Episode 21Dec 24, 2025· 5:04

Stop Using Holidays as Workout Excuses: Why I Exercise on Christmas & Thanksgiving

▸ Show notes from the creator

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About this episode

Ashley Grant shares a personal reflection recorded on Christmas Eve about her history of using holidays as excuses to skip exercise — Thanksgiving, Christmas, birthdays — and how that pattern shifted after committing to daily movement for 160+ days. She describes working out on Thanksgiving via an online Tabata and stretch class, planning an outdoor Christmas Day workout with friends, and a Christmas Eve hike or…

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Who this episode is for

This episode may resonate with you if:

You've been telling yourself that holidays don't count — that skipping a workout on Christmas or your birthday is just what normal people do — and somewhere underneath that you feel a little guilty about it every time.

You've started a new fitness routine and you're terrified that one missed day — especially over the holidays — will unravel everything you've built.

You're someone who has tried to commit to daily movement before and it hasn't stuck, and you're wondering if this time could actually be different.

You feel like working out requires a gym, equipment, or a perfect setup — and when those things aren't available, you use it as a reason to do nothing at all.

You've been feeling low-energy, unfocused, or emotionally flat and you're starting to wonder if moving your body more might actually help — but you haven't fully committed yet.

Questions this episode wrestles with

Is it okay to skip the gym on Christmas or is that just an excuse?

answered

Ashley frames it as an excuse — she describes her old self as someone who used holidays, birthdays, and any occasion as 'permission to not work out,' and now works out on Thanksgiving and Christmas instead.

"Eve and tomorrow's Christmas Day. And the old Ashley used to be the type of person that would use every single excuse possible to not work out. whether it was 4th of July or Thanksgiving or Christmas or even my birthday or whatever,"

When does giving yourself a break become a pattern of avoidance?

open question

Ashley doesn't draw a clear line, but she describes her own history as a pattern — 'every single excuse' across every holiday — without fully resolving whether any individual break would have been fine.

"I would use every single excuse I could think of to give myself permission to not work out."

How do you know when you're actually committed to something versus just telling yourself you are?

answered

For Ashley, the proof is showing up on the days that feel optional — working out on Christmas is 'one more day that I'm proving to myself that I am committed,' not a fitness goal but evidence of a kept promise.

"one more day that I'm proving to myself that I am committed. It is one more day that I am truly standing by this promise I made to myself"

What happens to you mentally after months of not skipping a workout?

answered

After 160-something days, Ashley describes feeling stronger mentally, physically, emotionally, and even spiritually — more energy, happier, more focused — though she admits she 'can't even explain' how much has changed.

"it... it's truly life changing. Like that's not an exaggeration. It has completely changed my life. I can't even explain to you how much more energy I have, how much happier I am, how more"

Setting expectations: This episode is not a structured guide to holiday fitness routines, workout programming, or nutrition balance over the holidays. It's Ashley talking directly to herself as much as the listener — reflecting on 160-plus days of keeping a personal promise to move every day, including Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Tone & style

Ashley opens by describing how she used to treat every holiday — Thanksgiving, Christmas, even her birthday — as a valid excuse to skip exercise. A personal commitment made roughly 160 days ago flipped that pattern; working out on Thanksgiving via an online Tabata class became the turning point. She now plans holiday workouts with friends and frames holidays as opportunities to prove her commitment to herself rather than reasons to opt out.

Personal experience and opinion. Ashley describes her own shift in behavior and how daily movement has felt for her — not fitness research or professional advice.

toneUpbeat & personally motivated

focusAshley shares how she stopped using holidays as excuses to skip working out, contrasting 'old Ashley' with her current 160-day streak of daily movement.

stylesolo_monologue

energymedium_high

complexitybeginner

pressure Levelmedium

emotional Textureenthusiastic, self-referential, encouraging

Notable quotes

"Ashley used to be the type of person that would use every single excuse possible to not work out. whether it was 4th of July or Thanksgiving or Christmas or even my birthday or whatever, I would use every single excuse I could think of to give myself permission to not work out."

— Famous Ashley Grant

"one more day that I'm proving to myself that"

— Famous Ashley Grant

Episode transcript

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

0:081. Old Ashley's Holiday ExcusesAshley introduces the episode and describes how she used to use every holiday — Thanksgiving, Christmas, her birthday — as an excuse to skip working out.0:582. Working Out on Thanksgiving and ChristmasAshley shares that she found a Tabata and stretch class online and worked out on Thanksgiving, and has plans to do an outdoor workout with friends on Christmas Day and a hike or walk on Christmas Eve.2:473. How Daily Movement Has Changed Her LifeAshley reflects on 160-plus days of consistent movement and describes feeling more energetic, happier, more focused, and stronger mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.3:334. Movement Doesn't Require a GymAshley encourages listeners to move their bodies on holidays without needing a gym, weights, or special equipment, and closes with a direct challenge: have you worked out today?

Open full transcript

Mentioned in this episode

personFamous Ashley Grant

The host of More Movement Please, sharing her personal 160-day journey of working out every day including holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas.

eventThanksgiving

A holiday Ashley used to skip workouts on, but this year found a Tabata and stretch class online and worked out instead.

eventChristmas

The holiday framing the episode — Ashley plans an outdoor workout with friends on Christmas Day and a hike or walk on Christmas Eve.

productTabata class

An online class Ashley found and used to work out on Thanksgiving, described as part of keeping her routine going on a holiday.

Key themes

Using holidays as excuses not to work out

Ashley describes her past self as someone who used every holiday — Thanksgiving, Christmas, her birthday — as permission to skip exercise.

Keeping the routine going on holidays

Ashley recounts actually working out on Thanksgiving by finding a Tabata and stretch class online, and planning an outdoor workout with friends on Christmas Day.

Proving commitment to herself

Ashley frames working out on Christmas as one more day of standing by a promise she made to herself to move her body every day she possibly can.

160-plus days of consistent movement

Ashley anchors her reflection in a specific streak of over 160 days, using it as the basis for describing how much has changed for her.

How daily movement has changed her life

Ashley describes feeling more energetic, happier, more focused, and stronger mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually after committing to daily movement.

Movement without a gym or equipment

Ashley argues that working out on holidays doesn't require leaving for a gym, weights, a mat, or any special equipment — just a commitment to move.

Flipping excuses — using the holiday as a reason to work out

Ashley suggests reframing the holiday itself as a reason to work out rather than a reason to skip, including the phrase 'earn our pie.'

Social workout as motivation

Ashley mentions being excited about her Christmas Day workout specifically because she's doing it with friends outdoors.

Connected episodes

Shared experience

Holiday workouts as self-identity proof

#11Thanksgiving Workout Strategy: How to Enjoy Holiday Food Without Gaining Weight

Shared experience

Movement without traditional gym setup