Episode 21Dec 24, 2025· 5:04

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

About this episode

If you've ever skipped workouts on holidays, birthdays, or "special days," this episode exposes why that mindset keeps you stuck. Ashley shares her transformation from excuse-maker to someone who works out on Thanksgiving and Christmas. You’ll learn why it's completely life-changing. Get the real benefits she's experienced over 160+ days: more energy than the past 6 years, increased happiness, mental strength, and…

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MaryMay 22, 2026

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I found this podcast completely by accident, and now it’s my constant companion on trips.

AleksMay 20, 2026

I love it!

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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

4 chapters — tap to expand the full text

Ashley 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.