The $0 Supplement Stack: How I Achieved My Best Health by Ignoring All the Wellness Noise
The Long, Tedious Road to Nowhere
Let’s be honest: the supplement industry is overwhelming. Just like fad diets, we face millions of choices. They include protein shakes, pre-workouts, post-workouts, and every vitamin under the sun. There are also collagen powders and more. The list is endless, and the marketing is relentless.
I jumped into health and fitness with P90X thirteen years ago. At that time, I didn’t have a clue where to start. So, I took the same approach I used for exercise: do what they tell you.
But unlike Tony Horton, who motivated me every day, I can’t say those protein shakes inspired me much. It was a massive leap from my beloved chips and cookies to a world of broccoli and processed powders. I suffered through, and I want to share the hard-won knowledge I gained along the way.
My First Supplement Lesson: Necessity is the Mother of Invention
If you’ve done Beachbody workouts, you know they push their line of supplements. Fortunately, or perhaps luckily for my wallet, I couldn’t afford the specific, expensive protein, pre-, and post-workout mixes they suggested to gain maximum results.
So, I did what any budget-conscious newbie does: I went to the grocery store. My thought process was, “Okay, it’s not the ‘official’ Beachbody protein, but I’ve never used protein powder in my life, so something is better than nothing.”
My supplement journey began right there.
Every day, I forced down those protein shakes, mixing in fruits and veggies—whatever I read or heard was a good, healthy addition to this so-called magical drink. Did it help? Maybe. Combined with pushing play every day, I lost weight and felt stronger. If your stomach and joints can handle powdered protein , then you do what’s best for you.
But my consumption didn’t stop there. I tried the pre-workout powders that gave me the tingly, hot sensation (and once or twice, made me throw up). I bought collagen powders because who doesn’t want to hold onto their youthful look? (Sign me up!). But the taste was intolerable, and I gave up on collagen quickly.
The Inner Voice I Couldn’t Silence
For 13 years, up until about six months ago, I consumed protein powder daily. It was easy, and I convinced myself it helped me consume more fruits and vegetables. But there was always a persistent little voice in the back of my mind: Is this processed protein powder really a good idea?
I searched online and never found a definitive ‘don’t drink it,’ so I kept going. Then, I decided to silence the voice by buying a very expensive, “all-natural” protein powder—over a hundred dollars! I figured expensive equals healthy.
That’s when my body screamed back at me.
Within the first week, my stomach was cramping up, and my joints ached so badly I could barely walk the dog. I started to panic. “Oh no,” I thought, “everyone was right. You hit 50, and your body falls apart.”
I desperately retraced my steps: What have I changed?
The thought hit me like a ton of bricks: It’s that expensive protein. I realized I might be having an allergic reaction to one of the “all-natural” ingredients, like coconut.
My Challenge to You (Before You See a Doctor)
Once I stopped using that protein—and all proteins—my stomach felt great, and the aches and pains vanished completely.
Before you rush to the doctor thinking you have GI issues or arthritis, please check the ingredients of your supplements, or better yet: Do me a favor and stop taking them for two weeks, and see how you feel.
I haven’t had a protein shake in six months. I’ve increased my natural protein intake and, honestly, I’ve increased my muscle percentage and feel 25 again.
The Day the Supplement Industry Lost Me
The final nail in the coffin was a conversation about collagen with my acupuncturist. She is a woman who radiates good health, and I value her opinion deeply. I was whining about looking old, asking her what she thought of the collagen powders.
Wanna know what she said?
“Why don’t you just drink bone broth in the morning? You’ll get collagen along with more protein and hydration before your runs.”
That was the day the supplement industry lost me. If she could give me such a simple, natural answer on collagen, how many other expensive, synthetic powders was I consuming when my body needed something pure and simple?
Listen to your body. It can tell you a lot. Don’t ask for permission to heal—just tune in.