Busy kindergarten administrator Celeste Wykes never thought that some collagen protein shakes would be part of the convenient switch she made to create a lifestyle focused on healthy food, movement and routine.
Bubbly and bursting with infectious enthusiasm, the 28-year-old from Tongariro National Park in New Zealand has a lot on her plate.
From renovating a newly purchased 13-bedroom lodge to juggling work and being a devoted single mum to her four-year-old Rosalie, things are hectic but Celeste has a new lease on life after adopting a new balance of exercise, healthy eating and her new favourite The Collagen Co shakes just last year.
“[Having a new routine] changed my life,” says Celeste. “Everything feels so different – my attitude, my energy levels,” she says. “I was genuinely struggling through my day, trying to be ‘fun mum’ but being miserable and burnt out.”
Less than a year ago, Celeste felt stuck in a slump after being “on and off a wellness journey for the last decade”.
Late-night snacking of “crackers, cheese and salami right before bed” and unhealthy sleep habits saw her determined to make a change.
“I have a certificate in personal training, so I know what’s supposed to work, and none of those things were working,” says Celeste. “I was going on walks every day and nothing budged. I think I gained weight!”
Celeste first stumbled on The Collagen Co shakes online back in 2024, but didn’t have much success after only having one “every now and then”.
It was only after seeing a friend enjoy the shakes, which boast an average 4.9 stars from over 7,000 reviews, that Celeste decided to go “all in” and embark on The Collagen Co Shake & Glow 28-Day Challenge in October 2025.
“[I wanted to] get back into my routine and just have fun with it,” she explains. “I grabbed all of the products and followed them to a tee.”
Not only did Celeste win the challenge out of hundreds of participants, but she also fell in love with how the shakes made her busy life “1000 per cent” easier by removing the mental load of meal prep.
“It’s just really convenient,” she says. “It didn’t feel hard. That’s one of the biggest takeaways,” explains Celeste.
Thanks to an eating plan that saw her combine Intermittent Fasting with two shakes a day, such as her “all-time favourite” banana flavour, plus a big main meal she would eat with Rosalie in the afternoon, Celeste’s food focus shifted.
“We would have the same food but mine would be constructed differently with more leafy greens. I’d have chicken or steak, cottage cheese, red onion, any kind of vegetables and dripping with yummy sauce with pumpkin seeds or cashews for crunch.”
“Then if I was hungry, I’d have a piece of fruit or a couple of crackers,” she adds. “I definitely never felt restricted because I love food too much.”
During the Challenge, Celeste fell into the habit of doing The Collagen Co’s Body Bingo – small, daily health-focused tasks designed to get her body moving.
“I’d probably do four or five of the Body Bingos during the day, small things like ‘walk to your letterbox’ or ‘do 10 star jumps’, but it got my daughter involved so that was fun,” she says.
That combined with a 30-minute strength training session, family walks and trying to hit a target of at least 10,000 steps a day “really made a difference”, says Celeste, especially when it came to setting a good example for Rosalie.
“Everything I do is for her. She’s my whole world,” Celeste explains. “The reason I’m doing this now is so she doesn’t have the problems I have – I don’t want her to have to experience the things I’ve experienced. I want her to have a healthy, happy foundation and be confident in herself and know how to fuel her body.”
After previously shying away from taking photos with Rosalie because of how self-conscious she felt, Celeste now has the freedom to do whatever makes her feel happy.
“These healthier habits have given me confidence to start doing my sultry chair dancing again which has allowed me to connect to my feminine self again which is amazing,” she says.
Celeste says she genuinely loves the taste and convenience of The Collagen Co shakes, but knows the real gold comes from healthy movement, nourishing meals, and grit to stay the course. It’s why her advice is to “just go for it… if you’re ready to make a change”.
“If you jump onto the Glow Talk community on Facebook, they’re so encouraging on there – you don’t feel so alone, everyone is in the same boat,” she says. “It’s really uplifting, you feel like people get it.”
If you or someone you love is struggling with body image issues or eating disorders, contact the Butterfly National Helpline at 1800 33 4673 for free and confidential support, or email or chat with the team online here.
Disclaimer: This story is based on one person’s individual experience and is for general information only. Glow Shakes should be consumed as part of a varied and balanced diet.
This content is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Individual results may vary. Always consult your health professional before making changes to your diet, exercise, or supplement routine.
Allison YeeCasual eCommerce Shopping Writer