By now, you may have realized after a few of my recent posts, that I am transitioning this blog space into a place where I am reflecting on the current season of life I’m in: midlife and all of the changes that come with that. I’ll still be writing about marriage, motherhood, and general life stuff, but now, I’ll be doing so through the lens of someone who is in the middle of life.

Today’s topic is one I’ve been chewing on for a while– something that’s been hard to swallow. (Gosh, I love a good two-puns-in-one-sentence!)

It’s the marketing of extra supplements to a somewhat vulnerable population of women: those of us in peri-menopause. I have been the target and primary audience of such marketing and after taking the bait on a few products, I have made a “decide once” move: I’m not participating in this game any longer.

This sector of women, of which I am a part, and the topic of menopause is now one of the fastest growing industries and I’m just tired of feeling like a pawn in this game. It feels a bit like the Law of Undulation we read about in the Screwtape Letters. An outside force preying upon our desire for peace, perfection, happiness, and long-life with empty promises. Apart from God, we will never find this. Not in a bottle or proverbial fountain of youth.

For a few years I’ve been on a quest to reduce the clutter, compulsion, consumption, and expense of ordering random, unnecessary items from Amazon or on quick trips to places like Target. Even so, every few weeks or months, after watching a Reel, or seeing a YouTube influencer, or chatting among other women my age, I have the thought that “Ooooh, I bet this magnesium will fix my sleep,” or “I bet this collagen powder will do the trick to make my hair/skin/nails grow and glow,” or fill in the blank with “ashwagandha,” “creatine,” “protein powder,” or “L-theanine.”

The only thing I’ve been left with are mostly unused bottles of junk and an overwhelming sense of feeling like the next best thing I hear about will be the magic fix to whatever symptom (more on that later) I *must* fix in my late 40s. This cycle of hearing about a product, having it inundate me in my various algorithms, finally caving to make the purchase, and then using it only sporadically, with mostly placebo effects has left me skeptical and mentally exhausted.

Just like I have decided to step out of the cycle of coloring my hair and wearing fitness trackers, I too, have decided to step away from the pills, powders, and potions game. Last week, I texted my supplement-loving sister a photo and asked if she wanted any of the mostly full products before I tossed them in the trash.

There is no judgement from me if you love pursing or doing any of these things. Truly. I get the draw of self-improvement, desired health outcomes, and wanting to do all we can to look and feel our best. It’s just for me, I have found that each of these industries plays to my already deeply imbedded insecurities and after examining the evidence, I cannot say that I am left with any lasting satisfaction or results after using these products.

Rather, it’s just one more self-imposed expectation to juggle, one more “must have” thing I must have or else, and one more thing to keep me in a constant state of monitoring “symptoms.” Am I sleeping enough? Did I sleep well? Am I getting the right amount of protein? Are my muscles dying off if I’m not supplementing with creatine? Am I anxious? Is my skin dull? My hair brittle? (And please do not even get me started on lotions, creams, exilirs, peels, and fillers.)

Should I be on HRT? How about a GLP-1? What about an anti-depressant? Maybe the answer is yes to one or more of these, but for now, I’m holding off. If I do, that decision is going to come from guidance I’ve gotten from my in-person doctor… not a Hers ad or Serena Williams.

Please let it be known, I am not saying I don’t struggle with immense feelings of inadequacy, have stubborn belly fat, worry that I look twenty years older than my age, or feel deep insecurity about my appearance…of course I do. I grew up in the 1990s. (😉 )

What I am saying is that despite this, I have made a conscious decision for now to simply turn off the constant noise, the futility, and the mirage-chasing of buying into the next health, beauty, or longevity revelation.

Beside putting the kibosh on supplements from Amazon and Target, I’ve even been actively removing targeted ads from my social media feeds and trying to clean up what’s being advertised to me. I just don’t need Dr. Mary Claire Haver, Dr. Stacy Sims, Dr. Peter Attia, and others “selling” me their programs, supplements, or books, even if they are science-backed.

For now and as I continue into middle age, I’m going to continue to prioritize healthy habits, daily movement, eating real food, and living simply. I don’t need a watch to tell me if I’ve been active. I don’t need an assortment of bottles at my bedside to make me sleep at night. I don’t need expensive pouches and canisters of whey or other additives to enjoy a smoothie. I don’t need multiple powders to dissolve into my daily water to do whatever they promise to do.

It’s just all too much. It’s confusing. It’s Quixotic. It’s making us doubt common sense. It’s costing us in time, brain calories, and dollars. And I’d rather have those things back for other, more live-living and life-giving pursuits. I want fewer things to plug in at night, less things I need to check off my daily health list, and fewer pills to keep my life running smoothly- not more. This feels like the right move in the direction of simplicity.

Please tell me, do you take supplements? If so, were they recommended by your doctor or your favorite Instagram influencers? Can you tell a big difference in how you look or feel when you’re taking them?