Episode 82Jun 25, 2026· 5:46

Is the Protein Craze Getting Out of Hand? I Want Answers!

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About this episode

Host Ashley Grant questions the protein product trend — protein pancakes, coffee, pasta, cereal — wondering if it's a marketing gimmick or a legitimate nutrition shift. She reflects on her own early weight loss experience using protein powder in recipes, contrasts that with the current saturation of protein-branded products, and shares a humorous anecdote about a fitness creator who unwrapped a plain Chick-fil-A…

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Who this episode is for

This episode may resonate with you if:

You're half-scrolling through the grocery store and keep seeing 'protein' slapped on everything — protein cereal, protein pasta — and you just want someone to say out loud that it's gotten ridiculous.

You want something short and low-stakes to listen to while you're driving to the gym or sitting in a parking lot killing five minutes.

You've seen that TikTok or Reel where someone unwraps a plain Chick-fil-A chicken breast and calls it a protein bar, and you want someone to riff on it with you.

You're into fitness but you're also a little tired of the hype cycle and just want to hear someone be honest about feeling confused and skeptical instead of selling you something.

You want the vibe of a friend venting about something dumb while you do dishes or fold laundry — not a lecture, just someone talking.

Questions this episode wrestles with

Is the protein craze actually worth it or just a marketing trend?

open question

Ashley doesn't land on an answer — she sits with the suspicion that it's a gimmick while acknowledging she might be missing something, and asks listeners to explain it to her.

"good stuff. But it feels like one of those gimmicks and one of those trends that's just kind of getting ridiculous. I don't understand it. Like, can someone please help me understand? Someone just"

Why is protein suddenly in everything — is this real nutrition or hype?

open question

Ashley traces the trend from early DIY protein-powder hacks she understood — adding it to coffee or muffins to 'bolster the nutrition value' — to protein cereal and Chick-fil-A protein bars, which she finds absurd, but she doesn't resolve whether the newer products cross a meaningful line.

"Or I even found recipes back then where people would make, you know, muffins and cupcakes and all kinds of different things. And they'd add a little bit of protein powder just to kind of bolster the nutrition value of what they were consuming. But, I mean, it kind of feels like overkill to have protein in everything. Maybe"

Am I the only one who thinks the protein obsession has gone too far?

open question

Ashley repeatedly wonders if she's alone in her skepticism — 'maybe I'm crazy' — and genuinely doesn't know, which is why she's asking listeners to weigh in.

"know I feel like I'm alone in this. I'm not sure, but I do. I feel like I'm alone in this. I mean,"

When does trying to eat healthier become obsessive or excessive?

open question

Ashley says she's all for making healthier swaps 'without going crazy,' but can't quite name where protein-everything crosses that line — she just notes that it's the part 'sticking with' her.

"swaps and being as healthy as you possibly can without going crazy. But that's the part that I guess is sticking with me is all this protein stuff. It feels crazy to me. I really want to"

Setting expectations: This episode is not a deep dive into protein science, nutrition research, or a guide to optimizing your macros. It's Ashley venting from a gym parking lot about how protein-branded everything — protein cereal, protein coffee, protein pasta — feels like a gimmick to her, and genuinely asking listeners if she's the only one who finds it ridiculous.

Tone & style

Personal opinion and mild exasperation. Ashley explicitly frames everything as 'it feels like' and 'maybe I'm crazy' — no research, no claims.

toneCasual & mildly exasperated

focusAshley musing out loud about whether the explosion of protein-branded everything — protein cereal, protein coffee, protein pasta — is a genuine trend or just ridiculous overkill, and asking listeners what they think.

stylesolo_monologue

energymedium_low

complexitybeginner

pressure Levellow

emotional Texturelighthearted, mildly exasperated, self-questioning

Notable quotes

"good stuff. But it feels like one of those gimmicks and one of those trends that's just kind of getting ridiculous. I don't understand it. Like, can"

— Famous Ashley Grant

"and i mean if you if you make a drinking game out of this episode of take a shot every time i say the word protein you just might end up in the hospital with a liver problem so i don't"

— Famous Ashley Grant

"how people are buying this crap. Like, it's really"

— Famous Ashley Grant

Episode transcript

Organized into 4 chapters — open any part to read the full text.

0:001. Is Protein in Everything Getting Ridiculous?Ashley opens by expressing bewilderment at the explosion of protein-branded products — protein pancakes, coffee, pasta, cereal — and questions whether it's a gimmick or a genuine trend worth following.3:262. The Chick-fil-A Protein Bar Joke and Listener CalloutAshley shares a funny moment from a fitness creator she follows who unwrapped a plain Chick-fil-A chicken piece as a 'protein bar,' using it to illustrate the absurdity of the protein obsession, then invites listeners to share their own take.4:063. Asking Listeners: Are We Too Protein Happy?Ashley says she feels alone in her skepticism and genuinely wants listener feedback on whether the protein craze has gone too far, sharing multiple ways to reach her.5:464. Upcoming Voice Notes, Day 365 Milestone, and Heading to TabataAshley previews upcoming listener voice note reactions, mentions approaching her day 365 milestone, and signs off from the gym parking lot before heading into a Tabata class.

Open full transcript

Mentioned in this episode

personTrain with Shay

A fitness creator Ashley follows on Facebook and TikTok who joked about a plain Chick-fil-A chicken piece being her 'protein bar,' which Ashley found funny as a commentary on the protein craze.

companyChick-fil-A

Fast food chain referenced in the context of Train with Shay's joke — she bought a plain piece of chicken there and presented it as a 'protein bar.'

companyTrue Fit

A protein powder brand that sponsors Train with Shay, mentioned by Ashley as an example of the creator's genuine use of protein supplements despite the joke.

websitefamousashleygrant.com/fitness

Ashley's own website where she directs listeners to fill out a feedback form and share their opinions on the protein trend.

Key themes

Protein product overload

Ashley lists the explosion of protein-branded products — pancakes, coffee, pasta, cereal — and questions whether it has gone too far.

Is it a gimmick?

Ashley frames the protein trend as feeling like a marketing gimmick rather than a genuine nutritional shift, though she admits she might be wrong.

Cost of protein products

Ashley calls out how expensive protein-branded products are and says she doesn't understand how people are buying them.

The Chick-fil-A protein bar joke

Ashley recounts a fitness creator unwrapping a plain Chick-fil-A chicken piece and presenting it as a protein bar, which she uses to illustrate the absurdity of the protein obsession.

Feeling alone in the skepticism

Ashley repeatedly says she feels like she might be the only one who finds the protein craze ridiculous, and genuinely asks listeners to tell her if she's wrong.

Listener callout for opinions

Ashley actively solicits listener feedback on the protein trend through her website feedback form, Facebook, and Instagram, saying she genuinely wants to know what people think.

Day 365 milestone

Ashley briefly mentions she is approaching her day 365 milestone and expresses excitement about it.

Recording from the gym parking lot

Ashley signs off noting she is sitting in the gym parking lot about to go to a Tabata class, which she frames as her usual recording spot.