Stop Wasting Money on Collagen—Do This First to Actually See Results

Estimated read time: 3.67 minutes (about as long as it takes your legs to remember yesterday’s tempo run 😉).

Hey Performance Nerds! Jonah here. 🤓

Is collagen a training booster—or just stealing your money with no real benefits?

Today, I’ll show you:

• When collagen might actually help performance (if at all)

• The dosing trick that makes it work (if you want to try it)

• Why you still need real protein (and how much)

Let’s science this out—with a healthy dose of skepticism. 🧪💪

First up: what even is collagen—and is it worth the hype?

🧬 What Is Collagen, Really?

Collagen is the rope-and-glue that holds your body together.

It weaves through your tendons, ligaments, cartilage, and skin—keeping your joints moving and tissues strong.

But as you age—or train hard—your body makes less of it.

That’s why supplements claim faster recovery and healthier joints.

But here’s the catch:

Just eating collagen doesn’t mean your body uses it to rebuild tissue.

📉 Why Collagen Isn’t a Complete Solution

Let’s break this down without the biochem degree:

• Most collagen supplements are not complete proteins

• They’re low in key amino acids like leucine and tryptophan (vital for muscle repair and growth).

• But they’re loaded with glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline — might be useful for connective tissue like your tendons.

Collagen is a bonus—not the base.

To build muscle or recover well, prioritize complete proteins like whey, fish, or eggs.

🤔 When Might Collagen Actually Help?

If your joints hurt worse than my pride after getting smoked by an 80-year-old in pickleball, collagen might help:

• Joint pain or stiffness? Some research shows reduced pain and improved joint function.

• Heavy training loads? May support tendon remodeling and collagen synthesis.

• With vitamin C? Taking 15g collagen + 50mg vitamin C before training may boost results.

The science is interesting—but not bulletproof.

Give it 8-12 weeks minimum. Don’t expect magic.

📏 How to Use Collagen (If You Want to Try It)

⚠️ What Collagen Won’t Do

Collagen’s getting hyped—but let’s debunk what it can’t do:

• It won’t build muscle like whey or eggs

• It’s not a quick fix for pain or injuries

• It won’t do much for muscle growth and repair if you already hit your protein needs

It’s your nutritional spare tire—helpful in emergencies, but don’t expect it to drive performance.

Want gains? Fuel the engine first.

✅ Practical Summary:– Should You Bother with Collagen?

DO consider collagen if:

• You train hard and want extra joint support

• You’ve had tendon injuries or pain

• You’re already hitting your essential protein goal

DON’T rely on collagen if:

• You want fast results

• You’re replacing complete protein with it

• You’re not hitting enough total protein, focus on this FIRST

Protein first. Collagen second—if at all.

Curious about collagen? Tap my science-backed go-to—Momentous Collagen Peptides—and save with code JonahRosner: https://crrnt.app/MOME/Ky_eRQay

🚨 #1 Nutrition Tip to Stop Bone Stress Injuries in 100 Mile Training Weeks

Did you miss my post about why #1 Nutrition Tip to Stop Bone Stress Injuries? You can find it below!

I won’t lie. These videos take me a while to make. If you find it helpful, share it on your story or with a friend. It helps me a ton!

Don’t forget: You + Science = AWESOMENESS 😎

Yours in science,

Jonah

Please email me directly if you’re interested in references for this week!