageous, and you’re not taking advice from someone selling miracle weight loss tea in a bikini.

Sometimes, $40 is worth the month of curiosity.
Worst case? You’ve hydrated your inner sceptic and added one more weird little ritual to your self-care chaos.

x Bex 💋